I want to know who still thinks we cannot be top 4 in the West.

Although Id be suprised to see the Lakers not make the playoffs, theyll have to really go on a run to get into the top 4. So that makes it easier for us to get a top seed.

Bottom line is, we still have a long way to get with regards to consistency. However, its very possible for us to end up right at #4 if Minnesota doesnt get their act together. My predictions:

1: Dallas
2: Sacramento
3: San Antonio
4: Minnesota
5: Houston
6: La Lakers
7: Seattle
8: Utah

 

It'd be great for us to be in the top 4. Playoffs are almost a certainty for the rox now, top 6 looks incredibly likely. Top 4... less likely but possible. The West is so incredibly tight now though.. a coupla bad games and that could drop us straight down to 6-8. Crossing my fingers.
And those Spurs... this isn't their year.. and actually nowhere in the near future does it seem they will win a championship, BUT, they will be in the playoffs for a while. Don't underestimate Duncan.

 

Nice post, nice to see/hear how well the Rocks are doing. Great defense.

 

We're top three right now, what makes you naysayers think we will fall. we have the best 5 and the best 1 in the nba right now. i can't wait till shaq faces the rookie of the year. he's ready.

 

I see more:

1.Dallas
2.Sacramento
3.Houston
4.SA
5.Minnesota
6.LaL
7.Utah
8.Seattle

We are just starting to see what the team is like with Yao as the focal point...'JUST STARTING' and look at the results so far. Our consistency can only get better and will gel further on in the season. The core of the teams like SA and Minn. have been together for awhile, we abused SA and I feel that we will beat the T-wolves as well.
Its kind of funny, the old excuse the players' used in the past seasons..."oh we need to play together awhile, we have new players who need to get use to each other, we have to try to get a chemistry going...blah,blah,blah." We've heard this for a few years now, but the second Yao comes in...he gets use to the NBA, and immediately gets comfortable with the team and its players and we start clicking. Was is really that hard? What our team couldn't accomplish in 3 years , Yao has helped us in a matter of weeks and it will only get better. Tis a great time to be a Rockets fan!

 

IMHO, it's too early to say, but I think Rockets are no. 5 on the west and has a GREAT opportunity to climbs up further, but only time will tell. At this point, the Rocks don't play well against "Team Orient" ball club (such as Dallas and Sac Queens), but as they adjusted to the new Offense and Incorporated Yao and Boki in the mix, watch out (I think the X factors for the Rocks are Boki and EG)! I would hate for my Lakers to face the Rocks in best out of 5 match-up. It's way too scary

Here are my takes for the top 5 team in the west come playoff time;

1. Dallas Mav
2. SAC Queen
3, 4 or 5. SA Spurs, LA LakerS or Houston Rockets

 

What makes me giddy is that I have't seen the rockets play well for more than 2 quarters at a time and we are still winning. We are gelling and are only going to get better. No one will want to play us in the playoffs except for Sac-town who seem to have our number.

 

Our record is 10-7 or .588%. If you extend that out to 82 games that is 48 wins for the season. That sounds about right and maybe a couple games too high esp if Yao hits the rookie wall. Even at 48 wins, that isn't enough to make top 4, historically speaking, and might even leave us fighting for the 8th spot.

So don't get too excited about a top 4 seeding yet cause this team hasn't showed enough chemistry...yet.

We look good right now in the standings because the East has been beating some West teams recently plus LA's terrible start. I expect that to work itself out by May.

 

I say we will take the 5 spot. Sure, we can be top 4, but that will take a whole year of consistency which I dont know that we have yet. Here are my odds:

1 seed: 1/100
2 seed: 5/100
3 seed: 10/100
4 seed: 20/100
5 seed: 29/100
6 seed: 20/100
7 seed: 10/100
8 seed: 5/100

 

2, 3, and 1. Jesus isn't looking very good this year. A lot of spurs fans are quite annoyed with his bad shooting lately. Besides TD, and an old DRob, who do they have? Manu? He's suckin it up so far. Bowen's an offensive liability, Sjax is too inconsistent, and Smith is like Rice. They just aren't a great team. Unless TD plays like Dream in his prime then they aren't going anywhere.

 

1) Sacremento
2) Dallas
3) San Antonio
4) Lakers
5) Minnesota
6) Houston
7) Seattle
8) Portland

 

DR,

Its more respect for Duncan, than the Spurs as a team. The Spurs have been one of the best teams in the league since Duncan got drafted and I suspect that by the end of this season, they will have gotten their act together.

I know we have discussed before about how SA has lost some personnel that you felt would hurt them. I see them being active as the trading deadline comes upon us and I feel they will make some sort of deal to improve their weakneses.

In the end, despite Tuesday's game, well have to prove we can beat the other good teams in the West on a consistant basis before Im ready to proclaim ourselves better than SA.

My opinion could change as the season progresses (dependent upon our consistancy as a team).

Severe Rockets Fan,

I definately see where you are coming from. I feel the Rockets are still going to hit quite a few bumps along the road this season. Given Yao's excelereated learning curver, there are still adjustments hes going to have to make for us to be successful. Once other teams in the league see how he dominates (once and if he does this consistantly), they are going to gear up to stop him and thats when the rest of the team will have to make their presence known and adjust accordingly.

As a whole, I just feel we are going to have our ups and downs as the season progresses as we adjust to Yao and Yao continues to adjust to the league.

Just like Yao threw up 27 and 18 against SA, there ill be days when he has only 12 and 8. Its all about adjustments and in the end, I think it will be hard to keep up with the rest of the good teams in the west. However, I still feel we will be somewhere around a 5 or 6th seed.

 

It's still very early, the Rockets need to prove that they're consistently winning before you can claim that they belong to the top 4 of the West.

The way I see about other teams is this. Teams like Lakers, Spurs, Wolves, Seattle, Utah, they'll turn things around and make a run at some point. The regular season is about winning streaks, and they are all capable of making them. So adding the Kings and the Mavs, we probably have a lock in the 8th spot, but still no guarantee for a top 4 spot.

 

#1-#2: Among Kings and Mavs
#3-#6: Among Rockets, T-Wolves, Spurs, Lakers
#7-#8: Among Jazz, Sonics, Suns, Blazers

My best guess for actual rank.
1. Mavs
2. Kings
3. Rockets
4. Spurs
5. T-wolves
6. Lakers.
7. Sonics
8. Jazz.

Mavs and Kings are playing at a much higher level than everybody else. Spurs is not playing well. Lakers is not playing well and will have a hell of a time climbing up from their hole. T-wolves is playing pretty good. Rockets will improve this season more than other teams. Right now we are at #3 in the west and I don't see any reason for other teams to catch up with us, as we will only continue to play better as a team.

 

Why does everyone talk about how the Lakers are in the HUGE hole??

They are 4.5 games behind us for the 3rd seed. With 60+ games left in the season, how can you guys say they wont make it in the top 4?

 

To finish in top 4 , Steve and Yao must stay healthy. But ive got some bad feelings....