Possible, but not likely at this point. If we were told that one of the two of is going to randomly started playing bad basketball, who here would put money on it being the Spurs?
Realistically we could be 3rd overtaking the Blazers and Clippers. Equal chance to be 4th or 5th also. I think the Spurs are too consistent.
Thunders will end up 1st, the Spurs will end up 2nd, The rockets 3rd, and the clippers fourth. We will over take Blazers and have a better record than division winner (clippers) for the 3rd spot in the west. WE WILL NOT OVERTAKE THE SPURS, THATS ONLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEIR BUSINESS, AND THE ROCKETS HAVENT LEARNED THAT QUITE WELL YET.
I think (hope) we can catch the Spurs. The hardest part of our schedule is out the way and through injuries and all we came out smelling like roses.
Caught a break? I'm sorry, but the Rockets have had multiple missed games by every starter this year not named Dwight. Injuries are part of the game.
In wins ? probably not, they are too consistent. The Rockets have been streaky and that has to do with injuries. However the Spurs have a well oiled machine even with injuries. Rarely do they lose a game that are suppose to win.
They can but things need to fall into place with a healthy roster and IF a trade is made how long it will take for the team to gel with the new player/players.
lol @ Miami's strength of schedule. A product of being in the East, AND not playing themselves. Also interesting how the easiest Western schedule is harder than the hardest Eastern schedule.
If we do catch the Spurs, it won't be till the end of the season. They play the Hawks, Heat and us next. First, we really need that win against them next Thursday. If they split against the Hakws and Heat, a win against them would make them 1-2 over their next three. Rockets play Grizzlies twice plus Spurs. So 2-1 would be nice and get us that one game closer... AND of course give us the season edge. Btu after that the Spurs have a pretty easy schedule until their final 12 games, when they play Denver, Denver, New Orleans, GSW, OKC, Grizzlies, TWolves, Mavs, Suns, Rockets and Lakers to close out the season... including 3 back to backs, half on road. Granted, the Rockets play some of the same teams, but also have Brooklyn, Toronto, Sixers in their final 12 and only 1 back to back - both on the road, but against the East. Spurs have 7 more back to backs this year, btw... more than the Rockets. They've also played 24 of their 42 games at home (57%.. though they've been surprisingly bad). They have 23 more road games, to the Rockets 21. Also, Duncan has played 92% of the games this year, only missing 3. The last 2 years, he hasn't played more than 69 games total. recall, a lot of this is just Pop resting him. Add in the # of back to backs they have left, there's got to be some more rest coming for Timmy. Manu has also been pretty healthy this year.... 39 games. Got to assume some rest coming for him, too... in Pops style. Conversely, maybe Pop realizes it will all end soon and stop the in-season resting. Who knows? So, schedule wise, it is in the Rockets favor, if you ask me. But it will still be super super tough. If the Rockets win this Tuesday against them, they may have a chance come season end. Could they go into that 2nd to last game of the season against the Spurs with a chance to tie them, and in doing so also sweep the season series? Seems improbable...
We ABSOLUTELY can, but we need some consistency. This spurs team isn't the same, something is off about them.
Portland has a decent lead over the Rockets.... but I will say this, they do not defend and they will not keep hitting an unreal % of 3's like they did in the first half.
If SA ends up sliding into the 1st spot in the WC when it is all said and done then I would love it if we were at #4 and Portland was at #5. Both teams being healthy, I believe we are better than Portland.
being a division winner doesn't guarantee homecourt advantage, it only guarantees a top 4 seeding. the Rockets can be a 5 seed with homecourt advantage. but I still think catching Portland is more likely.
Mathematically, yes. Seriously though, no. The Spurs are a machine. They'll just slip another cog in place and as long as Parker is healthy they'll keep winning. Meanwhile Houston still hasn't solved most of their biggest problems, they've just temporarily learned to actually close out bad teams. Until Rockets have a consistent bench shooter and a healthy backup center 4 seed is their ceiling.
We could catch them, but i doubt the spurs care.... they are just treading water until playoffs, they know they can win a game or two on the road in a series... we aren't that kind of team yet so we should push for the division title
The problem is the Spurs are something like 15-3 on the road this season. That is an insanely good record, especially considering they've lost I think 7 games already at home. And they seem to turn it up a notch when they go on that rodeo road trip every year.
