If we win the remaining 15 games then the magic number is 3. But we played Utah twice in the last 15, so it is really 1. Thus Utah must lose one additional game for us to get homecourt. Any combination of wins for us or losses for the other team that total the magic number guarantees that particular spot, regardless of head-to-head records. Please read my first post (I'm the thread starter) to see if it makes sense. Note: both teams have played once since I started the thread on Saturday.
for comparison purposes the jazz remaining schedule for the month: 20-vs golden state 23-at clippers 24-vs grizzles 26-vs wizards 28-twolves 30-at spurs rockets 20-vs pacers 23-vs detroit 25-at hornets 26-vs bucks 28-at clippers 30-at lakers both have 6 games remaining i can see the jazz going 4-2, possibly going 3-3 (depends on if the wizards have caron butler healthy...the spurs and lately the warriors will be tough outs) the rockets on the same token i see going 4-2 losing to the pistons and the hornets (they do have our number so far this season) they could be 3-3 losing against the lakers in la --the lakers are getting healthy and kobe is playing a lot better now. either way the most crucial games will be the two games left against the jazz it is imperative that the rockets do not lose any games that aren't more than winnable (ie do NOT lose to the bucks at home)
How many times do we have to repeat this: To get the 4th or better seed we have to beat the Spurs on the standing, not Uta Is this really too hard to understand??
we will still get the 5th seed if we finish with a better record than the jazz.... you are correct. but, if we finish with a better record than the jazz, we get HCA.
Well the funny thing is, according to the old rule Spurs would be 4th and Uta would be 3rd and we still have to beat Spurs to get 4th, is it any different?
these magic number threads give me the biggest headaches! but under dadakotas scenario, the rockets winning out the season would put them ahead of the spurs... and mathmatically that is still a possibility if the spurs went 10-6... you should probably add the spurs magic number for clinching 3rd seed so that everyone understands how this works... best scenario obviously is that houston has better record than utah, wins homecourt as the 5th seed and excorsizes demons from 10 years ago...
I'm happy with the 5th seed. Who would have thought we'd be 5th after Yao went down in December. The one bad thing is you know we won't be on ABC or ESPN. The NBA will put us on the late game on TNT or ESPN2.
It's possible for the Rockets to overtake the Spurs for the 3rd seed, but highly unlikely. I tried to keep it realistic. Since you asked: the Spurs magic number to clinch the 3rd seed over the Rockets is 12. Our magic number to take the 3rd seed is 21. So, if we win the remaining 15 games, the Spurs must go 10-6 or worse for us to capture the 3rd seed. As you can see, very unlikely that will happen.
Most ideal, perfect, godly situation: Rockets get 3rd seed and meet Lakers in the first round. Almost a guaranteed pass to the second round. Second most ideal situation: Rockets get a better record than Utah (thus remaining at the 5th seed) so they have homecourt advantage with Utah in the first round. Not banking on it but good chance that we'll prevail. Third most ideal situation: Rockets do not get a better record than Utah, remains at 5th seed..basically no home advantage. Least ideal: We drop in the standings and play Spurs/Mavs/Suns.. Hellish situation: We drop out of the playoff race
Why the hell do the naggers keep talking about an obscure new seeding rule when all that matters is home court advantage??? If we have a better record than Utah, or tie them and have the tie-breaker, we get HCA. Who gives a sh** about frikkin seeding when this obscure little rule doesn't affect HCA?
What are you guys talking about ? Utah is going to be the division leader no matter what ! Rocket is in a different division !
Rockets do not want the third seed! It sucks to be the third seed when you have to play the SUNS in round two! It is much better to be the fifth seed with home court advantage, which is the same thing as the fourth seed, what it is the point of being the higher seed if you do not have home court advantage? Hopefully Rockets beat the Mavs in round two and Spurs take out the Suns to set up a match of Rockets vs Spurs in the conference final with Rockets winning in 6 . Rockets then goes on to win the NBA championship!!! I think I have this all planned out.
No, I am not talking about the Spurs. I am saying if we finish with the 4th best record, we would have the FIFTH seed in name only, as we would still have HOME COURT advantage against the Jazz. Which is what matters....not the seeding. DD
