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Here's how West will finish . . . [ESPN Insider]

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by jd3, Dec 8, 2005.

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  1. jd3

    jd3 Member

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    Hope this has not been posted yet, no love for the rockets... :rolleyes:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dailydime-051207

    Here's how West will finish . . .
    By Greg Anthony
    ESPN Insider

    The Western Conference has been an 800-pound gorilla, ruling the NBA in recent years. But now we've seen a reversal. I don't think any team from the West, other than the Spurs, has a chance to win it all. The next two or maybe three teams that could win it after the Spurs come from the East. Here's how I see the West seeding come playoff time:

    1. Spurs. I've talked about Detroit having the best frontcourt and backcourt, but the Spurs have the best trio with Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan. Gregg Popovich is the best coach in the game.

    2. Suns. It's a tribute to the team that it is playing as well as it is right now, without Amare Stoudemire. Mike D'Antoni imposed his philosophy and style on the league. His formula's working again this year. Boris Diaw and James Jones have come in and boosted them on the perimeter.

    3. Nuggets. Marcus Camby's health and Carmelo Anthony's improvement will determine to what degree Denver will be a factor in playoffs. Anthony simply needs to go to another level offensively and defensively. Denver gets this high seed by virtue of winning the Northwest.

    4. Mavericks. You still have to worry about their leadership on the court, and that's going to be controlled by Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. A full year under Avery Johnson has helped develop their defensive disposition. Josh Howard has given them some good versatility.

    5. Grizzlies. Eddie Jones has had a huge impact, especially on the defensive end. And he's given them a good second scoring option after Pau Gasol. I think they got great point play from Earl Watson and Jason Williams the last couple of years, but it's been even better with Bobby Jackson and Damon Stoudamire.

    6. Sonics. They're obviously making the adjustment under coach Bob Weiss. Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen are keys. Last year was big for the team's confidence. I think they'll have enough for the playoffs.

    7. Clippers. In the playoffs. The Clippers. It's hard for me to mouth those words. But I do like their coach, Mike Dunleavy, and the team's got a high basketball IQ with Elton Brand and Sam Cassell. Their mix of talent is very good. But will Sam be able to play at this level the entire season?

    8. Lakers. I think they have too great a coach and too great a player in Kobe Bryant to not figure it out. Kobe is going to have to learn how to be a winner as the best player on his team. He's never had to do that before.

    Bubble teams

    Warriors. This team has always had injuries. And I can't remember the last time Baron Davis played a full season.

    Rockets. Yao hasn't gotten that much better. He just hasn't been that dominant player that people have labeled him. And the moves in offseason were not that good.
     
    #1 jd3, Dec 8, 2005
  2. krosfyah

    krosfyah Member

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    For a national pub to even list the Rockets as a bubble team right now is a compliment. ;) See, who says Houston don't get no respect?
     
    #2 krosfyah, Dec 8, 2005
  3. superden

    superden Member

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    yao isnt this yao isnt that.. blah blah blah.
     
    #3 superden, Dec 8, 2005
  4. zhao1109

    zhao1109 Member

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    this season still has 60+ games left. My god!
     
    #4 zhao1109, Dec 8, 2005
  5. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    what do you expect? why should they have us in the playoff picture when we have one of the worst records in the league this far into the season?
     
    #5 smoothie, Dec 8, 2005
  6. alexdapooh

    alexdapooh Member

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    ... and that is why I don't pay for this crap.
     
    #6 alexdapooh, Dec 8, 2005
  7. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    exactly.

    with our record how can we complain about not be included in the playoff picture? name another team with a similar record to ours and see if anyone is putting them in the playoff race.

    i think we can make the playoffs, but i'm not counting on it, and i'm surely not blaming people who aren't fans of the team for counting us out already.
     
    #7 smoothie, Dec 8, 2005
  8. Bullard4Life

    Bullard4Life Member

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    Greg Anthony is a moron. To have the Lakers as a playoff team is sheer idiocy. Neverthelss, the Rockets current record definitely discounts them from a top eight listing for now. One other thing I take issue with, how can he not credit Steve Nash with the Suns play? It's obvious that Nash, not Stoudemire, is there engine...
     
    #8 Bullard4Life, Dec 8, 2005
  9. TMac640

    TMac640 Contributing Member

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    looks like we'll have to take them by surprise for the #1 seed.

    perfect.
     
    #9 TMac640, Dec 8, 2005
  10. run-bdp

    run-bdp Member

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    #1 seed? I'll take whatever he's smoking.
     
    #10 run-bdp, Dec 8, 2005
  11. liu1107

    liu1107 Member

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    maybe we planned this.. at first play like bunch of morons( on purpose), when everyone loses focus on our ability to compete, then we pop out as 7th or 8th seed and give west No.1 a Pow Wow Surprise, Burn!!!!! then we win championship. Now you see how smart JVG is?
     
    #11 liu1107, Dec 8, 2005
  12. Visagial

    Visagial Member

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    Anthony has always been a Yao hater.
     
    #12 Visagial, Dec 8, 2005
  13. SirCharlesFan

    SirCharlesFan Member

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    Being realistic, I wouldn't mind the Rockets ending up around the #6 seed and getting whoever wins the Northwest division in the playoffs. I think the #6 seed might be the highest the Rockets can climb out of this hole...And even that might even be a long shot.
     
    #13 SirCharlesFan, Dec 8, 2005
  14. WizzyWig

    WizzyWig Member

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    I think we will be 6th seed.

    If we are 7th or 8th...I bet those 1 and 2 teams will be scared ****less.
     
    #14 WizzyWig, Dec 8, 2005
  15. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    Delete
     
    #15 tigermission1, Dec 8, 2005
  16. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    Actually, G-Money is giving the Rockets more 'love' than they deserve at this point.

    Overall, I agree with his assessment as far as those teams being the most likely to make it, but I am holding hope for the Rox to get their act together, which G.A. seems to be doing...
     
    #16 tigermission1, Dec 8, 2005
  17. scutmb

    scutmb Member

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    If we win tongiht's game, then only one game difference from last year in the first 17 games. Why are so many people panic here?
     
    #17 scutmb, Dec 8, 2005
  18. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Member

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    Him and his life partner Scream A Smith
     
    #18 GRENDEL, Dec 8, 2005
  19. goodbug

    goodbug Member

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    TMac had one healthy back all last year, the early record was to figure out and gel together. This year, we don't know yet. Another sitout will make us lottery bound. We are too vulnerable now.



     
    #19 goodbug, Dec 8, 2005
  20. baller4life315

    baller4life315 Member

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    Anthony has been riding the Lakers jock all season long.....for what reason, I don't know.

    He even went so far as to call them the sleeper to WIN THE CONFERENCE.


    :confused: :confused: :confused:
     
    #20 baller4life315, Dec 8, 2005
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