3 game home stretch, implications?

Eoghan · Post #1 » by **Eoghan** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 3:38 pm

We've got Miami, Dallas, and Boston visiting, with a good chance to drop all three. If so, do the wheels fall off the playoff wagon despite the nice road trip or do we just take it in stride, hope for the best, and focus on beating the teams that we need to be beating to stay in the playoffs like the Pacers?

Post #2 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 3:45 pm

Providing we are competative I think the wheels stay on. For me it's not about these next three games but more so how we play directly after them. What ever happens over these next three we can't let that negatively impact the team for the following month.

In saying that, I want to beat the Mavs so bad I can almost taste it.

captaincrunk · Post #3 » by **captaincrunk** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 3:53 pm

Those are 3 of the top 6 or 7 teams in the NBA. Some would say top 5 but I disagree.

Rich4114 · Post #4 » by **Rich4114** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 6:34 pm

Coming up on top against the JV teams is one thing. If we can take out 1 or 2 of these contending teams then I'll get more excited.

Either way, I would expect them to beat teams below the Atlanta's and Chicago's in the East and lose to the rest which means playoffs and then first round exit. If we're going to make it there again though hopefully they can get a win or two first. I remember when Memphis made the playoffs as a low seed 2 years in a row in the west and got swept both times. Might as well not even make it.

captaincrunk · Post #5 » by **captaincrunk** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 6:51 pm

Rich4114 wrote:Coming up on top against the JV teams is one thing. If we can take out 1 or 2 of these contending teams then I'll get more excited.

Either way, I would expect them to beat teams below the Atlanta's and Chicago's in the East and lose to the rest which means playoffs and then first round exit. If we're going to make it there again though hopefully they can get a win or two first. I remember when Memphis made the playoffs as a low seed 2 years in a row in the west and got swept both times. Might as well not even make it.

Well it's good for the team to make the playoffs, and good for Jordan's pocketbooks, and good for the Arena, etc. Good for the city too. It will also let us know if DJ and Tyrus can perform in the playoffs well for us.

Post #6 » by **fatlever** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 7:00 pm

this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

captaincrunk · Post #7 » by **captaincrunk** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 7:28 pm

fatlever wrote:this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

It was definitely Brown. Home court advantage is something you only have when you're happy, and the crowd is happy. Last year we won like, 30+ games at home.

bobcats3wallace · Post #8 » by **bobcats3wallace** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 7:49 pm

BigSlam wrote:Providing we are competative I think the wheels stay on. For me it's not about these next three games but more so how we play directly after them. What ever happens over these next three we can't let that negatively impact the team for the following month.

In saying that, I want to beat the Mavs so bad I can almost taste it.

I agree. If we are competitive but loose all 3, then you got to just keep moving on. If we are just THRASHED in all 3, then the playoff wheels come off and trades are likely to happen. Now, i also gree with the fact that it's more about AFTER this stretch, then during. After we play curcial games against the Pacers and Nets. Those two absolutely have to be wins. A nd if you look further past these next 3 games, there is a chance to pick them back up again. NJ, Indiana, Toronto, and Sacramento could all be wins and could make up for 3 losses. It's all about how we respond.

Having said that, I think we beat the Heat. Coming off a successfull road trip and a long one at that, these guys will REALLY be amped up to play at home. They will have a sort of new found appreciation for being home, long road trips do that. This combined with the recent success combined with the packed arena on a friday night will give them an added boost and I think they will win the close game. Which, this season, the Heat do not fair well in. If we went 1-3, that would have to be a success. Miami could be our game.

Post #9 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 7:49 pm

captaincrunk wrote:
fatlever wrote:this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

It was definitely Brown. Home court advantage is something you only have when you're happy, and the crowd is happy. Last year we won like, 30+ games at home.

6 and 4 under Coach Silas at home and two of those wins came against the Bulls and The Grizzlies.

captaincrunk · Post #10 » by **captaincrunk** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 8:05 pm

BigSlam wrote:
captaincrunk wrote:
fatlever wrote:this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

It was definitely Brown. Home court advantage is something you only have when you're happy, and the crowd is happy. Last year we won like, 30+ games at home.

6 and 4 under Coach Silas at home and two of those wins came against the Bulls and The Grizzlies.

I really liked how we defended Rose both times against the bulls. The Grizz game had like, 8 fans there though. Still a good win.

Stun704 · Post #11 » by **Stun704** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 8:11 pm

we beat both the heat and the mavs, BOOK IT

Fred Williamson · Post #12 » by **Fred Williamson** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 8:28 pm

I wouldn't be surprised if we win 2 of these and then get our asses kicked against Indy and the Nets

Rich4114 · Post #13 » by **Rich4114** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 8:31 pm

Fred Williamson wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if we win 2 of these and then get our asses kicked against Indy and the Nets

because of the lulz?

Bassman · Post #14 » by **Bassman** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 9:11 pm

I don't understand why we should be looking at trades in the context of "NO TRADES...WE'RE PRETTY CERTAIN TO TAKE THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT!..Yippe". or "..WE SUCK, BLOW IT ALL UP!!!". I know MJ's promise matters sort of, but aren't we also looking a little longer term?

If we lose all 3? Win 1 of 3? I suppose we keep slogging our way forward toward another 1st round exit. I know that mattered a lot to all of us last year. Does 8th seed and a 3 & done series still carry the pop that last year's did? I seriously doubt MJ gets as much bang for his buck with the rerun, but we all hope to get in versus not participate, particularly in this draft.

I just hope the FO is willing to make a trade that can helps us this season and next, versus either a "do nothing" or "blow it up" option.

My guess is nothing happens, and we've got what we've got.

Post #15 » by **fatlever** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 9:16 pm

captaincrunk wrote:
fatlever wrote:this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

It was definitely Brown. Home court advantage is something you only have when you're happy, and the crowd is happy. Last year we won like, 30+ games at home.

we've laid a few eggs at home under silas as well (atlanta, new orleans - two that we played like garbage - even though they are good teams)

Marvel · Post #16 » by **Marvel** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 10:20 pm

0-3 book it.

Post #17 » by **BigSlam** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 10:22 pm

I actually think we will get a win over the next three.

Felton for Pres · Post #18 » by **Felton for Pres** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 10:51 pm

BigSlam wrote:I actually think we will get a win over the next three.

Agreed. We get off the mat against Dallas (we're still winless against them, right?) and Chandler probably blows out both knees since he's back in CLT.

Post #19 » by **fatlever** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 10:53 pm

i think miami is our best shot. i would have said dallas, but we on the 2nd night of a back to back, coming off any emotional high vs miami night before, i think is recipe for a bad game.

we have no chance vs boston.

captaincrunk · Post #20 » by **captaincrunk** » Thu Feb 3, 2011 11:01 pm

fatlever wrote:
captaincrunk wrote:
fatlever wrote:this team has got to start winning more home games.

12-11 is unacceptable for a playoff team. after these next 3 games we will most likely have a losing home record. we cannot keep losing to every half decent team at home.

It was definitely Brown. Home court advantage is something you only have when you're happy, and the crowd is happy. Last year we won like, 30+ games at home.

we've laid a few eggs at home under silas as well (atlanta, new orleans - two that we played like garbage - even though they are good teams)

Our roster is largely the same from last year. Winning 30 home games is pretty impressive, there's only 41 of them. We won like... 32? 31? Clearly we had a good home team, and unless Felton was the fan favorite it should still be that way!