As I said earlier March is the key, Rockets are now perfect but I doubt it will stay like that. Rockets certainly have three easier games, all vs. Eastern Conference teams, then hell comes. Look at this, if Rockets manage to win 50% of these games, we're in the safe spot for playoff. Mon 10 vs New Jersey -W Wed 12 @ Atlanta -W Fri 14 vs Charlotte -W Sun 16 vs LA Lakers -L Tue 18 vs Boston -W/L Wed 19 @ New Orleans -W Fri 21 @ Golden State -L Sat 22 @ Phoenix -W Mon 24 vs Sacramento -W Wed 26 vs Minnesota -W Sun 30 @ San Antonio -W/L April Tue 01 @ Sacramento -W Thu 03 @ Portland -W Fri 04 @ Seattle -W Sun 06 @ LA Clippers -W Wed 09 vs Seattle -W Fri 11 vs Phoenix -W Sun 13 @ Denver -W Mon 14 @ Utah -L Wed 16 vs LA Clippers -W If this picks out to be a perfect schedule then Rockets would have nearly 60 W, 57-58. Whatever Rockets are 90% secured for playoffs.
<BR> <BR><BR> No way the Lakers beat us if that's game's at home. The Lakers are not nearly as good as people<BR>seem to think, and THEY'RE the ones who have loaded up recently by beating a bunch of wussy teams.<BR>Look at who they've played since they stole Gasol and were anointed automatic champs by the press: New Jersey Atlanta (LOSS) Orlando Miami Charlotte Minnesota Atlanta Phoenix Clippers Seattle Portland Miami Portland (LOSS) Dallas Sacramento Clippers THAT, my friends, is a creampuff schedule. Now let's arrange those same teams in order of winning percentage,<BR>starting with the few good teams: Phoenix .651 Dallas .635 Orlando .625 Portland .524 Portland .524 (LOSS) --------------------- Sacramento .435 Atlanta .419 Atlanta .419 (LOSS) New Jersey .413 Charlotte .381 Clippers .328 Clippers .328 Seattle .242 Minnesota .226 Miami .180 Miami .180 It's no surprise they've done well with Gasol -- ANY top-tier team should win most of those games. In fact,<BR>of the above 16 games they've played with Gasol... * 11 games against sub-.500 teams. * 13 games against sub-.525 teams. * 25% were against the league's worst four teams. * The two losses were against mediocre teams. * Only three wins were against quality opponents -- the slumping Mavs at home; the Suns in their FIRST<BR>game trying to work Shaq into the team; and in Orlando (the only win of the 16 I'd consider impressive). Maybe when they get Bynum back, they'll be a true title contender, but that depends on whether Bynum<BR>comes back near 100% (remember how slow Yao's moves looked after he came back last year?) and whether<BR>Bynum can play as well as before since he'll now be sharing space in and near the paint with Gasol. The Lakers have an upcoming 4-game road trip, playing in New Orleans, Houston, Dallas and Utah.<BR>If they can win any 3 of those, I'll give them credit for being among the league's elite. Right now, I'd put them on about the same level as Cleveland, Toronto and Golden State. <BR>
