what do you think the final playoff seeding will be for the Rockets? Will they get in

I think we will definitely make the playoffs, the question is where. Realistically it looks like it will be at the 8 spot and it looks like the Mavs are going to be the one seed. Time after time this season the Mavs have showed that we cannot match up with them well enough to win a game, much less four games. We either need to get the 7 spot or pray that the Kings beat out the Mavs for the one spot.

 

I am not worried about it. I just want to make the playoffs. Even if Dallas sweep us, I would still consider it as a successful season.

 

If Phoenix loses against Minnesota we'll be only a 1/2 game behind them and the Lakers for the 8th spot.

We've been playing better lately too, yeah Dallas killed us but that was pretty much expected.

 

Mavs
Kings
Spurs
Portland
Utah
Lakers
T'Wolves
Rockets

1st round exit after making a little noise against Dallas (4-2)

 

We'll finish 7th.
Lakers'll finish 6th.
Jazz will finish 8th.

We'll BEAT Sacramento in the first round of the playoffs, but lose 4-2 against the Spurs in the 2nd round.

 

an optimist!? on this board?!

 

Sure, I don't see whats wrong with it. Even though our team is the 2nd youngest team in the league, we're a team with an exception to that rule. Yao has been in that world-spotlight for a while now. I don't think he will be bothered with it. I don't think Eddie and Mo T will give us much preduction. But I think Moochie and Rice will give us a lift off the bench. Cat would get about 14 or 15PPG in the series, Steve would get about 22PPG in that series, and Yao would get about 16PPG. Now this is speaking we play the Kings in the 1st round, if we played Dallas, we'll get a 1st round exit after being swept 4-0. What the hell, we deserve the benefiet of the doubt... make that 4-1.

 

1. Mavs
2. Kings
3. Spurs
4. Blazers
5. T-wolves
6. Jazz
7. Rockets
8. Lakers

First round: Rockets beat Kings. Lakers beat Mavs. Spurs beat Jazz. Blazers beat T-wolves.
Second round: Rockets eat Spurs. Lakers beat Blazers.
Third round: Rockets beat Lakers.
Final: Rockets beat Pacers.

That would be a perfect picture! Realisticly, Rockets can beat all these teams. The tough part is get to that #7 seed...

 

Assuming the Rockets even make the playoffs (we probably have around a 40-50% chance), I'd MUCH rather play the Mavericks in the 1st round than the Kings. The Kings are way, way better than the Mavericks when healthy, with Bibby/Christie/Peja/Webber/Divac and B. Jackson/Turkoglu/J. Jackson/K. Clark on the bench.

The Mavs have shot incredibly well against Houston this year, and it will be harder for them to hit jump shots in the playoffs, when things get more physical. If Nash or Dirk get cold in the playoffs and Francis's back is healthy and he's playing well, the Rockets have a very tiny chance to beat them. However, that is complete wishful thinking, because the Rockets have to make the playoffs in the first place.

 

I think we have a good shot at the #8 position...and a couple wins against the Mav's isn't out of the realm of possibility.

I think it would take a lot of luck for us to win an 1-45 series.

 

Kings are better than the Mavs when they face other. But against Rockets, Mavs are way better. Rockets are 0-4 against Mavs, and 2-1 against Kings. Here are a few reasons that I can think of:

1. Nelson clearly out-coached Rudy T. In all 4 games, Rockets played better or close in the first half. But Nelson made adjustments in the second half to blow out Rockets in the second half.

2. Mavs is a team full of good shooters. Dirk, Nash, Finley, NVE, even LaFrentz. Rockets defends well on the inside, but just sucks in the parimeter.

3. Mavs zone defense, with Bradley/LaFrentz is the middle, works really well against Rockets. Rockets shoot poorly on the parimeter. All Mavs got to do is to clog the paint with their big guys to stop the penetration. Bradley/LaFrentz was doing a good job playing physical with Yao in the last game.

Against Kings, its a different stories. They cannot stop Yao in the inside. They cannot stop Francis/Mobley's penetration. On the other hand, Rockets can stop Kings in the inside. Kings are not best known for their parimeter shooting abilities either.

 

It is pretty amazing. We have beat the Kings twice, but we cannot beat the Mavs. That's why I would like to play the Kings in the playoffs instead of the Mavericks. I know we can make the playoffs. I think we are going to end up #8. But then we get swept by the Mavs. Maybe we can win 1.

 

No. Rocket will not make the playoff.

 

The Astros. The Rox will perform just like the Astros, get swept in the first round.

 

can't be more happy for me if we meet Mavs @ playoff. Rox will show some real qualities when play relax.....

 

we will be #8.

 

Mavs
Kings
Spurs
Blazers
Lakers
Minn
Utah
ROCKS!

 

I want this team to be swept in the first round. It's an invaluable, humble experience and will also let us know what we need in the offseaosn.

Unfortunately, I think we will face the Mavs and win at least 1 game. No team will sweep another team in a 7 game series with a zone defense. It's just not possible. How will Yao fare in such an intense atmosphere with so many games in just a few days? We will only win the 1st home game. That's my prediction.

 

Below are the schedules for the Rox and the Suns for the remainder of the year and my projections for wins and losses. I was probably only slightly more generous for the Rox than for the Suns. Even if we lose to L.A. here in Houston, we should go about 17 and 10 the rest of the way. The tough stretch will be that 5 game road trip followed by home games against the Lakers and then another roadie to San Antonio.

Phoenix: Houston:

February:

24 Mon @ Chicago W 24th @ Boston W
26 Wed @ Milwaukee W 25th @ NYC W
27th @ Wash. W

March:

1 Sat New Orleans L 2nd San Antonio L
4 Tue @ San Antonio L 4th @ Detroit L
5 Wed Portland L 5th @ Toronto W
9 Sun Minnesota W 8th New Jersey L
11 Tue @ Golden State W 12th L.A. Clippers W
13 Thu Sacramento L 14th Chicago W
16 Sun @ Houston L 16th Phoenix 7:30 (CST) W
17 Mon Toronto W 18th @ Seattle W
19 Wed Utah W 19th @ Portland L
21 Fri Washington W 21st @ Golden State W
22 Sat @ Dallas L 23nd @ Sacramento L
24 Mon Seattle W 24th @ L.A. Clippers W
26 Wed @ Memphis W 26th L.A. Lakers W
28 Fri @ Detroit L 27th @ San Antonio L
30 Sun @ Indiana L 29 Denver W
31 @ New Jersey L
April:

1 Tue Denver W 2nd @ Milwaukee W
5 Sat Minnesota W 4th @ Philidelphia L
6 Sun @ L.A. Lakers L 6th Orlando W
8 Tue @ Denver W 8th Portland W
9 Wed Dallas L 9th @ Utah L
11 Fri Golden State W 12th Seattle W
13 Sun San Antonio L 15th Memphis W
15 Tue @ Portland L 16th @ Denver W
16 Wed @ Seattle W


My projections have us going 18 and 9 while I have the Suns going 14 and 12. Not only would that put us ahead of the Suns for the 8th spot, but we could pass Utah or L.A. for the 7th spot (although I think that would be a little too optimistic for a team that has struggled so much on the road this year!!)

Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!