The only downside is that the Warriors are pretty good on the road. They're actually better away from Chase Center than they are on their home court.
Unfortunately our schedule is about to get pretty tough too. We got the Jazz thrice (semi-competent) and the Blazers twice but the other games are all against teams with winning records.
The fan in me who is loving this is thinking play-in, BUT... The realist thinks at this point in the season are Warriors (or Lakers) going to lose 3-4 MORE games than we are? It's really, really unlikely. If we KEEP playing at this level then there is certainly a chance, but if I'm betting then it's on #11. We wasted so many games after going above .500 early in the season. Had we played consistently and/or not gotten injured (sounds like a young team lol) then for sure we'd be in the play-in if not better, but it is what it is. We're playing about .500 ball, which is an incredible improvement over the last few years and all we could have asked for.
I think the other factor is it took Jalen forever to get going. Not giving up on the play in. We're hot at the right time
It's still fun though, right? I get looking at it from the standpoint of making the playoffs and being disappointed if we miss it, but just enjoy the ride. More wins is better, watching our guys play really well is a good thing. Even if we miss the playoffs in the scenario you gave, that means we finished the season on an 18-5 run. That's a 64 win pace. If that happens and we're still 1 game out of the playin then whatever.
...that overlaps EXACTLY with when Fred was out...which begs the point of just how critical FVV is to our success AND how thin we are at key spots because it also means the Rockets are likely a worse team when Fred hits the bench. The Rockets have lost every game Fred has missed.
...it is a bit ironic that here we are STILL battling the Warriors(and likely losing) only instead of it being for playoff success, its for a chance to even make the playoffs. Hopefully this is the last time in a long time where the Warriors and Rockets are anywhere in the same stratosphere as teams.
Would still rather they’re on the road given the age of some of their best players and Curry/Draymond playing semi-healthy. They have the experience to pull off a great road trip at a critical point of the season but the team has not looked energized. I think there’s a good chance they crack.
maybe if the league gives Seattle and Las Vegas teams we can switch to the eastern conference. Life would be so much easier.
It's awesome in the fact that ya the Steph Warriors and Harden Rockets had their cores peak around the same time with obviously the Warriors being better but the Rockets thanks to Harden premature quiting allowed the franchise to regroup and complete a rebuild in a few years while the Warriors decided to hold their cards and now we are looking at a situation where the Warriors after Steph is done is a lottery team for years and the Rockets are battling for top seeds in the West for years to come.
Yet people are quick to ship him off after next year. He is the general of this team and a major part of our success. I’m a big Amen fan but he is nowhere near ready to do all the things Fred does.
basically no way we get into the play-in too much $$$ at stake for $ilver to allow leroids or stephenie to fall out
What you saying carries a lot of weight But its also good to be aware that those players are heavily aged and have more than than had their time In the sun The way I see it playing out is Rockets face Warriors with serious seeding on deck and the winner is in the drivers seat The NBA loves to set up these storyline endings to a season Rockets are not a small market, and they have young excited talent that is entertaining to watch, I just feel this is their initiation season and being so close and not making it will set them up next season to get in, similar to how they snubbed Sengun from AS select As old man Curry/Bron HOF careers come winding down
