Nothing is guaranteed yet certainly, but the number of games each team has left is winding down (to exactly one, by the end of tonight) and the scenario we feared might be coming true after all. If LA tanks it tomorrow against Utah, we might have to come to grips with the reality of weighing a matchup with Utah versus our chance at home court advantage. For this to happen: 1. Utah would have to beat LA on Tuesday. 2. New Orleans would have to beat SA to avoid 7th Wednesday night. 3. Portland would have to beat Denver late late Wednesday night. Obviously, we won't know the outcome of the last two games, but is it worth risking a rematch with Utah again when we could potentially control our own destiny??? The NBA is such a match-up driven league, and we have played pretty well against all other playoff teams of late whether on the road or at home, I think it's a valid question, about whether or not we should tank to Dallas to avoid Utah and potentially risk falling to 5th if SA and Portland win Wednesday night.
our home court advantage won't mean anything if we run into Jazz and get the first round exit again. It's match-up problem we are talking about!
i dont care who play in the first round as long as we are in the bottom bracket, home court or no home court i dont want to face the lakers any sooner than the WCF, and all these girls need to stop worrying about utah, yes theyre a bad match up, but we have a better squad, even w/o mcgrady who did all but die to win in the playoffs, (if you dont think so because you're so caught up with popular opinions than go back and watch all his playoff series, how many times do you rememeber him diving on the floor for loose balls in the regular season?) anyways, we can beat the jazz, it's all about not letting them get under our skin, but i wouldn't tank any games, just play to win and hope we avoid the lakers
I think I agree now. You've turned the tide for me. I'm OK with seeing Utah so long as we're the 2 seed for it.
I don't fear Utah. My little sister doesn't even fear Utah. Utah is a basketball team. They're not a murderer, they're not bin Laden, they're not an atomic bomb. They are a basketball team. Their unis dont have anthrax, their fans don't spit acid, their homecourt isn't made of quicksand.
It is NOT smart to play against a team that has the biggest advantage over our weaknesses. Centers like Okur, Murphy, even Howe are what we can't handle at the moment. And Deron will pound our PGs hard in the playoff. We should not be afraid of anyone, but at least let's be smart about choosing who to play against if we have the choices.
I think it would be smarter to play the Jazz in the first round than advancing as the 4th/5th seed and playing the Lakers in the second round. At least I would prefer it this way
This really needs to stop. 1. Never, EVER choose to lose. 2. If we're trying to manipulate our seeding to avoid a team, do it to hide from the Lakers 'til the WCF at 2 or 3. 3. **** the Jazz.
well the 06-07 Mavs chose not to lose and pounded the Clippers in its final game of the season to match up with the Warriors.... and let me tell you that team is way better than our rockets team now
HCA.. all the way. I don't care if it means we have to play the Jazz. I'm not really scared of any team except for the Lakers.
Phil Jackson is not going to completely rest his starters against UTAH, so hopefully the Lakers win and seal the Jazz and we can play NO or DAL http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/...t=ArNIUg6_Nv4n0o8PL7bStNqB0bYF?urn=nba,155210
This topic assumes that the Rockets will have a tough time and be the underdogs vs. the Jazz. It doesn't mean the Rockets won't have a legit shot at winning, but I'll work with that assumption. Accepting the premise of this topic also means the Rockets would have better shots against the Spurs or the Blazers. So extending thought, then you're asking the following: A) Division title, #2 seed and home court until WCF, very tough 1st round (Jazz), tough 2nd round (Nuggets, Mavs, or Hornets), big time underdogs 3rd (Lakers) or B) No division title, no home court at all, tough 1st round (Spurs or Blazers), big time underdogs 2nd round (Lakers), tough 3rd round (Nuggets, Hornets, or Mavs) I pick A.
Exactly. There's been this (loser?) mentality around here lately that has people wanting the Rockets to "just get out of the first round". I want more. Always. Call me crazy, but every year I want a trophy. Sure I'm disappointed a lot, but I get way more into it that way. Oh, and I REALLY want that division title. That's not even a guaranteed Jazz matchup; and that's hardly a guaranteed first round out. Why on Earth would anybody want a loss? And to the Mavericks, at that!
The Rockets must not play the Jazz no matter what! They had home court against them the last two seasons and zippo. I promise you the Jazz want the Rockets in the worst way.
' I understand . . oh . .and how healthy were they then? And wasn't one of them under a different coach? Rocket River
