Now that we've clinched there is something that has been weighing on my mind. As a Rox fan I'm trying to be somewhat sober about this but this is something that has me worried. Can the Rockets win a 7 game series? What has me worried is while we are still managing to win will our lack of a low post scoring presence catch up with us, will we manage to be healthy enough to last through a grueling series and as opposed to during the season when we are playing teams one game at a time over the course of a series could opposing teams start to figure out how to exploit our weaknesses? Interested in hearing what some of the sharp basketball minds have to say here and also for some encouragement. I'm not going to post a poll as I'm more interested in the reasons for why we can or can't win.
We play solid team basketball and should be in every game in the playoffs. Our players will be more fresh due to the 2-3 days gap between games. We will shock the world no matter who we play.
It all depends on the matchup and HCA. Hornets- Maybe if someone can actually guard Paul *cough* Rafer Lakers- Maybe, the size they have hurts though. Spurs- Without Yao, probably not. Jazz- With HCA, possibly. Suns- Shaq and Amare eat us for breakfeast. With Yao we'd probably destroy them Nuggets- Yes, even if they shoot their minds out they play no defense which results in a loss in a playoff series. Dallas- We look ok vs them on paper, and we did great when they didn't have Dirk, but this team has our number and we'd probably lose in 6-7 again. Warriors- More dangerous, see Nuggets. I see Rockets winning in 6.
it depends on who we play. hopefully as the season winds down, hopefully we can know what our seeding will be sooner so we can rest up tmac/alston/battier/landry so they can be as fresh/healthy as they can be when the playoffs start. our team is really not healthy right now, even for the guys who are playing. if your team is predicated on defense and rebounding, which we are, then we can last through a 7-game playoff series. defense and rebound will keep you in EVERY game. HOWEVER, i'm not sure that we can win a 7-game series. can our role players continue to knock down shots? can alston regain his form during the streak? if they can, we have a great chance of beating anybody, notably the hornets, nuggets, and possibly the jazz. again, we need to play like we did during the 4-5 games after yao went down if we want to advance. unfortunately, landry was a huge part of that run. if he's unable to regain that form, i find it hard for us to be consistent offensively. again, this team has proven a lot of people wrong this year. i won't mind if they prove some more. 1) tmac has declined and isn't a star anymore, and is a loser 2) adelman chokes in big games 3) clips announcers - they have a bunch of "nobodies" let's go rockets
Here is my take: Hornets - Yes. They have Paul we have T-mac and we have better bench. Rockets in 7! Lakers - Yes. Because of Lakers' horrible D. The Rockets actually have a chance. Plus Bynum wont be in top condition comes playoffs. Rockets in 6/7! Spurs - No. Spurs in six! Jazz - Yes. They are terrible road team we are not so good home team! Rockets in 7! Suns - No! Suns in 6! Dallas - No. They have our numbers! Mavs in 7! Nuggets - Yes. Dream matchups but likely wont happen! Rockets in 6. Warriors - Yes. Without Yao, we actually matchups well with them. Rockets in 6!
The Rockets can beat anybody, and they can lose to anybody. The WC is a complete and utter toss up. DD
t-mac could average 40 and there's no guarantee against any of these teams except denver. yao's absence is really going to show itself again in the playoffs but it's possible should a couple guys really step up, that we steal a series. utah is my best plausible choice with lakers second. my expectations without yao are not as high as last season yet no matter what happens the team showed a lot of heart this year.
winning a 7 game series against LA, NO, UTA, SA, or PHX seems like a bit much to ask IMO... we can compete, MAYBE steal a couple games, but i dont think we have enough. plus, we're just a jumpshooting team now, and our shooting isnt very consistent. we depend too much on rookies as well, and as you can see carl landry has been fading the past few weeks. mutumbo is older than dirt. t-mac, even when aggressive doesnt get calls, and wont shoot a high percentage. rafer is rafer... our frontline is small as hell when deke is out. we'll fight the good fight but its not going to happen. any one of those teams would have to completely choke in order to lose a series to us. don't get your hopes up people...
Here is my take, Warriors/Nuggets -- The Rockets in SIX with HCA; those two teams are so undisciplined, they will lose to any good teams; Hornets -- Rockets in SEVEN. The Hornets just too inexperienced, will choke; Jazz -- Rockets in SEVEN with HCA. Rockets matches the Jazz better without Yao; Mavs/Suns -- Too much fire power for the Rockets in a 7-game series, Mavs in SIX; Lakers/Spurs - Spurs/Laker in FIVE. Too much size.
I don't care really about who we play. Just IF If we: 1. Play team and smart bball . No standing and watch when Tmac handle the ball. 2. Hit our shots, Rafer and Tmac are the most important two. 3. Bench players step up strong when we need score. Novak, AB. 4. Front hard their star C or PF, like Shaq, TD. limit Deke's time when we play Suns and Spurs. 5. Hard D. Yes I think we can beat any team if we can play in the level we beat Hornets in our 22 win streak. Go rockets
Yes they can! Against the Heat. lol But seriously, I think we can win a 7 game series against West playoff team but it would relly relly be tough. But I really believe in this team. This team showed heart, passion and intensity. (and we also play defense ) Yes, we're weak on paper compared tot other teams but remember that we don't play basketball on paper. We play it on the hardwood.
I'd prefer a quick 5 or 6 game series - where we knock them out before they knew what hit them. In a 7 game series, I'm afraid we may not have enough depth I hope I'm wrong, but I'd still prefer a short series. =P
Over the years watching T-mac and the Rockets, I've developed a weird superstition. That is in order for T-mac to "break his curse", his team must be in the 1-4 seeds in the playoffs for once. In all of T-mac's career he has never been on a team that was seeded 1st to 4th. You could argue that last year we 'technically' had the 4th seed since we had homecourt advantage over the Utah Jazz, but positionally we were still seated 5th. I honestly believe if the Rockets and T-mac want to finally make it out of the first round, they gotta be the 1st to 3rd seed (since Utah Jazz will be in the 4th place for sure). So please, Rockets, win out the rest of this season and hopefully obtain a high seed! Of course one could rarely call this a superstition as the higher seeds (1-3) generally do beat the lower seeds (6-8) in the playoffs....and despite what people might say about this years west being a wide open race, the standings do hold some merit to them..the 6-8 teams are definitely weaker.
Every team in the playoffs will have more talent on the floor and on the bench than the Rockets do. Sad but true. HOWEVER, as in the streak, the sum is greater than the parts. IF, Rafer and TMac are shooting well (which happens about 30% of the time), and everyone else is on top of their game, the Rockets CAN beat just about anybody. Unfortunately, unless the Rockets go on another "streak," their shooting is too inconsistent to advance. Nevertheless, in the West this year, it is so crazy anything can happen. Golden State may win it all, if they make the playoffs!
