The Rockets are going to have a hard time making it to the playoffs this year. Yes we picked up some great players this summer, but we are still playing in the "West." Usually when we think about teams that will make the playoffs in the West we think of the Lakers, Kings, Spurs, Mavs, Sonics, and the Clipps. Luckily for us, the Clippers may not be able to make it to the playoffs because they will probably have a "Rocky" start. http://204.89.131.77/display2.asp?sport=NBA&page=clubhouse&team=LAC Now I don't want to be the type of person that praises when something bad happens to a contending team, but these injuries to the Clipps might prevent them from getting into the playoffs; making it that much easier for the Rockets to squeeze in... I don't want to say it, but the Clipps might end up having the same fate that the Rockets had last year with all the injuries.
The Rockets are going to be in the thick of it. There are many teams around the league suffering through injuries to key players now. Brandon, Iverson, Sprewell, Brand, Mourning, Shaq etc. The Rockets will need to start off with at least a .500 record through 2002. I see the west as: 1) Sacramento 2) Lakers 3) Dallas 4) San Antonio 5) Portland 6) Houston 7) Minnesota 8) Seattle. But Utah, LAC, Phoenix have a shot too. Injuries are going to be a big factor in 5-8.
I can't remember...did Minnesota trade Wally Sir-Biatch? Also, who did the Sonics get for Baker? I don;t see Phoenix being any worse than last year talent wise. It'll be tough, but shoudl be fun nonetheless. Some team from the East might get homecourt advantage because there is even moer parity int eh West now.
Why would you put either the Clipps or Sonics ahead of the Rockets? The Sonics are Gary Payton, Rahard Lewis and nobody. The Clipps could not even get to 40 wins last year. The Rockets have the same nucleus of players on the team now that won 45 games two years ago when healthy. We have added Eddie Griffin, Bostjan Nachbar and Yao Ming to that successful core of players. Now that the Rockets are healthy (unlike last year) and with a older Griffin we should be favored over LAC and the Sonics.
Those teams weren't necessarily supposed to be ahead of us. I just meant that when we think of teams that will make it to the playoffs, we think of those teams, not that they are better than us. I put the Clipps in because they are supposed to be the new "favorite" for making it into the playoffs. I put the Sonics in there because they made it last year, and they were able to get rid of Baker as well as keep Lewis.
the ROCKS are in better position to make to the playoff, but despite there is clogged on 3 and 4, I think we got a whole rosters of arsenal on the floor!!! I think we are a team playoff bound!
I don't see us squeezing in. The Sonics are under us, the Clipps won't make the playoffs, so that leaves 4 teams who are better(lakers, kings, mavs, spurs). The Jazz look like they could not make it either. There's Portland with the 5th seed. That leaves us and Minnesota competing for the 6th seed. So we will either be 6th or 7th, maybe higher if things run perfectly. So the Jazz, Sonics, and Clippers will fight it out for the 8th seed.
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1004/1441371.html Odom watched practice at College of the Desert with a removable walking boot on his right ankle. He will miss 2-to-3 weeks with an injured wrist and then is expected to be out an additional 8-to-12 weeks because of the ankle injury. Looks like the clippers are hurting even more. I'm not sure if the clippers are really better than the rocks, but it does gives the rockets a chance to get a head start on those wins. the loss of marshall will hurt utah. hopefully the payton situation and lack of a big man will adversely affect the sonics. even with a few minor setbacks, we could have a good shot this year.
Obviously with Duncan the Spurs have a high position playoff team. But, the more I think about them, and Portland, they may not be "better" than the Rockets. It will be interesting to see the Spurs and Blazers, including the respective benches, play against each other in preseason. If Yao can come in strong and MT/Rice come back strong, we could overtake either of them. I may be over doing it, but we might even be good enough to beat Dallas head to head as well. We might not have an overall record better than these teams (due to inconsistency and learning to play together) but we should be competitive with these high playoff teams.
Well lets take a look at all the teams in the West with at least "some" chance at making it to the playoffs. (in no particualr order) Sure picks for the playoffs Lakers - They have two of the best players in the league, no way they do not make it to the playoffs. Sacramento - The deepest team in the league, sure top three team. Spurs - They only got stronger over the summer when they picked up Bateer and Ginobli. Mav's - They as well got stronger over the summer. Portland - They have the talent, just not the attitude. Playoff "bound" Clippers - If they had all their starters at full health, they would be in the top 6 or 7, but with Odom, Brand, and QR injuried for at least the first few games; its going to be hard for them to bounce back from that. Seattle - Gary Payton and Rashard Lewis should be more than enough to get them in the playoffs. Only time will tell... Utah - They are getting too old, if they do make the playoffs it will be their last for awhile. Phoenix - They could be a big suprise in the West. They already have some quality players in Marb. and The Matrix, and with all their tallent (Stoudemire and Joe Johnson) they could muster up enough wins to make it. Minnesota - Without Brandon, they won't make the Playoffs. Long Shots (very loing shots...) Memphis - They have some good players, just not used to winning. Well, thats at least six or seven teams that have a legit chance at making the playoffs above the Rockets. The Rockets are probably in the "Playoff Bound" category, but that also isn't counting the possible injuries that may face the Rockets. I'm a huge Rocket supporter through thick and thin, heck I thought we might make to the playoffs last year after Steve got back (yeah a 15 game winning streak...) I just feel like being realistic for once.
<b>Playoff "bound" Clippers - If they had all their starters at full health, they would be in the top 6 or 7, but with Odom, Brand, and QR injuried for at least the first few games; its going to be hard for them to bounce back from that. Seattle - Gary Payton and Rashard Lewis should be more than enough to get them in the playoffs.</b> The Clippers are in no different a position then the Rockets are in. The Clippers almost made it in, but 2 years ago at full health the Rockets almost made it in and were favored to make it in last year if healthy. So how come the Clippers and Seattle are "playoff board", but not the Rockets!? <b>Well, thats at least six or seven teams that have a legit chance at making the playoffs above the Rockets. The Rockets are probably in the "Playoff Bound" category, but that also isn't counting the possible injuries that may face the Rockets.</b> What makes you think they have a chance above the Rockets? Predictions rarely happen, a lot of people didn't think the Sonics would make the playoffs last year people predicted the Suns would. Minnesota is about the same, they added a few players. Utah is WORSE then they were last year and Portland is a mystery. Seattle barely made the playoffs so you can't call them a lock. <b>I'm a huge Rocket supporter through thick and thin, heck I thought we might make to the playoffs last year after Steve got back (yeah a 15 game winning streak...) I just feel like being realistic for once. </b> Assuming the Rockets won't make the playoffs isn't realistic, it's just a view point, just like us thinking the Rockets will make the playoffs is an opinion. But comparing the Rockets missing the playoffs to this year completely ignores the fact that the Rockets were injured last year, yet they started the season off fast before injuries completely derailed them. The Rockets have gotten MUCH better talent wise, the Jazz have gotten worse, the Wolves have stayed about the same, maybe slightly improved, the Clippers have gotten far more banged up, and Seattle has an angry Payton and Kenny Anderson, also several holes that can be exploited now that there is serious competition in the West. Seattle doesn't have a true center, and now big man that is completely healthy now that Bakers is gone. Baker may have been lazy, but the fact that he stepped up to a degree last year is the reason they slipped in, now Seattle has serious questions in the frontcourt. And Portland is a puzzle.
For one, I never said we wouldn't make the playoffs. I know very well that we will as long as we stay healthy. This whole thread was meant to state the fact that one of the "up and coming" teams in the west has been given a great blow in their hopes of turning their franchise around. They will have 3 starters who will miss the first few games due to injuries. In their place there will be rookies. The only player that will be starting from last year will be Olawkandi out of all people! They will have a TOTALY new starting point guard for their team. If anyone thinks that they will be a force in the league now, they are kidding them selves. If the Clippers had stayed healthy over the course of the season, and had they kept their point guard; they would defiantly be a top team in the west. You can't just sit there and say that a lineup of: Olwakandi Elton Brand Odom QR (Enter point guard here) Wouldn't be able to contend for a higher playoff spot than the Rockets! Being a Rocket fan, I know I am bias to assuming that the Rockets will be better than all the teams that stand in our way, but trying to be realistic; I'm trying to say that all these injuries on the Clippers guarantees us a mid level playoff spot.
I don't care how much "talent" the Clips put together, because when I think of playoff caliber teams, I do not think of the Clippers. Uh, when was the last time they were in the playoffs? Go Rockets.
There are apparently major chemistry problems brewing with the Clippers. A lot of unhapiness and ego clshing, from what I have read. Borderline teams as far as talent goes do not make the playoffs with poor chemistry.
we all know that the kings, lakers, mavs, spurs, and blazers will be there. the last 3 spots will be up for grabs, and the teams that i see as the most likely to challenge for them are the clipps, t'wolves, sonics, rockets, and jazz. here is my bet on playoff seedings: 1. kings 8. wolves 4. spurs 5. blazers 3. lakers 6. clipps 2. mavs 7. rockets
Bah, the whole point of me saying that was that we haven’t made it to the playoffs in what seems like forever (at least since I've been watching.) The Clippers are in the same situation that we are in. If you are saying that the Clippers aren't going to make the playoffs because they have a history of losing, then you might as well say the same about the Rockets, because that's what everyone outside of Houston is saying. Anyways, it will be much harder than most people think to get into the playoffs; especially considering only three players on our team, the Cat, Rice, and Cato, have ever been to the playoffs. We should be more careful when we say that there is a "no doubt" chance at the Rockets making the playoffs. That being said, I do believe though that the Rockets will make it to the playoffs as long as there are no "major" injuries. period.
