After half of our games, Top 4 in the west is very feasible

We're also only one game behind the Lakers. There's even a good chance we could pass them after this road trip if they drop tonight's game to the Jazz.

 

For one, we are not a sh*tty team.

You guys don't match up well against us for some reason but against the league as a whole you guys match up much better than we do.

My prediction at this point in the season:

1. TWolves - playing w/o two starters
2. Lakers - best team when healthy
3. Spurs - always better in 2nd half
4. Kings - ez schedule is over with
5. Mavs - lack of defense hurting them
6. Rockets -- could move higher
7. Grizzlies - about right
8. Nuggets - 2nd half schedule is brutal, might miss the playoffs

I also think at least 1 of the 6-8 seeds will advance. Might see another Spurs-Rockets classic with Yao playing the role of Dream and Duncan the part of The Admiral.

 

I'd say top 4 is possible, but not probable.

I'd still like to see a more potent offense showing. We've seen glimpses of it, and I think Mark Jackson leading the way a little more may really help us, but right now we're doing an excellent job forcing low score games, and have trouble keeping the pace if the other team is scoring on us.

A flattening defense like the one we have definitely can be huge come playoff time.

 

To go from missing the playoffs 4 straight seasons to being a 4th season with home court advatage in the first round seems like such a gigantic leap. Especially in the Western conference where the competition is so tough. I think it's a little unreasonable to expect us to leapfrog so many teams.

 

That's what I thought as soon as I saw the "top 4" part. I mean, I have faith in the Rockets and all, but for a team that hasn't made the playoffs in 4 years, we should just shoot for a playoff spot and go from there. Baby steps my friend, baby steps!

 

LOL. You think Dallas is going to win the division because Walker said so?
Its good to be optimistic man, but you're going a little overboard after a few good wins, that's all. We have to be a more consistent team if we're going to be a 4th seed. Yes, we've beaten some tough teams, but we always regress after big wins and lose to a decent or bad team right afterwards...its just the way the Rox are. If we win in Orlando and Miami then I might start believeing, but it's too early to think our guys are going to beat bad teams and teams like Minny and Indy on a regular basis.

 

After today's game, your point gets harder to deny. Still, Yao needs to stay consistent, he's the key. If he keeps this up then no telling what can happen.

 

Man, if only the Mavs lost to the Kings today.. we'd be one step closer!

 

with a win tommorow, we'll be a half game behind the lakers

 

espn.com Page 2

R-DUB: What about the Spurs? They're still awful good -- Tim B. Dunkin, Manu, the Wild Little Bird of the Pampas, Tornado Tony Parker. You can't take all that length Hedu and Horry and Nest Egg bring for granted, and Charlie Ward is going to help their second rotation, too. They're going to be a tough out for somebody ...

R-DOG: Yeah, but I still get the feeling that they're gonna go out. Houston, Dub. Chairman Yao, Stevie Franchise. Hammered my Knicks twice since The Trade. Seems like they've still got one piece missing, somehow, but it's good for them I can't really peep which piece it is. Some nights looks like Jim Jackson will fill it up nicely, some nights it looks like Cato will be the Missing Link. I just ain't feeling Mo Taylor, but then he'll drop 20 and 8 on you. Some nights looks like Cat Mobley can stack up at 2 with the best of them, when I know for a fact that's mostly a mirage. He's good, but not with the best of them. Kobe's a 2. Spree's a 2, really.

So it's all about Chairman Yao. They keep saying this Goliath's been figured out and all people have to do is push him out of there, knee him in the back of his knees, pound on his guts, give him a country fake and he'll back off, get all shrink-wrapped. But we sat there and saw him eat up Deek with 29 in 28 minutes. You better be able to bully him; that's all that's left for you to do. Yow! on Chairman Yao. The Tao of Yao is what? Maybe if he listens to Jigga's Black Album. Maybe if he uses Shao-lin principles. All I know is, like you like to say, Dub, everybody's whistling past the graveyard on this true Goliath. It's all in how he decides to handle what's upcoming. Does he shrink from the physical? Does it try to battle it with the mental? Does he rise above it, or step to the side?

R-DUB: You saying you like the Rockets in the West Final Four?


Shaq and Duncan represent the best of the West.
R-DOG: I guess I am. Not that the Spurs are going down without a fight. But if Yao's Tao is right, the Alamo ain't the only thing they'll be remembering in San Antone. Mandarin Akeem.