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Houston is currently 10th in the West but have won 7 of their last 10 games. Many predicted them to be an elite team this season and the RealGM playoff predictions thread even had them going to the finals. They play in one of the hardest divisions the NBA has ever seen. New Orleans, Dallas and San Antonio currently all have better records than Houston this season, leaving them 4th in the Southwest. With a new coach, a bunch of new players, and mounting injuries, could Houston be the odd team out in the West this season?

Houston has 2 superstars, one of which is a top 2 center in the league, and the team as a whole plays pretty good defense, holding their opponents to 93.6ppg this season. The manage to score 95.7ppg even tho McGrady has missed a third of their games so far this season. However, outside of McGrady and Yao, Houston has a couple of good roll players (Battier and Scola) and a bunch of underachievers. Alston, Bonzi, Head, James and Hayes are all marginal roll players at best, and Houston's depth is surprisingly thin. None the less, they are still 5 games above .500 even with McGrady missing 15 games.

The Western conference standings are currently as follows

1. New Orleans - 32-13
2. Phoenix - 33-13
3. Dallas - 31-13
4. Utah - 27-18
5. LA Lakers - 28-15
6. San Antonio - 28-16
7. Portland - 26-18
8. Denver - 26-18
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9. Golden State - 27-19
10. Houston - 25-20
11. Sacramento - 19-24
12. LA Clippers - 13-28
13. Memphis - 13-32
14. Seattle - 10-35
15. Minnesota - 8-36

With many of the great western teams remaining elite (Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio), good teams remaining playoff contenders (Utah, Denver) and younger teams finding their stride (LA Lakers, Portland, and Golden State), will Houston be one of the better western teams to miss the playoffs this season? If you think yes, why? If not, who do you think will fall off to open up a spot for them?

Houston is one of the best second half teams of the last few years (05's injury plagued campaign excluded). They have bunch of new players and a completely different coach and philosophy than in previous years. Their defense is still among the best (2nd in efficiency to Boston), and their offense is slowly improving. They are prone to injuries and that has played a large role as well, with Tmac missing 15 games this season.

Everything lately is coming together, and they've beaten their main rivals pretty well so far (2-0 v Portland, 1-1 v Jazz (loss without Yao), 1-1 v Denver (loss without Tmac), 1-2 v Golden State (win without Tmac), 1-1 v Lakers (loss with injured Tmac, left at halftime).

If the team is healthy, they have proven they can beat anyone but NO or Dallas this season, including a split with the Suns and a 2-1 advantage over the Spurs.

I wouldn't dare bet against them.

Yes, I think Houston will miss it... injuries, chemstry not solid, T-Mac not in a consistent form, not solid at PG, Adelman having to go more back to basics and more JVG-type stuff, rather than what he wants to implement. James/Francis not working like expected. Scola seemingly inconsistent, and adjusting to the NBA. Inconistent energy, seemingly.

A couple teams ahead need to drop off noticably for them to make it.

Houston needs some roster changes for what Adelman wants to do.

Yao's a lock to stay, as is Brooks, of course.

For the rest, keep T-Mac for one more year under Adelman, if not, get a good player in return for him.

Kirk Snyder won't be back, and is for the best. This guy has to find a team where he can have a consistent, fairly secure oppurtunity, and stay relatively healthy. I really like his talent, and up-side he still has. Don't think his attitude problems are there with him anymore, not for a little while now. I want to see him find a decent spot in the NBA. That isn't in Houston.

I'd keep Head/Bonzi/Scola/Landry/Novak for set support players. Battier/Hayes I think are questionable, and I think Battier would stay between the two. Upgrading at one of the PF slots. I love Hayes, but don't think he's much of a fit for Adelman, and overall would be the odd man out.

Deal at least two of Alston/James/Francis.

Get a versatile wing role-player in the mold of a Doug Christie. Diversity is lacking after T-Mac/Brooks on the wings. Also for better compatablity and help for T-Mac/the main wing-player.

Get a PG that's a good shooter, has passing ability, not poor defensively, has driving ability. Could be Brooks, but I'm doubting Rick Adelman will have Brooks as his starting PG next season.

Deke should of went to the Spurs or Celtics or Mavs or Pistons. Shame his last year is like this, even if around his home.

I still can't believe a handful of people were saying the Rockets were a title contender, championship-caliber team. Talent is not the majority factor for that. Even if they do make the playoffs.

I had no idea Utah had moved up that much in the standings...

As long as Tracy McGrady is there shooting guard,no.

Possibly, but the warriors just added CWEBB, look for them to start playing even better +

they have like the next 11 games at home or somethign like that, only 1 road game all februrary.

Utah didn't really move up. It's cuz their leading their division. They're only half game ahead of the 9th seed. What happens if the NW Division winner is in 9th place record wise. Does the division winner miss the playoffs? Or does the 8th place team miss the playoffs?

1. New Orleans - 32-13
2. Phoenix - 33-13
3. Dallas - 31-13
4. Utah - 27-18
5. LA Lakers - 28-15
6. San Antonio - 28-16
7. Portland - 26-18
8. Denver - 26-18
-----------------------------
9. Golden State - 27-19
10. Houston - 25-20

Division winners automatically get a top 4 seed (then ordered by the records of the different division winners). However if they have a worse record than their opponent in the playoffs they won't get home court even though they have a higher seed. So if they have the 9th best record in the conference they would get the 4-seed and the 8th best record in the conference would not get into the playoffs.

I think Houston will most likely make the playoffs as long as they stay relatively healthy. Portland will drop (their margin of victory is something like 0.5 points and they are where they are because they have won almost every close game they've played). That means Houston will have to bypass one other team which will probably be Denver or the Lakers because of injuries and their tough remaining schedule. Golden State is also a possibility but hard to say with them since they just signed C.Webb and he has yet to play.

I hope we make it. But if it at some point its apparent that we won't we gotta tank and get a good pick. That PG from Indiana comes to mind as someone that would help us greatly.

I'm thinking it will be Portland and either Houston/GS that drops out.

I'm not writing off Portland at all, but they'd the most obvious drop-out.

Lakers looking good, but are vulnerable without Bynum. The Knicks almost beat them.

It's conceivable that San Antonio lose out. Yes, San Antonio.

Denver aren't exactly setting the world on fire either.

And, what does the addition of C-Webb really do for the Warriors?

Plenty of time remaining, plenty of questions to be answered. Hopefully we make it.

That would be amazing if SA dropped out. Wow, completely inconceivable.

BooRadley wrote:That would be amazing if SA dropped out. Wow, completely inconceivable.

Not completely. We don't know how long it will take for Tony Parker to recover from his injury, and without him they have nobody other than Manu who can penetrate and break down defenses. They're also missing Brent Barry, and with Bowen and Horry struggling, their main offensive strength - superb 3 point shooting and ability to space the floor - has been severely impacted. If they don't get Stoudamire, they'll be rolling with Jacque Vaughn as their only real option at PG. Not good. Plus, their depth at PF/C behind Duncan kinda sucks now. They're being forced to play Bonner extended minutes.

It sounds ridiculous to consider the notion of San Antonio being a lottery team, but while I'm not ready to make such a bold statement, I'm definitely shifting my position and saying that they're more vulnerable than they've been in a long time.

NetsForce wrote:I had no idea Utah had moved up that much in the standings...

Me neither

Guys, its the spurs. THE SPURS! As in, the team with the best record in all of professional sports over the last ten years (better than 70%!!!) and perhaps the BEST 2nd half team of that span in any sport as well. They are completely capable of going 35-6 in the second half. No joke. Something turns on in March/April and they get serious.

I predict a 5th seed at worst for the Spurs.

vainsake wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Me neither

I'd say Utah is the third best team in the Western Conference right now behind New Orleans and Dallas. And they'll be a particularly dangerous team come playoff time.

I'm going to say no but it's still possible. Still too early to tell, anything can happen.

I'd laugh in amusement if the Spurs drop out of the top 8.

Houston will have a tough time making the playoffs with their awful shooting. They also aren't accustomed to Adelman's system yet, nor have Tmac and Yao learned how to play together. Tmac looks like the one gumming up the works, as they don't run anything besides iso's and PnR's when he's in.

Defense is great, but Houston's running a regular season race against GS and Portland. Both those teams can outgun Houston and, unfortunately for the rockets, that's what wins you the first 82 games.

MrCheerios wrote:Houston will have a tough time making the playoffs with their awful shooting. They also aren't accustomed to Adelman's system yet, nor have Tmac and Yao learned how to play together. Tmac looks like the one gumming up the works, as they don't run anything besides iso's and PnR's when he's in.

Defense is great, but Houston's running a regular season race against GS and Portland. Both those teams can outgun Houston and, unfortunately for the rockets, that's what wins you the first 82 games.

have you ever seen rockets game? Houston has a 2-0 record with Portaland by now

Updated standings- GS has now moved up to the 8th seed with the Blazers loss, and got 1 game w/in the Hornets .
The Rox aren't going to make the playoffs with the way they were playing awhile ago, and it's sad to say that despite them having two (at one poing) top 10 players in the league.

And imagine the playoffs without the Spurs, that would be hilarious, and a relief for all non Spur fans.