And I thought some of you guys were bad (Astros related)

Were the Astros in the Rocket's conference with the same winning percentages, they would have made the playoffs in:
1996
1997
1998
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006

It's easier to make the playoffs in the NBA. Not a difficult concept to grasp.

 

Hey, I think it's awesome they were able to do that the last two years. Particularly this last season.

But again...making the playoffs in hoops ain't a real accomplishment. And over the past 11 years, the record for the Rockets isn't good in that respect.

 

That would be a strong argument to make if the Rockets were playing in the Eastern Conference and barely making the playoffs.

The Rockets play better teams than the Astros. They play in a tougher division. Grasp it, quickly.

If you like baseball better than basketball, that's one thing. No arguments... It's just preference. But to pretend that somehow the Astros have been overwhelmingly more successful than the Rockets is ridiculous. Both teams have struggled in the playoffs.

If the Rockets were not successful this year, with what they overcame to get home court, then the Astros never had a "string of success" for eight or nine years. Just two really good seasons with great players they rented (only to flame out in the end).

 

I hate blind optimism, but I also hate blind pessimism. The jury is still out on this Astros team. It sure looks like they will have a very good offense. So far there pithcing has been better than expected. It is pessimistic to say this is NOT a good team. It might not be, but we have won 6 in a row so the possibility of good ball is there.

Pessimism is often disguised as realistic or objective. I almost puked this morning when some moron called 790 and said he loved the show because the morning show was so objective. The constant pessimism on that show drives me crazy. Being negative or going against popular opinion does not necessarily mean someone is being realistic or objective. It is more often a reflection of their general outlook on life.

 

Over the last 11 years the Astros have absolutely, positively been more successful than the Rockets. I'm not talking about the last 2 seasons. I'm talking about the last 11. Whether you judge that by playoff series wins...division championships...playoff appearances...whatever.

And again...I'm not saying the Rockets weren't successful this season. I think they were. I think they had a very good season.

 

...and they can finish below .500 in their division and still make the playoffs. "Grasp it, quickly."

It's neither pretense nor ridiculous. It's accurate. It's OK if you disagree, but I believe you're wrong.

I never said the Rocket's weren't successful this year.

 

Yet, the Rockets have not been below .500 in their division the last three times they've made the playoffs. Why have you given me air to grasp?

 

11 years. not the last 4, when they made the playoffs 3 times.

 

If success is measured by how often a team makes the playoffs, a baseball team has a much tougher time than a basketball team.

If success is measured by how well a team performs in the playoffs, again, a baseball team has a harder time simply because they do not have as easy an opportunity to make the playoffs and increase their opportunity for playoff success.

For example, had the Rockets been a baseball team, they would never have won their second championship. Had the Astros been a basketball team, they would have made the playoffs and had more opportunites for success from 1995 - 2005 (except perhaps 2000).

If success is measured by how well a team does in the regular season, I believe the Astros' record was second or third in the entire NL 1990 - 2005.

 

Just deleted my entire post after seeing bobrek's response. Just read his three times and then write, "The Astros were better than the Rockets from 1996-2007" on the board 100 times.

 

And I can add to that...

The #1 seeded baseball playoff team doesn't play the 8th best team in the league, they play the 4th (and somtimes 3rd) to open the playoffs.

The reward for the 4th seeded baseball team isn't the 5th seed, it is generally the best team in the league.

 

While more teams make the playoffs in the NBA, I don't think you can say there is greater opportunity for lower seeds to advance, given the playoff format.

I doubt teams like the 2006 Cardinals (a team that finished with a record below .500 in their division) could sustain a streak for four best-of-seven rounds and win a championship.

I don't remember too many upsets from sixth seeds (like the Rockets) in the NBA. A handful...

 

The 5th seed has advanced at least the last two years in the NBA WC.

 

.527 to .535? 6 to 6 (so far)? 12 to 15 (so far)?

Not very overwhelming...

 

The 8th seed advanced last year!

 

how do you keep overlooking that it's easier to get in to the playoffs in the NBA?

if the Astros played in a league where more teams made the playoffs than not, i'm not sure they would have missed the playoffs at all in the last 11 years, save 2000. i'd have to go back and look at that to make sure.

 

But better nonetheless.

 

I said a handful...