Call me prideful, call me reckless, call me stupid, but I'm tired of the defeatist mentality on this board. I'm tired of all the mulling over of every possible end-of-season and playoff scenario to find the ones that don't involve our arch-nemesis. And it sickens me to even see people suggesting that the Rockets actually throw games simply so we don't meet the Jazz in the first round. Come on people, I know that beating the Jazz isn't tantamount to winning an NBA championship, and there are certainly smoother roads to the Finals. But these guys have been the bane of our collective existence since the mid-1990s. And just like they finally surmounted us in '97, so shall we shatter this string of heartbreaking playoff bounces against that awful group of flopping sissies. Yes, I know they're a match up nightmare for us. I'm aware that D-Will is a Rockets killer. And I know we all want to finally watch some basketball in May (the last time that happened I still had a curfew). But dammit, where's your fighting spirit? Where's that drive to meet our fears head-on, grab them by their hideous, Mormon horns, and wrestle them into the dirt, once and for all? Not to mention the kind of confidence that we (as a board and as a team) will feel rolling into the next round, whichever that may be. You may say that I have a gambler's mentality... but bring on the Jazz.
Nah.. i was just going to complain that you started another thread to say what I've been saying in 10+ threads.
I just know that I am glad the Rockets don't have the fear that has been on full display on this board. For the change in tone alone...you get five stars! The Jazz have been playing terrible. We even pushed them in our series last year without Yao. Add Yao + Artest - McGrady and we are certainly good enough to beat the Jazz. People act like it is an automatic loss or something. It is pitiful that some of you would sacrifice a division championship just to avoid the Jazz. Enough of the fear. I would prefer to play someone else, but as a fan I am not afraid of the Jazz. I would much rather see the Rockets draw the Jazz and avoid the Lakers in the second round, but most of you act as if the only goal is to get out of the first round.
Indeed. And if you didn't mean any offense to the religion you mentioned, why make the comment? We don't matchup as well against the Jazz as we do against some of the other teams we might face. Being "afraid" has nothing to do with it. You try and get the odds in your favor by having a first round seed that has the Rocks playing someone they usually beat. May not work out that way, in which case we'll just beat the Jazz like a drum.
If we have to play them in the playoffs, so be it. But I don't wish to play them like you do, because they give us match-up problems. You don't pick the strongest enemy to fight. Instead you pick a easier route to final victory. This is called wisdom. We don't need to choose hardest way to prove our glory. At the end of it, getting to WCF on an "easy" route is better than not getting past the first round.
Am I afraid of the Jazz? No. Do I feel it's the most unfavorable matchup in the playoffs for the Rockets, bar none? YES. This **** ain't checkers, it's chess. And I won't get embarassed by a little castling when we haven't been out of the first round in about 10,000 years.
But you may not be able to avoid the Jazz and Lakers. If we can, great. I would prefer getting Denver or the Spurs in round 2, even if it means playing the Jazz in round 1. It is one thing to argue favorable matchups, but what we have seen over the last few weeks in regard to the Jazz is flat-out terror. I am not saying that about you specifically.
Why face the Jazz? Rockets dont matchup well against D-will n Boozer. Its always been a close game against them this season n Jazz has played better against us overall. Why take the chance of facing such team when Rockets can face Portland or New Orleans which is a better matchup for rockets n easier path to 2nd round of playoffs. I still think Rockets can win against the Jazz in playoffs, but it sure will be much difficult than Blazers n Hornets.
If your goal is get out of the first round at all costs, then by all means pray we don't face the Jazz. Some of us have bigger aspirations and are much more concerned about the potential second round matchup. If we can't beat the Jazz with home court, then we have no business sniffing the WCF anyway.
It's not called terror, rather called lack of confidence based on the history. In a 7 game series against Utah, our odds of winning it is less than theirs. I don't want them. We have to be rational here. Based on what, you want to face them? To me there is no much gained even if we face them and beat them, which is long due. If we don't beat them, the embarrassment goes on. I just don't understand cavalierly sentiment OP displays.
lol, as i've said in other threads of this sort, fans of a team yet to have won a playoff series in over a decade have no justification for bravado. and please...spare me the predictable 'you have to beat the best to be the best!1' subsequent follow-ups. we have a real chance this year at actually becoming relevant again. let's not let the delusions of grandeur get in the way here.
Party pooper. Looks like the Celtics had a reason to have bravado last season. You called us what we are... fans. Part of being a fan is believing in a good team. That's enough justification for me. Other justification could include our recent record, the team's chemistry, and how the guys in the locker room feel. It could also include our chances to win our division for the first time in years. Please spare me the predictable 'woe is me b/c we've sucked in the past' follow-ups.
Thank you! Finally someone who actually makes sense. If we want to be the best we have to be able to beat anyone, anywhere. Simple as that.
Refresh my memory as to the identity of the nightmare of a matchup Eastern Conference team standing in Boston's way last season in this analogy. Oh right, there wasn't one.
It's similar to the Seattle situation during the championship era. Seattle knocked us out of the playoffs 3 of the previous 6 appearances. The Rockets avoid them and win the championships. I don't see a lot of people not giving the Rockets their due because they didn't go through Seattle. The Rockets are the better team overall, but just don't match up well against the Jazz. Personally, I'm not rooting for any particular team. The Rockets-Jazz is a great rivalry and I think would produce more intensity and drama than any other matchup. And I would love to see the Rockets get that monkey off their back and be the ones to end the Jazz season. I'd be proud of the guys making the second round regardless of who they beat, but I'd be particularly proud of them winning a series against the Jazz. It is a bit embarassing reading all of the "avoid jazz at all cost" posts knowing this is the site Jazz fans come to get their Rockets info.
