I'm not going to predict anything, because we're still not certain about T-Mac's health and the team adjusting to him coming back. However, I will say that our schedule, and the schedule of other teams in front of us, should not be overlooked. So far there has been a lot of interconference games, with much of the west playoff teams absolutely feasting on the Leastern conference. This will stop, and teams in the west will start beating each other up. This is the time when the true elite maintain their current pace, while the pretenders drop off. Not only will 48 wins get you into the playoffs, but probably a 6th seed. The only thing I'm worried about is that with T-Mac back, the rest of our team(minus Yao) suddenly can't shoot anymore. This is alarming to me. Hopefully, this can be remedied.
I'd love to see the Western conference teams all within 5-6 games of each other. This year I think it's possible because the teams really are that evenly matched. Western conference playoffs will be a crapshoot, just like March Madness. So much fun to watch.
Well, I look at it like this, Phoenix has the best pct in the WC and they're at .707. Point I'm making there are many good, solid playoff worthy teams in the WC but, there's no runaway dominant team in the WC. Point two, we had the most brutal starting schedule, most road games. We have started to see the quality of play become better though, much need for further improvement obviously. Point three, despite everything that has gone wrong this season, all the 4th quarter blunders, we're still within 6 1/2 games behind surprise leader, Nawlins! If we take at least 8-9 of the next 10, we will at least be a seventh seed. Point four, how long can the Lakers keep from sliding without Bynum? If Kobe has to press to try to consistently win, they're going to struggle. Denver? Please they don't play D, we can definitely take them. Portland? Good story but how long can they sustain their run? Nawlins if Paul gets hurt, they're once again in trouble. Same goes for Phoenix. So, for anyone to make the assertion that the season is already done for the Rockets before even the All Star break? That idea is absolutely ludicrous! 48-52 wins book it. adelman is doing the job he was brought here to do. Courtesy DennisCD! Agree wholeheartedly, generally speaking the law of averages even out during a season and by about February, the ones that are supposed to be in the playoff picture start making their push to get into that next level mode. Whereas teams who are "paper tigers" by this time of year we find out who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? The Rox have performed largely in lowered expectations, it's time for the averages to even out. The next 10, hell 20 games provide the perfect opportunity for the Rockets to right the ship and return to playoff contention. MUSTS! The Rockets MUST even the score within the division and MUST beat all opponents above them in the conference consistently if not, EVERY game! It can be done! It's time for the youth infusion to forge this team ahead!
22-19 first half of the season. Figure on doing no worse gets you 44 wins. That probably leaves you on the outside looking in(like the year the Rockets had 45 wins and were 9th). Every game improvement made over the first half gets us closer to 50 wins and the postseason.
I truly believe that the next four games are an important barometer for the season and playoff chances. Let's see what happens.
it'd be nice to be in the east right about now....but we're still only 1.5 games out of 8th, and 2 games out of 7th. one run and we're right back in it.
