The game against Utah was a must win, and yet the Rockets came out and play a flat, lifeless game with zero energy. It should have been a game that featured playoff intensity and instead it looked like the Rockets were sleep walking. Now they've got to hope they can steal one from GS, a team that gives the Rockets nightmares.
Even if the rockets loss to GS tomorrow, they will be 3 games back in the loss column with 38 to go! Making up 3 games with 38 to go is not insurmountable!
I still think reaching the 8th seed is a possibility with tmac and yao being healthy rest of the way. Losing to Jazz was a big blow, but we only got Tmac out there and i am not sure why we didn't start deke for Yao.
yeah, we lost to utah and could likely lose to the warriors, but after that we enter our february schedule which is our weakest stretch of opponents. if we beat the teams we should, by the end of february, we should be in the playoffs.
Of course it isn't. The winner of the 8th seed looks like at 48-34 team which means we can only afford 14 more losses which looks pretty tough. Put another way, we need to go 63% the rest of the way. Those losses to Denver, Philly, NO, GS, etc. are going to make our road much tougher.
Because they have clutch players like Roy and Bdavis and we have Yao who cost us at least 2 nearly 3 games in the past couple weeks.
Good point but they are still in the hunt which is all one can ask for now. It ain't over until they start shoveling dirt on top of you...
Last game s lost vs Utah was big and how come Portland win yesterday. I was so happy that they were losing. They were down like 20. That kill me. Tomorrow, it s a must win for the Rockets. We play hard. Right now, Utah is beating Spurs. What happened to the Spurs . Hope that they dont make the plaoffs.
I still have a high hope that the Rockets can make the playoffs and feel that it is highly possible. But with the coach change, roaster changes and anticipation from the fans, I really feel that if the Rockets does not even make the playoffs this year, management should really think hard and deep about rebuilding this team.
Denver lost not looking good for them now. Utah to go a look the Northwest. Portland and Denver playing 500 ball now we probably take this 2 before the Allstar. Denver @Memphis W vs Charlotte W @ Portland Win or loose it help Houston vs Utah L vs Washington L @ Cleveland L @ Miami w @ Orlando L Portland vs Cleveland L vs New York W vs Denver Win or loose it help Houston vs Chicago W @ Detroit L @ Indiana W @ Houston We need to beat them and we can @ Dallas L vs Golden State L (I want win but the odds are we loose) @ Indiana W @ Milwaukee W (We know Yao will play like is the finals) @ Minnesota W vs Cleveland W I will say win, we have dominated them and T-mac alway come to play vs Lebron and Battier play great defense against Lebron vs Atlanta W vs Portland We need to beat them and we can vs Sacramento W The schedule benefit the rockets. Now the time will tell we know is the NBA and anything can happen any time. Lets hope for the best but we got a relistic shoot to a spot in the playoff before the Allstar.
I don't know exactly what options are out there but I think we are a PG away from being contenders. I really think the right PG takes us from possibly not making the playoffs this season to becoming legitimate contenders next season. Brooks looks like a solid backup PG in the near future and possible starter down the road but he isn't ready yet. He needs to prove that he can play consistently and compensate in other areas for his small frame. I think the worst case with him is a great backup option if he can't develop quickly or overcome his limitations. I know we pay T-Mac and Yao tons of dollars so we can't likely pay anywhere near max for any of the good PGs available this summer unless we unload contracts like Battier's and James' in the process and pay for a Big 3 Boston-style. Speaking of that, does anybody have a list of the good PGs that will be available this summer? I thought I heard a name or two recently. Not sure. The other option would be some kind of big trade that would allow us to keep T-Mac and Yao, again putting us in some kind of Celtics-like payroll situation. I have no idea if Alexander would ever consider this route but some move along these lines seems like one of few ways we can become contenders with both Tracy and Yao both on the books and the West continuing to be so deep in talent. Another option would have to be moving Tracy and rebuilding around Yao. No matter what, my opinion is that the Rockets need to make some player changes in the next season or so if they want to take that next step. I don't think coaching is the problem. What do you guys think?
I think Novak can play for Houston, Korver play as much defense as him and he is as bad of a ball handler as him, vs weak second units we can play him more, the only way he can improve his defense (specially defense rotation) is by playing in a real game. I optimistic he can play more. RA can run the same plays he did for Peja in Sacramento all this catch and shoot coming from screens, that will keep the floor open for Yao and T-mac
I think that is a solid point. I imagine Peja, while not a great defender, was better than Novak but maybe Novak's shooting is just that good that Adelman can find a way to offset his very bad defense. I don't know how much Novak will improve his defense just by playing but it certainly can't get any worse.
Agreed. Novak needs to be on the court for at worst 8-10 minutes. He's the sharpshooter we need to keep defenses honest and provide situations where we have fewer lulls in our offensive attack. Obviously must work on D. Still though, it does the Rockets a disservice to not play him even in a couple of 5 minute bursts per game. His shooting is just that good.
For those people questioning the Warriors... From this week's NBA.com Power Rankings: "Not only are the Warriors 26-12 since Captain Jack started playing, but they've only lost two in a row once in that 38-game stretch. And C-Webb? If he can help on the boards and not slow down the offensive attack, why not? " Sounds like a playoff team to me as well as a better team than the Rockets. Does anybody still think we are better than the Jazz? Aside from records and the mathematical possibilities, if you agree that the Warriors and Jazz are at least a step ahead of us, then we are looking at a minimum of 6 superior teams: SA, DAL, PHX, NOH, UTA, GSW Assuming the above teams finish ahead of us, that leaves 2 available spots for at least 4 teams. Hopefully, we can outplay 2 of the following teams dwon the stretch: DEN, LAL, POR Not impossible, despite my original post, but it certainly won't be easy. Man, the West is deep!!
i don't think so i concern that "suns spurs mavs jazz hors" can play playoffs but others...doubt before the season , i guess jazz will take the 1st position of western ,but this year the league has some change. every team risen their scores,the pace quicker,as a single player scoring harder,avg lower,but getting rebound easier.for jazz ,defend not so well. spurs,they show a more indifferent attitude to finish 82games,i mean regular season.on the contrary,suns play every game as playoffs.that's all these years tradidtion. we do not judge things too easy. 04-05,05-06,everyone thought jazz will make a good big job.but they got injuries,not this then that one.so do worriors,they play well in some part,but not very stable.last season,hornets have the same player team,but this year,they made it. every year,houston made a big change in player,how can we hope them play so smoothly? talk about lakers,nuggets,blazers,worriors,kings... once,laker on 1st.now,they are in trouble.i guess they will be at 7th 8th in the end.that's already lucky anyway. nuggets are hopeless,blazers too.if northwest 1st won't belong to one of them ,none of them will get in play-offs. obviously, jazz will get 1st. worriors,they can beat rockets,of course(with yao,rocs without yao will beat suns,wors, hornets),but they are not stable.too much. if nugs mavs chase for kidd .then more changes will happen. i guess suns jazz maves hors spurs rocs worriors lakers then if bynum get back,lakers jazz rocs hors hors rocs hors as a chinese, i love this game
