Houston Rockets: A Hypothetical Playoff Rundown

Congratulations to the Houston Rockets on their Southwest Division championship.

FIRST ROUND: (7) Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets (2)

The Rockets should be absolutely thrilled with this matchup. Hell, it might be exactly what they’ve been hoping for all year. The Dallas Mavericks, after a 15-5 start to the regular season, have taken a huge drop off. Ever since adding former Boston Celtic ~~and future Los Angeles Laker~~ Rajon Rondo, the team’s been a mess.

They have the 25th-ranked defense per points per game allowed (102.4) and are matching up against the fifth-best offense in the league per points per game (103.8).

The Houston Rockets lead the series between them 3-1. Not even a pair of Hall of Famers in Rick Carlisle and Dirk Nowitzki can save them now.

Rockets in 4.

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS: (3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets (2)

Honestly, the Houston Rockets don’t have a chance against the Los Angeles Clippers. Hell, not even the Clippers have a chance against the San Antonio Spurs, but this is a hypothetical approach in which anything can happen. Anything.

The Clippers have the second-ranked offense in the league per points per game with 106.7, nevertheless, the Rockets’ defense at home has allowed only 98 points per game. Home-court advantage is going to be huge in this series.

Apart from their starting lineups, both teams are a mess.

The Houston Rockets could contain DeAndre Jordan down low with Dwight Howard. Even at 80 percent, Dwight Howard’s athleticism is going to be hard to overcome for the Clippers. And even though James Harden and Chris Paul will eventually cancel each other throughout the series, Harden has a way of reaching the rim against opponents’ will.

The series is tied between these two, 2-2. So it’ll be a close one. But the Rockets will prevail.

Rockets in 6.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: (2) Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors (1)

Congratulations, the Houston Rockets only have to go through the toughest team in the NBA and arguably one of the top-10 teams of all time — per point differential.

In the regular season, the Golden State Warriors beat the Rockets four out of four times. Of course, but that’s only the regular season. Come playoff time, everything changes.

Dwight Howard was only available for two of those games. In said games, the Houston Rockets lost by an average of 19 points.

But still, the Warriors, as good as they’ve been, are an inexperienced bunch, to say the least. Sure, they have some playoff games under their belts, but they are not as playoff-seasoned as the Houston Rockets. Both Howard and Harden have had trips (one each) to the NBA Finals.

Experience will prevail.

Rockets in 6.

NBA FINALS: (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Houston Rockets (2)

Hell, if we’ve made the Rockets go thus far, why don’t we bring the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the Eastern Conference?

Again, because of the teams’ records, the series will be hosted by the Houston Rockets. And again, experience will eventually prevail.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have slim-to-none playoff experience under their belts. And even though James Jones and Mike Miller are two-time NBA champions on their own, out of the other 10 guys left, there’s about four or five that have NEVER been to a playoff game. Within those guys there’s starting forward Kevin Love and point-god Kyrie Irving.

Home-court advantage and a way more seasoned roster will finally help the Houston Rockets shake off the pressure that comes along with the playoffs while said pressure crushes the dreams of the passionate people of Cleveland.

The Rockets lead the regular season series against the Cavaliers 2-0.

Rockets in 5.

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Even though the previous was a hypothetical and incredibly optimistic approach to the Houston Rockets’ tentative path through the playoffs, it is highly unlikely for a team with such a beat up and inexperienced/unseasoned roster to make it through four straight seven-game series in today’s NBA.

Also, if the Rockets were to run their offense entirely through Harden, as they’ve done for most of the regular season, teams will put him through a full-court pressure program that’ll eventually wear him down with every passing game. The result? Well James Harden won’t have any more energy to create offense for them. Just ask 2011 LeBron James.

Don’t get me wrong, the Houston Rockets have a bigger chance to get to the Western finals and eventually the NBA Finals than some of the other teams in the West, however, I’m not exactly sure — and I’m yet to meet someone who is — that the banged-up Houston Rockets have the extra-gear needed to make the deep playoff run they’ve dreamed of.

Next: Harden - Not MVP Worthy

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