Rox have two back-to-backs, Phx three but -- three Rox opponents are playing Rox on second of back-to-back, and only one of Phoenix' is (the X by the team/Rox slate on top, Suns below -- as they are now and will remain below) [ five wins for play-offs, IMO ]: Mar 31 Mon @ New Jersey Apr 2 Wed @ Milwaukee 4 Fri @ Philadelphia 6 Sun Orlando X 8 Tue Portland 9 Wed @ Utah X 12 Sat Seattle X 15 Tue Memphis 16 Wed @ Denver Apr 1 Tue Denver 5 Sat Minnesota 6 Sun @ L.A. Lakers 8 Tue @ Denver 9 Wed Dallas X 11 Fri Golden State 13 Sun San Antonio 15 Tue @ Portland 16 Wed @ Seattle
The realization that this team or "group" is playing (sort of) for the right to be blown out and utterly humiliated in the first round of the playoffs kind of takes the luster off the race to the finishline. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
i think we may win against the nets on our upcomming road trip since kenyon martin may miss the game with a knee injurie
i'm guessing (or should that be hoping) we'll win 6 of those games. I think we'll win 1 or 2 of the 3 games on the east coast trip. think the suns will be lucky to get 4 wins Mar 31 Mon @ New Jersey: W - no martin Apr 2 Wed @ Milwaukee: L - payton seems to eat us alive 4 Fri @ Philadelphia: W - in the KT "rematch" game 6 Sun Orlando X: W - we'll take it inside 8 Tue Portland: L - loose in a close one 9 Wed @ Utah X: L - still own us in SLC 12 Sat Seattle X: W - we got home court advantage this time 15 Tue Memphis: W - if we loose, we dont deserve the spot 16 Wed @ Denver: W - see above & all should be fired/traded Apr 1 Tue Denver: W - same as us 5 Sat Minnesota: L - KG will be too good (as usual) 6 Sun @ L.A. Lakers: L - 3 player players from the "all-ego" team 8 Tue @ Denver: W - play them twice... lucky bastards 9 Wed Dallas X: L - the mavs are spanking everyone right now 11 Fri Golden State: W - can hope for an upset here 13 Sun San Antonio: L - same as dallas 15 Tue @ Portland: L - proviso that the players aren't all stoned 16 Wed @ Seattle: L - they're too good at home ... my 2 cents
Suns beat the Spurs at San Antonio. They match up well against them. I wouldn't assume that the Suns will lost that game. Sonics beat the Rockets at Compaq Center this season. They just crushed the Lakers. They are a very hot team. I think that the Sonics will beat the Rockets.
Realistically... Mar 31 Mon @ New Jersey: L New Jersey 30-7 at home, Rockets 13-23 on the road. Apr 2 Wed @ Milwaukee: L - We have a decent shot at the upset, but I'd imagine that we'll lose this as well. 4 Fri @ Philadelphia: L - Philadelphia is extremely hot right now, and is tough at home. 6 Sun Orlando X: W - Orlando is poor on the road and the Rockets will bounce back from the poor road trip. 8 Tue Portland: W - I disagree here; Houston will be more motivated and should win this one, although it could be very close. 9 Wed @ Utah X: L - Utah will beat the pants off of us after our tough home win vs. Portland. 12 Sat Seattle X: W - Seattle has been hot lately but Houston should win. 15 Tue Memphis: W - Memphis is lousy on the road and has nothing to play for. 16 Wed @ Denver: W - This seems like an easy win, but as we all know, they never are. Rockets should pull out a win in a close game. Predicted record: 5-4 Apr 1 Tue Denver: W - Easy home win. 5 Sat Minnesota: W - Tough game, but Phoenix should win at home. 6 Sun @ L.A. Lakers: L - Phoenix will get crushed coming off a back to back. 8 Tue @ Denver: W - Should win this game. 9 Wed Dallas X: L - Phoenix matches up badly against Dallas. 11 Fri Golden State: W - This game will be similar to the Rockets' game vs. Seattle, but I think Phoenix should win. Golden State will have nothing to play for here. 13 Sun San Antonio: L - Will be a close game, but I think San Antonio should win. 15 Tue @ Portland: L - Bad road team vs. a good home team. 16 Wed @ Seattle: L - If Seattle shows up to the game, they should win. Predicted record: 4-5 I would imagine that there is a good chance that Houston goes 4-5 as well, but a much less likely chance that Phoenix goes 5-4. This one will be close, but Houston has a big edge. If the Rockets find a way to go 5-4, they are in for sure, IMO.
I expect 8-1. It's possible, and if the Rockets play their best (After all, this IS the most important time to play hard), then 8-1 is expected. We can only lose ONE road game, either @Utah or on the current 3 game Eastern Road trip.
How come no one ever considers the possibility that SAS and POR will have their playoff spots locked by the time PHX plays them and they may rest some starters by playing them fewer minutes?
Good point, tho both are in jockeying positions...Portland's bench is deep, very deep. The simple answer is 'to take care oif business' and all else ios academic.
It's entirely possible that San Antonio and Dallas will be battling it out until the last day of the season for #1, they're separated by 2 games right now, and the loser may have to play the lakers in the 1st round, while the winner gets either us or the suns- that seems like big time motivation. Portland is currently half a game ahead of minnesota for #4, and you can't tell me that both they and the t-wolves won't be fighting hard for home court in that first round series.. So I think it's probable that both the spurs and blazers will be playing extra hard down the stretch.
If the Rox can pull 2 out of 3 on this road trip, then I would think the Rox would for sure be a lock for the play-off spot. They just need to play their unselfish ball and then they will be sailing smoothly. I have faith in them! But we also have to REMEMBER the Rockets have the 2nd YOUNGEST least experience team in the NBA with the average experience at 2.8 years. And if they make the play offs this year, that would mark it quite remarkable. Denver has the least experience at 2.5 years. So be PROUD of these Rockets! Mark my WORDS! They WILL MAKE the play-offs!
You know, if teams like San Anton, Dallas, Portland, etc. clinch their particular playoff spot early, they'll start benching their stars. So while you think on paper, playing Portland & San Antonio may be difficult at the end of the season for Phoenix, it might actually be much easier than playing Denver & Memphis who have nothing to lose.
Not really. We would'nt had to play Dallas LA SAN SAC POR Minn 4 times. Instead we would be playing mediocre teams at best. The best team in the east cannot beat the top 4 in the west in a 7 game series. LA SAC SAN DAL And they wold probably go to game 7 against Por and Minn
Sometimes a team can grow in adversity as well as in success..experience in the playoffs is important..win or lose. Unlike most on this board, I think the Rox will come back with essentially the same team next year,,, and playoff experience this year ..may make it possible to avoid first round failure next year.
Look at the Mavs, last year they got SWEPT by the Kings, and look what they have done this year. Came back with MORE FIRE and DESIRE than ever. So the same can be said for the Rockets. Once they get that FIRST taste, they will be so hungry they will want to go BACK!
It's true that San Antonio, Dallas, and Portland may choose to take it easy down the stretch to rest their starters, however, considering that Denver and Memphis should be in full Lebronathon tank mode, those games should be cake-walks too.
Even if Spurs lose the #1 seed, they still want to get home court advantage against Kings. Spurs know how to handle Lakers and Dallas. Kings will be their biggest roadblock to the championship. You bet they will play their ass as hard as they can.
I am confident that we have in our Arsenal what it takes to win the next 3 games. This will definitely put pressure on Phoenix and hopefully given us the 8th seed with games to spare for the sake of giving some players some needed rest.
