We need to win the first 2 games of the series. An absolut must. After that, foul Williams hard every game to try to wear him down some. These games have to be grinders if we are to win this series.
Here's my crazy playoff bracket all the way to the finals and some commentary on why I chose who I chose. 1ST ROUND WEST (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets Pretty easy choice here. Denver 's got Melo, AI, Camby, and JR Smith. Lakers got Odom, Gasol, an injured Bynum who might be able to play soon, and of course, everyone's favorite, (haha) Kobe . The Nuggets have been lighting it up all season with their offense, but are sorely lacking in defense, and I wouldn't be surprised if KB averaged 35+ points a game in this series. On the other hand, the Lakers have had one of the best defenses in the league this year and have improved greatly with the addition (or rather, the theft) of Pau Gasol. I say Denver 's good enough to get a win in, and I'm not saying they can't do what Golden State did last year, but unless they decide to start guarding people they're going to lose. Lakers in 5 (2) New Orleans Hornets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks Honestly, this one's a toss-up for me. The Cinderella New Orleans had a great season, and Chris Paul may have even had an MVP season, but the truth is that they're untested in the playoffs. But they're hungry, and I think they have a really good team. With their main cast of CP3, West, Chandler, and Peja, they're going to be a tough team to beat. Dallas has pretty much the same cast as before, with the addition of an aging Jason Kidd. They have the experience going in to this, and they are perhaps just as hungry to return to the Finals. It's going to be a toss-up, but I think alot is going to depend on CP3 and Dirk. Overall, I say experience wins out, and my Texas bias calls this one for the Mavs after a tough series. Mavs in 7 (3) San Antonio Spurs vs (6) Phoenix Suns Ah, one of the most heated playoffs rivalries returns again, but this time in the first round. San Antonio 's pretty much the same team they've been for the past couple of years with the "big 3" of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobilli. They've got the man everyone loves to hate, Bruce Bowen, Scola's Argentinian brother, Fabricio Oberto, that dude Udoka(?) and an aging supporting cast. Phoenix comes into the series looking to get some revenge for the last couple of years, especially last year, where questionable suspensions (and that whole ref game betting scandal) had Phoenix thirsting for blood. Phoenix is still pretty much the same team as well, except for one small, or rather, one BIG difference. You know who I'm talking about. Phoenix acquired Shaq for the sole purpose of dealing with the Spurs. And they've adjusted fairly well, changing their playing style mid-season. Ultimately I think it comes down to the Shaq factor and if he can contain The Big Fundamental. I'd like to call it for SA and as much as I'd like to see the battle tested Spurs finally repeat, I think the championship hungry Suns are out to prove something, and I think they'll do it. Suns in 7 (4) Utah Jazz vs (5) Houston Rockets Alright, we all know what happened last year. I actually made a bet at the start of last year's season, back in the fall of '06 that the Rockets would once again fail to make it past the first round. I would've been happy to lose that bet, but somehow we lost. *sigh* So this year we have the new and improved "22 straight" Rockets, minus Yao. Can we win without him? Sure, but it's going to take a lot of work, and T-Mac's going to have to step it up a notch. On the downside, Deron Williams and Boozer have only gotten better, and so has Utah's supporting cast. Utah is a pick-and-roll team and Houston has shown problems defending the pick and roll. On the upside, we have home court advantage and Utah has a terrible record on the road this year. Some people have said that Utah lost their last game against SA on purpose to avoid facing the Suns, and because they think they can beat us. We have Scolandry to guard Boozer, but Rafer's out for the time being so we'll have to rely on Jackson to guard Deron. This is a really tough choice. My heart says the Rockets can win, but my brain says they can't, and that Utah is the better team on paper when Yao's gone. It's going to be close, and I think both teams are going to lose a home game each, but I think the Rockets are out to prove something this year and we're going to do it, and I think that T-Mac is going to play big. Rockets in 7 EAST (1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks Atlanta's got a a talented but young and inexperienced team. Celtics... well not much to say about them here. Sweep. Celtics in 4 (2) Detroit Pistons vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers Philly finished up the season pretty sloppily after a relatively good second half (22-8, I think, before finishing 3-4 or something). They're a surpise to be here, for sure. But everyone knows how beastly Detroit is by now. I think 76ers can steal one though, but maybe I'm being too generous. If Detroit were really serious about winning it all this year then they will sweep. Detroit in 4, maybe 5 (3) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Toronto Raptors Dwight Howard is a BEAST, I like the guy. Chris Bosh is cool. Decent teams on both sides, both relatively inexperienced. Orlando's better, but the Raptors will give them a run for their money. Orlando in 6 (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Washington Wizards Perhaps the closest series in the East, we've seen this matchup before. With Gilbert Arenas back and healthy, the Wizards are going to be tough to beat. Of course King James can still dominate and if he plays the way he did against the Pistons last year its going to be, at the very least, a pretty entertaining couple of games. But the absence of Booby Gibson is going to hurt, because he's pretty much the only player other than James that steps up for the Cavs. Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler have held it down for the Wizards with Arenas out and are playing really well. I say the defending Eastern champs will be knocked out in a closely contested series. Wizards in 7 2nd ROUND WEST (1) Lakers vs (5) Rockets Rockets are going to be tired, Lakers are not. If it was hard to beat Utah without Yao, it's going to be even tougher to beat the Lakers. Rockets can win 2, maybe, although I'm hoping we'll win it all, I just don't think it's going to happen. Lakers in 6, maybe even 5. (6) Suns vs (7) Mavericks These two teams have met before. Both have lost to the Spurs and have since decided to start playing some D (unlike the Nuggets or Warriors). Both are championship contenders. Phoenix, to me, just wants it more this year. Not to mention I don't know what's up with Dallas losing to teams over .500 with Jason Kidd. Maybe they wanted the 7th spot on purpose. Dunno, it's a toss up as pretty much all of the west is. Frankly, if the Suns got past the Spurs, then they shouldn't have a problem beating Dallas. Suns in 6 EAST (1) Celtics vs (5) Wizards The Wizards I think are one of the only teams to have actually beaten Boston twice this year, or something like that. So I think they can take 2 here, but Boston has the #1 defense this season. For the longest time I attributed Boston's success to a fluke of being in the weak eastern conference this year, but they've persuaded me that they're legit after beating several western teams convincingly. In fact, their winning percentage against the West is actually better than the East. I like Gilbert Arenas, and I think the Wizards are good enough to take two. Celtics in 6 (2) Pistons vs (3) Magic The Pistons have too much experience with the same players they've had for a couple of seasons now, while the Magic have practically none. Easy win for Motown. Pistons in 5 CONFERENCE FINALS (1) Lakers vs (6) Suns Call it a gut feeling, but I think this is Kobe's year. Kobe vs. Shaq will be interesting, to say the least. Perhaps the start of a Kobe legacy that will rival MJ's. I don't know, I haven't looked at their regular season record against each other but I think the Lakers can take it... Lakers in 6, 7? (1) Celtics vs (2) Pistons Alright, I know alot of people are jumping on the Boston Bandwagon this year. But I'm not buying it. Yeah, sure, they have 3 All-Star level players and a decent bench. But they're a little lacking in experience, and Detroit's got the players to take on Boston. Detroit's playing without home court advantage though. Close one, maybe too close to call, but I like Detroit better, haha. Detroit in 7 FINALS Lakers vs. Pistons REMATCH Like I said, I just have a feeling it's Kobe's year. MVP? Finals MVP? A championship without Shaq? Another ring for Phil Jackson? I don't know, it's all speculation. Some quick observations - SA and Dallas have the hardest road to the finals this year, having to take on the Suns and NO in the first round, respectively, and then playing the winners of those series in the second round, then the Lakers in the conference finals. On the other side, Detroit and Boston are pretty much uncontested to the Eastern Conference Finals, where it's going to be a 7 game series. Alright, so looking at my picks, I see that most of the west is actually just too close to call, while Boston vs. Detroit in the East is pretty much a sure thing. There's at least 4 teams in the West that can take the Championship in the Spurs, Lakers, Suns, and Mavs. And you never know about New Orleans, the Jazz, or even Houston (sorry Denver you suck at defense). So really, there's ALOT to be decided in just the first round. So I guess I'm just going with my gut. Frankly I think Spurs could take it all again, or maybe the Celtics will prove me wrong. I'd rather see a Western Conference team take it of course, but Detroit or Boston are good. Real good. And so are the Suns, Lakers, and Spurs, with I'd say the Mavs just a small notch below. It's crazy man, I tell you. We'll see in due time, I'm just wildly speculating for fun anyway. In the end, what happens happens, and we're all in for one heck of a ride.
I know I will get bashed for this but, would we be better off sliding Battier in the PF slot. Since AK47 is not a 3 point threat, we can have Scola matched up on him on defense and slide Battier onto Boozer down in the paint. Scola has the width advantage on Battier, and stronger... but Battier is the best defensive player and the same height as Scola. I don't think it would be a terrible idea, and it could cause some type of problems for Utah MAYBE. AK is more of a mid-range shooter and I don't think we would suffer much from those matchups. Thoughts?
I don't care what all those experts are thinking ... remember the play-offs of last year ('06-'07)! A lot of experts said the Rockets had the best chance of advance to the 2nd round (also because of Home-court advantage) ... looked what happened. I think the Rockets will play much better (sharing the ball more, i think this year the bench will produce more, we can play smaller and quicker, and RA is not going to let T-Mac do everything), especially with RA's system (instead of JVG's system) and the will play with lesser stress or big expectations (instead of last season) ... they can play free, have fun on the court and they will show all those experts, they have a damn good chance to advance! I think it's like 60% (Rockets) against 40% (Jazz) ... I predict Rockets in 6! Gooo Rockets!
Before you know it. The experts will be sucking up to the rockets like. "I'm sorry I wrote you off Rockets............... for the 15th time"
my heart says rockets but if i'm not a fan i see utah certainly being the favorites in this series. we've done very well without yao ming but against a very good team in a 7 game series it's going to be hard without the big fella. f@#k it. utah sucks on the road let's stomp them the first 2 games steal one in utah then take game 5 here. maybe, maybe no?
im a true rockets fan, i dont care if we got ryan bowen out there as our main guy i still believe we can win it all, im not gonna just support my team in the good times, i mean s*** the rox are already against the world, THEY SHOULDNT ALSO HAVE TO BE AGAINST SO CALLED FANS TOO! Some of the people on the board make me sick with their negativity
just because i am realistic does not mean i do not support the rockets. i am going to be watching, hoping, and cheering just as loud as you guys, but i am not blind to the fact utah is a better team than we are.
just because you (incorrectly) think you are realistic does not mean you need to go posting your opinion tens times in each thread with the express purpose of simply antagonizing everyone else. there are others here who share your opinion on the rockets' chances as well. a well-respected poster like GATER might be one of those. but he doesn't go vomiting all over this forum that we have no chance in hell. and he also doesn't make empty posts without reasonable logic and facts to back up his opinions. if you need attention or need someone to talk to, go out on the street and look for a stray dog. considering how blind you are to the fact that it's not so clear utah is a better team than we are, maybe you can use him as a seeing-eye dog as well...
