[National Media] Predictions for Houston vs. Utah

Maybe not but what happened to having faith and believing in your team? If all the Rockets themselves believe they can beat the Jazz, why can't the fans do the same? Could you imagine if the Rockets went into the playoffs with the same mindset at some of the fans have? I just hope the Rockets are using all this stuff from the media and some fans as motivation to prove the doubters wrong......AGAIN.

 

You mean like the sudden burst in chemistry and energy that led to the 22 game win streak? Ye I see it coming, sure Utah may be the better team, but I think we have a different sort of match up now that Yao is out.

Remember, RA does not rely on superstars. He never had superstars in his kings year. It was all team chemistry and effort. The rockets are similar now that Yao is out. T-mac will have to be the leader, and since he is a playoff monster, we're looking at RA's sacramento kings, the underdogs. But this time, with a big time playoff performer.

I have my doubts, but not a lot. We came to far, and IMO we take this more seriously than Jazz. The Jazz think of us as easy and a simple sweep, but IM sure the rockets will raise hell and give them the most difficult matchups ever.
I think RA will clear his whole bench and play everyone. That was his sacramento king, where everyone stepped up.

 

that is the difference between being a fan and being a player.

i have faith. i believe in the team. i think they will go out there and put it all on the line and make the Jazz earn every inch that they get.

I don't think they'll win the series, but its not going to keep me from doing all the exact same stuff I would do if I thought they would win.

this is the NBA, "where amazing happens". so i'll be watching, just in case we see something amazing, again, from our rockets.

all i'm saying is that it would be amazing. that's all. you have no idea how much I want that.

 

You couldn't get any more motivation then this. The EVERYONE in the national media is picking Utah, Utah players are expecting an easy series, and nobody is taking the Rockets seriously. This is the perfect situation for McGrady to have a huge series and for the Rockets to shock the country.

 

Considering the Rockets have a better record then Utah, and they have homecourt advantage, I don't know if you can call a Houston series win "amazing". Some of you guys act like the Rockets are the 8th seed in the West or something.

 

Considering we haven't got past the first round in 10 years and lost the 7th game on our homecourt last year, I would call it amazing. Some of you act like we've got nothing to prove.

 

if only regular season record and homecourt advantage determined the outcome of a series.

this series compares favorably to last year's golden state vs dallas series, except houston would be dallas in that comparison. better record, home court advantage, great regular season accomplishments . . . but playing pretty much the worst possible team they could play in the first round.

 

the most frustrating part about all these experts picking the Jazz to win, is that after the Rockets take the series, all we'll hear about is how this is a team that won 22 straight and had home court advantage and how evenly matched we were and how bad the Jazz are on the road.

there will be no "i was wrong" admissions by these experts.

 

Well at least some of them do eat crow for it. Remember Mike Kahn? He wrote an official apology article on msn titled "Hey Rockets, Sorry I wrote you off". I earned some respect from him after that.

 

Bill Simmons on his podcast has the Jazz in 5. He based his entire analysis on the misunderstanding that Utah has home court. F-- him.

 

This "they haven't been out of the first round" is stephen smith loser talk.

 

I hope everyone does step up and play above their heads but lately that has not been happening. This is what it will take but i did a comparison by the match up and the point differential of the season compared to against the Jazz and i cant see how all the sudden they start playing way above their heads again and averages like during the streak when they played just below their total season average vs the Jazz this season. Out of 7 statistical catagories they played 5 catagories below their averages and you got to think during the streak they was way above their averages so the streak means nothing when talking about this series.

 

Did everyone forget that the Jazz SUCK on the road? 17-24.

A losing record on the road, and thats what these analysts calling a contender? I see a blowout in the making by the Rockets.

Rockets in 5.

Game 1 and 2. Rockets
Game 3. Jazz
Game 4 and 5. Rockets

 

There only two sure teams in playoffs, Boston and the Spurs.

Boston, because they are in a weak east and have beaten all legit teams soundly.

Spurs are defending champion and raise their game in the playoffs.


I'm not sold on LA, they had the best record this year, I don't believe they are the best team....we could beat them in series. I believe SA and even Phoenix will make short work of them.

While Dallas, Utah, and even Rockets will give them a very tough series.

I don't even think they will steam roll Denver, who believe will steal one game in LA. Denver is very underrated,while I think LA is a bit overrated. Most teams in West are lot closer together than these so-called talking heads would have you believe.

Houston is alot closer to Utah than people expect.....why does everyone think you need superstars to win....which isn't always the case....maybe a team can play all around better defense and offense and win. For some reason, I think we beat the Jazz, this year. Better bench, rosters, and even coaching, even without Yao.

I won't be easy series for the Jazz, and plus I like it any time can make something blow in the mainsteam media's face.

 

Categories, statistical analysis, averages, playing above their heads, playing below their heads, point differentials, and statistical comparisons, eh?

What happen to good ol' fate and chance?

 

I love your guys faith... But you guys do REALIZE that rafer is out too right? Like it or not, he was our number 2 option when healthy. So right now, we are missing Yao and Rafer (arguably our 1st and 3rd options when everyone is healthy) and Tmac and Battier are both banged up.

I'm as much a fan as anyone on this board but some of you guys need to be a little realistic.

Hoping for the best...

 

The Lakers are good team, but I don't think are in the same class with Boston, SA, Us, and even Dallas. They can be good at times, but their very inconsistent on defense, just not as much the Phoenix

 

Rockets vs Jazz 1-2 (2 Yao-less games 0-2 and 1 hobbled T-Mac 0-1)

PPG 97.0 (season 96.7) + 0.3 vs Jazz
Rebounds 38.6 (season 44.6) - 6.0 vs Jazz
Assist 18.6 (season 21.4) - 2.8 vs Jazz
Turnovers 12 average vs Jazz
Steals 7 (season 7.3) - 0.3 vs Jazz
Blocks 4.6 (season 5.1) - 0.5 vs Jazz
FG% .442 (season .448) - .006 vs Jazz
3FG% .343 (season .342) + .001 vs Jazz

Basically the Rockets are going to have to go balls to the walls after rebounds.
They will have to reduce turnovers.
They will have to shoot a better free throw %.
They will have to move the ball and find the open man for a better looking shot.

These are the keys to the series.

The defense will be ok im not worries about defense because they still play great team defense its other little things that will prevent them from advancing so keep your eyes open on this.

But as you see their only pluses vs the Jazz this season is PPG and 3FG% all the other catagories are down. Everybody is going to have to play way above their heads again.

 

he prolly thinks yao is playing too

 

Yeah, you do realize, sometimes that is actually a good thing ....even though Rafer has been more consistent this year....he can be the reason the team lose sometimes. Taking ill-advised jump shots and 3 pointers or just be plain cold.

He doesn't do very well agaisnt D-Will, just look at some of our early matchups against Utah and last year's playoff...it was the D-Will games.