Does anyone still doubt we get the two seed (at minimum)....

Rockets can't beat denver man. MIght have won in regular season after millsap and murray sat out the game.

 

Denver's next 12 games are BRUTAL:

@ Clippers
Raptors
Warriors
@Hornets
@Cavaliers
Bucks
@Mavericks
@SPURS
@Lakers
Clippers
@Thunder
@toronto

8 games against top tier playoff teams. I like the Rockets chances of passing them in the standings during this stretch.

The Clippers face;

Denver
Sixers
@Thunder
@rockets
Lakers
@Warriors
Nets
Pelicans
Mavericks
@Nuggets

over their next 10 games.

The Rockets only have 4 games against top playoff teams over their next 12 games.

I am circling March 23rd on the calendar as the day the Rockets take over the #2 seed for good.

 

we shall see

 

Rockets going at denver when denver plays millsap and jokic together is completely different than when denver don't play millsap and murray.

Mike Malone out coaches Mike D Antoni any day of week. Malone is coach of the year.

When will you give Malone credit for being the coach of year! Don't short-change Malone because he earned it!

 

Spoiler

Denver 2-2

Clippers 4-0

Rockets remaining 21 games:
7 @ Hornets
8 Magic
10 Wolves
12 @ Lakers
15 @ Blazers
17 Cavs
19 Kings
21 Bulls
23 @ Mavs
25 @ Bucks
27 @ Pacers
29 @ Pistons
31 @ Sixers

April
2 Warriors
5 Raptors
7 @ Mavs
8 Spurs
10 Wizards
12 @ Spurs
13 Suns
15 Grizzlies

Not sure about tiebreakers and all that but...
47-13 Lakers
43-19 Clippers (-5 of LAL; 1+ on Denver; +3.5 on Houston/Utah; +5 on OKC; +5.5 on Dallas)
42-20 Nuggets (-1 LAC; +2.5 on Houston/Utah; +4 on OKC; +4.5 on Dallas)
39-22 Rockets (-3.5 LAC; -2.5 Denver; +1.5 OKC; +2 Dallas)
39-22 Jazz (-3.5 LAC; -2.5 Denver; +1.5 OKC; +2 Dallas)
38-24 Thunder (-1.5 Houston/Utah; +0.5 Dallas)
38-25 Mavs (-2 Houston/Utah; -0.5 OKC)
31-31 Grizzlies (+3.5 Blazers)

 

With all due respect JR, it's pointless to look at our competitors remaining games if we can't even take care of our business.

 

well I guess we can now add Imanimal to the list of doubters

 

After dropping NY and getting curb stomped by LAC I’m thinking we may be very lucky to get the 4 seed in the end

 

I don't think it matters what seed we get. We will only win if we get lucky on shooting 3's. Westbrook can't carry everyone. We have 1 3pt shooter in the top 70 in the NBA. Teams like Denver, Utah, and the Clippers have 4 or 5 guys in the top 70. Other than our 3 pt shot we have Westbrook as about the only one who can drive in and make baskets. James can drive in and draw fouls, but only when the refs don't swallow their whistles. I'd say the odds are against us.

The lucky nights are so much fun to watch, but the brickfests are almost unbearable. They won't go away, because we just don't have great shooters. Harden takes more 3's than anyone in the league and isn't even in the top 100. McLemore is our best shooter, at 41, but can't start because his defense isn't good enough. Tucker and House are the only other guys on our team in the top 100. The strategy makes sense, but not with nothing but pawns on the chessboard.

 

Gordon and Harden simply have to show up.

 

Yes, I have serious doubts. I could see the Rockets dropping down to Memphis territory. We are close to the seventh seed right now. Check the standings. These brickfests are scary. When you are a bombs away team with no pure shooters, that's a problem. Also, the big teams are starting to punish us.

 

Just do it or not.

No doubt and no regrets.

 

Now that I think of it, a reason why Mclemore's shooting is close to 40 % is because he makes them against the second team more often than not.

 

EG isn’t going to show up this season. He’s been injured the whole year. It’s time for the team to stop trying to force him back into the lineup and accept the fact that we need to do it without him.

Harden can come out of this slump at any minute. Who knows if he will or not but the season is over without him playing at his best or close to it.

Then we have to rely on the role players to step up. They need to hit the open 3’s. Can’t have every role player participate in the brick fest like last night.

Westbrook is the only consistent person on the team. You know what you are going to get from him. Everyone else is so damn streaky you have no clue. Literally beat Boston in the road one night and lose to the Knicks the next.

 

Good point, except that many of our guys take wide open 3's anyway.

 

I think the problem is like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. I mean, it is what it is with our 3 pt shooters. They were never great to begin with, and certainly not anywhere close to the top in the league. It reminds me of the average Joe shooting a lotta basketballs in one of those carnival games, trying to win tickets. They might get lucky.

 

Me. I doubt it.

 

They're gonna get smoked in the first round

 

We may be better off with the 4th or 5th seed. The Clippers are the class of the NBA. They are built to win it all. I'd rather face the Lakers in the second round.