We are half way through the season. Which team you think will not make it the playoffs? 1. LA Lakers 2. Minnesota 3. Rockets 4. Phoenix 5. Utah 6. Portland 7. San Antonio Dallas and Sacramento look like a lock to make it the post season. And if Seattle does not make a push only one team out of the above 7 teams will be eleminated. Who is that team?
I think it is going to be the Phoenix Suns. They are a bad road team and a good home team. They fair better agaist the east than the west. They are young and have one outstanding rookie that eventually will hit the rookie wall. They also have some injuries. They have not make the playoffs last year. Wait a minute, this is the same description of our own Rockets. Still I think it going to be phoenix that will not make it.
That's sux to see so far that we don't have too much confidence in our own team to make the play-offs. We're in 2nd so far!!!
I think the timing of the poll has an effect on the results. After two tough losses, it is to be expected that some people might not be too confident in our team. My surprise, is that alot of people are choosing Minnesota to miss the playoffs. I think they are a good team which made the playoffs for the last 5 or six years and are well coached. Anyone who voted for Minnesota cares to make an explanation, other than they do not have anyone beside KG.
CC, I think the thinking is simply that Minn is currently in 8th place and the Lakers in 9th. Since they (since I didn't vote Minn myself) can't imagine the Lakers not making the postseason, they bump the bottom team off. It makes sense: they are a good team with a good coach and even so are only in 8th place. Why would you think they'd do appreciably better in the second half of the season? But, I vote for the Lakers.
I think the reason many are picking Minnesota is because 1. they aren't playing well right now and are not the same team without Brandon, Billups, and Wally for half the season. 2. I think that in the west its getting harder and harder to crack the top eight and since they are sliding backwards they seem to be the odds on favorite to fall out.
Well, Minnesota is virtually tied with the Rockets for the 7 & 8 spots. They have a solid record 16-8 against the west vs 12-13 for the Rockets and 14-13 for Phoenix. They are also a slightly better road team than both. Also they been there before and know what it takes to make it the post season (same for the Lakers). I think Phoenix well not sustain their pace and will not make the playoffs.
Actually the Wolves are playing better than the Suns right now. The Wolves will have their ups and downs, just like the Rockets. They both will get into the playoffs, IMO. The Suns have surprised a lot of people, just like the Sonics were earlier on. I predicted the Sonics would sink. And I am predicting the Suns will sink lower than the Wolves and the Rockets. I was debating myself between the Suns and the Lakers. And I finally realized that I wished the Lakers wouldn't make the playoffs, but I knew (kinda) the Suns wouldn't.
My first thought was to vote for Minn but things have been pretty solid for them and are only gonna get better: 1) Wally is back 2) Hudson is underrated 3) As CC has mentioned, very impressive first half record versus the West (3rd best in the West) and their losses are mostly to good teams. I like Utah and Phoenix because of their blend of veterans and young players but Marbaby leads Phoenix and I'd like to see Marbaby continue to live in shadows until he grows up. Phoenix Falls!
Utah will not make the playoffs, have any of you seen their April schedule?!?!?!?! They Finish the season vs HOuston, Dallas, SAn Antonio, and then At Sacramento. If they are in a close race with any team for the 8th spot well we can stick a fork in it.
According to Jeff Sagarin: San Anonio 80.02 (toughest remaining schedule) Utah 89.55 Los Angeles 89.67 Houston 89.80 Minnesota 90.27 Phoenix 90.56 Portland90.66 (easiest remaining schedule) San Antonio really have tough remaining games. They might slip.
I agree with all these posts, if I were handicapping Phx would be the one to miss. I'd say my odds for each one making the playoffs are something like this: Phx 2-1 Min 3-1 Hou 4-1 Utah 5-1 Lakers 6-1 Portland 25-1 SA 10-1 (normally would be lower than Portland, but one Duncan injury and they are toast) The concern with us is that we are young, missing some guys due to injury, and Yao's production is fading.
I hope those are the odds for not making the playoffs... But, honestly, if we're even worried about an extremely old Utah team, a horrible Phoenix team, or a point-less T-Wolves team we've got serious problems. That is a much better barometer of where we stand as opposed to the average Rudy apologist's quote of "2 games behind the Spurs blah blah blah pooop".
Our record does not seem great, but we are going to make the playoffs. And the Lakers' record does not look fabulous, but they are going to make the playoffs. This leaves the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Utah Jazz. Hopefully one will start playing terrible. They have been winning lately. The Pheonix Suns not in the playoffs? They have been great this year. Too bad for the Seattle Supersonics. Who will want Gary Payton? Minnesota will not make it because Utah, Los Angeles, and Houston will. Either them or the Jazz. NOT HOUSTON!
I admit that this poll is kind of early. But I just wanted to see what the sentiment is regarding the Rockets chances for the post season. I appreciate everyone who responded. For the record. As of 1/22/03 W L PCT 1 Dallas Mavericks 32 8 2 Sacramento Kings 31 11 3 San Antonio Spurs 26 15 4 Portland Blazers 25 15 5 Utah Jazz 25 16 6 Phoenix Suns 25 18 7 Houston Rockets 23 17 8 Minnesota Timberwolves 24 18 9 Los Angeles Lakers 19 22 Seattle and Goldent States are just a step behind the Lakers.
