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Potential Playoffs matchups: Which team would be the hardest?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Carl Herrera, Feb 23, 2008.

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  1. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Member

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    What do you think?

    I'm thinking the Suns, if Shaq is healthy. Shaq does a good job checking Yao, and when he sits, they still have the 3-ball attack and atheletes to run the Rockets ragged. Not having Shawn Marion hurts them, but they got plenty left.

    Maybe Utah: Yao still has to check either Boozer or Okur... neither an ideal defensive assignment. Hopefully, the new talent (Luis, Landry) and better offensive passing attack would carry them over the hump (they weren't far away, just could not finish game 7).
     
    #1 Carl Herrera, Feb 23, 2008
  2. cody

    cody Member

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    Phx - because Shaq plays Yao better than anybody else, and more importantly, they don't have to double team Yoa.

    Lal - Kobe, though Battier give 100% effort, Kobe is averaging 37.5ppg against us this season
     
    #2 cody, Feb 23, 2008
  3. JD2010

    JD2010 Member

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    probably LA and Phoenix
     
    #3 JD2010, Feb 23, 2008
  4. prs325

    prs325 Member

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    The Lakers would be tough IMO with Pau, Bynum and Odom (not to metion Kobe)... The Suns were pretty difficult with Marion because he allowed them to spread the floor, add quickness and athleticism. Smaller lineups are typically challenging for the Rockets due to Yao's lack of mobility on the defensive end.

    Now that they have Shaq, I would imagine that the matchups favor the Rockets since it slows down their tempo. And because Shaq clogs up the middle, Yao wont have to go very far from the paint. Historicaly, Yao plays Shaq very well also because they dont send help to double Yao.

    But well see what happens when we play the rest of the playoff condenters the rest of the season and gauge where we really are.
     
    #4 prs325, Feb 23, 2008
  5. ind0fo0

    ind0fo0 Member

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    phx/la

    i would rather face la than phx though
     
    #5 ind0fo0, Feb 23, 2008
  6. Matchman

    Matchman Member

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    Lakers (kobe, enough said)
    Warriors (run and gun team with a center who can shoot 3-pointers)
    Jazz (Boozer)
     
    #6 Matchman, Feb 23, 2008
  7. fayesun

    fayesun Member

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    PHX.. Nash's 3 pointer FG is awesome
     
    #7 fayesun, Feb 23, 2008
  8. blathersby

    blathersby Member

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    Tra LA LA, tra LA LA LA, tra LA LA, tra LA LA LA
    Seriously. Gasol + Bynum can shut the door on the Rockets. I should only HOPE the Suns beat them; I do NOT want to face the Lakers. After them...

    New Orleans. Yes. I know the Rockets JUST torched them, but that's a fluke given the past few years. They're the team I think has the best change of extinguishing the Rockets' 2nd round hopes.
     
    #8 blathersby, Feb 23, 2008
  9. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    1) LA
    2) SA
    3) Dallas
    4) Utah
    5) Phoenix
    6) GS
    7) NO
    8) Denver
     
    #9 TheFreak, Feb 23, 2008
  10. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    Lakers will be the toughest team to beat, if they are all healthy.

    I still think we can beat anyone, though - no reason we should not be a contender for the championship - if everyone is healthy.
     
    #10 AroundTheWorld, Feb 23, 2008
  11. tigermission1

    tigermission1 Member

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    That would be us...
     
    #11 tigermission1, Feb 23, 2008
  12. plutoblue11

    plutoblue11 Member

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    I would say the usual GSW and Suns. The athleticism and team speed is still effective against us, especially the shooters are not on and Yao is getting fronted like crazy.

    I would much rather play S.A. or LA out of the gates, because the running style would not be good for us to deal with in 1st Round.


    LA looks great right now, but I think they will come down to earth against teams who are very good defensively. Don't get me wrong PJ and Kobe can beat any team in the league especially with cast like the one they have now, but ...... I don't see us folding so easily against them, because we actually match up well with them. And I believe we even have a better bench.
     
    #12 plutoblue11, Feb 23, 2008
  13. mzymmm

    mzymmm Rookie

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    I don't fear LA that much. Scola-Gasol, Kobe-Battier, Tmac-Odem, Yao-Bynum.


    But in Utah machup, Boozer will eat Scola for lunch, Deron Williams will eat Alston for lunch, and Yao can't really step outside to guard the ass Okur, I don't know, I just don't like the matchup.


    Anyway, we will see how we can play them soon.
     
    #13 mzymmm, Feb 23, 2008
  14. BrownBeast99

    BrownBeast99 Member

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    i really dont want to face the Lakers in the playoffs. that team will give us problems along with a clutch kobe. phoenix and utah are also going to be tough matchups. we'll have to wait and see how good/bad the mavs have got to judge them.
     
    #14 BrownBeast99, Feb 23, 2008
  15. BetterThanEver

    BetterThanEver Member

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    LA would be the hardest. They would have Ariza and Bynum back. Ariza would keep Mac in check, while we can't handle Kobe. Bynum, Odom, and Gasol are somewhat better than Yao, Scola and Battier.
     
    #15 BetterThanEver, Feb 23, 2008
  16. Madeinchin4

    Madeinchin4 Member

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    Suns and Lakers with the addition of gasol
     
    #16 Madeinchin4, Feb 23, 2008
  17. BigM

    BigM Member

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    lakers by far. f#@k memphis.
     
    #17 BigM, Feb 23, 2008
  18. Spacemoth

    Spacemoth Member

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    We match up a lot better with Phoenix than we used to. Actually there isn't a single team that poses explicit matchup problems anymore. So I'm just going to say that I don't want to face the two best teams out there, namely

    the Lakers

    and Jazz.

    You don't need to matchup poorly against those two teams to get your brains beat in this year. They are the frontrunners, and mark my words they'll be 2 of the top 3 seeds. The higher the Rockets climb the further away we get from having to see either of those teams in the first round.

    But honestly? I fear no team outright anymore. Even against LA and Utah it'd be a toss-up. But I love our chances against Dallas, SA, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Denver.
     
    #18 Spacemoth, Feb 23, 2008
  19. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Member

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    I don't get why LA comes up so often.

    Basically, they are the same team except Gasol-- and frankly, I don't think our 4 man match up or compare poorly with him. They'll harass, push, and generally annoy him. Wouldn't be suprised if the PF productivity actually favor Rockets.

    And the rest of the matchups are what they are... I don't see a definite physical mismatch like there is with Utah. Yao can check Bynum or Gasol... these guys are not skilled and quick like Boozer nor do they have 3pt shooting range.

    The only trouble I see if when Luther has to check Kobe or one of the bigger wings.

    What LA has against the Rockets is 3 point shooting... they got shooters galore... Rockets have fired too many blanks from beyond the arc even when they win.

    But physically, I think the Rockets are fine against them.
     
    #19 Carl Herrera, Feb 23, 2008
  20. EGYPT

    EGYPT Member

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    I agree.
     
    #20 EGYPT, Feb 23, 2008
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