Memphis has given us fits all year long and now they are only 2.5 games behind Minnesota for the Midwest and 2 of their remaining games are against Minnesota and they hold the tiebreaker over San Antonio. Is anyone here with me when I say that I sure hope Memphis loses these upcoming games. We definitely match up better with the wolves in my opinion. I'm gonna have nightmares now.
This matchup would be a dogfight. But I will take Memphis over Spurs and Kings anytime since both Memphis and us have no playoff experience. I have confident we can beat them in 7 game.
You do not want to play Memphis for many reasons including the fact that it will be another chance for us to see how stupid and short sighted the team was to let Posey go to two of the best minds in bball.
Man, Posey would not be as good as he is now with Menphis if he stayed here. He fits into their system, a running open floor offense. Personally, Jim Jackson is doing everything and more than posey did last season for us and for less money.
We would have much better chance to beat Grizzles in the first round even without home court. 1:3 regular records means nothing came to playoff time. I remember 2001-2002 Kings beat Utah 4:0 in regular season and nearly get upset in the first round. Playoff just have a whole different level of competition and the teams has bigger star usually thrive. Chance for us to upset the current top 4 seeds in the play offs without home court is very small. Like rockets, Grizzles are a very good team, not a great team yet, and they never play any play off games. I think Refs would give some edges to Rockets since we have some marquee name player on our team.
Memphis? Are you kidding me? I'd take Memphis over any of the other western conf playoff teams exept Nuggets. Rockets would be extremely lucky to draw Memphis in the first round.
Memphis is damn good, but they are without a doubt the easiest target, given that they have no experience and no goto player yet.
No offense, but you do not know what you are talking about. I love you guys that come in here and spout off opinions about players and teams - when you actaully haven't seen an NBA game that doesn't invovle the Rockets all season. You can get a lot more information from watching teams play other teams then you can from reading an article, boxscore - or watch highlights on ESPN. Its call NBA league pass - get it - so you won't look like an idiot to those of us who are true BASKETBALL fans and follow more than one team. The Rockets could NOT match Posey's offer from the Grizz because they would have incuerred luxury taxes from the league. They signed JJ (a spot up shooter) who fits better with Yao as a low post player anyway, so stop complaining about that. Secondly, Memphis is an fast break team (which fits Posey better) but more importantly, will not be as effective in the playoffs. When you play the same team seven times in a row, you need a go-to guy and a good half-court set to win consistently. the Memphis are still working on that. Bonzi Wells and Shane Battier are not going to have great nights consecutively against the same team. So who will they turn to - Gasol... the paper tiger !?!? - two games of tough D on him and he will revert to his 10 points, 5 rebs. Especially against the Lakers (who they will probably play) prediction - Memphis will be out of the first round in 6 (regardless of home court advantage)
PS - to me the "nightmare" matchup for the ROckets is the Spurs. A better half-court team, with lots of experience. Although it would be fun to try to take them down a notch !
Actually, it's hard to see the Rockets have any chance against the Spurs, Kings, or the Lakers(the other teams we might face). The Kings will kill Van Gundy's defense with their great shooting. The Lakers are now finally healthy and are simply dominant. The Spurs are basically the Rockets with better talent and team play. The only teams I'd give Rockets good shots at winning are Minny and Memphis.
The only bad thing about Memphis is that you can't cite any past teams as examples, because there has been absolutely no similar team with such a (potential) high seed ever before. I'm not sure their pressue will be as effective in a 7 game series. The series will start on their court, and by the time the second game comes around (also on their court) we'll be rpetty well adjusted to that defense of theirs. JVG said he didn't prepare us for their defense last time which sounds to me like he sort of figured it out and will prepare them if there's a next time. The teams I'd love to face: Dallas (improbable), Minnesota, Memphis, or Denver (unrealistic). In my eyes, the Rockets are much better prepared for the playoffs than most of the playoff teams. The style we've been playing all season is the same style we'll take to the playoffs and execute. However, other teams will have to adjust to the slower pace, nastier attitudes, and shorter rotations.
I think Memphis today - is very similar to the Mavs of about 2-3 years ago - their first 50 win season. they can win a lot of games and maybe they can pull an upset in the first round (although Dallas played a five game series NOT the more grueling seven game one) - but they were fodder in the second round - not even putting up a fight against a half-court team
Like a poster said before, the regular season and playoffs are totally different. Memphis has no standout go to guy, no playoff experience, and can't play half court as well as they run, so I think we have a GREAT chance against them.
If you mean they are similar in that they win in the regular and not in the playoffs, then maybe yes. But Memphis is nowhere near the talent level of the Mavs, unless Posey suddenly becomes a Finley and Gasol suddenly becomes a Nowitzki. I don't think so. They do play better defense than the Mavs, though.
Do we want to play the Grizzlies in the 1st round? Well, as it stands, the only way we'll play them is for them to win the Midwest. If they do that, I don't want to face them, because that means they are on fire going into the playoffs. They have to be very very hot the rest of the way to get past both the Spurs and the T-wolves in such a short time.
Memphis is only 2 games behind Min in the loss column and they have two games to play each other. Memphis already won their series with the Spurs, so it's very possible for Memphis to win the MW division.
Couldn't be more wrong. The only similarity is that they have balanced offensive options. But when you consider these things: - Memphis relies on super-tight defense and pressure. - Dallas had a few go-to guys, Memphis has none. - Dallas were the best offensive team in the league. - Memphis are the 3rd yougnest team in the league, while the Mavs included Avery, Finley, Nash, Bradley, etc... - Memphis has a disciplined coach/system, Mavericks had Don Nelson. Really, they're worlds apart. It's not compearable, and it remains to be seen if their style will be succesful.
short time yes but their schedule allows them to play minnesota twice. IF they win those 2 games that alone would make up the 2 game difference, but it is possible but their schedule is a bit tough. The thing about memphis I don't like is that they take us out of our offense and make us play their tempo. At least with San Antonio or Kings, we are able to at times somewhat control the tempo and play our style of basketball. Memphi has shown 3 games this year that their heavy pressing and energy is something we cannot play against. Only 1 game where we caught them on a back to back were their energy levels down to where we took advantage of them. I HOPE that playoff style basketball will hurt their running game though. Tough 1st round for us whoever we meet, but WE WILL PREVAIL!!!
Minny has 7 games left. Let's say they win only 3 of the remaining games (including two easy ones against GS and Washington). Memphis will have to win 6 of their 8 remaining games to beat out the Wolves. They have to play Minny 2 times, Lakers and Dallas on the road, and a Utah team (who is fighting for a playoff spot) on the road. They'll have to win 3 of those 5 tough games, plus winning all the other 3 lesser games. If they can do that, they'll be very very scary indeed.
