i dont see this being that easy if POR gets HCA, i see POR coming out red hot in game 1 with overly excited fans, who had not seen a playoff game in POR for multiple years, pumping up the atmosphere for his team. I don't want to say this but the first game at POR will be very very tough to get.
Portland is a team we can beat. The only ones I was really concerned about were the Lakers and Jazz. Not having homecourt sucks (if that turns out to be the case), but it wasn't going to be easy in any case. It'll be a tough fight, but unless Alderidge or say Outlaw or Batum play at another level, I think we have the advantage. Provided we don't ignore Yao again for big stretches, or let Artest jack stupid shots up, or the refs fall for the inevitable Pryzbilla flopping. Like I said; it won't be easy. But the Rockets can do it.
Beat the Blazer we get out of the 1st round = I'm happy Jazz beat the Lakers we beat the Jazz in the 2nd round advance to WCF's = I'll be excited Win the WCF's = In YO FACE!!!
Nope not quite, if there record is worse than the 4th seed, then the division winner can finish 4th, but its just in this case the 3rd and 4th will be tied in Portland win, but SA get third because they win the Tie-Breaker due to the division champions tie-breaker rule. Check Utah last year, won the division title and finished 4th. The top 4 seeds is determined by the 3 division winner and the team with the next best recrod, then all these teams are compared and are ranked by there records.
Wait, this is actually a dream come true... Hear me out! 1) We don't have to see/hear Mark Cuban for 7 games cry like a baby after every freaking call against the Mavs. 2) We don't have to see the refs alter calling the games based on Cuban's complaints (cough - contributions) to the league office. 3) We don't have to hear that dumba** Rick Flair yell every freaking time Chris Paul scores in New Orleans. 4) We don't have to see David West cry and TRY to act like a punk when he gets frustrated at Scola. 5) We don't have to see Chandler scream like a howler-monkey just because he gets a nice pass from CP3 that leads to a dunk. ROCKETS IN 6!!!! Book It!
portland is by far the best matchup but it certainly wasn't worth giving up the easier playoff bracket. considering new orleans lost and portland was likely going to beat denver, we could have been 2nd seed facing hornets with only denver or dallas looming in the second round.
The Blazers are worried about us. We are to them, what the Jazz are to us. That's why they're fighting for that HCA. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we even sweep the series.
uhh guys, hate to burst your bubble and all, but if the Blazers win (which looks likley) we are probably going to be playing the Spurs, NOT the Blazers... Portland won the season series with San Antonio. The NBA rules are the top 4 teams (meaning 3 division winners and a wildcard). So if Portland wins they will be the 3 seed (they will have the same record and would have won the head to head tiebreaker). If Portland loses they will be on the road against Houston.
Actually, I disagree. The Rockets are a more experienced playoff team by a mile. They're going to be so pumped up and nervous, I could see them not playing well to start. If the Rockets take advantage of that and get off to a nice lead early, they'll feel the pressure and might tighten up.
how would people feel if the Rockets won today and had to face Utah in the first round? I say playing against Portland without homecourt is better
I also think it is a difficult game. portland young player play very good at home. now, we should take preperation on this series. please dont waste time to talk about lakers or jazz.
At least finally it's not going to be the Mavs or j*zz for the first time in four years.. Houston deserves to be in the 2nd round than a young portland team. We have one of the oldest teams in the leauge who is hungry to at least land in the 2nd round for too long. I'm kinda glad it's Portland...They have no one that is quick enough to front Yao in the center position, the best that Oden and Joel can do is to play behind him. Artest and Scola really need to snap out of their funk. Nonetheless I like our chances, we would have been 3-0 against them if it wasn't for that miracle of a shot by Roy. Does anyone have the lifetime playoff record between Portland and Houston?
OMFG When will people learn to read before posting? Let me explain it again in simpler words. YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT TOP 4 SEEDS BEING 3 DIVISION WINNERS AND A WILDCARD. BUT IF THERE IS A TIE BREAKER AND ONE OF THOSE TEAMS ARE A DIVISION WINNER, THEY GET THE HIGHER SEED. GET IT? HOPE SO.
Erghh! If teams are tied then the first tie breaker is the division champions one! If a divison chapion and the 4th best record are tied then the division champion goes to 3rd! How many times do people have to say it!!!
WRONG! TIEBREAKER RULE FOR PLAYOFF SEEDING: Two-Team Tiebreaker: 1. Division Winner (this criterion is applied REGARDLESS of whether the tied teams are in the same division). SAN ANTONIO wins on this (FIRST) tiebreaker, since Portland did NOT win a division. Head to Head record is the 2nd tiebreaker
I think it's better this way. Somehow I feel like the Rockets will play better on the road if they're forced to. Our defense will be our backbone.
