As of now, this is what the Western conference looks like if the playoffs were to start today. 1-Kings 2-Wolves 3-Spurs 4-Lakers 5-Mavericks 6-Grizzlies 7-Rockets 8-Nuggets Right now, the Rockets and Grizzlies are fighting for the sixth spot, but is it nessacary? The Rockets, at 6th, would most likely come across the Spurs, Lakers or Mavs in the first round. All of those teams are hard to beat if healthy, especially San Antonio and Dallas. The Rockets always find it hard to beat the other two Texas teams. If they finish 7th, however, they'd most likely face Minnesota, who do not look to let up on their lead in the Midwest. They should be easier opponents than Dallas and San Antonio. So, do you think the Rockets should go for 6th in the West? Personally, I don't.
For some reason, I think Rockets have a better chance of beating the Lakers than Mavs or Spurs. If you think about it, we shine the best in half court sets (because of Yao) and none of those teams really play half court games except Minny and Lakers. High flying, fastbreak games such as Sac or Dallas will take Yao out of the equation and that's bad. Minny, however, is my favorite this year to win the Championship, so I'm gonna suggest that Rockets go for 6th place and try play the Lakers. Karl Malone has been out and without him 100% in the lineup, I think we have a good chance of beating the Lakers. He really is a big part of the Lakers that I think will determine whether they win it all this year or not.
Lets be realistic hear, no one wants to face the Lakers, Kings, Wolves, Spurs or Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs especially when they have home-court advantage. I do not want to play the Spurs or the Mavericks as the Rockets have a horrible history of playing terrible against Texas teams. If I am the Rockets I want to play the Timberwolves. I do not want to play the Lakers at Staple Center in the playoffs. I know we are 2-0 against them so far this year however I do not want to face them in a 7 game series where they have home court. Shaq and Kobe are clutch in the playoffs; Malone and Payton only make them better. The Wolves I think give us the best chance to succeed and to get into the second round. So as it stands now, I want to stay in 7th place.
I believe that the TWolves and the Lakers would be the most ideal opponents for us. I'd take them because the Rockets have a habit for playing up to or higher than the level of these two teams whenever we face them. So 7th I say as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dexter:</div><div class="quote_post">Lets be realistic hear, no one wants to face the Lakers, Kings, Wolves, Spurs or Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs especially when they have home-court advantage.</div> Thank you for pointing the most obvious fact in NBA playoffs out... I'm not sure who that was directed to, but good job anyways. We're all realistic here so far, so I don't see what the point of saying that anyways. Now the real question is whether the Rockets stand a better chance playing the Lakers or Twolves in playoffs? We're 1-1 vs Twolves this season so far and that's without Wally, Hudson and Kandi. There's a reason why Minnesota is the #1 team in the toughest conference in NBA. Also their road record is almost as good ast their home record. (21-7 Home, 19-9 road) So no matter where, Twolves is a scary team to play. We've beaten Lakers twice this season and I'm sure the last game is still engraved in our minds when Yao stepped up to Shaq and dominated the game till the end. Bill Walton even called it the turning point of human civilization haha... ok, I found that funny.... anyways, what center in all of NBA can say that they can almost match Shaq's production in a game besides Yao? Shaq on Yao doesn't scare me at all. KG on Jim Jackson does. Anyways, I don't think it's that big of a difference between the two. Both teams are hard to beat and it so happens that I think Lakers are a little easier to beat. Maybe it's because of how we did against them in the last game... at any case, I did say Malone is the key to Lakers' success. If he's able to play 100% in the playoffs, then Minny is the team to beat. Besides, Denver is right up on our ass. They're only half a game behind us... I say we try to win as many games as we can and try to get home court advantage :mrgreen:
Not to trash talk or anything...but I think the Rockets are screwed no matter who they play in the first round unless they manage to get the 2nd seed, in which case they'd likely get to play Denver or Memphis. If they get 3rd they'll still lose to Dallas.
I think the Rockets will get 6th...they'll eventually edge out Memphis, and I see the Rockets playing either SA or LA in the first round...I think they have a great shot at beating either in a 7-game series so I'm not too worried...I'm more worried about teams like Sacramento or Dallas, who push and run...
