[ESPN]The shape of the western playoffs

Nuggets & Lakers

 

i was going to go with an octogon shape

 

Yeah I can see Rockets upset the Clippers or Memphis in the playoffs. That's about it, the Spurs and the Thunder will kill us. I hope we go to the 5th seed and face Memphis.

 

Clippers are our Krytonite. Avoid them like the plague, please.

We have a good shot at upsetting these three teams, in order of highest probability:

1. Memphis
2. Thunder
3. Spurs (Parker injury makes this possible)

 

I actually fear the Clippers more, too.

Memphis is a good matchup obviously. After that, I'd rather face the Thunder, though the chances are slim.

 

I wish ESPN would quit jinxing.

 

i dont see any way possible rockets get into the 5th seed. more likely denver and memphis flip flop in the 4/5 slots than us catching and passing denver for the 5th.

 

we are still a moving target in terms of what this team is. It's literally growing and changing game by game.

 

Maybe the 8th seed would be better for us?

I would much rather face San Antonio than OKC or LAC. SA has been hurt all year and they're old and the wear and tear of the postseason won't help. I think they're just a better match up for us if we can turn the series into an athletic contest, which could give us a legitimate shot at winning.

Yes, we're 0 and 3 against them so far this season, but two of those games were neck and neck, and Harden sat out during one of those games. Lin's defense is improving a lot and there's the emergence of Beverly, so I can see us doing a better job on Parker, and Harden has come a long way since the last time we played against SA. Harden also a Spur killer last year in the postseason.

My dream match up would be against Golden State, but that's very unlikely.

We're most likely going to face either SA, OKC or LAC, and I think SA would be the best match up out of the 3.

 

I would agree and have stated so in other threads. Against SAS I see us winning two games and exit the first round with a great deal of confidence going into next year. Against OKC and LAC, a sweep would not be surprising.

 

I want to avoid OKC at all cost.

 

Dude their is going to be a huge shakeup in the standings...

Spurs might go down to 2.. OKC might go up to 1.. Clippers are going to be 4.. Grizzlies are going to be 3..

And against all of them, We will win 1 game for sure. I would like us to push it to 7 games.

 

There*

 

LOL no. And the clippers aren't that dangerous.

 

Spurs will win easily against the Rockets. Coaching and experience will own us.

 

Anytime you have Paul, you are dangerous.

 

I'll take the Spurs simply because Parker got injured. Gives us atleast a little hope. If he comes back perfectly healthy and in rhythm though, I want no parts of SAS.

 

I agree. But anybody outside him and Blake Griffin doesn't scare me. We can take them.

 

I would avoid OKC at all cost as it took an almost perfect game by Houston's backcourt to seal just one win. That final Clippers game will tell if the Rockets is up to the test....1st meeting was during the Rocket slump and the second game was without Harden. Not wishing anything, but Parker's injury could be a blessing in disguise for Houston?