Guys do you remember last year when we clinched the playoffs and the very next game our guys came out and laid a massive egg, just didn't compete? And JVG had to remind them that they could still possibly get HCA? Man, the same crap, different year. DD
were going to beat utah tonight for homecourt, if we beat denver last night and utah we would be screwed cz wed be 3rd, if we beat denver and lost to utah we would be screwed cz utah would have the tie breaker over us, the only important game these last 3 is the utah game cz it locks up HCA and the 5th seed
It was the Golden State game though, and they had clinched the playoffs and were basically in the shut it down mode.....or coast on in......in fact JVG...benched TMac in that game. Same sort of thing. DD
Yes, but it looked like they were locked into the 5 spot and had no hope of catching Utah for the 4th position or dropping any further, so they basically put it on cruise control. DD
What's funny to me is posters in this thread act like denver doesn't have talent. They make it seem like the rox lost to memphis or miami. The recipe is there and denver used it and made a great dinner. I mean man to man, they're more talented than th rox, period. They don't always play as a team, but jr smith and kleiza are on the bench. Those 2 guys are better than anything we have on the bench. Not to mention a guy like nene. So just give them their credit. A lot of people in this thread act like they have always brought their A game to work. I mean whether ur the french fry guy at mcdonalds or a business owner like myslef, u have bad days. Against Denver, the rox faced a talented, desperate team at home and didn't have their A game. I mean one problem I have with the rox is they don't have guys that can go up a level. They have to play maximum, balls to the wall type of energy to compete with talented teams. When they don't or they're fatigued from playing this , they lose bad. Go look at those losses after the 22 game winning streak. I'm really surprised it doesn't happen more.
I can take an off shooting night but the transition defense was awful. Getting back is a matter of effort getting burned repeatedly by Klieza was bad. the injury to Rafer last night worries me, that didn't seem like a cramp or a strain, it seemed like he could have a muscle tear or something. I hope I'm over eacting but we need everyone healthy to have any hoipe of getting out of the first round sans Yao.
just one loss... no biggie... it would have been nice to win, but denver had more of a purpose to play. these games will happen once in a while... just look at san antonio.. they got their butt's handed to them by LA.. and in my opinion, san antonio are the clear favorites to advance out of the west.
The nuggets have individual talent but are no threat against anyone in any series in the west. They are easy to guard and control by just putting in the effort. I am not impressed with them at all. DD
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get ya! Actually if what I said was actually true I would be totally shocked. Then again, on a different level I would totally NOT be shocked. Stern wants a Boston/LA Finals. I think that much is obvious by not intervening on the Gasol trade. I just hope the Rockets get a chance to take out LA.
Are Tmac and Rafer trying to manuever into the 5th or 4th seed? Sure makes you wonder, doesn't it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Playoff possibilities The Rockets went into Sunday's game knowing that if they won their remaining three games they could be the top seed in the Western Conference. For all the possibilities, they said they follow the standing closely, even if they were not sure who they would want to play in the post-season. "I don't pay attention, but I'm probably the only one," Luther Head said. "Tracy (McGrady), Chuck (Hayes), Rafer (Alston), pretty much everybody knows and talks about it." The Spurs' loss to the Lakers sent the Rockets into Sunday's game one game behind the Lakers for first, but with the tie-breaker. "I enjoy watching it," Alston said. "I watch it every day. It's amazing to be a part of something unique. You might never see something like that again in the NBA, one through nine 50-plus win teams. A team (San Antonio) lost today and went from second to fifth. I think it is so intriguing to see such a deal happen. "I think it's fun, it's great for the league and the fans to see. But if you're a team, you can't worry about what place you fall in because no matter who you face in the first round you're going to have a dogfight on your hands." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ They clearly knew going into the Denver game what a win meant..... DD
Rockets clinched their playoff spot against the Clippers (I was at the game) Perhaps... even if the Rockets were aware of their standing.....they went in underhanded in the opponents home court, against a team fighting for their playoffs lives?
are you serious?? the nuggets are extremely impressive talent wise and lack alot of discipline to play as a team but they have still won 49 games. Those guys are good enough to beat anyone in a 7 game series if they focus. The rockets have to focus a play great as a team to beat anyone. See the difference?
LOL. Beating Nuggets means we are getting No.1 playing against the same losser in the playoff. T-mac therefore would win his first.... But a loss puts us back to the reality, like you said. I don't think T-mac was coasting. He played hard at least in the first half and was in foul trouble guarding melo if I am right. What we missed was Battier. Although a lot of people here still regret the deal of Gay-Battier, I truly believe Battier's arrival changed the rival balance between Rox-Grizzle, and set the tone for Rox's defense.
Tracy was still in the game with 4 fouls in the first half, Mike harris was thrown into the game at times where he normally wouldn't play, he even started the second half,Rick looked as if he didn't care,he had a look like if we win we win but if we lose there is always tommorrow. Seem like it was a Tank job and all the marbles were being saved for utah tonight.
I thought Harris was brought into the game to counter their big 2s and 3s. It seemed like a solid move to me, since a lineup(barring unforseen foul trouble) of Rafer/Brooks at the 1, McGrady/Head/Harris at the 2/3 and the other bigs seemed to be the best size matchup for the Rockets. I think Adelman wanted Harris in there just to put a body on the big Nuggets wings.
