The Houston Rockets Thread

[Andrew]

Here's a good write-up on it. Good for him, as the blog notes it probably won't ever happen again but it's something he can be proud of and something for Rockets fans to enjoy in a season where it hasn't all been good news.

[Axel The Great]

Chuck Hayes basically showed that the Warriors are one of the most easiest teams to get a triple-double against (still doesn't mean it's easy). Like stated in the article, at least he didn't make dumb attempts at it, like Epic Vale. If there's someone who'll get another triple-double in Houston, it's most likely Kyle Lowry (and he recently got one last week I think).

We still have a shot at the eighth seed, it was just unfortunate that the Grizzlies had to win against Boston as a loss from them would've put us just a game behind from the eighth seed. We've got the Heat next, pretty tough game, but their season struggles has me thinking that's it's pretty likely we'll pull an upset. Should be a great game.

[Stress Fracture]

I can't wait for that game. I just wish the game would be televised here.

[Axel The Great]

Easy win last night against the Nets. With Phoenix and Utah being below .500 now, it looks like the battle of the eighth seed is now between Houston and Memphis. It doesn't really matter to me whether or not the Rockets go to the playoffs, as they would just run into the Spurs, but I'm hoping for a winning season again.

[Stress Fracture]

If the Rockets didn't make it, we'll get the No. 14 pick again.

[Lamrock]

The Hornets beating the Blazers basically seals the deal for Rockets being the best team to miss the playoffs again. It's a shame too, as this Spurs team seems much easier to upset than their record and past reputation would suggest, and the Rockets are better than a David West-less Hornets team (though Carl "best Rocket since Hakeem" Landry is about as good of a replacement as you could ask for).

[Axel The Great]

I'm not really optimistic about the Rockets making the playoffs. They face the Spurs, Mavericks, and Hornets in the next 7 games, with a meeting with the Clippers, Kings, Wolves, and Hawks. Four (five, with the Spurs' struggles) of those 7 games are winnable, but with Memphis also facing the Clippers (twice), Kings, and Wolves, all the Rockets can settle for is a winning season. Next season will probably end up like this one as well, unless we hit a gem with the 14th pick of the draft, or if we sign a big name in the offseason (which is highly unprobable). Thanks a lot, stress fractures.

[rise]

The Hornets beating the Blazers basically seals the deal for Rockets being the best team to miss the playoffs again. It's a shame too, as this Spurs team seems much easier to upset than their record and past reputation would suggest, and the Rockets are better than a David West-less Hornets team (though Carl "best Rocket since Hakeem" Landry is about as good of a replacement as you could ask for).

The Rockets are a better team than a Hornets team with David West on it. Outside of CP3, West, Ariza, and Okafor, there's really no one good on that team. They just got really hot at the beginning of the season and then played like they should have all season. Realistically, they probably should have missed the playoffs.

[Stress Fracture]

They (Hornets) just got lucky. I'm still optimistic that the Rockets will make the playoffs.

It's still a good thing, though, that we got rid of the Brick House maker.

[rise]

...and sent him to the Hornets.

[Axel The Great]

Yeah, that's the Kevin Martin from my dynasty/association stories. Clutch in OT, that three he made was big time. Still have a fighting chance to reach the playoffs.

[Stress Fracture]

Memphis should start losing games.

[Lamrock]

Memphis? The Rockets' slim playoff hopes hinge on the Hornets dropping a few more games. David West is far more essential than Rudy Gay but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better backup 4 to replace him than Landry.

[Stress Fracture]

Oh, forgot that one.

[rise]

The Grizz have actually played just as well without Rudy Gay.

I think New Orleans will lose several games by the end of the season. Their schedule is all against playoff contenders, except for Utah. There schedule reads: Pacers, Rockets, Suns, Grizz, Jazz, Mavs. I honestly only see them winning one or two games. They could drop out of the playoffs altogether.

[Lamrock]

Yeah, the Lakers know that they need to get the 1 seed if they want New Orleans (and an automatic sweep) in the first round. New Orleans does still have Chris Paul (though his knees are halfway Royed) and decent defense though. Whether they hit their threes will determine whether Houston has a chance to break in to the postseason.

[Axel The Great]

Rockets-Lakers would be a nice playoff series if the Rockets are to sneak into the playoffs. We'd need to bring Thabeet out of the doghouse for the size we lack because a frontcourt of Scola-Hayes just will not cut it against Bynum-Gasol. Don't really want that to happen, though, as I'd end up not hating the Lakers more than I already do, but loathing them once it's all said and done.

[Stress Fracture]

Another #8 upset if that happens!

[Axel The Great]

Yep, we're pretty much out of the playoff race. Memphis wins one more game, they're in, no matter what the Rockets do.

Now that I think about it, it's best if the Rockets don't go to the playoffs. The way they were owned by the Kings on Tuesday was just Who knows how they'd be dominated in the playoffs.

[Stress Fracture]

If they ended number 8, for me also, I think they would just win 1 game.

[Axel The Great]

Had to dig all the way through page 5 to bump this.

Tough loss to the Magic yesterday but not very surprising considering how terrible Kevin Martin played. 1/10 shooting and only four points, definitely a rough start to the season and hopefully he brings much more than that to the table against the Spurs next game.

[rise]

If K-Mart continues to struggle, I wonder if he's going to do a Lamar Odom and ask for a trade, because he was supposed to be in the failed CP3 trade. I hope it doesn't get to that.

[Axel The Great]

I don't think he'll struggle, it was just the first game of the season after an extended offseason. A scorer like him can't struggle like that for the entire season, especially when he's played a season and a half with the Rockets. That said though, if he does struggle, fingers will point towards Kevin McHale seeing as how the coaching change was the only major change to the team. And if it comes down to trading him, it'll be scary seeing as how the Rockets would have been raped in that deal that included him.

That was just one game though. I'm not gonna panic over that.

[Axel The Great]

And so they recover. K-Mart had a 25 points game against the Spurs, surprising 20 point win considering San Antonio had just won two games in a row that way. Great way to open the season at home.

[Stress Fracture]

And they lost to the Grizzlies today.