you guys must consider the fact that we have not advanced past the first rd in 12 yrs. with that being we have to start with the easiest opponent and the work ourselves up. don't get me wrong i would love to humiliate dallas but not in the first rd. 1. hornets- paul is the only offense they have. west is good but i feel scola can slow him considerably, peja will be shutdown by battier and i think if we play them by the end of game 1, peja will crying like AK47. Paul is good and can win a game by himself but he need to be GOD to win 4 games out of seven. rockets in 5 2. Blazers- Roy is slowing becoming a great player but he is not on the level of a kobe, lebron or wade. artest and battier can slow him down in a series. aldrigde is good, but we have a bunch of PFs that can handle him.yao can easily handle przbilla and oden and artest can get his on the offensive end. they do not have playoff experience but that was also said about the jazz in 2007 . rockets in 6 or 7 3. Mavericks- Hate this team a lot, even bryon scott sees them for what they are a bunch of no good punks. the punks - howard, terry, barea, wright and stackhouse. Except for stackhouse and wright any of those guys can drop 30 on us. they play a lot of zone to cover barea's deficiencies. jason kidd is a good set up guy and will post brooks a lot but is a horrible shooter. artest will own anyone they put on him. Dirk is better than Aldridge but just like aldridge we can throw a bunch of PF's at him. yao will own dampier. Offensively they are better than us but they do not play good defense. Rockets in 6 or 7 4. Nuggets-Explosive offensive team. carmelo is their main guy but his selfishness will cost the nuggets dearly. I think artest can handle him. billups has lost a step and doesn't post-up often so i think brooks is in the clear. nene is good and will test yao but i think both players will get their points. birdman come in with great energy and will front yao. jr smith is a hot and cold player, must make him frustrated so he can take a lot of bad shots. rockets in 6 or 7 depending on HA. 5. Spurs- They old and creaking but they have a bunch guys that can frustrate yao(thomas, oberto, duncan, bonner). tony parker will destroy brooks. Artest will get his against anyone they have. they have very little offense outside of parker and duncan and defensively they are gonna be tough on you. Never underestimate the heart of a champion. Rockets in 6 cause if they play a game 7, spurs will win that. 6. Jazz- we cant matchup against their front court. Dwill will destroy both our both PG's. brewer has become a good defender and they have mutiple guys that can give artest trouble(harping, Ak47). Speed and athleticism gives Utah fits and sadly outside of wafer, brooks and lowry we do not have enough of that for utah to be scared of us. They are a bad road team but they have shown they can win in houston because of the matchup problems. Utah in 6 or 7 7. Lakers - too good offensively and defensively. they are a better team than us and if kobe is not feeling it maybe we can win one game. Lakers in 5.
Like everyone else, you are looking at it way too much from our perspective, and not from Utah's. You're too worried about them to care about what we can do. The fact is we have Yao, Artest, Brooks/Lowry, Scola/Landry, and Wafer who can all cause matchup problems for the Jazz. You also forgot to add Landry in your list of our athletic players. And just who do they have that is freakishly athletic? Millsap? I'm stumped. Harpring is a football player, Brewer is less athletic than Wafer, and Okur and Kirilenko, while lanky and awkward, are hardly athletic studs. Williams I will give you. So... Williams and Millsap. Speed and athleticism give Utah fits because they're not very speedy or athletic. We can take them. Also, this is all a wash anyways.... we have Brian Cook. Rockets in 6.
I can pretty much guarantee that no WC playoff teams consider Von Wafer a match-up problem for them, except maybe the Rockets themselves. Streetball only plays on one end, which means he will hardly see the court in the playoffs. No boxing out, no defensive rotation, gambling on defense all result in easy baskets for the opponent. Sure, he shows some flashes on the offsensive end, but his nauseating play on defense will be the reason whoever signs him next year will be left crying.
1. Hornets - i think oother other than chris paul there's nobody in NOH could potential give rockets a threat at all. we dominate any team with a single scoring threat (CLE, ORL, POR...) therefore, if we contest the rest of the hornets and leave CP3 to be isolated from his teammates, he wont be able to produce much. 4-1 Rockets. 2. Blazers - absolutely talented and energized young team. our Yao > POR front court. Artest + Battier should be able to contest Roy. Artest's playoff versatility will lead rockets into a frenzy defensive mode if we play against POR. IMO, POR is a good match for Rockets coz their front court does not FLOP like Fakers and Jass. therefore, will play Yao 1v1, 1v2 straight up. any team that plays Yao straight up falls in front of the Rockets. 4-2 Rockets 3. Spurs - it's purely mental if we play Spur. we have almsot identical records in every aspect except one. playing against playoff teams. the declining spurs might still have a chance, though, if Mason plays like Manu. their bench depth is weakened drastically after Manu went down. and i think if Duncan plays Yao like he usually does, 4-2 Rockets. 4. Dallas - Jason Terry, Josh Howard are the only two threats against Rockets. Mavs are hot in the last two weeks but they have been struggling to play against elite teams all season. Rockets suffocating defense will take Kidds game out throughout the series. as long as Rocekts keep Terry and Howard contested at clutch time, we should be fine. Yao's proven he's playing well against Dirk and Dampier. 4-1 Rockets 5. Nuggets - Nuggets is turning into FAKERS AND JASS. even though Rockets were 3-1 this season against Denver, the way they front Yao and playing physical will eliminate Yao's effectiveness. Billup's final's MVP. they definitely have a go-to guy when it comes to clutch time. and we dont. or arguably Yao. (less effective IMO since he's likely to be fronted or doubled). Rockets must let Scola dominate this series with thte help from Yao because if Scola becomes a major scoring threat their double team becomes less effective. Shooters need to step up in this series to ensure the effectiveness of double team. Denver does not have a champion defensive mentality like we do. we contest everyshot but they dont. if we slow the tempo down and play hard defense, Rockets 4-2 6. Jazz -this match up is worse than Fakers to some extend, IMHO. Yao's too naive to play against floppers. flopping is part of the game but when it happens it shifts teh game momentum. Jass does not play well at home but they have this mentality to play as physical as they can be to physically BEAT you up in order to win. (i know that sounds a bit weird) we wont be able to reply on Yao to carry this series if we have this matchup. Yao's offense is too predictable for flopping. Small ball might be the better option here. Rockets 4-3 7. Lakers - the ultimate western final series. Fakers is such a balanced team that they have so many scoring options. one thing i've observed from the past games is Gasol > rockets front court. Triangle defense/offense rotates around gasol/bynum and Yao simply does not know how to play against Gasol's play style. Bryant is too good for anybody to contest even for Artest and Shane Battier. IMO the only way for us to beat Fakers is to let Wafer get more play time instead of Artest. "since you're not gonna stop bryant anyway, why not let ourselves score more points too." but that's just my two cents.
Did anyone read what John Schuhmann wrote about Sacramento? Sacramento (30) Did the Kings get robbed on Sunday? Michael Finley's game-winner clearly left his hands with zero on the shot clock. That clinched the NBA's worst record and a 25 percent chance at the No. 1 pick for Sacramento. What about western conference seeding, Schuhmann? How many teams are we talking about that got robbed?
I guess if you don't consider defensive rebounding part of defense, or Landry's game winning rejection last year. I'm talking about defensive fundamentals, like knowing your rotation, and boxing out. We don't need everyone on the team to be a lockdown one on one defender, but we can't afford to play players who allow their man to grab three offensive rebounds in three consecutive offsensive possessions. Get a dunk, give a dunk by gambling for a steal will not win games. There's no judges table to give us extra points for flashiness. In the end, it's scoreboard and that requires playing both ends. Streetball doesn't do that.
It's obvious that you've got it out for Wafer so I'm not really going to entertain an argument. The Rockets are one of the best defensive teams in the league, and since we have issues with offensive consistency, Wafer will find time. I'm not excusing his defense, I'm only saying he'll be out there. And regardless, he creates issues for the other team's defense, which was my original point.
Also don't get me wrong, that rejection by Landry was one of my favorite Rockets moments in the past 10 years. Landry is my favorite player. I'm only saying the popular notion is that he doesn't/can't play consistent defense.
We peak at the right time. I hope we can avoid Utah in the first round while these Jazzholes were handed to the Lakers and got crushed.
1. New Orleans - I think most of us agree that they match up best for us. 2. Dallas - It is tough between Dallas and Portland. Don't yell at me if I'm wrong, but I believe we are 2-1 against both teams. The difference in my mind is, the game we lost to Dallas, we were without Yao. Battier/Ron/Chuck can shut down Dirk. All that leaves is Terry. He will put up 20-30 points on us, but shutting down everyone else will give us a win. Plus, they cant stop Yao. Oh wait, they have the second best center in the league, never mind 3. Portland - Goes along with number 2. We can beat them for sure, too young and inexperienced. But, with the young and inexperience they have, energy and excitment come along. That's my only concern with them. 4 and 5. Denver or SA. Without Manu, I think we can beat SA in 7. 6 and 7. Utah or LA. Obviously, LA is the better team, but when it comes to our match up, Utah is just as good. I'd almost rather play LA than Utah, just so if we lose, it wont be as depressing. With homecourt adv, I think we can beat Utah, but Im optimistic.
Howard isn't a threat at all, the way I see it. He is the exact type of player that will be frustrated to death by our perimeter defenders. And when his shot isn't falling, he tends to slip into black hole mode and even hurt his team further by jacking up bad shots. Terry is more of a threat off the bench, but he will have trouble being effective if he has to go up against either Battier or Artest, on both ends on the court. Overall, I think the Mavericks should be very worried about the prospect of meeting Houston in the playoffs -- the matchups are just not in their favor. The only reason I'd rank Portland above them is because of Portland's documented futility against Houston (perhaps the one team that does not have a matchup advantage at any position). I agree with Clutch's comments there about the two teams.
1. Dallas- We have Landry/Hayes/Scola/Artest to stop Dirk. Yao should dominate Dampier. Nobody on the Mavs can stop Artest especially not Josh Howard. Brooks vs. Barrea would be a good matchup and Kidd vs. Lowrey should be equally as good. JET would be the only threat. I'm still extremely bitter about our loss from 2005 and revenge would be uber sweet. Rockets in 6. 2. Hornets- We are a matchup nightmare for them and we seem to have their number just like the Jazz have ours. Once again this is another matchup where Yao should dominate. Rockets in 6. 3. Spurs- Every year this team looks like they're done and everybody counts them out. I never counted them out in previous years but I think it's safe to say that they are done this year. No Manu, a hobbled-elder Duncan and most importantly no Glory Horry. They would probably push us to 7 games just because of their experience but I have no doubt we'd defeat them. Rockets in 7. 4. Denver- We're not going to face them anyways but it would've been nice. I'd like to see what they can do in the playoffs this year with CBillups at the helm. I'd love to face them as a second round opponent. If we do we'd defeat them in 6. 5. Portland- I've said this many times and I'll say it again. This is going to be Brandon Roy's personal coming out party. True superstars are made in the playoffs and It's B.Roys turn to get his shine on. The rest of the team has rebounding/paint defending monsters in Pryz/Oden/LA. They have 3 point shooters (Blake,Fernandez,Roy), they can run the break and also play halfcourt with the Aldridge/Roy Pick n Roll. Great athletes in Batum who looks like he's turning into a defensive stopper with his great length and Travis Outlaw who does it all. The team is young and fearless and they just don't know any better but to play hard without worries. Most importantly their Homecourt is going to be a HUGE advantage. I feel bad for whoever has to face Portland and to all the people who put Portland at 1 or 2 you guys will see. Whoever Portland faces... the series is going 7 games. I wish Portland could've faced the Lakers because they seriously have their number and give them all kinds of fits. 6. Jazz- **** UTAH! 7. Lakers- Save the best for last. What better WCF than Rockets vs. Lakers.
Yao, Scola, & Artest are gonna show up no doubt. If Brooks, Lowry, and Landry step up and Battier makes his 3's......can't nobody beat us 4 times in a 7 game series, including the fakers. That being said, the easiest path IMO is... Hornets Blazers Nuggets Mavs Spers Jazzholes Fakers
From a related thread.... Quote:Originally Posted by ima_drummer2k I have NO FEAR WHATSOEVER of New Orleans. Frankly, I have no idea why their record is as good as it is (besides Chris Paul, obviously). We take care of them in 5 games. Dallass, on the other hand...I'm just not sure we want any part of them in the first round. They have a couple of bona fide Rocket killers in Terry, Kidd and Howard. I think we beat them, but not NEARLY as easily as the Hornets. Frankly, Dallass and utah are the only teams I fear in the first round. Hell, I'd rather play Denver or San Antonio than those 2 teams.
In my ranking, I have Dallas as my preferable first round match-up due to the emotional aspects of it. But, the idea of Terry in a 7 game series scares the bejesus out of me, in reality. That guy is NAILS against us.
Favorable first round opponent: 1. Hornets- banged up like wounded bees, ripe for toasting. 2. Spur- Timmy not 100%. Parker can be neutralized with speed. 3. Mavs- No interior offense or defense. 4. Blazer- Dangerous with athleticism but inexperienced. 5. Jazz- Stink outside protection HCA where 8 vs. 5 6. Nuggets- High offensive power. Close games all season 7. Lakers- Stay away as long as possible
Therefore my order in most desirable to play is: NO Den Dal SA Utah (if Deron is healthy) Port LA I just find Roy and Portland's youth more worrisome than most of you. I think it is foolhearty to think Artest/Battier can "control" Roy any more than they can control Lebron, Kobe, Paul or Wade. Roy isn't quite their level yet, but he is to the level where a great individual defender isn't enough to keep him from getting a decent enough shot on his own--and probably a tougher cover for us than Melo, Parker or maybe even Deron Williams is. Aldridge can also get quality shots and Portland has great size and decent depth--something NO & Den don't have. I am not sure I would really want Dallas over and SA - Manu. I think we can play SA's game/style, but do it better. Playing Dallas is playing against a very different tempo.
