Graycap23 said:

Go Bulls.........opps, I forgot, the run (in the ground) by Paxson, Forman and the worst owners in pro-sports.

Nope, nope, nope.....the asswipe in NY is LIGHT-YEARS ahead of the clowns in Chi-town. At least the Bulls had some good years during the Thibs/ Rose/ Noah/ Jimmy B era. The Knicks have been a shitfest for nearly 20 years - the WORST overall record in the NBA since the 2001-02 season, 1 division title, 1 playoff series win, 10 head coaches since Van Gundy left, several GMs, and an idiot owner who bans paying customers who dare yell at him to sell the team.

Unfortunately, NYC wins.

Who's got the best record in the NBA since the All-Star break?

I believe that would be the Houston Rockets, who are 20-4 since then.

There was a great article in the newspaper yesterday, talking about how the Rockets have approached things since the All-Star break. Basically, they treat every possession as if it's a possession in Game 7 of a playoff series. That's why their last five victories have been by more than 20 points.

And they do this all the way to the end of the lineup. If Gary Clark or Kenneth Faried misses a defensive assignment in garbage time, D'Antoni immediately calls a time-out to fix that.

Can't wait for the playoffs. If we beat OKC, and OKC beats Denver, we'll be the 2 seed.

I'm hoping the standings stay as they are today as I would prefer the Raptors play Orlando then Brooklyn or Detroit. This is going to be good!!

At least one team from NY is going to the playoffs.

Magic just got FIRED.....I mean stepped down.

Now the Lakers are stuck with Pelinka.

Well, dang. All the Rockets had to do was hold onto their lead at Oklahoma City, and the #2 seed was ours. But Russell Westbrook was Russell Westbrook and that was all she wrote.

BTW, I have severely overlooked Russell Westbrook this year. I didn't realize until the announcers said it last night that this is the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW he's averaged a triple double. That's beyond amazing to me.

I'm a giant James Harden honk but now I can't say for sure that Westbrook shouldn't be the MVP. He's the only player in basketball history to average a triple double three seasons in a row. The only one! I feel like we shouldn't be overlooking a feat this historical. Westbrook is also the only guy to pull off a perfect triple-double in NBA history - no missed shots or missed free throws.

An interesting stat on Russell Westbrook and then we'll get back to Rockets' talk. The list of all-time NBA leaders in double-doubles does not have Westbrook in its top 20 (but he's probably around #25). However, he is the all-time NBA leader in double-doubles that consist of rebounds and assists. That tells me the man works his tail off to get rebounds. You can't pad your rebound stats; those take work. Hat's off to Russell Westbrook!

OK, back to the Rockets. There's still basketball to be played and depending on what happens tonight the Rockets could finish anywere from #2 to #4. Many want them to fall to #4 so as to get Golden State in the second round.

Honestly, I don't care. As you all know (and mocked me for, LOL) I don't think the Golden State Warriors are as good as the Rockets. We had those dudes whipped last year until Chris Paul got hurt. We've beaten them every time but once since then. We can handle them, whatever round we face them in.

Unless Golden State gets beat in the first round, we're the home team in rounds one and two but not in the Conference Finals. Bring it on.

Forget Harden and Westbrook. The MVP award should go to Giannis this season period.

The more well rounded player this season and his team has the best record. I don't know

why it's even up for debate.

phunkdaddy said:

Forget Harden and Westbrook. The MVP award should go to Giannis this season period.

The more well rounded player this season and his team has the best record. I don't know

why it's even up for debate.

yep

Raps are playing Orlando - Yes! Can't wait for the playoffs to start.

Rockets fall to #4 seed due to tie-breakers. OK, so we have the Jazz in the first round, and we'd likely get the Warriors in the second round. Honestly, most Houston basketball fans seem to prefer to play the Warriors in the second round vs. playing them in the Conference Finals.

I don't care. I think we can beat them in a 7-game series no matter when it's played.

Flip it around - I wonder if the Warriors would rather play the Rockets in round two or the Conference Finals? I'm guessing the Finals but I don't really know.

Time for a playoffs thread!