Yeah Baby! Now we just need to knock off the Sonics and Lakers. Too bad no games against the Lakers until Xmas.
Western Conference W L PCT GB HOME ROAD EAST WEST PF PA STREAK L10 0 LA Lakers 4 0 1.000 - 2-0 2-0 1-0 3-0 103.0 92.8 Won 4 4-0 0 Seattle 2 0 1.000 1 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 116.5 102.5 Won 2 2-0 0 Dallas 3 1 .750 1 2-0 1-1 1-0 2-1 104.5 97.8 Won 3 3-1 0 Houston 3 1 .750 1 1-1 2-0 2-0 1-1 89.3 76.3 Won 2 3-1 0 Utah 2 1 .667 1 ½ 2-0 0-1 0-0 2-1 98.0 102.3 Won 1 2-1 0 Memphis 2 1 .667 1 ½ 1-1 1-0 0-1 2-0 86.0 81.3 Won 2 2-1 0 Sacramento 2 1 .667 1 ½ 2-0 0-1 2-0 0-1 98.0 96.7 Lost 1 2-1 0 San Antonio 3 2 .600 1 ½ 3-0 0-2 2-0 1-2 80.2 79.4 Won 1 3-2 0 Denver 2 2 .500 2 2-0 0-2 0-1 2-1 83.5 83.3 Lost 1 2-2 0 Minnesota 2 2 .500 2 2-0 0-2 2-1 0-1 79.3 80.5 Lost 1 2-2 0 Phoenix 1 2 .333 2 ½ 1-1 0-1 1-0 0-2 92.0 90.7 Lost 1 1-2 0 Portland 1 2 .333 2 ½ 1-1 0-1 1-1 0-1 93.0 92.7 Lost 1 1-2 0 Golden State 1 2 .333 2 ½ 1-1 0-1 1-0 0-2 87.7 90.7 Lost 1 1-2 0 LA Clippers 0 2 .000 3 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 102.5 116.5 Lost 2 0-2 http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/stand...rence&column=playoffs&order=null&seasontype=2
Plus, Duncan is out 1 - 3 weeks. It's a longshot, but maybe we can get a cushion over the Spurs . . .
Woohoo, Rockets went up by 1 spot in the NBA Power Rankings: http://www.nba.com/features/rankings_index.html
Seems to me that Minnesotta should be scrapping for that 5th spot, because the Rockets are surprisingly AMAZING on defense. We played 4 almost bad offensive teams, but we are #1 in the league, and I count those games as practice for tougher games, working out the kinks. The more Yao gets comfortable with the new team, the better. MoT is coming around, AG and Pike are coming back, and who knows, maybe Griffin too.
I know the characature is that we are pathetic defensively - but (and correct me if I'm wrong) - I thought we weren't too bad on defense last year? I think the "twin towers' are having quite and impact, allowing our guards (and let's face it, we play 3) to get in there and go after the steals. Gotta give props to Van Gundy for his determination to be a strong defensive team!
We may have been good defensively last year but there is no denying that this year our defense in light years ahead of last year. Given the fact that 3 good players are out and we are under a new system, I would think we have as good a chance to improve our play from here on out as any team in the league. So I am saying so far so good for us. Again my consideration of where we are does include the last five games of the preseason and the 4 of the season which included back to back on the road. It looks like we are going to be a noted team in the west. If you are a team without a potent low post game you are going to have trouble beating us. The evidence suggest that we are going to be able to play with anyone. The Kings, Wolves, Spurs and Mavs have not demonstated, so far, that they are going to be better than us.
