I would say that if the Clippers get close to healthy (all three primary wing options injured tonite), they should come out of the west. Right now they and the Spurs areon another level from every other team.
Probably a fair assessment, though playoffs (especially this year), are really about the match-ups. Could see any of LAC, OKC, SA, and HOU winning depending on how the match-ups come out, but HOU probably the least likely.
Should? No way. OKC and the Spurs if healthy are just as (if not more) likely to come out of the West.
Clipps have the best point diff in the NBA which is the single best predictor of future success. They have also been rilling iver teams with key guys injured all year. I have a lot more faith in Doc and an actual offensive system than Brooks, who just relies on talent and iso ball. I will grant you that the Spurs run the best system in the NBA and are peaking just as much as the Clipps right now, but I think that series is a wash. Clipps have a lot more talent.
The Warriors just did the Rockets an enormous favor tonight. Home court was starting to look a little iffy in Round 1, but now it would require an epic collapse on our part to not get at least the 4th seed.
I think the playoffs are setting up well for the Rockets to get to the WCF. If all remains the same or close to it...Spurs beat whoever is at 8...Rockets play the Spurs who they match up well against (and Harden loves playing the Spurs) and then they could see the winner of a OKC-LAC matchup. Either way, I think the best thing for the Rockets is to get Portland at the 5 seed
