The 3 way tie breaker won't count conference record. It count againt the records against each teams in the tie.
Congrats to Rox , it is a great day. Unfortunately Yao is a big big disappointment and schooled by Camby at will tonight. How many bad games Yao had in April???
Time to do some rooting guys! If you want to play Minnesota root for the Kings and Warriors tonight. Kings trailing Phoenix, but Golden State, at home, beating the Timberwolves right now. That would pretty much drag the Timberpups into the #2 seed right now I believe. By the way, for the people still doubting, wondering if we're in (it IS complicated), here is the ESPN post game recap: HOUSTON (Ticker) -- After a five-year wait, Steve Francis and the Houston Rockets are in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets are still waiting. Francis had a season-high 33 points and 11 assists as the Rockets survived a pair of late turnovers and held on for a 106-103 victory over the Nuggets that clinched a postseason berth. The Rockets won consecutive NBA titles in the mid-1990s but had not made the playoffs since 1999, when they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers. That summer, they traded for Francis, who was taken second overall in the draft by Vancouver. Despite a Rookie of the Year award and three All-Star berths, Francis had been unable to lift the Rockets into the postseason until this year, getting help from emerging star center Yao Ming and defensive-minded coach Jeff Van Gundy. While Houston (44-35) is assured of a playoff spot, Denver (41-38) dropped into a three-way tie with Portland and Utah for the final postseason berth in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have not made the playoffs since 1995. The Rockets opened a 104-99 lead on a 3-pointer by Jim Jackson with 1:02 remaining. Andre Miller made a layup and Nene sank a follow shot around a turnover by Francis, making it a one-point game with 18 seconds to go. Jackson made two free throws and Nene's miss was knocked out of bounds with five seconds to play. But Miller stole Jackson's inbounds pass, and his potential tying 3-pointer banged off the rim as the buzzer sounded. A week from tomorrow, we'll be rocking in the postseason baby!
So there's still hope! TankFans.net! We must nosedive to secure the #8 spot! (assuming of course that Minny finishes in 1st place) Dive! Dive! Dive!
~~~~~~SF: 33pts, 11 assists, 4 steals, 3rbs~~~~~ Stevie Franchise is back!!!!! ~~~~~~SF: 33pts, 11 assists, 4 steals, 3rbs~~~~~ Stevie Franchise is back!!!!! ~~~~~~SF: 33pts, 11 assists, 4 steals, 3rbs~~~~~ Stevie Franchise is back!!!!! WE'RE BACK!!!!!
This was explained in another thread but the Rox are in the playoffs because the 2nd tie-breaker is record vs each other. Rox hold that over Utah and already clinched over Portland. Plus whoever loses between Portland and Denver tommorrow is another clincher.
To clear it up for anyone who's still confused, here's a little rundown. In case of a 3-way tie between Houston, Denver and Utah, the FIRST tie-breaker is the COMBINED head-to-head record against the other two teams. Denver would be 5-3 against Houston and Utah. Houston would be 4-4 against Denver and Utah. Utah would be 3-5 against Houston and Denver. Houston would therefore be the 8th seed. The conference record will NOT be taken into consideration. That's the SECOND tie-breaker, but the FIRST tie-breaker already settled it! WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS! I'M SO HAPPY!
Concur with syin1. Although we probably could lose to Utah, and still win at Seattle, obviously it would be better if the Rockets slammed the door on any potential tie-breakers. A win at Utah for all intents and purposes signify the readiness of the Rockets for the playoffs. And Utah aint no pushover. Win #45 and close the regular season.
CHRON: Rockets trap Nuggets to clinch spot in playoffs Associated Press The Houston Rockets clinched a playoff berth for the first time in five years, defeating the Denver Nuggets 106-103 Friday night behind a season-high 33 points from Steve Francis. Marcus Camby scored 23 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20 as the Nuggets lost for the sixth straight time in Houston. Denver dropped into a three-way tie with Utah and Portland for eighth place in the Western Conference. Francis hit four free throws and Cuttino Mobley made a 3-pointer in a span of 1:35 to give Houston its biggest lead, 99-92 with 2:29 to play. Nene hit a follow shot with 18 seconds left to pull the Nuggets to 104-103, and Jim Jackson's two free throws with 17 seconds to go made it 106-103. Rodney White missed a desperation 3-point shot with five seconds to play, and Andre Miller missed a 25-footer at the buzzer. Mobley scored 22 and Jackson 17 for Houston. Mobley and Francis each had seven points in a 16-5 run in the third quarter that gave Houston its first lead since the opening basket, 73-70. Francis had 15 third-quarter points as the Rockets led 78-73 going into the final quarter. Nene scored eight points in the first quarter as the Nuggets led by as many as eight. They hit 63 percent (12-of-19) of their shots in the quarter and were on top 26-21 entering the second quarter. Denver expanded the lead to 48-33 with Camby contributing six points in a 16-6 run in the second quarter. Camby had 12 and the Nuggets were shooting 59 percent (23-of-39) as they led 52-42 at the half. Notes: Houston needed a victory of its own and a loss by Portland to clinch. ... The Rockets' 36 points were their most this season in a third quarter and tied their best in any quarter. ... Houston is 10-0 when shooting 50 percent from the field and 13-1 when it scores 100 points ... Denver is 9-2 the last 11 times it has scored 100 or more points. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2497138
The tiebreaker is complete, it cannot and will not change by the end of the season no matter what. The Rockets are in.
I really am worried about Yao. He hasnt played well the past couple of games, and I hope he hasn't run out of gas. Maybe the rockets should minimize his minutes for the playoffs?
You have to check out the combined record, i.e. Utah vs. Denver. We are 4:4 total. Utah is 3:5. That's how you do 3 - way tie breaker.
ESPN during their halftime show during the Sacramento/Phoenix game had the Rockets as a lock in the playoffs. I don't buy into the theory that the Rockets have to beat the Jazz to show they're ready for the playoffs. This was an emotional game for a playoff berth, there's bound to be a letdown. And combine that letdown with having to beat a team, on the road, fighting for their playoff lives and that is a tall order.
Great win tonight. I guess its official...we are in? Im worried now we will coast against the jazz tomorrow. I really hope the Rox win that game for obvious reasons.
