With the Spurs mounting injuries we'd have a better shot against them(also if Lawson is out for Denver they become more vulnerable) but harden vs okc would provide the most excitement and is prob what stern wants. I'd personally like to face the spurs, maybe we get a repeat of the 95 WCF and shock the favored spurs(the Dream would be proud)
I don't see the point of trying to pick between Spurs and Thunder. We won't advance either way. Meanwhile, it'll be funny to watch the superteam Lakers not even make the playoffs, so I vote for winning.
If its really down to that one game, you know Stern will make sure we lose. So we might as well rest the starters.
If this is just a hypothetical question posing the scenarios: Of taking a tougher opponent to screw over another team or Taking the weaker opponent and helping another a team you hate I would want the Rockets to do what is best for the team, which is the win and play the weaker opponent. However I don't see how your scenario would ever play out in reality. It looks like OKC is trending up and will probably be the 1st seed, but the Spurs and OKC are locked at one and two. Are you assuming that the Lakers would catch up and be able to take over the 7th, hence if we lose we play the 1st seed Spurs? That seems highly unlikely, and possibly dangerous considering how close Utah would be. If losing a game can change us from playing the 1st seed vs 2nd seed, this would also mean there is a possibility we lose and don't get in the playoffs. The more likely scenario is win or lose we play the 2nd seed (probably the Spurs). The only other possibility I see happening is us taking over the 6th and playing Denver/Memphis/Clippers.
the given scenarios dont really make sense. this is not a plausible scenario. might be fun to talk about, but not going to happen like this.
I never liked the the whole "hopefully we get this team or that team, so we can move on to the second round". Playoffs depend heavily on matchups, but from a players' perspective, it shouldn't matter who you face. If you have any doubts or are scared to face a certain team, how can you enjoy moving on the next round knowing that all you really did was dodge a bullet? Teams should be well rounded and balanced enough to matchup with whomever.
oh man how sweet would it be? I would definitely watch ESPN after the game to watch the fall out... I would DVR it.