Houston Rockets Could Make Noise In 2012 Playoffs
The Houston Rockets are far from having a playoff bid locked up for the 2011-12 season — they currently sit at 10th in the West — but after winning three games in a row, including an overtime thriller over the Portland Trail Blazers, the red and white appear primed for a potential postseason run as the schedule relents.
The Rockets, 6-7 at the moment, had perhaps the toughest opening season draw of any team in the NBA. Over their first 13 games, the Rockets played San Antonio twice, Oklahoma City twice, both of L.A.’s teams on the road, at Orlando, versus a healthy Atlanta, and against Memphis. The easiest portion of Houston’s schedule is approaching, however, with Minnesota, Detroit, New Orleans, Washington, and Milwaukee composing six of the Rockets’ next eight games.
If the Rockets do make the playoffs, assuming they do not attempt to lose in order to build for the future with a star draft pick or blockbuster trade, how good can they be?
I think Houston could easily “pull a Memphis,” mimicking last season’s surprise playoff darlings who beat the number one seeded San Antonio Spurs and took the Oklahoma City Thunder to the brink of elimination. The Rockets have a legitimate All-Star candidate and budding stud in Kyle Lowry, a scoring machine in Kevin Martin, and grizzled veterans in the post with Luis Scola and Samuel Dalembert. New coach Kevin McHale caters to the players, like Rick Adelman, but his sideline demeanor appears to be more reassuring and positive instead of Adelman’s preferred apathy and drunken stupor gaze.
Add the youthful spark of energy and athleticism from rookie Chandler Parsons, who has instantly improved the defense since being inserted into the starting lineup, and the building blocks of a future contender are there. Take a look at the teams currently atop Houston in the standings, and it isn’t difficult to see the Rockets potentially generating some noise now, however, as they also build for the future with the young pieces currently on the roster. I don’t think Rockets fans will have to wait until G.M. Daryl Morey lands a superstar to see some playoff wins.
Since Houston is likely to enter the playoffs as a lower seed, they would probably face Oklahoma City, one of L.A.’s squads, or even the Spurs. Houston has proven they can play with three of those teams — they suffered their lone blowout of 2011-12 at the hands of the Clippers — but would have a tough time closing out any of them because of a dearth of star power.
I do believe Houston’s best chance in a playoff series, like Memphis last year, would be against the Spurs. Although pundits have noted the team’s growing age and coming irrelevance for many moons while San Antonio’s elderly superstars continue to prosper, I believe the increased years as well as injuries are finally beginning to catch up to them. The main reason San Antonio lost to Memphis in last year’s playoffs was because Manu Ginboli was hurt, and the Argentinean is battling a broken left hand again this season.
As Tim Duncan’s role is reduced and Tony Parker is forced to carry more of the scoring load, the Spurs are becoming increasingly reliant on younger, unproven talent. As long as Duncan, Parker, Ginboli, and, of course, Coach Popovich are still around, the Spurs will shine in the regular season, but if they are relying on players like Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Cory Joseph to provide major minutes in the playoffs — not to mention Richard Jefferson to fulfill Bruce Bowen’s corner three proficiency — then the Spurs are in trouble.
And the Rockets, if given the opportunity, would be primed for an upset.
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[...] Houston Rockets Could Make Noise In 2012 PlayoffsRant Sportsby Jordan Fries The Houston Rockets are far from having a playoff bid locked up for the 2011-12 season — they currently sit at 10th in the West — but after winning three games in a row, including an overtime thriller over the Portland Trail Blazers, … [...]
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