Pray for Fifth Seed [NBA Western Conference 2023-24]

You might as well go for HC advantage, 5th seed is Road Court advantage.

 

We’re only 7 games in. If we’re praying let’s lean into Saint Jude and ask for a real miracle and get that 1 seed.

 

5th seed

 

thoughts and prayers

 

Haha how did the other 29 teams not do precisely that .....this should be no secret around the taverns.

 

Of the teams behind the Rockets in the standings, I expect that Phoenix is better than what they are now, just too much talent but someone has to play defense ....


Memphis without Ja is terrible but he's only out for 25 games - where are they at that point and can he dig them out of that hole?

The Clippers are one injury away from an old James Harden becoming the system. They probably make the playoffs but as a bottom seed.

Rockets staying in the 6-7-8 spot seems reasonable.

 

Show me a loss.

 

I am very optimistic about this team, but the 5th seed is too big a mountain to climb IMO.

While not impossible, more than one projected top team would have to be without its best player(s) for a long stretch for this to even be imaginable.

 

That's the biggest difference between last year's defense vs this year's defense. Last year NBA teams ran all their sets smoothly. Basically it was like practice runs for opposing teams. Everyone got to their spots on and off ball so opposing offenses just used basic muscle memory from practicing these sets.

This year sets break down where an individual player has to do what basically KPJ and Green did trying to now make some difficult contested fadeaway. Basically we are making them turn their offense into what the Rockets offense was last year.

 

Lets see them make some noise in the "in-season" tournament and if they can that will set the stage for a much better than expected season.

 

James Harden could have been the real spark behind this defense . . . oh the woulda coulda shouldas

 

Ime is smart. He puts 4 switching defenders around Sengun the same way Denver does it and has modified his approach from his Boston year where he had 5 switching defenders working off of 2 iso players on offense - he's inversed that here somewhat and is timely with his game managing and player focus depending on the flow of each independent game. Sengun is good enough to make some quality defensive plays, but he's not an anchor the same way Jokic is not an anchor, but the fluidity/connectivity of the offense is so good with them you can live with their shortcomings. It works when shooters make shots and you control the pace of the game. Shows Ime is in tune with what works within the archetype and strength of his better players. He morphs between working through Sengun and opening up shots for the shooters to using Jalen as a popcorn scorer. If the effort, heart and 'want to' continues with this team there is no reason they shouldnt find themselves in the play in at worst.

 

Don’t get it. What’s so special about 5th seed?

 

Will this go as well as "Pray For Wemby"?

 

From this Graph the Mavs seem to be a tad ahead in Offense, 2nd best Offense.