Playoffs question

Not only would the Northwest winner make the playoffs, but they would get the 3 seed. The division winners get the top 3 seeds. They won't get home-court if the 6 seed has a better record though.

 

you are correct, you could concieveable win 30 games and have the 3rd seed in the playoffs and homecourt advantage in the first round.

 

The winner of each division gets the top 3 spots even if they have a record worse than the team in the 8th spot based on record.

 

If the Rockets continue to wins at a higher rate than they lose we have a great chance at the playoffs. Bogans is really helping alot in our push for that 8th seed and I just feel down deep Houston will be the 8th seed before the season ends. Go Rockets!!!

 

After the last two seasons and now this one, the 4th seed has had a better record than the 3rd seed. Two things are distinctly possible this season. 1, Denver could be the 9th seed, but being the division winner still get the 3 seed and homecourt in the first round. Even if they don't finish 9th, they will definitely finish below 4 and probably 5. 2, assuming what we all hope happens does happen, all five teams in the Southwest division will make the playoffs. It will definitely time for dumba$$ Stern to change the seeding rules. It is ridiculous to reward division winners when everyone in each conference plays each other no less than 3 and no more than 4 times. It's not like the NFL where you play each division opponent twice and only four other teams in your conference once. Instead, you only play teams in your division less than 20% of the time (16 games out of 82) This has got to be changed. Wake up, Stern!

 

Current standings:

 

Once again, I'll clarify. Homecourt goes to the team with the better record regardless of seeding. That's why Seattle almost didn't have home court last year in the first round, and needed to win some of their last games to gain it.

 

IMO it'd be good to have a 40-35 record by the time we get to 75 games. Then we can make one final push and get our record to 45-37, 44-38, around that.

I don't know if we can go 18 and 5 in the next 23 games, though it'd be nice.

Of course I post this before a crucial Suns game live on TNT...I hope it takes up one of the 18 wins and not the 5 losses.

I'm sure they won't have an answer for Yao when we're on offense, but who's Yao going to keep up with on defense if they take kurt thomas off the floor.
But in our favor, don't forget that Thomas is the most foul prone player in the history of the NBA, and Yao is a good ft shooter.

and tmac>boris diaw or james jones
but raja bell is an agressive defender, and if he does guard mcgrady, that might cause a problem

I don't want to see Howard trying to keep up with marion though. that'd be ugly.

 

per ShadyMcGrady

"I don't want to see Howard trying to keep up with marion though. that'd be ugly."

I really wish Stromile could have a career defensive nite in the paint. If Skip could have another game approaching the Clippers game....well ...

That would be a "sea change"-season altering win to beat Phoenix tonite. It would set the course for a team of destiny.....

 

Dever just lost again, they could end up with a worse record than the 8th seed. The seeding system sucks.

At least they should realign it. Midwest is way too strong. All five teams are playoff caliber teams.

I don't like the timing of all-star game. Breaks our momentom. I think it did last year but our record was good enough last year to bounce back. This year is a lot more dangerous.

 

haha it just sucks cause we got stuck with dallas and SA. every year each team gets better or worse so point of realigning. for us sa and dallas keeps getting better, and we are not necessarily keeping up.

 

Wow, if it works out that way, where Denver "steals" a playoff spot because of the seeding system, that would just be a travesty IMHO

 

Well, Duncan is declining. SA's time is nearly over unless their GM has another genius draft pick in the late round.

 

Duncan's statistical decline from his peak statistical seasons has more to do with the increased balance of the Spurs and the continued development of Parker and Ginobili as scorers (meaning less shots for other players), not Duncan's game getting worse. The Spurs are a juggernaut. They have superior depth, and they also have three main cogs, none of which is even 30 years old. To say their time is "nearly over" is absurd.

 

The best DEfensive lineup Houston can put outhere is Alston, WEsley or Bogans,Tmac,SWift and Yao or Mutombo. Howard must play though because he can hit the outside 13 to 15 foot jumper. It all depends on matchups but i'm confident that Houston has the team to get the Victory and go into the allstar break with their 4th in a row and their 8th in the last 9. Go Rockets!!!

 

Would you very kindly provide evidence to support your claim that Spurs and especially Duncan is not over the peak?

Ginobili has been in and out of the lineup very much this season, if your argument is right, wouldn't he score more/rebound more/assist more statistically compared with last season? Well, it does not look like the case.

By the way, would you also tell us who else has picked up the rebounding and blocks since Duncan's numbers on rebounding and blocks have also been down. Oh, after 3 month, Duncan will be 30.

 

I think the idea is that more people in the local area will watch if someone in their division is playing. That way there is an almost 100% chance that a texas and california team is always there as well as a team in the north. I think its stupid that the third seed can theoretically be worse than a lottery team, but being vocal about it will lead to Stern's men giving me a piano string necklace.

 

I have to provide evidence? The Spurs are the defending champions, have won 2 of the last 3, have a deep team with all three stars under 30, and I'm the one that has to defend them not being on the decline? Suuuure.

Also, Duncan is rebounding more this year than last year. His shots are down 2 a game from his peak seasons, which explains the differential. And it's more than just Ginobili. Look at Parker's increase in shots and points. That's a big factor.

 

Once again the Spurs have one of the top records in the NBA - 3rd best right now, wouldn't suprise me if it was the best at the end of the year. They're almost unbeatable at home, rarely lose in the conference, and do have 3 all-star caliber players.

And, maybe I'm missing something, but Duncan's stats aren't really down. His scoring is down less than 1 ppg (which means less than 1 made FG every 2 games...plus Parker is definitely scoring more this year), but his rebounding, assists and steals are up. He's blocking fewer shots, but still over 2 a game. His stats year over year are basically the same as last year, when they won it all.

I truly hope he does decline for real...but it isn't happening yet.