Make or Break Time

As they wind down the season, the next four games are pivotal in determining how the rest of the season goes, and how much latitude the Rockets have. As it stands, we're tied with Phoenix, if we can finish off this road trip either ahead or tied with Phoenix in the standings going into the last 12 games of the year, the Rockets will clearly be in the driver's seat. Of the last 12 games, Houston has 6 at home and 6 on the road. Phoenix has 5 at home and 7 on the road. Our last three games are all games we should win.

4/12 Seattle
4/15 Memphis
4/16 @Denver

Phoenix's last six games are as follows

4/8 @Denver
4/9 Dallas
4/11 Golden State
4/13 San Antonio
4/15 @Portland
4/16 @Seattle

If we can make it through these next couple of road games, and the back-to-back with the Lakers and San Antonio (3/26-27) close to Phoenix (tied or ahead) the only way the Rockets are not in the playoffs is if we choke.

Our magic number is "down" to 16. Any combination of 16 Rockets wins or Suns losses totalling 16 means the Rockets make the playoffs this year.

Let's say that Phoenix goes 2-2 their next four games (home for Utah, Washington, road for Dallas, and back home for Seattle) and then drop 4 of their last six games (above) that puts our "magic number' down to 10.

Phoenix also has to go on the road to play Detroit and Indiana, two more possible losses. Down to 8.

They host Minesotta and then travel to LA to play the Lakers on consecutive days, which could mean two more losses. Magic number down to 6 with the Rockets not having won a game yet.

So we could go 6-10 the rest of the way and back our way into the playoffs if Phoenix loses the games I've highlighted here. I don't think I've reached on saying that they'll lose these games, it'd be a surprise if they won. It's not like I'm asking them to lose to the Cavs or anything.