ClutchFans Game Thread: Nuggets @ Rockets 3/2/2008

They need to change that rule. Somebody get the commissioner on the phone.

 

Winning the division earns them the right to the 4th spot, yet they can't secure HCA without the better record.

 

It's pathetic to see this farcical rule.

 

KMart and Marcus Camby are not and have never been back to the basket post up players. Carmelo was their only legit post up threat. The rockets played a man/zone that forced Melo to shoot rather than post up. I don't think Raefer and Shane are playing over their heads, I just think they are finally hitting wide open shots. Battier has always been a good defernder/hussle guy. And Raefer has always managed the offense and handled the ball well. It was just that early in the season they were missing wide open shots. There is nothing spectacular they are doing, just hitting shots most NBA players at their positions should hit.
I like our chances against the elite teams in the West. I think Mutombo can reasonably defend Duncan, Boozer/Okur, Gasol/Bynum, and even Shaq because the Suns dont run their offense through him.
I BELIEVE

 

Lol.....who the ******* is Raefer??

 

I started watching the game a few minutes in...was I the only one who thought it was Mike Tirico and Michelle Tafoya doing the PBP at first? Maybe I've been listening to too much ESPN radio.

 

They do, in fact suck noodles, look at the free throws, they only put us on the line 6 times, which would be great except it is due to fact that unless Camby gets a block, their defense is a joke.

I mean, of course, a middle of the road team in the West is still generally a good team but with the Nuggets it almost seems like a lack of effort. Coupled with the fact that their starting point guard is Anthony Carter.

BTW, I don't ever wanna hear the accusation that Rafer is the worst starter in the NBA while Anthony Carter is still around, that guy needs to go back to playing in Europe or something.

 

A division leader can be no lower then a #4 seed. But if the playoffs started today we would have homecourt advantage against them. Just like last year. The Rockets basically had the better record (tiebreaker) against Utah, but Utah was the 4 seed and we were the 5 seed. The Rockets had homecourt advantage though. So, in actuality, the Rockets are actually a Top 4 seeded team so we do currently have homecourt advantage in the first round. If New Orleans loses tonight we would be tied with them for the #3 seed, but New Orleans has the tiebreaker (by virtue of the better division record).

 

It was at its worse a couple of years ago when Denver won their division, had the 8th best record in the West but were given the 3 seed. As a result the team with the 2nd best record 60 win Dallas, was seeded 4th and the 6th seeded Clippers had homecourt advantage against #3 seed Nuggets.

 

For how cocky Kmart is, he's a terrible offensive player, except when he gets the putback off the offensive board. Anyone else notice how many times he completely hit the rim, either in airballs or hitting the backboard w/o the rim?

 

You're right that shaq was simply dominant. I remember at his peak, no one wanted to play the Lakers cuz they had no answer for the most dominant ever. But, just cuz Shaq was better than Yao is now doesn't mean we won't be seriously missing Yao's offensive and defensive presence come playoff time. First of all, your chances of winning are way lower w/o a dominant post player like Yao. Last time a team won the title w/o a dominant offensive big man was the Bulls. Offensively, Yao is at the same level as Tim Duncan. Defensively, Yao changes a lot of shots that don't get recorded in his already impressive block totals. Plus, Yao is just a big load. He wears down the frontline of the teams they face cuz he's just a big load to deal with. That softens up the interior for other guys to get more effective. That's how Yao impacts the game more than his numbers indicate.

 

Great win!
I expect , after Rockets win at Dallas, "serious talk" about Yao's situation on this team will be hot.
I worried about T-mac might disturb the team chemistry when Rockets played well without him. I was wrong. Do not say something so studpid again.

 

appreciate the optimism but the Pacers are up next. here's hoping our Rockets are more focused.

Pacers won big v the Bucks.

 

silly is contagious apparently.

pure nonsense.

 

It's happy to see we played so well without Yao.

 

the only way to prove we are better without yao is to win the championship. if we can do that, what else do u have to prove?

but that won't happen so yes, we do need yao.

 

nope, that doesn't prove it. that only proves we're better than the remaining competition.

 

How the hell does that prove that we're better without Yao? We win 12 in a row with Yao, then he goes out and we keep winning. Maybe if we lost 12 in a row and then Yao goes out and we win the championship you could make the case, but all that winning a title right now would prove is that we are a great team, even without our star.

 

nuggets should have never got rid of Andre Miller.