[tnt/chris webber] "If golden state plays houston in the playoffs..."

Ill tell you one thing about the matchup. It would be epic. 7 games for sure. At least 2 overtimes. Something they show on ESPN classic for years to come. McGrady and Davis would provide jaw dropping performances each night. While different role players on both teams will step up different nights. Citizens of both cities will have sleepless nights, prolonged periods of forgetting to breath, and nails bitten to nothing. One city's heart will be thoroughly broken. I cant take ANOTHER 7 game series in the 1st round. But it would be a blast.

 

every playoff hopeful wants to meet the Rockets in the playoffs. we're the trendy first round prom date notorious for 'putting out'.

'a sure thing'.

 

GS is actually one of the matches and I'd perfer in the first round. The Rockets' biggest weakness is their lack of size to match up with bigger teams like the Lakers, the Suns, and the Spurs. GS, on the other hand, does not have that size advantage. They run and gun. The way the Rockets are made up now, we can deal with that. Plus, Landry and Scola would have a field day against the Warriors.

 

lol nicely put. The rocks need to give them some blue balls and send them home to relieve themselves.

 

I don't know why anyone wouldn't want the Warriors ahead of the Lakers, Spurs, Suns, etc.

Our biggest weakness by far is our lack of size especially in the low-post.

Who I want:
1. Dallas (without Dirk)
2. Denver
3. Golden State
4. Dallas (with Dirk)
5. Suns
6. Jazz/Spurs/Lakers

 

We play Defense.....Houston wins.

DD

 

As long as we keep driving to the basket and/or drawing fouls and playing just a little bit of defense like we did last game against them, we should be fine. And limit the turnovers, please.

 

Bring on Golden State please, the only team I would not want to face is the Suns because they have 2 seven footers that would make life hell for us.

Other then that I think Scola can hold his own agaisnt boozer and duncan, even Gasol when he gets back.

 

Webber made a solid point (I thought he did a good job yesterday ... he definitely has the ability to work in television, if he wanted). Golden State's best chance in the playoffs is to match up against a team with out a physical low post presence. That means Dallas, Denver, or Houston.

 

I am with you. In the last game, their coach said it best, "we played well, they just beat us." Scola and Landry will make the difference.

 

Justified or not, we are one of the teams people want to play in the postseason. I agree that they're taking our post-Yao defense for granted.

Evan

 

Totally agree. This is a good matchup due to their lack of size. You can also count on them imploding when they encounter the full bite of the Rockets' defense.

Rockets in 5 or 6 at most.

 

Our defense has definitely fallen off the past week or so ...

 

With Yao, the Rockets had no chance of beating the the Warriors

Without Yao, the Rockets match up better with them and especially if Landry is healthy. I wouldn't worry so much about a match up with the Warriors.

 

We win in 4 -5 games against GS with the style and personnel now.

 

In general, order of teams least desirable to match up with in round 1. Please note if I were judging individual teams I would have a different order. E.g., Houston's least favorable matchup is Phx, followed by SA; Phx least favorable match would be SA, then maybe NO; Dallas is more trouble to SA than Phx, Utah vice versa.

TIER 1

1-SA -still have the big 3, defense, and history tested.

2-Phx -matchup problems gallore, vet leaders, and in round 1 depth/age in Nash, Shaq, Hill & Bell less of an issue.

3-LA -The most talented team top to bottom, the only reason they are this low is it may be hard to integrate Gasol and Bynum and the post-Shaq Lakers have a bad close out record in round 1 (0-4?). With each series win they could get tougher.

TIER 2

4-NO -You have to recognize how outstanding they are playing. But because of youth and weakness in rotation spots 5-9, I'd rather draw them than the above 3.

5-Dal -I assume Dirk gets back. Still top notch talents and vets. I would not want to be a favored seed drawing them when they have no expectations and are playing with house money.

6-Utah - A good tough team, but still athletically challenged. Some may say they are too low, but you know what, only Golden State among playoff contenders in both conferences allows a higher % of opponents shots. Neither Boozer nor Okur protect the defense paint much either.

TIER 3

7-Den - We know AI and Melo can create problems for anyone, on any given day, but with JR Smith starting to provide great off the ball shooting and a 3rd scorer this team is increasingly dangerous to a higher seed. Mix in Camby's defense and Nene maybe contributing--no fun to draw at all. But at least their PG position sucks, thus I don't see them moving up, except maybe over a Dallas team if they can't get it together.

8-Hou - I hope I am wrong but I have their feeling of one of those classic overachieving teams with great chemistry but just not enough firepower once all the teams with more firepower raise it to playoff level. This is not to say we don't have a fighting chance against anyone in round 1, sans perhaps a healthy SA or Phx. Bringing the best WC defense + one guy who can go off and create for himself and others + a commited solid group of role players can get you some Ws.

9-GS - Yes they can score and be lights out explosive on any given night. But they are worst defensive and rebounding team of the bunch--what does that usually tell you about the playoff success? I don't expect another team to play stupid for 5-6-7 games like the Mavs tried last year--I think what we saw in the Jazz series is what we would see, over time there is just to much pressure to maintain that kind of shooting to win serious over more balanced and disciplined teams.

 

how did our 22-win streak start? and how did yao do in that game?

against gsw, it's all about rebounding. it is true when playing most fast but small teams.

it will be a good match-up for us if somehow we meet them in the first round.

 

Yeah, Yao had a monster game, (a Hakeem type game) but it was just one game.

Yao's history against them has not been pretty. Can you imagine having to play them in a 7 games series? They would tire him out so fast.

 

You can say the same thing about the Rockets. Our best chance is to match up against a team with out a physical low post presence. That means Dallas, Denver, or Golden State. This is why it is essential to get one of the top 2 seeds.

 

I say bring 'em on too. Those guys play the worst defense of any playoff team. And we have a top 3 defense even sans Yao. I do not fear GS. We ain't last year's Dallas squad. These guys will scramble until the morning after the lights go out.