I think finishing the season on an up swing is way more important than who we face. If we're still trying to figure stuff out in the first round, we'll lose to a lot of different teams. But if we go in with everyone clicking, we go in as a real contender no matter who we face.
we should be the favorites going into a series vs the Mavs or Blazers. we would likely be an underdog against the Spurs and maybe the Clippers
We can take either but we seem to be in Dallas's kitchen, so it would be better to draw them, take them out in 4-5 games and rest.
Obviously I'd prefer Dallas. They're the inferior team and matching up with them would mean the Rockets were the 2nd seed which keeps us out the Warriors' bracket and guarantees home court through the 2nd round. Here's the one potential downside. Dallas is all but locked into the 7th seed. OKC and New Orleans can't realistically catch them, and the Mavs have virtually no shot at catching any of the teams ahead of them. So Carlisle and Cuban(if they wanted) could rest all of their key guys for the next 2 weeks and be very well-rested heading into the postseason whereas every team they could potentially face in Round 1 will be battling for positioning down til possibly the last day of the season. Again, I still want the Mavs over the Blazers. But it is worth considering that the Rockets should they wind up 2nd will have had to work their asses off to get there and may head into a series against a fresh Dallas team with far more energy than them.
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Dallas. We found that Batum can play pretty good defense on Harden. I don't think Dallas has anybody that can stop Harden on a consistent basis. Rondo has regressed, Parsons can't, Ellis...lol. Dallas is just an overall inferior team to Portland.
Dallas. Yeah, yeah, neither are going to be easy, but I'm sure you all think one of these teams is better than the other... Either way, playing Portland wouldn't happen unless we fall to 5th, and please god don't let that happen.
Am I right in that Portland could lose out and still be the 4th seed? the division leader thing is so dumb imo. I mean compare that division with ours.
Yes, that is true. Is it true that if the Rockets and Clippers end up with the same record, and the Rockets are the division champs, they'll win the tiebreaker?
We're facing Dallas, don't worry about it. Memphis is losing at home to Washington and we are getting it done. The 2nd seed is ours and we might face the Spurs because we'll knock them back 2 games when we sweep this back to back.
The clippers might win all their remaining games. They will then have 56 wins. That means we will need to go 5 and 1 for the remaining game to beat them. Though job.
If the Rockets win their division, they can end up in a tie with the Clippers. Therefore, they can go 4-2 and still end up 2nd.
What I meant was if the rockets and clippers end up with the same record (and the rockets are the division champs), they win the tiebreaker.
I'd rep you for this Clutch, but you have enough reps! So I ask you to rep me instead and I hope I can be a part of that honor! :grin: