Observation about the Rockets streak

Ming Kong! · Post #1 » by **Ming Kong!** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:13 pm

21 games is remarkable. Still, the Rockets haven't been tested for a LONG time.

January

Tue 29 vs Golden State W 111-107 (who I believe were behind Denver and Portland at this point)

February

Fri 01 @ Indiana W 106-103
Sat 02 @ Milwaukee W 91-83
Mon 04 @ Minnesota W 92-86
Thu 07 vs Cleveland W 92-77 (No Sasha, Varejao, or Gooden)
Sat 09 vs Atlanta W 108-89
Mon 11 vs Portland W 95-83
Wed 13 vs Sacramento W 89-87
Tue 19 @ Cleveland W 93-85 (No Sasha or Varejao)
Thu 21 vs Miami W 112-100
Fri 22 @ New Orleans W 100-80 Last healthy playoff team
Sun 24 vs Chicago W 110-97
Tue 26 vs Washington W 94-69 (No Arenas or Butler)
Fri 29 vs Memphis W 116-95

March

Sun 02 vs Denver W 103-89
Wed 05 vs Indiana W 117-99
Thu 06 @ Dallas W 113-98 (No Nowitzki)
Sat 08 vs New Orleans W 106-96 (No West)
Mon 10 vs New Jersey W 91-73 (On the fence, .5 games ahead of Atlanta)
Wed 12 @ Atlanta W 83-75
Fri 14 vs Charlotte W 89-80
Sun 16 vs LA Lakers ? (No Gasol)

In their last 11 games, not one game was against a healthy playoff team. Besides a healthy Hornets team, a GS state team who at the time was outside the playoffs, they haven't really played a healthy playoff team. That's a remarkably easy schedule.

On a side note, their schedule prior to going 30-3 in their last 33, their schedule was the most difficult in the NBA. That's how a 10th place team gets tied in first in an ultra competitive West.

Also 14 games were at home, but all the road games except one were easy opponents, or injury riddled.

Neon Black · Post #2 » by **Neon Black** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:31 pm

they will lose their swagger this week.

DiscoLives4ever · Post #3 » by **DiscoLives4ever** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:37 pm

Even so, it is STILL 21 wins. There is a reason that only REALLY good teams even hit 60 wins in a season - it's because even the worst team has a reasonable chance at beating the best team in the league on any given night. Sure they had a light schedule, but it's still remarkable that they have wone this many games, especially without Yao for the last 8

Duiz · Post #4 » by **Duiz** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:47 pm

*Deleted.*

So no they weren't healthy.

Guess what? They will be playing the Celtics next without Allen.

sendai91 · Post #5 » by **sendai91** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:51 pm

I'm no Rockets fan, but 22 wins is extremely impressive no matter how you slice it. Before we deride the Rockets too much, consider that if we say that of the Rockets 22 wins have all been easy, the Jazz have lost 6 of those games if my memory is correct. We lost on the road in Indy, at Minny recently, at home against Portland (home loss #2 of the year), @ Cleveland, at the Hornets recently, at Dallas earlier in the year and at Atlanta. Against the same opponents we're 16-6 which is a great record, but 22-0 is really incredible.

Hope that they slow down this week..

Duiz · Post #6 » by **Duiz** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:54 pm

I think the Rockets are doing it the right way, through defense. Something that Boozer should learn from those two rookies.

22-0 is impressive, and I hope the Jazz still beat the Rockets on their next game. McGrady is also burning out by playing full 48 minutes per game. I would love to see the Rockets (preferably without McGrady) get out of the first round again, but I am doubting this will happen if they keep burning the tires with T-Mac.

GP · Post #7 » by GP » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:20 am

I agree, especially as a Jazz fan you have to appreciate the rockets not "mailing-in" games against lesser opponents. Still the rockets are on a streak and I still don't think they will make much noise in the playoffs, I am guessing a first round exit.

de2nd · Post #8 » by **de2nd** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:47 am

Regular season is nice and all, but we all know what T-Mac does in the playoffs....

edfmx86 · Post #9 » by **edfmx86** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:07 am

de2nd wrote:Regular season is nice and all, but we all know what T-Mac does in the playoffs....

(picture)

Duiz · Post #10 » by **Duiz** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:16 am

Second Round virgin.. ROFLMAO!

carrottop12 · Post #11 » by **carrottop12** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:48 pm

I hope the Rockets keep winning personally.

Nothing would make me happier then to have them as the 1 seed going into the playoffs for 3 reasons.

1. It knocks the level of competition down a spot, and personally I would much rather face the Hornets who are always teetering around 3-4 place in the West then the Lakers or the Spurs. I think when the Lakers get healthy they will regain their spot as top three, and I think the Spurs will lock it down soon and solidify their spot as top three, leaving the Hornets to face the Jazz in the 4-5 spot.

2. If the Rockets end up in first and beat the 8th team, and the Jazz advance in the 4-5 match up we would face the Rockets instead of say the Lakers or Spurs, that would be great as well.

3. If the Rockets make into the playoffs in first place, and get bounced out of the first round again, how hilarious would that be, and personally I would love to see another 8-1 upset, and I would love to play the second round match up against either the Warriors or the Nuggets.

I'm rooting for the Rockets, the higher they climb the harder they fall, and currently they are just watering down the competition in the West.

As far as I am concerned, the only real contenders in the West are the Spurs, the Lakers and now it looks like the Jazz and possible the Suns and the Mavs. And if the Jazz only have to face two of those teams to get to the finals I think there is a possibility the Jazz could make it to the Finals.

GO ROCKETS!!!

idajazz · Post #12 » by **idajazz** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:04 pm

I can't say enough about the rockets right now, Without Yao, they are doing something that Our Jazz just can't figure out...........

BEATING THE CRAPPY TEAMS

they are going to be a tough match up for anybody. They have a ton of momentum and confidence.

The schedule gets tougher for them from here on, What are the doubters going to say when they keep rolling, The streak will end, but I think they still do well against the tougher teams.

Reckless · Post #13 » by **Reckless** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:12 pm

Batronuj wrote:I hope the Rockets keep winning personally.

Amen. Go Rockets!

Post #14 » by **bleu** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:13 pm

This streak is insane and all, but I've noticed this trend too. They beat all the easy teams and when they play the tough teams they have some major players out. I think that they're gonna get back to losing within a week.

Besides, even if they continue to win the entire rest of the season, they won't make it past the first round...

CJballa14 · Post #15 » by **CJballa14** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:36 am

Number 1 in the west... it doesnt matter who we've played we're on top of everyone in our conference now...

Duiz · Post #16 » by **Duiz** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:57 am

Rockets are playing in a style which is rather unorthodox for other teams. I think the Celtics will put an end to it.

Reckless · Post #17 » by **Reckless** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:49 am

Duiz wrote:Rockets are playing in a style which is rather unorthodox for other teams. I think the Celtics will put an end to it.

good call, rockets streak = over

Post #18 » by **DelaneyRudd** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:21 am

The streak was definitely a perfect storm of players playing their personal best and a beneficial schedule. They are still a better team for knowing what they can do, but they are still a middle of the pack Western Playoff team in the end.

Post #19 » by **bleu** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:44 pm

ITS OVER!!! YAY!!!

Post #20 » by **JStockLivesOn** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:01 am

I don't think the Rockets are a serious threat to the Lakers, Jazz, Spurs or Suns... maybe not even Orleans or Dallas. I'll be shocked if they do anything in the playoffs.

I'll be happy to admit if I'm proven wrong, but I just can't see them making any noise at all without Yao.

I feel like there's only so many "I don't suck... seriously" games Rafer Alston can have.