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@  slick shoes : (23 September 2015 - 06:37 PM) kind of late in the day but NBATV is broadcasting classis Rockets games all day today.
@  SadLakerFan : (16 September 2015 - 04:37 AM) Man, as a Laker fan, I'm learning how little you care about the off season when your team sucks. Anyway, a quick moment to remember Moses. Still remember watching the 81 team as a kid - losing record, NBA Finals. I would have cried w/joy if they could have beaten the Celtics.
@  jorgeaam : (15 September 2015 - 08:30 PM) http://bleacherrepor...ist-after-crash
@  jorgeaam : (15 September 2015 - 08:30 PM) So to celebrate his new contract, Montrezl Harrell saved someone's life on monday
@  thejohnnygold : (14 September 2015 - 04:36 PM) A good article from Blinebury talking about when Hakeem and Moses used to play in the park. LINK
@  rockets best... : (14 September 2015 - 02:29 AM) I agree totally. I got to watch his Rocket days and the man was a hell of a player. BIG MO R.I.P.
@  Mario Peña : (13 September 2015 - 05:24 PM) Sad to see Moses pass. I don't remember watching him as a Rocket but I do remember his Philly and Hawks teams. He was the perfect man to mentor Dream. It's a very sad day for his family and friends and there are many.
@  majik19 : (12 September 2015 - 09:01 PM) i just saw a post wishing Yao Ming a happy 35th birthday... am I the only one whose mind is blown that he's only 35?
@  cointurtlemoose : (08 September 2015 - 01:17 AM) aaaah, thanks jorge
@  jorgeaam : (08 September 2015 - 12:21 AM) Love it how Hinkie and Morey always target the same players, but hoping he isn't another Covington
@  thejohnnygold : (08 September 2015 - 12:03 AM) Christian Wood has signed with Philly
@  jorgeaam : (07 September 2015 - 10:32 PM) If I'm not wrong, he hasn't been waived yet, they have until october 4th to do that
@  cointurtlemoose : (07 September 2015 - 05:39 PM) Anyone else surprised that Kostas hasn't gotten picked up by anyone yet? I wanna see that guy play somewhere
@  redfaithful : (05 September 2015 - 10:48 PM) Llull line from today loss to Serbia: 30MIN 1-10PG, 0-5 3PG, 4-4FT 6AST, 1TO, 4REB, +/- -11
@  Losthief : (03 September 2015 - 02:27 AM) this dude's gun fired and all he got a misdemeanor at bush lol: http://abc13.com/new...ush-iah/815795/
@  Losthief : (03 September 2015 - 02:26 AM) theres more articles all over, but the jist is houston (and texas) doesn't really arrest for it, they just recommend you leave it in your car when they catch it. So seems dwight got lucky he was in texas and not cali or the NE.
@  Losthief : (03 September 2015 - 02:22 AM) honestly we should just be glad they caught it...
@  Losthief : (03 September 2015 - 02:21 AM) response: http://nymag.com/dai...n_airplane.html
@  Losthief : (03 September 2015 - 01:42 AM) one bullet left in the chamber is diff than fully loaded and ready to go. Still stupid...but not like he was prepared for a shooting spree.
@  jorgeaam : (02 September 2015 - 09:33 PM) http://www.tmz.com/2...t-get-arrested/

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Tiebreakers and the Playoff Picture


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#1 Red94

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    Posted 14 April 2015 - 04:45 PM

    New post: Tiebreakers and the Playoff Picture
    By: Mitchell Felker

    After an entire season of resenting the Golden State Warriors for all their success, their probable league MVP and their do-what-we-do-but-better style, they finally gave Rockets fans something to be happy about.  By beating the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, the Warriors gave Houston a little more say in how their season ends up.  But it did little to actually decide the Western Conference playoff picture.  That will have to wait until Wednesday, when the NBA regular season comes to a close.

     

    The Southwest Division is hands down the best division in the NBA, and all five teams could make the playoffs if the Pelicans beat the Spurs in the Big Easy on Thursday.  Not only would a Pelicans win cement the 2015 Southwest Division as one of the most impressive in NBA history, it would go a long way to helping Houston get back to the 2-seed.  As it stands now, Houston is fifth, which means Portland would come to town for game one (Houston would have home-court advantage because they have a better record, even though the Blazers technically sit fourth due to winning the Pacific Division).  But so much can change between now and Thursday morning.

     

    The only things that are certain is that Portland is the 4-seed and will not have home court in the first round, and Memphis cannot win the Southwest Division or the 2-seed.  A Memphis loss to Indiana on Thursday would lock them into the 6-seed.

     

    As for the rest: Buckle. In.  Because this is not easy.

     

    First, we'll start with the schedule and all the games that will affect the Rockets.

     

    Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns.  Tuesday, April 14 @ 9:30 pm.

     

    Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets.  Wednesday, April 15 @ 7 pm.

     

    San Antonio Spurs @ New Orleans Pelicans.  Wednesday, April 15 @ 7 pm.

     

    Indiana Pacers @ Memphis Grizzlies.  Wednesday, April 15 @ 830 pm

     

    The Southwest Division winner will be the 2-seed, regardless of what L.A. does in Phoenix on Tuesday, if either the Rockets or Spurs win their final game.  If they both win and the Clippers do as well, the Spurs would take the division and the 2-6 seeds would look like this:

     

    2. Spurs
    3. Clippers
    4. Blazers
    5. Rockets (home court)
    6. Grizzlies

     

    But if the Clippers were to lose, Houston and L.A. would swap spots and the Rockets would be the 3-seed.

     

    Now, if both Houston and San Antonio lose and the Grizzlies beat Indiana, resulting in a three-way tie for the division, that changes things.  A three-way tie would be decided by the combined records in head-to-head match-ups of the involved teams.  Houston went 2-2 vs MEM, and 1-3 vs SA, meaning 3-5 total.  San Antonio split the season series with Memphis, and would win the tiebreaker because their 5-3 record is better than the Grizzlies 4-4.

     

    The only way the Southwest champ doesn't win the 2-seed is if the Clippers finish with the best record of all four teams.  A three-way tie coupled with a Clippers win would mean the 2-6 seeds would look like this:

     

    2. Clippers
    3. Spurs
    4. Blazers
    5. Grizzlies (home court)
    6. Rockets

     

    In that same scenario, but with a Clippers loss to the Suns, 2-6 becomes:

     

    2. Spurs
    3. Clippers
    4. Blazers
    5. Grizzlies (home court)
    6. Rockets

     

    The only way the Rockets can win the 2-seed is if they win their final game and the Spurs lose theirs.  Then, 2-6 would be:

     

    2. Rockets
    3. Clippers
    4. Blazers
    5. Grizzlies/Spurs (MEM if they win)
    6. Grizzlies/Spurs (MEM if they lose)

     

    Whew! I think that covers it.

     

    It's amazing that this late in the season, with only two days and one game per team remaining, so little of the playoff picture has been settled.  Not one single Western Conference playoff match-up has been decided, and only three seeds are set!

     

    The Rockets don't control their own fate currently - even a win might only take them as high as fifth - but they definitely have the easiest game remaining of the four teams involved: at home against a Jazz team that should be trying to lose for draft purposes.  And luckily for Houston, the Spurs should have the toughest go of it, with Anthony Davis (at home, no less) scratching and clawing to make the playoffs for the first time.

     

    But having said that, with so little decided, a win or loss might not even matter depending on who you hope to see in the first round.  I'll be back later in the day to discuss and breakdown the potential first round match-ups that the Rockets might face.

     

    Stay tuned.


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    #2 Mitchell Felker

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      Posted 14 April 2015 - 07:06 PM

      I'm sure this has been discussed on previous threads, but who do you really want to see in the first round?
      Would you rather see them fall to sixth and get the Grizzlies versus being fifth and having to see Golden State in the second round?
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      #3 thejohnnygold

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      Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:01 PM

      Anytime you are trying to talk yourself into a first round match-up with a tough Grizzlies team you know it's going to be a rough play-offs.  Yet, that is exactly where I find myself.

       

      I like our depth over theirs.  I like that both Lee and Allen have little injuries that could hamper their defense a little.  I like that Vince Carter is shooting 30% from deep.  I think taking this road and dealing with whoever wins SA/LAC in the 2nd round is better.

       

      Portland is in worse shape having lost Matthews and they have Afflalo, Batum, and Aldridge all nursing little injuries.  Still, Portland's interior size is formidable and Lillard is Lillard.  They would be very dangerous to a team with a bunch of 6'9" guys (which is us).  While it might be an easier path to the 2nd round (emphasis on might), it is also a shorter path to Golden State.  The longer we put them off the better.  Plain and simple.  I don't think they are going to cruise over teams as easily as they have during the regular season.  Who knows...maybe Davis and Asik can shock the world...(presuming they get in)

       

      1994--no-8-denver-nuggets-advance-past-n


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      #4 Johnny Rocket

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        Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:14 PM

        Here's the dream scenario: Rox win, SA loses, Memphis loses.  We finish second and presumably we beat Dallas in the first round, and then play the winner of Memphis/LA (what a crushing 1st round series).  SA finishes fifth, presumably kills an injury-depleted Portland squad, and then takes on GS in the second round. We avoid SA/GS until the Western Conference Finals.


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        #5 Mitchell Felker

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          Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:18 PM

          As far as the Warriors are concerned, I just hope the Pelicans win and can take them to 6-7 games, maybe beat up Bogut a little. The last thing anyone needs is a rested Warriors team.

          My ideal scenario is Houston and LA winning their last game, Spurs resting and losing to the 'Cans, and Memphis choking their last game.
          We'd get the Mavs, get to see another Griz-Clips bloodbath, and the Spurs would be on a second round collision course with Golden State.
          How sweet would that be?
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          #6 Mitchell Felker

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            Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:18 PM

            Jinx!

            Holy hell johnny rocket may be a genius!

            Edited by Mitchell Felker, 14 April 2015 - 08:19 PM.

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            #7 majik19

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              Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:23 PM

              I don't see any scenarios where we play Memphis?


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              #8 Mitchell Felker

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                Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:27 PM

                Yea I misspoke in my first comment. It's not possible.

                I was thinking Rox, Spurs & Griz win and Clips lose it could happen, but that was the first scenario.
                Apologies.

                Edited by Mitchell Felker, 14 April 2015 - 08:29 PM.

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                #9 NorEastern

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                  Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:33 PM

                   

                  I did an analysis over at TDS if anyone is interested.


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                  #10 Mitchell Felker

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                    Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:39 PM

                    There it is. So hard to keep up w/
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                    #11 majik19

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                      Posted 14 April 2015 - 08:56 PM

                      So actually, there are a few scenarios where we play Memphis or LAC. That being said, my personal preferred order of opponents (while also considering seeding and probably 2nd round opponents):

                       

                      1) Dallas

                      2) Memphis

                      3) LAC

                      4) Portland

                      5) San Antonio

                       

                      I would have Portland second, except for the almost undeniable matchup with Golden State in the 2nd round. 


                      Edited by majik19, 14 April 2015 - 09:02 PM.

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                      #12 NorEastern

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                        Posted 14 April 2015 - 09:03 PM

                        So actually, our only potential 1st round opponents are:

                         

                        1) Dallas

                        2) Portland

                        3) San Antonio

                         

                        Golden State and NO/OKC are obviously out, and none of the scenarios above involve Memphis or the Clippers.

                         

                        At least that makes the "who do we want to play?" game really easy. And I think it's the order I show above... anyone disagree? 

                        Actually there are two scenarios where the Rockets play the Griz.


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                        #13 majik19

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                          Posted 14 April 2015 - 09:04 PM

                          Actually there are two scenarios where the Rockets play the Griz.

                          Yep, saw that after I studied your chart a little closer, so I edited my post...


                          Edited by majik19, 14 April 2015 - 09:04 PM.

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                          #14 Sir Thursday

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                          Posted 14 April 2015 - 11:03 PM

                          I've made a nice flowchart style thingy: zingtree.com/deploy/?deploy_name=Playoff+Seeding&deploy_id=143077012&persist_names=Restart&persist_node_ids=1

                           

                          I feel like it's a good way of visualising things...let me know what you think!

                           

                          ST


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                          #15 Losthief

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                          Posted 15 April 2015 - 12:27 AM

                           

                          I did an analysis over at TDS if anyone is interested.

                           

                          Interesting title...also this makes me want to print this out and use it to play a 'bingo' style game over these next two days, lol.


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                          LoSTHieF

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                          #16 isaacjunk

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                            Posted 15 April 2015 - 01:50 AM

                            From the chart the beauty is, if we win, we get guaranteed home court and a relatively favorable matchup:

                            if Spurs win, we play either grizz or portland

                            If Spurs lose, we get dallas

                             

                            Overall, that would make us probably the favorite in the first round at least.


                            Edited by isaacjunk, 15 April 2015 - 01:50 AM.

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                            #17 redfaithful

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                            Posted 15 April 2015 - 08:15 AM

                             

                            I did an analysis over at TDS if anyone is interested.

                             

                            Middle part of the table now gone after the Clippers did the expected and won. Still nothing settled except Clippers in either 2 or 3 seed and Grizzlies in either 5 or 6...


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