Good post YallMean but I find it very difficult to believe that JVG will rest Yao and T-Mac for the last two games. Maybe just maybe the Kings will beat the Jazz and then play the Suns (who should have already clinched the top seed) and win that game also. This way the Rockets can beat the Clippers and lose to the Sonics. Of course I am having a difficult time convincing even myself that this will actually happen. So most likely we will play the Mavs. However if we play like we did tonight then I have no doubt we can beat them.
Not to be presumptuous or anything, but I'd rather face the Suns in the 2nd round than the Spurs (assuming Duncun is healthy - which he would be by then). If we make teams play at our pace and shoot the outside jumper (like we did against Denver), the Suns/Grizlies/Mavs would have to shoot out of their minds to beat us. The Spurs, on the other hand, play the same type of basketball, and even without Duncun, could still probably beat us in a 7-game series.
I would rather have Yao and Tracy rollin going into the playoffs then have to shake off a week of rust in the first game... I feel we should play to get the BEST spot we can no matter what it is.. AND I WANT THAT DAMN NUMBER 50!!!!!!
If you think the Spurs can beat us without Duncan, how would you expect us to beat a full-strength Mavericks team to get into the second round at all? The Mavs have sort of slipped under the radar recently, but they've strung together a nice 6-game winning streak, and all their players are finally healthy. As much as I love the Rockets, I have to be realistic here. In a 7-game series we'd be competitive against the Mavericks, but they'll still be the heavy favorites. They have a very deep team and Dirk has been playing out of his mind this season. Moreover, the "they play no-defense" argument really isn't true now that Avery Johnson has taken over. EDIT (Post Dislaimer): I'm not by any means suggesting we tank the season. I want to get the 51 wins and beat the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. I just think beating the Mavericks is improbable, especially since they're healthy and we have no Juwan.
Talking about the Dallas team, outside Dirk we should fear nobody, and we have Tmac to offset him. We have proved that we can beat them. They are clearly tougher than the sonics, but easier than the Suns and Spurs.
I think we can do a good job of defending Dallas. Without a real PG, they seem to play iso ball out there. Dirk takes a turn, then stackhouse, then finley. Sometimes Terry will penetrate and find someone, but they seem like a team of guys who can get their own shot. Sonics would have been ideal, but it will be fun knocking Dirk out. A lot depends on how Yao steps up to the challenge against Dampier. He can't allow himself to get pushed around, and Dampier is one of the few players who has gotten away with murder against him, along with Brian Grant. Just get him into foul trouble early, and dominate Bradley.
All this walking on eggshells and doubtfulness is making me sick! Did the Astros go into the postseason saying "Oh no.. not THE BRAVES again!" They went in there with gumption and determination, saying "f***k em! Bring em on!" We're in the postseason to win! And if it takes a fight against the powerhouses of the best basketball league in the world, then a fight it's going to be! Injuries or not! And that's exactly the best way a championship is deserved and the best way the title of "contender" holds more meaning and merit. We're not here to sneak in on our tippy toes, ladies! Rockets to the finals! HO!!
I say bring-on Dallas as well. Don't underestimate the impact of coaching in these playoff series. I'm confident JVG has more ability to make the adjustments over a seven game series than Avery Johnson.
If we play Dallas bring em on The Rockets should not be scared the Mavericks are a team the Rockets can handle just tougher challenge then Seattle BRING ON DALLAS F&*^^ Dallas
Ugh...please stop taking the stuff I post out of context. I'll never understand why some of you are so eager to get on other people's cases around here. I'm just trying speak objectively. Against the Mavericks we're underdogs. Against the Sonics, we're not. We're more likely to have a successful playoff series against the Sonics. Besides, a long drawn-out series against the Mavericks would deplete our energy against teams in later rounds. Did ever I say we should avoid the Mavericks? Did I say we should intentionally lose any games? I even put a damn disclaimer on one of my posts saying that I was NOT suggesting we tank the rest of the season, but I don't suppose anyone saw it. Instead, some of you just read the words "improbable" and "beat Mavericks" in the same sentence and assumed that I wanted the Rockets to crawl into a hole and hide there until the season is over.
bring 'em on and everything is great but the fact is seattle is an easier team for us to beat and if your goal is to advance in the playoffs, playing teams you have a better chance against is the way to go. do any of y'all look back at the title years with shame b/c we didn't beat seattle? no, denver knocked them out and we were glad as hell that they did. we were much less likely to beat them than anyone else. dallas plays D now, they have a lot of shooters and some guy named dirk who we're going to be guarding with clarence weatherspoon and scott padgett. as much as i think we could compete and maybe even win with as well as we're playing, i'd just as soon play the banged up, struggling sonics. however, since there's no real way to successfully get the 6th seed, we may as well play to win here. of course, we should still seek to limit yao and tmac's minutes if for no other reason than to avoid injury. playing tmac 40 minutes in the last game of the season doesn't seem to be a good idea no matter what.
Understand this. THERE IS NO WAY that we will tank these games. JVG will be using these games to get the team in playoff shape. No one will rest. We will play to win. And the momentum we have, particularly coming out of the Denver game, will serve us well in the playoffs. Dallas, Seattle, San Antonio, whoever. We have to go through all those teams to get to the Finals anyway. Let's play like an actual contender. Let's aim for the ring and not the second round. Just bet me JVG's not thinking the same. No rest, no tanks. Bank it.
totally agree BJ... said so in the other stupid ass thread about tanking. some ppl are so scared of other teams and have no confidence in ours. pathetic
Dallas -> Phoenix -> San Antonio -> Miami -> World Champions That could be the greatest championship run of all time, riding on the wave of momentum from beating the hottest team in the NBA, we should continue our winning ways and roll on like the juggernaut this team can be. Fou', Fou', Fou', Fou', baby.
I'm not sure that's hotter than the 94-95 run, but it's about even with it. And I would freaking LOVE to repeat that feeling. It'd be okay with me though if we didn't have to come from behind on every West series like we did that last time though. Wanna really make this year stand out? How bout straight sweeps in a bunch of series' we're favored to lose? Dallas? 4-0. Phoenix? 4-0. SA? 4-0. You get the picture. Any reason we can't do all that? After beating the hottest team in the L by almost 30? No reason at all. Let's do this thing.
I thought our goal was to WIN, not just "advance", but WIN it all or lose it all aslong as it's given everything we got? Meaning we play smarter, tougher, stronger, more determined postseason we've ever played in a LONG time to display true team progress and contending progress and gritty chemistry that it takes to be a true champion in this league? Even if all probability tells us it might not be this year? I thought our goal was not to simply move ahead, but to improve on the past and show that we can and will belong with the elites of this league? I thought our goal was to try and better our 93-94 94-95 championship runs overall with the teaming of T-mac and Yao? I thought our goal was to win in a way that leaves NO ROOM for nay sayers, doubters, asteriks or questions next to any championship titles from here on out? I doubt JVG intends to do anything in the playoffs BUT this. I especially don't think JVG has "try and take the lightest route possible" on his list of options or plans, so I definitely don't think it's on the players' mind. I really doubt management considered that when they thought of T-mac and Yao on the same team at ages of 24 and 25. From Management, to the head coach to the players, this team is built for bigger and greater things. And if I do say so myself, this team after so many let downs, and empty hopes <our last postseason performances>, finally DOES deserve the faith of the fans and the benefit of the doubt no matter the obstacles ahead!! So, please enough of this "playing it safe" crap!! This team like so many have reiterated CAN TAKE ON ANYONE!!! So GO ROCKETS!!! GO AND SHOW THEM! That we are going to be back on top! AND BETTER THAN EVER!! F***K The MAVS, THE SUNS, THE HEAT AND YES EVEN THE DAMN SPURS!!! And I repeat!! BRING IT!!!
