Can we include the Clippers? They're only 1.5 games ahead of the pack and are on a four game losing streak. Plus, we beat them with a far worse team in 14-15 and they're really not any better than they were then. We could officially put an end to the CP3-Griffin era.
Obviously OKC, less talent, Wes would go full Kobe in the playoffs to show how good he is so...yeah, no team ball. Utah and Memphis are just better teams overall. They play together, more talent, more depth...OKC may be very physical in the playoffs, so they could still give us some problems, but other than that they're just not that good.
they still in playoffs race, they are gritty and persistent each season, woudnt be surprised they get their act together and finish 8th
@Snow Villiers Ok, seriously, why are you guys so afraid of the Jazz? They are not scary, and not that good. The Grizzlies are better than them and have a lot of experience. The Jazz have no experience, not a dangerous team, and no fun to watch. Out of these 3 teams, the Grizzlies are the team that is dangerously good when they are healthy, and I want no part of.
The Jazz would be nice because of our history, but it's obvious that a match-up with OKC would be great and has potential. We have the Beverley-Westbrook history, the games this year being close and highly competitive, Harden being a former OKC, two MVP candidates matching up. What more do you want? It would be perfect imo.
Thunder would be the best storyline. However, I believe the Rockets could beat any of them and also, I am vindictive. Three straight playoff losses against Utah needs avenging, and this team can do it.
I think when playing OKC, MDA should take a page out of the Popovich book and plan ahead for Roberson guarding Harden. That guy guards Harden well and they don't have any other players who can do that. Pops tends to find opposing defenders like that and BEAT THEM UP with screens - make them run, make them crash into screens constantly, sometimes multiple times in a single play. He used to do this a lot for Parker and now he does it a lot for Leonard. I'm not well versed enough in tactical play to know how he does it or what the plays are called, but I've seen him do this for a decade for teams that have excellent individual defenders. He forces the team to fall back on the sharpness of its team defense. Having said that, I'd rather play the Jazz. We can guard those guys no problem, and they are not good enough defensively (not yet at least) to significantly impact our offense. Westbrook can't be stopped.
If the Jazz managed to somehow bump us from the playoffs this year, I think I would delete the internet.
I choose whoever is 6th seed. Cause that means we held strong at 3rd seed and won't need to match up against the Warriors until the WCF. Curry is such a fragile snowflake that I'd want him banged up through the playoff gauntlet. And we all know how KD loves to choke in the conference finals. I know that would mean we would eventually have to play the Spurs, but I think we are competitive against them. I don't think the Spurs or Pop is MDA's Achilles heel in the playoffs, but agreeing with our dude Ben Dubose, a prime Tim Duncan was really the road-stop for MDA teams and really everyone else. Saying "I prefer them over those other teams" is a dangerous thing, but I would choose the Jazz. Grizz is a matchup nightmare compared to the other choices. And I can see the Thunder with a lot more playoff poise than the Jazz. I see the Jazz making lots of mistakes and being rattled by playoff intensity.
I think the most exciting is obviously the thunder so that the media can once and for all declare a "who's better" between westbrook and harden, and I think that beverly and westbrook will get into a fight leading to suspensions and a rockets series win . But you guys do bring up a good point. As of late, Harden has really struggled against Roberson and sometimes Westbrook still seems to out-produce Harden in the most recent matchups. Shrugs, I think we can still very much beat them.. Grizzlies are my worst fear, they just are too tough and consistent, things that would kill us in my opinion. That Gasol guy will probably tear us up, Conley will be on point, and a combo of Tony Allen and Gasol will slow down Harden over a 7 game series. Heck Vince Carter will probably average 12 a game and surprisingly give us problems somehow. PLUS, who the heck wants to see Chandler Parsons possibly do well and advance in the playoffs against us?? As for the Jazz, I voted for them because of what everyone's said about their inexperience and lack of a true star. Harden usually eats up Hayward pretty easily in that he out-produces him and will get the team going. They do have good bigs but I don't think it'd be enough to stop our perimeter onslaught. Also, like everyone mentioned, any true Rockets fan hates the mavs and the Jazz based on history haha. I really enjoyed seeing us shut out the Mavs this season and destroy them 2 years ago in the playoffs, and it's due time for the Jazz . So in the end, I voted the Jazz.
man, i started to believe that we would smash any team coming up in the playoffs, with the JH performance tonight (a guy with 53-16-17) and team performance this December (15-2). I chose Thunder because of their lack of talent as a whole team. But now I want to choose Jazz, Please Jazz, revenge for the loss in 07 and 09 playoffs. We need this.
very likely we are gonna play against Memphis in the 1st round. man, it actually make me feel very nervous now with their tense D jeopardizing our Offense very much. someone please soothe me a little bit or my worry is right there.
