Huh???!!! You got me floored here. Who are the proven better players? A dude who averaged 12ppg for half a season at Treviso, Italy is better than an All-Star and one of the deadliest shooters in NBA history? A pathetic, nerdy scrub who has had some significant minutes in the league, only because he happened to play for the worst franchise in league history and not mind it is better than the best player on the surging Memphis Grizzlies? You better be kidding...
You obviously got a short memory about EG. Go back to read the threads about EG at the begining of the season, he was never someone JVG can trust. It's not because he is a bad player, but his style just doesn't fit what JVG wants, a physical, defensive minded rebound machine. His contant taking outside shots would have driven JVG crazy! I think the problems EG had this season have been there before, but Rudy just didn't like to make it public.
Nap! I'm talking about all the bench players we have this year. Boki was the worse player last year, so don't bring him into the debate. Yes, we have bad karma with ADRIAN GRIFFIN's injury, but both ERIC PIATKOWSKI and SCOTT PADGETT were proven outside shooters, they are supposed to fit this team with Yao draw double teams. It just hasn't happen yet under JVG.
I was feeling a little better after last night's win but the Rockets still have some serious work to do. Utah could very well win all of the rest of their games. They've already beaten Dallas and Minnesota twice, they've beaten Phoenix 3 times, and they beat us. Denver could all of their games too. They've already beaten Portland 3 times, and they've beaten San Antonio, Sacramento, and us. I don't think we're going to be able to fall into the playoffs. Even if we beat Denver and take one of the next three we're in a position of hoping Utah or Denver falter. Getting to the playoffs is still going to be tough.
I am not too worried. We have easier schedule than Utah, Denver and Portland and we have two games on them.
I think I'm wrong here. If we beat Denver, we'll just have to win 1 more game to clinch a playoff spot since we'll have the tiebreaker with Portland. Nonetheless, I'm worried! Friday's game is by far the biggest of the year.
I was referring to IF Eddie was still with the team, aka the problems in the beginning of the season never happened. And You're wrong -- I can almost guarantee JVG would start EG over Cato. The reason the Rockets have had so many problems this season is because our 4 spot cannot guard the perimeter. And if you watched EG, you'd know he can rebound. He's no Mo Taylor . Also, on the him taking outside shots. See the part about Rudy running the loose ship. I doubt we'd see Eddie struggle from downtown and keep taking as many shots as he was. On problems before this year and Rudy not making them public -- Kinda hard to keep it quiet when he shoots at his ex-girlfriend
LongTimeFan, We both agree that EG is a better player than Talor, but my point is he won't fit JVG's mode of PF. EG was never the player likes the physical contact, that's why he took many outside shots. He did that under Rudy, he did the same thing under JVG, that's why I said he won't survive with JVG. You are right about the shooting incindent, but if you remember correctly, EG's situation got worse by days after JVG suspecded him. I'm not blaming JVG for doing that, I'd do the same thing if i was the coach. My point is EG is not the type of players JVG wants for his PF.
enough of derailing this thread. Sorry to the starter. 3 more wins that I've waited 5 years for! Go Rockets!
You are right. If Huston won at Denver and win one more game, Huston will be secured for 8th spot (if Jazz won all the remaining games, Jazz won the tie breaker). If we had a win over Denver but lost all the remaing game, either Utah or Denver has to lose one more game to any team for the remaining of the season. If win or lose is random game (50% chance), the odds that Huston will be out will be less than 1%. Admittedly, basketball game is not rolling the dice. Utah plays tonight, if they lost to Dallas, and we won the Friday game, we are clinched the playoff spot.
With a Utah loss today, Rox magic number is 2. There are 3 crucial games: 4/9 H-D 4/10 H-U 4/10 D-P There are 8 possible outcomes. In the following we assume D,H,P win all games that are not in the above 3. case 0: H/D=H; H/U=H; D/P=D H win 45. #7 magic number is 2 case 1: H/D=D; H/U=H; D/P=D D win 45, H win 44, P win 44, magic number is 1 case 2: H/D=H; H/U=U; D/P=D 4-way tie of 44 magic number is 2 case 3: DUD D wins 45, U, P wins 44, H 43 magic number is 2 case 4: HHP H win 45, #7 magic number is 2 case 5: DHP H,D 44; P 45 magic number is 2 case 6: HUP H, U 44; P 45 magic number is 2 case 7: DUP H 43; D, U 44; P 45; magic number is 2
In the case of 4-way tie, Rockets only have tie-breaker for Portland. Rockets will be out. So the magic number is still 3.
No to get to the 4-way tie Rox needs to win Denver on 4/9. To be the only one that wins 45, Rox needs to win just one more. So, from today, the magic number is 2.
With the Utah loss today, the most Utah can win is 44 games. Right now the most Portland or Denver can win is 45 or 44 since they play each other. Therefore we are guaranteed a playoff spot with any 2 wins. The Magic Number is 2.
<pre> assume D, U, P win all games besides the following 3 4/9 HD H D H D H D H D 4/10HU H H U U H H U U 4/10DP D D D D P P P P H 45 44 44 43 45 44 44 43 D 44 45 44 45 43 44 43 44 U 43 43 44 44 43 43 44 44 P 44 44 44 44 45 45 45 45 games H win in the above 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 3 games min # of more games to win 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 2 besides above 3 total magic # count from 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 today </pre>
Denver game is most critical one. The next three games are less critical. If we won this game, we are virtually in the playoff only if: Utah won the next three and Either Denver or Portland remain perfect the rest of the way and Rockets lose all remaining three games. However, the magic number is still 2, if Rockets won 45 games, between Portland and Denver, only one team can win 45 games. If Denver won 45 games, we are the 8th seed, if Portland won 45 games, we are no.7. Jazz can only win 44 games at best. 5
I'm looking at the schedule and we have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs with no more wins. Houston has 43 wins. No matter how badly we play, we can't finish with less than 43 wins. That may be enough. Denver - beats Houston, loses against Portland, Sacremento and at SA. I don't see anything there being an amazing stretch. They can finsih with 42 wins. Portland - poor babies. They beat Denver and win one of SA, SA and Lakers. That is only 43 wins. Ties with Houston, but Rockets hold the tie breaker. Again, nothing incredibly wild there. Utah - beats Houston, loses at Minnesota, and beats Phoenix. They finish with 43 wins, tie Houston and hold the tie breaker. They finish 7th. Rockets finish 8th and qualify for the playoffs. If all it takes is a four game losing streak, I like our chances.
