I think the 3rd seed would be ideal since we don't want to see the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. Let the Clippers and Lakers battle it out before they see us.
I think it's possible. Everyone has to stay healthy. I would be happy with the #2 or #3 seed. In my perfect world the Clippers finish at the 4th seed and face the Lakers in the second round. The Lakers don't scare me for whatever reason so I would even be ok with the 4th seed. The only team that I fear come playoff time is the Clippers because of their ability to go small with us using multiple lineup combinations. And playoff Kawhi to be honest.
Very frustrating how many blown games they've had this season. Could easily have been the 1 seed. However...hopefully they finish strong. I don't want to be on the Lakers side of the bracket at all.
I was just about to post that HC isn't that big of a deal. Then I looked up our home playoff record over the last 4 years and it's 17-6. So yeah....the more HC the better. But my answer to all Rockets questions is the same - if the 3's are falling, we can beat anybody anywhere any time. If the 3's are not falling, we can lose to anybody anywhere any time.
Lelz NBA basketball is about runs, giving up leads is pretty normal. Now the thing is blowing out an opponent at home and on the road. We have a very average road record. Do you think getting blown out by the Phoenix Suns and Kelly Oubre jr, even without Westbrook, is a sign of deserving the 1st seed? Or atrocious defensive lapses at times? Or losing to this year's Worriers? Let's just be fair.
If the Thunder make it into the top 3 at season's end, Billy Donovan could be in the conversation, as well. He, Nurse and Snyder in Utah have done a really good job.
I actually think the Rockets would be more likely to beat the clippers over a team like Utah who has more weapons this year and won’t want to lose for three straight years to Hou...so yes they really need to get out of fifth...
The rockets could finish at the 2 seed, but the 3 seed could honestly be just as good, so long as the Clippers are at the 4 seed. I think the BEST possible scenario for the Rockets would be the following, assuming the lakers are locked in at the 1 1 - Lakers 2 - Rockets/Nuggets 3 - Rockets/Nuggets 4 - Clippers I think we would beat the nuggets pretty easily even without home court, so I'm not particularly worried about which team is 2 and which is 3. It is also possible, though unlikely, that the Jazz are in that 2/3 spot with us instead of the nuggets, and I think we'd all be equally (maybe even more) confident in that matchup. The most ideal situation is one where the LA teams play each other before the WCF.
Funny, Majic is Laker legend. I get that, we'll see. Lakers proved to be more consistent, but to win a title, they also need to step it up a notch. tbh.
Spoiler GSW - W UTH - W NYK - W MEM - W BOS - L NYK - W LAC - L CHA - W ORL - W MIN - W LAL - L POR - W CLE - W SAC - L CHI - W DAL - W MIL - L IND - L DET - W PHI - W GSW - W TOR - L DAL - W SAS - W WAS - W SAS - L PHX - W MEM - L 19-9
Clippers, Nuggets and Jazz have a tougher schedule if you compare it to the Rockets remaining schedule. However the Mavs schedule it's not the bad the only thing is that the Mavs are not great at home. PG13 hamstring injury might change things. Ideally goes like this: 1. Lakers 2. Rockets or Dever 3. Denver or Rockets 4. LAC 5. Jazz 6. Mavs 7. OKC 8. Whoever.
The short answer is no, the #2 seed is not beyond possible. The Nuggets do not have an especially hard schedule, but they also have shown they can lose some games they should not. The Raptors were on a 15 game win streak recently. The Rockets OR Nuggets are capable of doing that as well. A situation where the Rockets win 10 in a row, and most likely the Rockets are maybe a game back. How the Rockets play is more important than their seeding, and this is a season where strict seeding won't mean as much. The fear of the Lakers is odd to me.... they are not the Bucks...... they also are not a bad match up against the Rockets.
5 out, no center. Revolutionary basketball - again. Media may hate smallball, but if Rockets get to 2nd seed MDA will definitely be in running for his THIRD coach of the year award.
I would rather have the 3rd, if the Clippers go to 4. That way we avoid the Lakers in the 2nd round. I think thats how it would play out though.