Is SA the only west playoff team that we match up well against?

James Harden is a master against the Spurs....in the playoffs. Go ask Spurs fans, they are all afraid to seeus mainly because of Harden. The Warriors, Blazers, ane Suns are good matchups. Dallas and Memphis could scare us but the rockets should win.

 

I still remember in '09 we were swept in the regular season by the Lakers but still took them to 7 games in the playoffs while winning the first game on the road and another 2 w/o Yao.

Therefore, im not too worried about us being unable to beat the clippers and okc in the regular season. Everything changes in thr playoffs, strategy, lineups, rotations, pace, etc.

 

we can beat the blazers and warriors and suns in a 7 game series.

 

I don't think that the doom and gloom surrounding facing OKC in the playoffs is completely justified. The Rockets would NOT be favored, but they would have a shot against OKC.

Further, this belief that the Rockets would just roll through SA is funny. The Spurs turn it on in the playoffs, have been in this position literally 100's of times and execute better than anyone in the NBA.

 

In a Spurs fan perspective:

Houston is the second team I fear in the west if we play them in the playoffs, and would want to avoid them until the WCF. The only team that I believe that can beat the Spurs in the west is the Thunder, and the Rockets giving the Spurs some fits.

For some reason this year pop has been putting Kawhi on Harden, and Green on Parsons. Originally I thought that was great idea at first, but Chandler Parsons tore us a new one because Danny Green is probably one of the worst defenders when players pump fake, which I don’t know why because I’m pretty sure he goes against Ginobili and Belinelli in practice everyday.

When the Spurs and Rockets meet earlier this year the Spurs were coasting quite a bit, and lately they have turned up a notch and are the best team in the league right now, and I still don’t think they have hit their peak for the season. I know the Rockets picked up there play also, but it isn’t as evident as the Spurs play.

I think a Spurs vs Houston series could be unpredictable. If Kawhi shuts down Chandler Parsons, the way he shut down Klay Thompson after those two hot games from him in the playoffs next year, and Duncan continues to get in Dwight’s head as the best defender on Dwight in the league. Put Green on Harden and let him shoot as many jump shots as he wants without putting him on the line. The Spurs are one of the best teams at not putting players to the free throw line in the league. That’s why I feel confident against OKC this time around also. Unless Lin or Jones go off, which I’ve seen what they can do then I think Spurs will be fine against anybody in the West, if they’re healthy.

 

#1 I agree with you that the Spurs and Clippers right now are playing the best in the NBA.

#2 Yes, the Spurs are capable of beating anyone in the West, however they are also capable of losing to 4-5 teams in the West in a series.

#3 I am perfectly fine with Howard against Duncan. Howard has played better than you seem to think.... throw in Asik and the Rockets are good at that spot.

 

I feel comfortable against all teams except OKC and Clippers.

However, we have the option of going small ball with OKC and going twin towers with Clippers. Doesn't mean that we will prevail, but it does give us a fighting chance.

In the playoffs, we definitly have to think out of the box.

 

Totally agree. I am sure that OKC and LAC do not want to meet us too in playoff.

 

The Spurs are different right now, and the playoffs for them are total different from the regular reason. I do not think we can beat SA in the playoff, but I am confident that we can beat GS and Portland.

 

Teams I wanna play: SA,Dallas,Golden State,Portland,Phoenix.

Teams to avoid: Memphis,OKC,Clippers

 

We don't matchup with well with OKC, but I expect a series with them to be close. We'd be the underdogs, but I think we'd put a better foot forward than what we've shown this year. It really comes down to if Dwight can produce at an elite level against Perk/Ibaka/Adams. If he can (he needs our other bigs to keep some attention off of him), we have a solid shot. How Russ responds to Bev will obviously play a large role too.

We do matchup well with SAS, but I'd expect them to be much tougher in the playoffs, with their huge experience/coaching edge over us (and most teams). They aren't immune to clunkers though (see: '11 Memphis, '12 OKC), so I wouldn't lose sleep over a matchup with them. Our frontcourt athleticism/muscle has seemed to bother them.

We don't matchup well with LAC, but like with OKC, I'd expect us to put a better foot forward than what we've shown so far. I think they'd be a slight favorite, but not a clear one. The good news is that they've tended to over-depend on CP3 in past playoffs, which a good defensive scheme can expose (SAS and MEM have shown this).

We do matchup well with POR, and I'd expect us to take care of them in 5 or 6. They do score pretty well on us (when they heat up from outside), but they can't guard us, and we just have to force LA to shoot contested 2pt Js (which he'll hit at a decent rate, but the overall efficiency of that shot is low, and it hurts them when he shoots 20+ shots from there).

We don't matchup particularly badly (or well) with GSW, but I think we're a better team. They have some pieces (Curry's scoring; Iggy/Bogut to throw at Harden/Dwight; Lee to work on Jones), but I think we'd win in 6 as long as we don't lay a dud. We'd need our frontcourt to thoroughly win the battle inside.

We're considerably better than DAL, but the in-state familiarity and Dirk's ability to expose our 4 spot would probably make a series with them tougher than it has to be. I still say we win in 6, 5 if we come ready.

We'd probably whoop up on PHX inside, but Bev/Lin would have to be on point with Bledsoe returning (and Dragic's determination to burn us). As long as our help-D is ready to help on their slashing guards, our frontcourt's domination over theirs would finish them in 5 (6 at most).

We obviously don't matchup well with MEM, but they're not really so talented that we should worry. Their team is one that becomes tougher in the playoffs, but their lack of perimeter scoring (just buckle down on Conley and watch Lee) can be exposed. I think we get them in 6 or 7.

 

rockets should put howard on griffin and asik on jordan...we win the series if mchale would do that.

 

The playoffs can be unpredictable. Teams roll in hot, others cold. As they say the games slow down and become more half-court, more defensively oriented. The Rockets don't seem "made for the playoffs" given their weak defense, high turnover rate, and their lack of consistent perimeter shooting. But, they do have strengths. Howard and Harden can be X factors; you never know whey they will give a dominant performance. Lin and Parsons can also have big games. Jones, Asik, and the bench have been inconsistent but could rise to the occasion like Garcia did the last game (from nowhere). There are so many variables with every team that a seven game series can be an adventure. The deck may be somewhat stacked against the Rockets, but they are entertaining and have a good chance of going to the second round or further.

If I were an opposing coach, I would want to avoid the Rockets. They are young, talented, and improving. They are also flaky and unpredictable. In a seven game series that spells "dangerous."

 

Honestly, out of the teams that I want to Rockets to play in the playoffs, the Spurs have to be the one I do not want to see. Look at how they are playing now, with everyone healthy! The ball is moving beautifully and they are hitting their 3 point shots. Their bench is amazing, scoring 46 a game and their starting 5 is now more balanced than ever. The Spurs have the best team from top to bottom with the best coach. Definite advantage to the Spurs.

This is my order of who I want to see from I want to plz nooo.
1. Blazers - They can't stop Harden or Howard. Period.
2. Warriors - Same as the Blazers. I do worry about the Curry factor.
3. Dallas - If they make it, I only worry about the BS the Mavs seem to do against us.
4. San Antoinio - Above.
5. Clippers - I feel like we can beat them but they just have a better overall team than we do.
6. Memphis - If they make it, I worry about ZBo against our power forwards and the conflicting play styles.
7. Thunder - KD and Westbrook will be extra motivated since we basically ended their season last year.

 

To be fair, the Rockets are a top 10 defensive team. They're not Elite, but I certainly wouldn't call them "weak"...

Defensive efficiency - 11th http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/defensive-efficiency
Opponent FG% - 4th http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-effective-field-goal-pct
Opponent 3pt% - 6th http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-three-point-pct
Opponent TS% - 4th http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-true-shooting-percentage
Opponent FT Rate/100 possessions - 7th http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-ftm-per-100-possessions
Opponent Fast Break Efficiency - 3rd http://www.teamrankings.com/nba/stat/opponent-fastbreak-efficiency

That doesn't qualify as "weak" by any definition. Not Elite, but definitely in the top 10 and nowhere near as bad as you imply.

 

barring injuries etc, only teams that can eliminate us are OKC and LAC. spurs we beat.

 

Of the teams listed, I think Houston would beat Portland. With a healthy Bledsoe, I think Houston would be favored over Phoenix but could lose if Howard wears down. Houston should be favored over Dallas because Howard has dominated them. Houston-Memphis is a tossup. They can defend Harden and Howard, but they don't score the ball that well.

Golden St. is playing very good defense right now and I think they would give problems to Howard. Iguodala is going to hold his own against Harden. That's a pick 'em series.

 

Once playoffs start, all regular season record is thrown out the door. On the finals against Shaq's magic, they completely dominated us during the regular season, 4-0. What happened in the finals.. we swept them.

 

That's surprising.