Yao Ming out for season

[Andrew]

Their last couple of games have definitely been a stark contrast to the winning streak, back to back losses by 20 and 21. They've got Golden State, Phoenix and San Antonio coming up in their next five games so they might be a bit precarious in that third seed.

[dan_suth]

Come again nub? Oh they were blown out by a balanced Boston team with a big man down low? The same thing is gonna happen in the playoffs you say? I thought so...

'nub'? Why don't you go back to playing some Warcraft...

But you're right bro, one game means everything! Losing to the [hands down] best team in the league means they will fail in the playoffs. If you're saying they'll get blown out by a balanced team with a big man down low, who really meets that criteria? Of course you've got Boston and Detroit in the East (with Detroit being a stretch, as Rasheed isn't exactly at the top of his game these days). But in the West, there's the Spurs (who are still the team to beat in my book) and you could make a case for Utah, the Lakers, and the Suns (but that's a stretch, too).

Houston is an elite defensive team, you can't take that away from them. They have a very legit shot to do some damage this postseason. It all depends on what seed they end up with, and who they have to play. Every team in the West is capable of winning a playoff series, with probably 6 or 7 of them being title contenders.

I still can't understand how you are trashing the Rockets after they strung together 22 straight wins. In the NBA. Your precious Cavs had a 5 game winning streak this year - and 4 of those 5 games were against Charlotte, Memphis, Miami, and Washington. Show Houston some respect, man.

[cyanide]

Houston is a very good defensive team (watching them against LA), and they did put together an amazing streak, so I'll give them credit. I'm still skeptical about a big playoff run, but I believe they're capable of going far. They've proved a lot with that streak, so I'll give them that much.

[dan_suth]

Yeah, I'm not saying that they should be a favorite to make the Finals, or even the WCF for that matter. They've been pretty awful in the playoffs over the past few years. But anyone who discredits Houston and doesn't give them a chance is just plain ignorant.

[Andrew]

With the West being so even and unpredictable thus far, an appearance in the second round isn't unreasonable even if conventional wisdom suggests that a team lacking one of its top players is more likely to falter in the first round. Anything beyond that would truly be overachieving because the competition is that good and the Rockets are obviously at a disadvantage going in.

They're not an awful team fluking their way into the postseason, they've just in a tough situation. Unless a couple of teams implode, I don't think anyone in the West will a particularly easy run through the Playoffs. It might not be seven game series all-around but I expect the seven Western teams who will fall short of the NBA Finals will still hold their own.

[JT_55]

Note Houston has won twice against Cleveland in the 22 game win streak. Doesn't have much to do with the point...just throwing it out there.

I am a Houston fan, call my opinion biased, but the Rockets have been good the during their winning streak, and have definately shown that they can be one of the better teams in this league. They are an excellent defensive team, led by an amazing Shane Battier (I think many other casual Houston fans are drooling over him after the Laker game). They also have very good perimeter shooters. Oh, and don't forget T-Mac.

Their horrible history in the playoffs says something, but they do have a chance of turning it around this year. Yes, they are undermanned without Yao, and they are going to have problems with teams that have a strong frontcourt, but on a good day, they do have enough to overcome that. Even with Yao, not many people will be pencilling them in for the Finals, but it's too early to write them off for a second round appearance.

Then again, Boston blowing them out does mean something, as Boston hasn't blown an "elite" team out lately, they won by 19 against the Lakers back in 07.

[BIG GREEN]

Note...cleveland hasn't improved much if at all since the trade I don't think they're going to make the finals at this point. Doesn't have much to do with the point...just throwing it out there.

'nub'? Why don't you go back to playing some Warcraft...

...ok?


...anyway...my points and opinions still stand. Come talk to me again when they get knocked out in the first round by denver or the warriors nub. Thats if they stay in first..heh