I was considering making a thread for this, but I think it is best it just goes in here so I don't get flamed as much. I was a little bored so I started looking into the schedule up ahead. I Charted out the remaining 23 games and this is what I found: Opponents +/- .500 Wins Realistic Playoff Chance Sac - 20 No Min - 14 No Det - 21 No Was - 21 No NJ - 6 No Den + 39 Yes Mem .500 30 Yes Bos + 37 Yes NY - 20 No Chi + 31 Yes OKC + 36 Yes LAC - 25 No LAL + 45 Yes Was - 21 No SA + 34 Yes Bos + 37 Yes Indiana - 20 No Mem .500 30 Yes Uta + 38 Yes Cha - 28 Yes Phx + 38 Yes Sac - 20 No NO + 31 Yes Hope that comes out right, made the table in Excel, but not sure how to put that in a post. This is our last 23 games. 10 of the last 23 games are against teams ABOVE .500 13 of which are then of course against teams BELOW .500 Of the last 23 games only 13 of them have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. If we get Lowry back soon, and Ariza and Battier healthy, we have a legitimate shot of winning 9-10 of those teams below .500. Of the remaining 13 games only a few stand out as probable losses, Denver, Boston (twice) and LA. However, we have proven that we can beat LA and Boston has only 37 wins thus far. I would say those three are our hardest games. We do still have other 50/50 games. We play OKC, Phx, NO, Mem (twice), Chi, Uta, SA - We all know we are fully capable of beating and even DESTROYING these teams. Our next 5 games are against teams below .500, we need/must win 4 at the very least, but playoffs could come down to one game, so 5 is really better. After that we have 13 teams who will possibly be playing for playoff berths. That means of our last 18 games, only 5 of those are "gimmies" so it again it is important to take those games and fight for the others. This may not have helped, or possibly been obvious and unnecessary, just thought I'd show yall our playoff picture...keep this in mind: 11. Mem 30-30 16 of their remaining games to teams above .500 10. NO 31-30 14 of their remaining games to teams above .500 9. Hou 30-29 8. Por 36-27 Only 9 of their remaining games to teams above .500 7. SA 34-24 16 of their remaining games to teams above .500 6. OKC 38-24 14 of their remaining games to teams above .500 Mem, and NO are hot on our trail. As for those saying if anyone we'll replace Por, no so sure guys. Gonna be a tough battle.
Opponents +/- .500 Wins Realistic Playoff Chance Sac - 20 No Hope that comes out right, made the table in Excel, but not sure how to put that in a post. This is our last 23 games. It didn't so just remember the order is Team/Above or Below .500/#Wins/Chance of Making Playoffs
I keep hoping their pride really kicks in, that they've been subconsciously pacing themselves/resting a little, and that they have enough in them (and enough veteran savvy with Battier, Hayes, Martin, Scola, etc.?) to pull off a streak to get them in -- not 22 games, but they do have that under their belt, and some valuable playoff experience -- a mini-version of that streak? They've shown that they CAN produce... would love to see THIS team surprise us all again, and I think they COULD. Like Shane said, just a LITTLE defense would go a long way. ??
Sounds simple, but that's pretty much the only answer now. The Rockets have to play every game like it's a "must win" situation and then hope that it's enough to catch up to Portland for the eighth seed.
