Right now, without a fully healed Juwan Howard, we don't have much of a chance against Dallas with the way they're playing. Well I take that back we could beat them, but we'd have to be just about perfect. We'd have to be flawless. The odds of that happening are just not very good. Before Juwan went down, I really thought it didn't matter who the Rockets faced. Now things have changed. Here's my perfect scenario: Rockets hold on to the 6th seed and play Seattle in the first round. That series lasts a minimum of two weeks because of a stretched out game scheduling for TV - just like they did last year. That ends up giving Juwan just the right amount of time to heal and come back ready for whoever we face in the second round. Whether thats going to be Dallas, Phoenix, or San Antonio in that second round, the Rockets are going to need Juwan Howard.
The only team that we simply can't beat in a playoff series this year is San Antonio. But I think our second-toughest matchup in the Western Conference is Dallas. I would rather take my chances with the Sonic's lack of playoff experience and an inside game.
at this point the sonics do seem to be the more favorable of matchups. lewis is hurt and so is the radman. the lack of experience from the current squad all lead to a more favorable matchup. but if this team expects to have any success in this postseason and the future they mustn't be afraid to face anyone.
The problem of choosing 6th so to face Sonics has a problem down the road--we will play the Spurs in the semis. The Spurs are the team I am afraid of the most. I want us to play them in the finals.
There is an ebb and flow to this. The Rox were playing better than Dallas two weeks ago. It's just that the Mavs are just now getting it together and healthy. Everything could change by April 20. I can't think of any position where the Rox have an advantage over Dallas. Yao/Damp is a wash. Dirk/Tracy is a wash. I don't know that we have answers for Stackhouse, Finley, Van Horn. On the other hand, Yao could be a difference-maker against the Sonics. WAB
I'd rather face the Sonics than Dallas so we could get a playoff series win under our belts. We probably would have to face the Spurs in the 2nd round though unless they can hang on without TD & get the #1 spot.
I know we should continue to keep winning, but the rest of the schedule looks winnable for the Kings: Minnesota - W Seattle - L @ Portland - W L.A. Lakers - W @ L.A. Lakers - W @ Phoenix - L @ Utah - W Phoenix - L I predict 5-3. That means we would have to go 5-4 for us to finish 6th. With the firepower that the Mavs have, facing the Sonics would be a better matchup.
Yao and Damp a wash hahaha. man do you ever watch this team? and in Dallas Damp is known as a player that doesnt give 110%. dampier sucks
i do not care who we meet in the first round, as long as we do not meet the spurs in te second. I do not want to have to play against the spurs before the conferance finals.
Yao's a better overall player than Dampier. but Dampier is a better rebounder and shot-blocker and usually a player that defends Yao very well. Yao's gonna have a hard time going up against Dampier.
Mavericks. They are ripe for the taking even with Avery replacing Nelson as coach. They'll play more defense under Avery than Nelson but they are still a soft team particularly inside after the addition of Van Horn. Dampier's foot injury is far more serious than the Mavs have let on and Stackhouse is gimpy. They tend to play both Van Horn & Dirk at the same time with Van Horn manning the 5 which is a joke. Yao should kill him if JVG plays him correctly and the @$%#! point guards get him the ball. The Rockets have the physical players that can shut them down and make them a jumpshooting team which is their true identity.
