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To beat the Celtics, a win against LA is imperative

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rocket Rowdie, Mar 12, 2008.

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  1. Rocket Rowdie

    Rocket Rowdie Member

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    [Pre-comment: If I'm the only one who believes this I will shut up. I am not hating, just looking ahead to the future.]

    The Rockets are playing great. There is no doubt about it. The media has warmed up, but those who continue to hate just need to shut up. 20 wins is nothing short of phenomenal, and it's an exciting time to be a Rockets fan.

    But with that said, there will be no more important barometer for our team than the stretch coming up following the Bobcats' game on Friday. For those of you unaware (and certainly living under a rock), starting the 16th we play the Lakers, Boston, at NO, at GS, and at PHO. This could spell the end of our streak.

    We obviously need to take it one game at a time. Assuming we beat Charlotte, we head into a incredibly hyped match-up against the Lakers. not only will a 22nd consecutive win be on the line, but 1st place in the Western Conference. The game has already been moved to better fit the national audience, and will be broadcast all over on ABC. Intense way to start the stretch.

    If we win, more confidence will abound on the team, and things will be rolling even better than planned, as we welcome Boston the following Tuesday.

    Yet if we lose , I see very little chance of beating Boston. With the streak gone, it might sink into the team that we sorely miss Yao. It will be a major reality check, and a loss to a very good Lakers team will "affirm" the media's suspicion that we are pulling this off due to an easy stretch of games. The media will blab on and on about how we weren't real and this and that... and I couldn't help but start to buy into if I was on the team.

    Now, Boston will see we are not invincible, and come out with much more confidence, rather than being slightly intimidated, as I think most teams were as the streak got more national attention. With the guys a bit deflated after tasting defeat for the first time in a while, I just don't see us getting a win.

    I just hope we beat the crap out of the Lakers and this thread can fade into nothingness.
     
    #1 Rocket Rowdie, Mar 12, 2008
  2. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Member

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    I seriously doubt this teams swingers are small enough to let a defeat against the Fakers make them get down on themselves.
     
    #2 Bandwagoner, Mar 12, 2008
  3. macfan

    macfan Member

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    You don't think they have noticed that Yao is missing?
     
    #3 macfan, Mar 12, 2008
  4. SuperStar

    SuperStar Member

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    How many statement games are fans going to keep bringing up? The odds are the Rockets will have to lose sometime. This streak cant go on forever. Someone will bound to get it right.
     
    #4 SuperStar, Mar 12, 2008
  5. Pizza_Da_Hut

    Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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    ehh, I agree and disagree. A Lakers win would help, but I don't really know if that has anything to do with Boston. You could easily turn it around and say the Rockets almost wanted to lose to Atlanta tonight to take the pressure off and beat LA, then Boston... Or the Rockets lost to LA, but now they are more poised to beat Boston. Ultimately the best way to view a streak is like the Pats did, one game at a time. Last time I checked we have to worry about the Bobcats first. But you do have really good insight.
     
    #5 Pizza_Da_Hut, Mar 12, 2008
  6. Northside Storm

    Northside Storm Member

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    Hmm...to be fair...

    The Lakers haven't been terribly impressive against contending teams. They have a point differntial of +5 against PHO and DAL (and DAL went to double OT) which are the only two contending teams LA has faced since getting Gasol...if anything the "easy stretch" haters seem to apply to the Rockets really applies to the Lakers. And @NOK should be a fair gauge of this.

    As for the Celtics, a tough matchup. However, based on how we played them @BOS, I'm comfortable with that game as a possible win (although #1 defense vs #2 promises a 35% snoozefest)
     
    #6 Northside Storm, Mar 12, 2008
  7. realrockyboy

    realrockyboy Rookie

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    Will Landry play the Lakers game??? Rockets really need him there... Rookie of the year or not, that Paul guy would eat any rookie alive, let alone that I don't think either Scola and Landry could win ROTY...
     
    #7 realrockyboy, Mar 12, 2008
  8. apocclass

    apocclass Member

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    i dont know if i agree with this. i think we will be up for both games either way simply because they are the top teams in each conference. any thought of winning just for "the streak" will be thrown out the window once that ball is tipped. the rockets want to use these games as a measuring stick im sure but im not sure what our chances are against boston without yao regardless of what we do against LA. 3 all-stars and great defense is going to be a struggle no matter what.

    the only way i could see our confidence being shaken is if we just got completely blown out at home against the lakers, but i think our D is too good for that.
     
    #8 apocclass, Mar 12, 2008
  9. Pizza_Da_Hut

    Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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    what about a damn close game that came down to a Kobe last second shot, that would eat me inside.
     
    #9 Pizza_Da_Hut, Mar 12, 2008
  10. solid

    solid Member

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    If the Rockets go 5-0 in that stretch, the NBA should just mail them the trophy. They couldn't get more legit, BUT, I don't think there is a team in the NBA that could get through that schedule without a loss. That is just a BRUTAL series of games. Seriously, if they go 5-0, they are the team to beat in the playoffs. I just don't see that happening.
     
    #10 solid, Mar 12, 2008
  11. feihung316

    feihung316 Member

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    as far as i'm concerned, the most important game RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT is the bobcats game on friday.
     
    #11 feihung316, Mar 12, 2008
  12. Rocket Rowdie

    Rocket Rowdie Member

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    Not saying that at all, but they seem to be playing on a surreal high that only themselves and the fans believe they are capable of. We're putting a fairly inexperienced team out there, outside of Mac, Shane, Deke, Rafer (who isn't exactly mentally stable). I don't think its out of the question to think some our guys confidence could be shaken.
     
    #12 Rocket Rowdie, Mar 12, 2008
  13. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Member

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    If they go 5-0 this BBS will explode.
     
    #13 Bandwagoner, Mar 12, 2008
  14. Angkor Wat

    Angkor Wat Member

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    The Celtics have lost to the Bobcats. I'm not impressed or scared of the Celtics. They are not untouchable.
     
    #14 Angkor Wat, Mar 12, 2008
  15. realrockyboy

    realrockyboy Rookie

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    That's what players should think, we fans dream ahead instead.

    Will Landry play the Lakers game or what? Someone plz answer...
     
    #15 realrockyboy, Mar 12, 2008
  16. i hate the mavs

    i hate the mavs Member

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    in the case we lose to LAL i think the rockets will be down but the rockets are only human and are also 2nd to the lakers (current stats wise, not overall badassness) and ending the streak to the number 1 team in the conference is the best way to end it,
    imagine if we ended our streak to the hawks tonight, that would hurt us a lot more. the rockets are a solid team and have a lot of confidence in themselves they have been playing game by game making a statement on each one, and the best part is how humble they are. they don't let the wins get to their head, and if they do lose to the lakers they know they gotta pick their sh!+ up next game cuz losing a game in the western conference is the difference between playoffs or no playoffs. so don't worry in the end we will prevail.
     
    #16 i hate the mavs, Mar 12, 2008
  17. SuperStar

    SuperStar Member

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    Rebounding might be the Rockets Achilles Heel if they have that much trouble rebounding against the Hawks. Especially against a Bynum, Garnett, Shaq, etc.
     
    #17 SuperStar, Mar 12, 2008
  18. t_mac1

    t_mac1 Member

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    technically we still outrebounded them 56-52 and had more offensive rebounds than them ;)
     
    #18 t_mac1, Mar 12, 2008
  19. smoothie

    smoothie Jabari Jungle

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    call me a realist but im not counting on a win sunday.

    ill be routing for one, but i doubt it.
     
    #19 smoothie, Mar 12, 2008
  20. SuperStar

    SuperStar Member

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    Hmm break it down to me in quarters. Every key rebound just felt like how it did during the Jazz series.
     
    #20 SuperStar, Mar 12, 2008
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