I think 4-1 is reasonable. OKC is blah, and we match up well with the Spurs. Rockets need to get this one tonight. I think they will.
While I recognize the next 5 represents the good teams, there are only 7 left... might as well include them all. @ Mavs @ Thunder @ Spurs vs. Spurs vs. Pelicans @ Hornets vs. Jazz It's too difficult to predict games, unless you were that one guy who had that crazy streak a few years ago on here. 7 games, I think 5-2 is reasonable. But can certainly see 4-3. It is definitely NOT an easy finishing schedule. 5-2 = 56-26 4-3 = 55-27 Spurs remaining schedule Spoiler vs. Nuggets vs. Warriors @ Thunder vs. Rockets @ Rockets vs. Suns @ Pelicans Maybe slightly easier.. except that first Rockets game they are on a back to back. Obviously the 2 against the Rockets will tell a lot. I suspect a split... which would split the season series. With a split, the Spurs would have to be near perfect teh rest of the way to catch the Rockets, since the Rockets currently at least have the better conference and division record. Clippers remaining schedule Spoiler @ Nuggets @ Lakers vs. Lakers vs. Grizzlies vs. Nuggets @ Suns Obviously the easiest schedule. Grizzlies game is the biggest. Between the Spurs and Clippers, the Clippers are the bigger threat to overtake the Rockets. Trailblazers remaining schedule Spoiler @ Lakers vs. Pelicans @ Nets vs. Timberwolves @ Warriors vs. Jazz @ Thunder @ Mavericks Schedule isn't brutal. One back to back... Warriors on 2nd night on the road, but who knows what Kerr's plan will be. last two games of the seasons could be huge. But they are 4-6 in the last 10, and perhaps "luck" has finally left them (yes, I know they've been historically unlucky injury wise, but up until Wes Matthews injury they had a pretty good 1.5+ year run of health AND a lot of crazy game winners)... Grizzlies remaining schedule Spoiler vs. Thunder vs. Wizards vs. Pelicans @ Jazz @ Clippers @ Warriors vs. Pacers On paper, you can see the Grizzlies being the team potentially slipping. They haven't player their best basketball to finish out the season. But they are so consistent in style and execution... Mavericks remaining schedule Spoiler vs. Rockets vs. Warriors vs. Suns @ Nuggets @ Lakers @ Jazz vs. Blazers While they are catching the 6th seed unless they play perfect basketball and things go their way, they are important to consider as they finish off against the Blazers. I think everyone is discounting the Blazers at this point, but you never know. I think as the season is coming to an end it would be nice for the Mavs to be trying to hold off the Thunder and give it their all that final game... Thunder remaining schedule Spoiler @ Grizzlies vs. Rockets vs. Spurs vs. Kings @ Pacers vs. Blazers @ Timberwolves Same as with Mavs, except even moreso. The Thunder play the Grizzlies, Spurs and Blazers. I don't think they have enough in the tank to catch the Mavs - and thus be a potential pesky concern as a 2 vs. 7 matchup... though without Durant I don't think you're scared of them anymore - so this will be about holding off the Pelicans. While not scared of them, I do prefer to see them vs. the Warriors then the Pelicans. I think the Pelicans get smoked by the Warriors... too young, inexperienced, not the right matchup. At the very least Westbrook really makes Curry/Thomson work hard round 1. I'll be rooting for the Thunder pretty much every game... except against the Rockets Pelicans remaining schedule Spoiler @ Kings @ Blazers vs. Warriors @ Grizzlies vs. Suns @ Rockets @ Timberwolves vs. Spurs Hard to see making the playoffs, but again it'd be nice to see them rack up some wins... beat the Blazers, Grizzlies... be at least in a position so that a win or loss doesn't change their draft pick on that final day (which I suspect to be the case) so you never know.. perhaps they do give it their all against the Spurs.
These last seven games are really going to show me what this team is made of. If we are as good as we think we are, I expect nothing less than 5-2. 4-3 or worse would really lower my expectations of this team's playoff run.
I think you're still thinking the Hornets of New Orleans. They're back in Charlotte now. You highlighted the wrong game, maybe?
Spoiler Nevertheless... I put that we'll lose to Charlotte and that's how it will be. We will underestimate them and Gerald Henderson will kill us from mid range, which will lead to several CFers whining that we need to take more midrange shots. SO IT IS WRITTEN SO IT SHALL BE
Damn it, Haymitch, why you no like Rockets??? Not trying to derail this thread, but, I feel like we need to look for and take the best shot on all our possessions. Whether they be 3s, 15 foot jumpers, floaters, reverse layups or alleys... we need to make sure we get the best shot on every possession no matter what the stat freaks say. Take what the defense gives you. I think one guy that is excellent at doing this has been Brewer. He will always pass up the 3 (especially from the top of the key or the left and the right of the key) to pump fake the defender and getting a closer shot from either 15 feet or so to that soft floater that he's got in his arsenal. This is the only way we're going to win against teams in the playoffs.
I've been talking a lot about similar idea. When the paint and 3 point line are taken away by the opponents, the Rockets should manage to take open 2s. Open twos should be more efficient than contested 3s. It looks to me the Rockets has been taking more open twos lately. :grin:
