The road to the playoffs continues tonight. I feel we are going to put over a 5 game winning streak together starting yesterday. Tonight is #2 and we are rolling. Look out Phoenix, Minnisota, Denver, and even Utah. 2-0 in our new season after tonight. Long live the Dream. ------------------
Crash, I have to give you props. These are two totally dominating victories. I think that may have been a very prophetic post...
If the Rockets can continue to deal like this to teams that they SHOULD be able to beat, and hold on a little more often against supposed BETTER teams, (a la our most recent heartaches, except escaping with a 'W') then they've done it. The main problem that young teams have is consistancy. We can expect a few blips along the way of the season. It's just the nature of the game. But the more we can avoid those blips, the more true confidence we can have in our boys. ------------------ "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and STATISTICS..." - Mark Twain -
I'm absolutly posetively certain that the Rockets can make the playoffs. Yes, I believe. I've tried holding back my optimism, and reviewed the schedule down the stretch and I see the possibillity for 30 more wins. Heck I even see more - but some slipups are expected. I belive as crash that we have 3 wins ending this month, but as only 1 game now remains in the month I can see 29 more in the span february-april. Here are my preds month by month: Current record: 22-22 January (remainder): 1-0 February: 10-3 March: 12-3 April: 7-2 ------------- Total: 52-30 = playoffs Ok - Injury will affect this, and I guess being young and the Rockets will mean a couple more slip-ups, but I predict we atleast come of with 48-34, and that should get us in the playoffs around the 7th seed. To get this we will have to beat teams we arenot supposed to, to cover for some slipups against "lesser" teams. We don't need no friggin' trade - but to get anywhere in the playoffs we might do.... Oh - I will have a wait and see attitude about trades... ------------------ "The above statement is covered by copyright and may not be used without the express, written permission of Dr. of Dunk. All rights reserved by DoD." Heypartner covering his arse on the not so famous "OK" quote/post from DoD - when will I learn to do the same.
Van Exel is a whiny ass b****, but my team is in the playoffs and your's isn't. ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
um...ill pass how bout "the nuggets are average...I know! I know!" ------------------ the nuggets suck...i know, i know!
ZRB, I didn't realize the Rockets (or any NBA team, for that matter) played games during the lockout. Isn't that why it's called a lockout? To create a work stoppage? (Relax ZRB, just poking fun at ya. ) ------------------ Behad Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS Asking the question: What is more dangerous, an AK-47 or a scooter?
Current record 22-22 1/30: MIA 7:30 L 2/01: LAC 7:30 W 2/03: @ SAS 7:30 L 2/05: NY 7:30 L 2/07: @ PHI 6:00 W 2/08: @ DET 6:30 W 2/13: WAS 7:30 W 2/16: @ ORL 6:30 W 2/17: CLE 7:30 W 2/20: BOS 7:30 W 2/21: @ MIN 7:00 L 2/23: ORL 7:30 W 2/26: POR 7:30 L 2/28: @ CHI 7:30 W 3/01: @ MIL 7:00 L 3/03: @ DAL 7:00 L 3/07: @ ATL 6:30 W 3/08: LAC 7:30 W 3/10: GS 7:30 W 3/11: @ PHO 7:00 L 3/13: IND 7:30 W 3/15: NJ 7:30 W 3/17: SAS 7:30 L 3/20: @ SAC 9:30 W 3/22: @ LAC 9:30 W 3/24: @ SEA 9:00 L 3/27: UTA 7:30 W 3/29: PHO 7:30 W 3/31: @ WAS 6:00 W 4/01: @ NJ 7:00 W 4/03: DAL 7:30 L 4/05: SEA 7:30 L 4/07: ATL 7:30 W 4/09: @ UTA 8:00 L 4/10: DEN 7:30 W 4/13: @ POR 9:00 L 4/14: @ VAN 9:00 W 4/17: MIN 7:30 W So, as a pesimist, I say 46-36. It's very possible. Barring more injuries or a major trade. Is 46-36 good enough for the playoffs? ------------------
Could be but I guess we will need 47-48 wins, hence my 48-34 prediction. Although the playoff-run got a little dented with the against the Heat and the Clipps I will say we are back on track now for a 48-34 record. As I stated in my post earlier I could see us going 52-30, but allowed 4 bloopers to get us in at 48-34. Winning at Sixers don't erase the fact that we have used up 2 of my 4 bloopers so far as I expected some wins against high quality teams. If we go my predicted record for february then we will have erased we can say we have erased one blooper to allow some higher hopes for the rest of the season. btw can't let this thread slip away again until our playoff run is decided either way - Uhmm I guess if it's decided in a positive way it wont go away anytime soon... ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
My prediction has gone down to 45-37... But still, Like I've said, .500 is a huge achievement for this team already...That's steady progress.... ------------------
The Miami and LAC games are starting to look like just minor set backs now. A simple review of the schedule shows that the Rockets should be able to finish the season with 45+ wins. They do still need to show some consistency so the game against Detroit tonight is key heading into the All Star break. If we can finish with a streak and then carry it over past the all star break we will be in good shape. It is still a major uphill climp trying to catch the Suns, T-Wolves or Mavs for the finale play off spot. ------------------
Nugzfan, I wouldnt change it just yet. Remember in another post we were talking about the Nugs schedule and I told you they would go either 2-6 or 3-5 in their next 8 games at that time? Well they went 3-5 like I expected. I also said you guys cant play on the road. If you look at the current road trip, you have lost 4 out of the 5 and you play Toronto tonight at their place, with New York, Sacramento, Seattle and Portland up next. Most likely a few more losses. I feel real positive about catching Phoenix as well since 16-18 of the next opponents are teams smack dab in the middle of the playoff race. I BELIEVE. ------------------ Rockets Season Ticket Holder
I've been checking out schedules for the teams fighting to get into the playoffs for the rest of the month and here is my prediction on how the race is at the beginning of march - Rockets slowly fighting back into contention. 6. Mavs 37-21 (6-1) +3 (Cle, Was, LAL, Bos, SAS, @LAC, @VAN) 7. Wolves 36-22 (4-2) +2 (SAS, Van, Hou, GSW, @Ind, Det) 8. Suns 33-23 (3-3) 0 (@Phi, @Orl, @Mia, @NYK, UTH, Orl) 9. Sonics 33-26 (5-1) -1 1/2 (Bos, Atl, Den, Uth, @Bos, @NYK) 10. Rockets 32-26 (6-1) -2 (@Orl, Cle, Bos, @Min, Orl, Por, @Chi) 11. Nuggets 32-27 (4-3) -2 1/2 (@Sac, Was, @Por, @Sea, Atl, Orl, LAL) At the moment Rockets are 5 losses behind seed 6-8 ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away. [This message has been edited by Heath2000 (edited February 14, 2001).]
With Sonics losing big tonight at home to Celtics - yeaaah - we are only half a game behind what I feel could be our biggest threat for the playoffs when you take Suns hard schedule into consideration. I've got a new found positive outlook on Rockets hopes already. Yeah - come on sweep rest of february, and cath up against the Sonics against Magic already. I feared a lot for the Magic showdown - but if we can end their 7 games winning streak we really are ready for liftoff. (Magic have only played Philly as aquality team during that 7 games span) ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
Damn - the loss came vs Orlando as my prediction was when I counted this month. This doent make it good, but what can you expect from a young team. If we now can close out february we are exactly we're I wanted us, but as I said... we can go 5-2 and even 4-3 and still be in the hunt for the playoffs. And when you have to lose one - its better that it came now vs Magic than vs Wolves.... winning against Wolves is big... now come on lets do it. ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
Now the Rockets will have to beat the good teams like Portland and Minnessota. They could have afforded to lose those games if they had taken care of Orlando, but they didn't. Now the tough teams are going to turn into must-win games. It is a difficult situation... ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death."
I think we all knew that at some point the Rockets would loose one we should win. We should also know that at some point we will win one that we probably should loose. I agree we needed this one but it is hardly time to panic. ------------------
Look for the Mavs and Suns to start getting hammered hard by the schedule starting about middle of March. If we can continue to play well through the remainder of the season (as the schedule suggests that we should) look for us to make some serious progress twords a playoff spot then. IMHO. ------------------
Ouch Sonics lost again!!! Yeah. And both these games I counted a W for them - the last four games of the month is getting harder for Sonics so I guess I was way off on them. Go Rockets. Playoffbound. btw I know Suns are the one currently in the 8th spot but they have about the hardest schedule of all and I think we mainly fight Sonics for the last spot. Even ESPN ranks Sonics as a playoff team (#12 I think), and they say Rockets have no chance to even hope for the playoffs - Being one FREAKING game behind Sonics!!!! And with Celtics also beating up Blazers there should be no reason for Rockets to take on the next game lightly. Besides we have a loss to revenge. GO ROCKETS!!! ------------------ We can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.
