3/30/2009 OKC-SAS - Okay well obviously we want the Thunder to win, and they did last night, granted it was in OKC..GO THUNDER UTA-POR - Big game, pretty much a win-win but i think Portland will beat the j*zz at home, leaving them at the 6...meaning Houston really needs to get the 2 seed! NOH-SAC - Pretty much no contest, but New orleans is coming off a win last night and traveling to the west coast... NYK-DEN - High scoring game for sure...GO KNICKS! I think they can pull-off this upset. Chilcutt
You realize this is Tuesday's schedule, not tonight's. It's OK because there isn't much to discuss about tonight. Really looking forward to Utah at Portland. If Utah loses, it will be very hard for them to catch Denver.
I was going to start a new thread on the Nuggest but since you replied: Why did the Nuggets turn it around? 8/9 is pretty strong after the gloom and doom.
Honestly, call me doom & gloom, but we're still not out of the woods in my opinion. The thing that has helped has been our schedule. March was pretty favorable for the team. Excluding the first week, we have 12 games in March. Of those 12, only 4 were against "quality" opponents (Houston, @Phoenix, @NO, @ Dallas). The team is playing better, but I'm still not convinced they're playing as well as they were in January. Along with the schedule though, Melo's picked up his game. His scoring is up in March. His rebounds have dropped off, but I think a lot of that has to do with the emergence of Renaldo Balkman's playing time. In fact, Balkman would be another reason that we're playing better. Giving him a chunk of LK's minutes (who the Nuggets are 8.1 points per 100 possessions better with him OFF of the court) has really changed things. JR's also been putting things together and is scoring quite a bit more this month. But honestly, I think a lot of it is the schedule. Right now, I have two hopes: * The Southwest beats up on itself, allowing the Nugs to slip to the 2 seed. * If we get the 2, Utah somehow gets in front of Portland in the standings. We won't be drawing the Lakers or Mavs (destined for 1 & 8 respectively), so it basically comes down to NO, Por, Hou, SA or Utah in the first round. I want Portland (best draw, plus I love watching the Blazers and can handle losing to them). NO would be my second choice. Then a tie between you guys & the Spurs (I think it's an uphill battle against both, but I respect both teams so I can handle a loss). I do not want Utah. Not only do I think they'd beat the Nugs, but I think you'd find me in the hospital with a seizure due to my irrational hatred of Utah. That's all I ask. Dear God let me have this one thing.
In one way you are the antithesis of a Rockets fan and in another way you are 100% typical: Most Rockets fans are optimists (too much so IMO) instead of doom & gloom and nearly all Rockets fans would passionately hate losing to the Jazz. A minority of the optimists among us actually WANT to face them so the the "demon" can be slain.
i know right?? i was like he didnt change his name again and checked the seg but then realized that u got robbed.
i dont know i think u got it mixed up, i would say sac is the only upset i might see here, they beat pho couple days ago and theye playing pretty good now at hom
Yeah, I vividly remember the year that the Broncos had more wins than the Nugs. It's hard to be an optimist when you have that experience in life. I've noticed the optimism in the GARM (along with the constant bickering). I'm curious what you think realistically about the Rockets chances. First round fodder? Conference finals? Championship contender?
A lot depends on matchups for the Rockets. I can definitely see them beating any team except the Jazz, Spurs, or Lakers in the first round. Having home court only boosts their chances, and I consider home court in the first round to be very probable. As for the second round, if they get the right matchup, they could certainly advance to the WCF ala Suns 2006 or Jazz 2007. Winning the Southwest and having home court in the second round would be huge, particularly if the Nuggets took the #3 seed. Although I'd give us a puncher's chance against the Spurs with a huge boost if we have home court. If we fall to #4 and face the Lakers in the semis, our run ends there. In the WCF, we won't get by the Lakers. Maybe playing them day in and day out would make a difference, but I think the Spurs are the only team in the West that can knock them out. If the Spurs fall to #4, took out the Lakers in the semis, and we met them in the WCF, then I could see us advancing to the Finals. How likely is any of that? I see us getting out of the first round this year. Getting to the WCF is very, very iffy. If we're #4 or #5, we face the Lakers too early, and it's over. The Nuggets would be the dream scenario here. I think we have a shot against the Spurs but wouldn't expect them to win that series even if the Rockets had home court. The only way we're getting to the Finals is if the Lakers are eliminated before the WCF, and we can somehow beat the Spurs. In this unlikely scenario we'd have home court, but I'd still favor the Spurs. I'm okay with our chances this year. I think we have a good liklihood of getting that monkey of our backs and going to the second round. At least there's a decent chance of a golden path opening up to a deeper playoff run.
The Lakers are head and shoulders above everyone else in the West. I consider the Rockets one of the 2nd tier teams capable of either (1) reaching the WCFs or (2) losing in the first round. I break it down this way, Pencil them into the Finals: Lakers 2nd tier: Rockets, Spurs, Jazz, Nuggets Likely 1st round fodder: (unless one of these teams faces another): Mavs, Hornets, Blazers The seedings will matter a lot. The other 6 teams would be very happy if Utah slips to #8 and gets nuked by the Lakers. If the Mavs or Hornets end up #8, it guarantees two 2nd tier teams will face play in a very tough 1st round matchup. My wild card is the Blazers. If they bring their "A" game, they could actually beat a 2nd tier team in the 1st round. But given their youth and yoyo personality, I doubt they would. The bottom line is the Western Conference isn't as strong as many think it is. IMO, only the Lakers have legit championship mettle. This won't win me any friends, but the 2nd tier teams are just pretenders who need favorable matchups to reach the WCFs (i.e, avoid the Lakers in the 2nd round). One thing that may win me back a few friends is I think the Rockets are very capable of beating any other team in the West, including the Jazz and Spurs. They should NOT fear the Jazz at all IMO. The issue is how intensely painful it would be for all of us if the Jazz beat the Rockets again.
Getting back to tonight's action: I like the Blazers at home, especially with how much the Jazz had to struggle at home to win their last 2 games. The other games should be easy wins, but I think there will be 1 upset tonight. Maybe a hot-shooting Knicks or lacksidaisical play by the Hornets or a flat Mavs team in Minnesota. The Lakers will crush the Bobcats after losing in Atlanta. The Spurs are going to remember their loss in OKC and punish the Thieves early in a dominating win.
didnt the bobcats take the lakers to overtime in la earlier this season? i don't necessarily think its easier than expected, this matchup actually hurts the lakers...just like phily is with us. the bobcats record vs the lakers the last couple years is respectable
The Jazz tortured us all with two recent losses-turned-wins. I don't think i'll be able to handle a third tonight. GO PORTLAND!!
I hope someone provides a link Por/ Utah. There should be some serious playoff intensity and the Rockets might see one of those teams in the first round.
