Well the T-Wolves and the Lakers lost today and we're gaining a lot of ground ahead of them. The playoff picture so far look like this... Seedings: 4. Dallas 32-16 5. Sacramento 32-18 6. Houston 30-21 7. Memphis 30-21 8. LA lakers 25-24 ------- 9. Minnesota 25-27 10. Denver 23-27 11. LA Clippers 23-27 I believe the Lakers will struggle badly with their tough scedule in April and I can't see the T-Wolves making any kind of a run soon and they just lost to the Bulls at home. Logically, Denver is the only thread to take the 8th spot since they're just starting to play well with coach Karl goin 4-1 since he took over. So should we still be worried despite us being 9 games over .500 and holding a comfortable lead seperation between the 6th and 8th seed?
I wouldnt say "lock" just yet wait till march for that, but the way things are shaping up in the west the rockets would have to completely collapse at this point to not get a playoff spot. There is enough separation between the 6/7 and the 8th spot. The only reason why the lakers are still in the eighth is that despite the bad ball they've been playing recently, the wolves have been playing even worse. If this trend continues (which it may with the rough schedule coming for the lakers and the wolves just dont seem to have it this year) I do expect the nuggets who have been playing well since Karl took over to make a surge and grab the eigth spot. They are 2.5 games out of it with plenty of time left in the season. Clippers may sneak in but they are in a tough stretch right now losing the last four games on the road (and all four games by 5 points or less). I do expect the rockets and grizzlies to make it I just dont know what the final seed they may be
If this team can stay healthy (a big IF considering Sura's knee and the constant minor injuries to T-mac), they should be in the playoffs as the 6th or 7th seed. It would take a major collapse for them to fall below the Lakers or Wolves. Lakers have a sick schedule at the beginning of April (face the top 7 western conf. playoff teams in the first 9 games of that month) and the Wolves seem to have packed it in. With the way we are playing right now i think its more likely that we move up to the 4th or 5th seed than falling all the way to the 9th seed.
I see us going 4-1 the remainder of Feb. We should win tonight, Tues. is at home against the Wiz (playing on the second game of a back to back -1st game is in NO). We've got the all-star break to rest up for the Sonics, play SA on the 2nd night of a back to back there - I think they'll get us- and then finish the month at home against Utah on 3 days rest. If we finish the month like I expect (hope - Actually hope we beat the Spurs as well) we should be a lock for the playoffs even if we only go .500 in March and April.
Well, given that we're in the same division as San Antonio, getting the three seed would mean beating their record. That would take a lot of wins, and a lot of help. At that point, we'd be in the race for the 1 seed. But we're only 4 games out of the 4th seed, which is amazing considering where we were a month ago. Beating out the Mavs and Kings for home court would be awesome! Though sixth seed is a lucky seed for us
Heh, you never know what can happen, especially with how we're playing right now...... But seriously, we're not a lock yet but we're not far from being a lock.
We shouldn't be worried about other teams, especially if we do our job. I always hate when we have to depend on other teams to lose to sneak in the playoffs.
Gotta say with each game I'm reminded more and more of the 94-95 season when we were the 6th seed... and we all know how that ended.
The more I look at it the 6th or 7th seeds are ideal. That puts us against playoff virgins (practically) Seattle or Pheonix and keeps us away from the Spurs until the WCF. So I don't think we need to push for a 4 or 5 seed. I probably rather play a 5 game series starting on the road with Seattle than home versus the Mavs or Kings. I'd love the match-ups it if the playoffs start tomarrow (us 6th versus Seattle at 3rd), we would have a solid chance for the WCF.
Definitely not a lock with over two months to go. Minnesota could be a sleeping giant and the Lakers now have Kobe back in a line-up that had a chance to grow in his absence (of course Kobe might stunt that growth with his unwillingness to spread the wealth too often at times).
Oh, and Denver has been playing well since Geroge Karl took over as coach with his more fastbreak philosophy. Everyone knows Denver, like Minnesota, has been playing below their talent level this season. Don't get me wrong. I like where the Rockets are sitting right now, but a lock......not just yet.
Nothing is a lock because we are just an injury or two away from falling apart. We have very little depth.
No the Rockets aren't a lock, but they are sitting pretty comfortably. If the Rockets go .500 for the rest of the year they should make the playoffs. That puts them at 46-36. But, I think they can do a lot better than that. A 50 win season should not be ruled out.
Well 20-11 puts us at the 50 win mark and if they keep on playing the way they are right now, I think thats a realistic possibility.
Think about the loss to Atl, Knicks, Bobcats(2), Kings, this team should be 36-16, basically the 4th seed. Next year, Rox should be very good, contending for home-court in the first round.
