It's early but since we have not been in the PO for 4 years, I am getting excited about our chance in the PO. The following is the standing for the Western conference as of yesterday: 1. * Sacramento -- 2. * Minnesota 1.0 3. San Antonio 4.0 4. LA Lakers 6.0 5. Dallas 6.0 6. Memphis 8.0 7. Houston 8.0 8. Denver 8.0 9. Utah 13.5 10. Seattle 13.5 11. Portland 14.5 12. Golden State 15.0 13. LA Clippers 16.0 14. Phoenix 22.5 Barring a huge meltdown, or a season ending injury to either Yao or SF3, the Rockets are in the PO. Utah and Seattle are both 5.5 games behinds us and I don't see them catching up with us, even if we finish 15:14 the rest of the season (it's possible, based on our schedule the rest of the season, and our winning percentage against the East and West teams at home and on the road). This is probably the closest PO race for the Western conference for a while. Theoretically we can go as high as a #4 seed. Realistically, I see that we settle for a #7 seed. Memphis has an easier schedule than us the rest of the seaon, and they are playing unreal. I see that we sweep the Nuggets and go for 47:35 for the season, locking in a 7th seed before the Nuggets. (Of course it's also possible that Yao and SF3 go nuts the rest of the season and we go 21-8 the rest of the way and clinch a #4 or #5 spot. Realistically Yao is still one year away from carrying the team and SF3 needs another year to become comfortable in being Yao's sidekick for the Rockets) If we enter the PO as a 7th seed, we are likely to meet KG in the first round. This is our best chance to advance to the 2rd round (I don't see that we draw the Lakers in the 1st round). Then we will get Duncan, and then Shaq-Kobe for the Western conference final. This is the best scenario since I don't see that we can beat the Kings or Mavericks in a best of 7 series this season. And if somehow KG manages to bring his team ahead of the Kings for the final standing, I'd like to see us lose games on purpose to draw them in the first round. Finally, I think that the Rockets can have two franchise players in Yao and SF3. Yao like Duncan will never be a vocal leader on the court, and we need a second star (hopefully your PG) to be the vocal leader on the team. SF3 can play that role.
A matchup with the Spurs, Lakers, or TWolves is preferable to facing the perimeter-oriented teams like Kings, Mavs, and Grizzlies. Rockets have a better chance of shutting down Tim Duncan than having to deal with Dirk or Mike Bibby.
No way. The Spurs are a team very similar to ours, but with playoff (and CHAMPIONSHIP) experience. Advantage Spurs. I wanna stay as far away from them in the playoffs as possible. The T'Wolves are finally gonna advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs this year because they have finally surrounded KG with complimentary talent. KG's the 2nd best player in the league behind Duncan. No way do I wanna face those guys. I'd MUCH prefer a match-up with Dallas and/or Sacramento. Those shooters can go cold, and they won't get easy looks against our defense. In a 5 or 7 game series, this is where we have a competitive edge. Give me either of those teams and we have a real chance to advance.
A huge fallacy in your argument. Nestorovic, Hedo, Ron Mercer and Charlie Ward were not part of the Spurs championship team. They have playoff experience, but so do Jim Jackson, Mark Jackson, Weatherspoon and even Piatkowki. I'm with Charvo, we match up better with the inside-out teams..Spurs, Lakers, TWolves than we do against DAL, SAC or MEM. I'd rather have Cato (or Taylor or Spoon) in the post vs Duncan, Slava and even KG as opposed to chasing Gasol and Dirk all over the perimeter. Of course, if we spank DAL on Saturday I reserve the right to change my opionion.
playoffs look too tough this year! lets lose some games, get a lottery pick and try again next year. but seriously, i think the lakers will be forced to get off their asses and win some more. I would not want to end up againt tim duncan and the spurs but would want to go up against the lakers, or wolves. I wish i could say that we could beat the kings and mavs, but looking at how we've played them this year, it just doesnt look like we would have a chance.
At least this season, this Rockets team matches better with teams that go inside-out (Lakers, Spurs, Minny). We have huge holes matching up against jump shooting teams (Kings) and athletic, run and gun teams (Mavericks and Grizzles). Until our guards know how to control the tempo of the game, and we know how to fully utilize Yao against lesser opponents, we don't stand a chance. Neither Yao nor Cato is able to chase the likes of Dirk and Gasol around the perimeter. It does not work.
The Lakers case is a fallacy. Without Malone, yes, Rox has a chance; with Malone, who on the Rox team can defend him? not a chance.
I really don't see Memphis hanging in there until the end, at least I dont see them getting a better seed than us. Denver either, I think they are both playing great ball this year, but this is the time that the race for the bottom spots is decided by one or two of the teams dropping off. (Like us the past two years)
Too true. I'd like to see how Weatherspoon does, though. I like that we can now bring Griffin in on a couple of guards when needed, too.
I am not sure whether Marlone can be back 100% healthy. Without a healthy Marlone, I think we have a decent chance against them in the PO. Yao and SF3 vs. OK, throw in Cat and GP, and you get a great series for the fans anyway.
i would like to agree with that, but dallas is probably the worst match up out of all the playoff teams for us they play no defense but their defense drives us crazy i know we are terrible from a win/loss perspective against the queens and the spurs but at least we play them competitively against dallas we just look like a bunch of morons
I don't see any significant weaknesses in the Grizzlies to think they will falter down the stretch. They are almost unbeatable at home, and they pose significant matchup problems to any team without a quick power forward. I guess Jerry West was not dumb to give the contract to Posey. It goes to show how bad contracts can prevent a team from resigning its own players. If the Rockets payroll was lower with fewer bad contracts, Posey would still be a Rocket.
Interesting to note....of the teams you like us better matched up on: Spurs, Lakers, Twolves....those also happen to be the teams that play Yao "one-on-one" (and in which he seems to excell) whereas Dallas, Sacramento and Memphis the teams we "dont matcup well with", use double teams on Yao. Interesting.
Lakers are going to get the 4th or 5th seed. I don't see them passing the Spurs, Kings, or Twolves. Rockets more than likely will not face them in the 1st round.
