The Jazz are a very good team. In addition to the obvious talents (Boozer and Williams), they have a nice supporting cast and a great coach. Their set of role players are better than ours. Kirilenko and Okur are borderline all-stars. Brewer has greatly improved this season and provides real value on both ends of the court. Millsap, Harpring and Korver are very solid bench options. The Jazz have picked up their play recently, too. Losing Fisher hurt them but getting Korver for Giricek was an excellent move. They got the additional outside shooting they needed. I expect the Jazz to end up seeded somewhere between 3rd and 6th in the playoffs despite the up and down 1st half they had. Again, my original post was not about the mathematics of the standings. We were only a few games out of the 8th spot when I created this thread. My opinion was based on nothing more than a gut feeling that the Rockets will end up fighting for the last playoff spot and come up short. In my opinion, their are at least 8 teams that are better than the Rockets this season in the West. Maybe the Rockets will play well enough for long enough for me to eat my words. They looked pretty good last night despite the TOs. I hope they can prove me wrong and make the playoffs. I still don't see it happening.
fair enough. i just hope you're man enough to eat crow if the time comes. being generous on the tip jar is a good way of showing, if the rockets do make it. not saying your wrong or right, of course.
I am not tipping because of offering my opinion and being wrong. I will tip, as I have done in the past, to support this great site and for no other reason.
GIve it up BB... your initial post said no chance, no way. If you would just acknowledge that your opinion was based on their poor performance up to that point and now appears to be pretty off this would be over with. But your insistence on arguing they have no chance just makes you look moronic and borders own trollish. The Rockets not only have better than no chance they have a very good chance. They have won 9 out of their last 11 games. They are only a game and a half behind the 7th seed. They have an easier schedule than just about everyone ahead of us. They have a rotation that is a work in progress but is still winning and working. Outside of New Orleans they may be the hottest team right now. And most importantly you clearly lost sight of the history of the Rockets and this board and that the Rockets are CLUTCH and this is CLUTCHfans.net.
Let's look at the playoff chances in a different light. I don't think many would argue that we won't finish ahead of the following four teams: SA DAL PHX NOH (they are up 26 on the Spurs in the 4th quarter in SA as I write this) That leaves four spots for several good teams, including the Rockets. The Jazz have struggled but our a solid team. See the 1st post on this page for the reasons why I think they are better than us. I can understand the argument that we can finish ahead of the Lakers, especially with Bynum going down. At the same time, they have clearly improved since last season and have earned respect for their 1st half performance. They will definitely win their share of games. The Warriors were one of the best teams in the league in the 2nd half of last season, taking down many of the best teams in the league. They became a new team when Jackson and Harrington joined the roster and Davis and Richardson returned to good health. They lost Richardson but when he left, Ellis got more PT and that has been nothing but good for them. I strongly believe this team will go on a couple of winning streaks in the 2nd half and end up seeded somewhere between 4th and 7th. Denver just has too much talent. Iverson and Anthony are premier scorers and they have the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in the paint. Kenyon Martin has played surprisingly well this season. Losing Nene may hurt them as he was coming on strong last season. Either way, this team has more talent than the Rockets and I would be shocked if they don't make it to the playoffs. They may win their division, if the Jazz don't. When all is said and done, even if the Rockets do make the playoffs, it likely won't be any higher than the 8th spot and it would mean they surpassed another very good team from the list above. Portland's youth will catch up to them despite overachieving so far this season but they may put up a fight until the final weeks. The Kings could end up fighting for that last playoff, too. They could also internally combust if chemistry becomes an issue. They stayed close with Bibby, Martin and Artest missing significant time in the 1st half of the season. Brad Miller is having a solid season and John Salmons has become a very solid player. Garcia is also a nice bench player. Same is true for Udrih. The Kings shouldn't be overlooked at this point.
Ohhhhhhhh, I thought you were forcing me. I thought I had no other choice because you were giving me a directive. BTW, I suggest you tip the site if the Rockets don't make the playoffs. You should also tip every time it rains and the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Just suggestions.
Of course it was based on their poor performance up to that point. I never denied that. It was also based on my opinion about the quality of other teams in the West. They weren't that far out of the 8th spot when I created the thread. I still believe in my prediction. I want the Rockets to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, I don't think they will this season.
Wow....I would like to introduce myself. I am a long time reader but first time poster. After reading all the posts in this thread, I had to break the cycle of just reading...COMMON guys. Theres being realistic and then theres being down right un-fan-like. It is way to early for "playoffs? No way" Look, the fact of the matter is there is no team that is gauranteed a spot right now. Not even the Hornets who are murdering SA right now. Anyone in this league can fall victim to an injury. Injury to the following people decapitate their respective teams: Paul (Hornets), Boozer(Utah), Kobe (Lakers), Camby(Nuggets), Roy(Portland). SA, Dallas, and PHX are experienced and I feel they could still make the playoffs even if they lost Duncan, Nowitzki, or Nash. The fact of the matter is if we make the playoffs, then were a threat for any team. We could easily be a golden state. So, why hope for something that might never come true and no matter how convincing your logic could be....because thats the best part of being a fan...hoping for miracles can when you witness them you know your a fan. (a little dramatic but thats how i felt 94 and 95 seasons) Why tank the season when only 3 draftees can really help us (Rose, Beasley, Gordon) They will probably all go top 5, but that is besides the point. Why hope for the playoffs and a turn around? NBA playoffs aren't the same when you have no team to root for. PERIOD
I think Nuggets and The Lakers will be on the slump fror the next 6 weeks or more! This two team are also getting hummer with injuries. Nene and Byrum are two key players for both teams.
funny guy... what i was really trying to say was, "if we make the playoffs and you don't tip, i'll find you and beat you down with a pen."
So is it safe to say with your statement "including the Rockets" you are backing off from your original idiotic "No Way, No Chance" stand. If so I commend for your ability to see the err in your words! PROPS TO YOU!
The Nuggets won their last 2 and are leading their division. Don't bank on a six week slump for either team but the Lakers are going to feel the loss of Bynum.
No, I always thought the Rockets were a good team, just not good enough in this deep Western Conference. It's hard not to be at least a good team with a dominant center like Yao and a premiere player like Tracy McGrady on your roster. I am not backing off at all because of the win streak or any other reason. You are reading too much into my choice words. I am not psychic. Obviously, when I said "no chance", it meant "I strongly don't believe the Rockets will make the playoffs". Only God, or something out of my control, can make an absolute statement about the future. I still feel exactly the same way I felt when I created this thread. I think the reason so many people are reacting like you to my original post is that they know the Rockets have a very good chance of not making the playoffs this season. Why else would people get so worked up over one fan's opinion?
If you said: Playoffs? no way if ... Then you would've not got so much trouble. I like your self-confidence though. I wish Yao got yours. He criticizes himself too much for the bad plays. Self-humiliation really affects his performance at the clutch.
Denial?? Ha ha ha!! Denial about what? What didn't I get? I stated my opinion knowing that many people would disagree. End of story. What kind of trouble am I in? Am I going to be fined or arrested? Debate and disagreement are a natural part of a forum like this. I have no problem with that.
