RealGM

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080326

Best-case opponent: Golden State or Denver.

Worst-case opponent: Everyone else.

Prediction: The sixth seed and a thrashing from San Antonio in round one.

Eventual 2007-08 Legacy: For the rest of eternity, they'll show that "Longest NBA Winning Streaks" graphic during an NBA game and viewers will say, "'72 Lakers, '08 Rockets, '00 Lakers, '71 Bucks ... wait a second, what????"

Kinda agree with him, although I think we are starting to show how much we missed Yao's scoring against team with size.

best case opponent: dallas (cuban and avery clashing, dirk coming from an injury, bench playing like crap, no chemistry whatsoever) there you go!

best case senario: hornets (no playoff experience as a team)

I think we could take the Hornets, but "playoff experience" is BS media spin. I'ma have to go with dontel's Mavs, assuming they make it in.

None of the so-called experts are looking at the remaining schedules. The Suns have a killer schedule-3 back-to-backs,7 good teams to face,5 on road. The Rockets have 4 games against Clips/Sonics,the Kings again and a Blazers team possib w/out Roy and 4 games against good teams. I just don't see the Suns overtaking the Rockets. And Mavs,Warriors,Nuggets are too far behind to overtake-if Rox win just 5 games the Mavs have to go 9-2 to tie.(And should Rox win just 5 games,Suns have to go 7-4,win 6 and Suns have to go 8-3 to tie.)
So the Rox are in top 5 and either will end up 3 or in a rematch w/Jazz.(For Jazz to move out of 4/5 will be very tough.If either Rox or Spurs wins 5 games the Jazz have to go 7-3 to tie.)Lakers and NO have too good a schedule advantage for the Rox to realistically climb higher than 3.

A.J. wrote:best case senario: hornets (no playoff experience as a team)

Thought so last year against the Jazz and you know how that ended up.

I think we are starting to show that we really aren't that good of a team. I mean we are good but not win a first round series good. Maybe we can beat the Warriors but we'd likely have to get the first or second seed to face them. That can happen if we have a good road trip but the weaknesses I have seen in this team will probably keep us from getting HC in the first round.

We just need another guy that can get his own shot. Alston can get a shot but he can't make it so that doesn't count. Battier is coming on but he isn't a reliable scorer. Scola and Landry feed of plays from McGrady. I sadly have to agree with Simmons. Our brightest spot will be that 22 game win streak.

Iggy, your pessimism will power us to the championship. Keep up that crazily fanatic morosity! (also I think you're right, we don't have quite enough firepower to make a serious dent in the playoffs without Yao - although I disagree with you about Scola relying on feeds from McGrady to score, but something hasn't been right about his game for the past 4 or 5)

Anyone who thinks that the Hornets will be an easy 1st round playoff matchup are in for a rude awakening. Chris Paul is going to leave his mark on the 2008 NBA playoffs, and I sure as hell hope the Rockets aren't a recipient of his piss stains.

Anyone that tries to predict the west this year will be sadly mistaken. There is no dominate team, therefore, any team that makes it can do damage. No shoe-in to win or lose, so just get behind a team and cheer, cheer, CHEER!!! You never know, a staged elbow, ejection, or timely injury to the opposing star can project Houston to another championship. I've seen crazier things in my lifetime

This playoff season will be all about matchups.

For HOU i'll take DAL,GS or DEN

I see us facing SA or Utah in the first though. Im really hoping Tmac can make it to the 2nd rd without Yao. Just so poetic.

mavs, nuggets or the warriors are the best options for us.....