I feel like this Rockets team still has some fatal flaws. Toronto put on a clinic on how to run us off of the three point line and cut off our interior passes. Utah, when Gobert played well, made the Rockets completely shy away from the rim.
The Western Conference is still super tough. I feel like anytime I find myself saying "I hope we don't face [blank] team!" we end up getting matched up against someone else and I go "Oh ****". Be careful what you wish for. Out of the 7 other teams that are currently in the Western Conference playoffs, Portland is the only one that I would legitimately feel comfortable with. OKC is scary because Westbrook has the ability to just dominate a game at times. Utah and Memphis are scary with their defense and tempo and ability to grind out wins, especially when the game slows down during the playoffs. Then of course we know how good and talented LAC, SAS and GSW are. Unless we somehow manage to get the #1 seed or if there is an injury to a key player from another team right before the playoffs, there probably won't be a single easy matchup.
1) GSW 2) Cavs 3) Spurs 4) Rockets 5) Clippers I think we can leapfrog San Antonio. I think we have a low shot at leapfrogging Cleveland. I don't think we have a real shot at leapfrogging GSW. But, I think we are good enough to be competitive in a series with them.
Portland for sure. Clippers I'm not so sure. I'd rather play the lesser talented, but harder working Grizz. Clippers are going to Clipper, but that team is still a nightmare matchup for the Rockets.
The grizzlies don't beat you with just hard work. Don't mistake lack of scoring for lack of talent. The grizzlies have plenty of talent and despite what everybody in the basketball world seems to think, defense is a skill, not hard work. Harden will never ever play defense like mj did. The are the best offensive efficiency team in the league in the last 5 minutes. That's the fundamental difference between the grizzlies and say Utah. The grizzlies can and do score when it matters.
I disagree, as the Grizzlies can never, ever seem to show the efficiency you speak of in the playoffs. Not enough raw talent, period. Superstar alpha is what's missing, unfortunately.
What the heck are you talking about? You really want to compare the grizzlies playoff resume? What you fail to understand is that you can't point to 1 year that the grizzlies ever had a full squad in the playoffs. Not one year since the grizzlies when on their run in the playoffs, and yet they had the vaulted gs warriors down 2-1,with conley having a broken face, they upset the number 1 seed sa, they went to the finals after their owner traded one of their big 3 players (rudy) before the playoffs, they had okc down 3-2 before the Mr. Unreliable game, and conley getting hurt in game six, and the league decided they'd double down by suspending Zach Randolph. Please, man. You don't want to get me started. If anything, at least if the grizzlies had a star, they wouldn't get hosed so much in the playoffs. People love to talk about how false the grizzlies finals appearance was because westbrook didn't play, but the grizzlies was robbed of rudy gay that year as well.
The grizzlies have 2 closers, that's why they are 12-0 in games decided by 5 points or less. Go look up the clutch stats if you have an itch.
Once we get Dmo back then number 1 Right now prolly around 4-8 but having the potential to beat anyone
Like the Rockets, these regular season wins mean ass and balls. Go look up the Grizzlies playoff success with these closers If you have the itch.
West before season..................updated rank Warriors (64 wins +/-2)...............Warriors Clips.......(61 wins +/-2)...............Clips Rockets..(58 wins +/-2)...............Rockets Spurs......(55 wins +/-2)...............Spurs Utah........(54 wins +/-2)...............Utah Blazers....(48 wins +/-2)...............Blazers Thunder...(47wins +/-2)..............Thunder Suns.........(44 wins +/-2)..............Grizz A) Rox had trouble w/Lopez (Nets)---Rox had to switch Capela x Nene. Can Rox match Jordan-Blake tandem. B) Felt the Suns could win despite Earl Watson....I was wrong. Too much talent on roster to be this bad. C) Grizz stay lucky enough to remain in playoff picture.
