"Houston will get ousted in the 1st round."

[Jameerthefear]

People say this, but who is favored over them? As it stands they will likely play 3 teams - the Warriors, Suns, or Dallas. None of those teams are better than Houston, and even if they were to beat them it would be an upset.

[PsychoBe]

all those teams are capable of beating them. especially dallas.

wait, has there ever been a time that all texan teams were playoff contenders?

dallas, houston, and san antonio at the same time?

[Milbuck]

They're really hot right now, but I see the Clippers overtaking them by the end of the season. That would give them a first round matchup with the Blazers. And although Portland hasn't been at their best for a while now, the playoffs are totally different. I would put a Houston-Portland series at 50-50.

[JohnFreeman]

Warriors could beat them

[Heavincent]

I would take GS over Houston.

[Boarder Patrol]

2nd round exit. Nobody is better than the Spurs or Thunder imo.

[Boarder Patrol]

The Warriors aren't that good really. Their offense has been plain average this year since they rely on the individual finish too much. Defense keeps them in a lot of games but they're firmly in the Dallas/Memphis/Suns tier.

[Jameerthefear]

They're really hot right now, but I see the Clippers overtaking them by the end of the season. That would give them a first round matchup with the Blazers. And although Portland hasn't been at their best for a while now, the playoffs are totally different. I would put a Houston-Portland series at 50-50.

50-50 based on what? They are 2-1 vs Portland this season, and Houston has improved since then with Asik coming back and the addition of Hamilton.

[Jameerthefear]

Warriors could beat them

They could. That's the key word. Could. Houston is favored vs. all the teams I listed.

[poido123]

People say this, but who is favored over them? As it stands they will likely play 3 teams - the Warriors, Suns, or Dallas. None of those teams are better than Houston, and even if they were to beat them it would be an upset.

I believe the Warriors are better.

Watch Houston choke to the Warriors if they play each other.

[Boarder Patrol]

50-50 based on what? They are 2-1 vs Portland this season, and Houston has improved since then with Asik coming back and the addition of Hamilton.

You can't really use regular season records to predict playoff series.

But I agree with the rest, Portland isn't nearly as complete a team as Houston.

[Milbuck]

50-50 based on what? They are 2-1 vs Portland this season, and Houston has improved since then with Asik coming back and the addition of Hamilton.

1) I think it's unfair to assume that Houston will stay this hot throughout the playoffs, and assume that Portland will continue to be cold. Houston could be peaking right now, and Portland could turn it up in the last 4 weeks leading up to the playoffs. You never know.

2) Rotations get smaller, defenses tighten, and fouls get called less and less. For a team whose franchise player relies so heavily on FTs, that's not good. People are so quick to forget how Harden basically got exposed in against OKC last year.

[PsychoBe]

Like the last 8 ****ing years? Toughest division in the NBA

rockets have been the 9th seed regularly post tmac/ming era. and during that time they weren't truly contenders, they were regular first-round exits. these texas teams can easily get to the wcf as long as they just make it to the post-season.

[Jameerthefear]

I believe the Warriors are better.

Watch Houston choke to the Warriors if they play each other.

Based on what?
Just saying "well i believe whatever whatever." is dumb. Houston has been the better team. They are also 2-1 against GS, and the loss was by 2 points in OT and Dwight and Parsons playing terrible.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Blazers Dallas or CLippers could all own them pretty hard.
remember james harden is nowhere to be found come playoff time