Two weeks ago, when word broke that the Rockets would likely be without star center Alperen Sengun for the rest of the season due to injuries to his knee and ankle, it looked like we could safely pencil in the Western Conference’s 10 playoff and/or play-in teams.
At that time, the No. 11 Rockets trailed the No. 10 Warriors by five games in the standings, and with Sengun going down, it appeared very likely that Houston would be headed for the lottery, where the club would hope to get lucky and hang onto its top-four protected first-round pick.
Instead, the Rockets have been the NBA’s best team since Sengun’s injury, going 7-0 with a +15.3 net rating during that time.
After ranking in the middle of the pack in three-point attempts and pace of play for most of the season, Houston has been in the top five in both categories over the past seven games as the club has opted to play faster and spread the floor more by starting Jabari Smith Jr. as a small-ball center. Jalen Green, in particular, has thrived this month, averaging 27.8 points per game on .496/.409/.800 shooting in March.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have played up-and-down ball for much of the season, and the last few weeks have been no exception. Golden State (36-34) has lost six of its past nine games, including its last two, and now holds just a half-game lead on Houston (36-35) for the No. 10 seed in the West.
There’s some good news for the Warriors. For one, they hold the tiebreaker edge over Houston. The Rockets have also benefited from playing several of the league’s worst teams since Sengun’s injury, including the Spurs, Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Wizards (twice). Their schedule will get more difficult down the stretch — Tankathon says Houston has the seventh-most difficult remaining slate, while Golden State’s is 25th.
Still, the Rockets are on fire, and eight of Golden State’s next 10 games are on the road, including an April 4 matchup in Houston. The Warriors also can’t bet on passing another team to stay in play-in territory if the Rockets pass them in the standings, since they’ve fallen 2.5 games back of the No. 9 Lakers and are five games behind anyone else in the West.
The veteran Warriors are still considered far more likely than the upstart Rockets to participate in the play-in tournament, per BetOnline.ag, but it’s certainly no longer a lock.
We want to know what you think. Will the Rockets surpass the Warriors to claim a play-in spot, or will Golden State hang onto that No. 10 spot?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Golden State who? Go Rockets!
Suns best start turning up. Tough schedule remaining.
Rockets are a nice story but I still wouldn’t bet against the geezers.
Though I am curious to watch the gymnastics Draymond will do to avoid claiming any responsibility for their season. Prob just more quotes about how drafting Kuminga was his decision lol unless Pods plays better.
Blame can go around to almost every player on the team. I am just hoping to never see CP3 on the team ever again. He slows down the offense to a crawl. He is the worst fit for the team and Kerr is blind to it.
Play-In games are nationally televised. I can tell you with 99% certainty that Golden State will be getting that final Play-In slot. Adam Silver can already tell you that it will be Golden State. Absolutely no chance the NBA will have Steph Curry sitting this out.
Tf is “99%”? Don’t be a coward. Make a pick and stand behind it. Not sure what you think the stakes are.
Ok, buddy. Thanks for the hot take.
Adam Silver wouldn’t mind Curry sitting it out. Silver caved into the other owners and passed a CBA so the warriors couldn’t spend. Last season they had 0 to spend on free agents is why this team is so bad.
So Silver should have done what, gone against the owners? There was nothing he could do except pass the CBA (which was going to be implemented based on the bylaws). If he didn’t, he would have just been replaced with someone who would follow the rules. Be real.
Other owners were complaining about Warriors out spending all ,of them so they changed the rules. Poole would never been given that contract if they knew the rules were going to be changed. Who they had to trade away because of payroll for a old CP3. They had NO MONEY to spend last off season. That is why they can’t win with the current team.
I didn’t expect Houston to have their foot on the gas like this. They are winning without Sengun too.
If Golden State doesn’t make it then I will blame this on Chris Paul and some refs(Silver). LeBron style
What difference does it make? It’s all rigged. The Thumpin Lakers are getting a pass from Silver. 32-17 FT advantage last night and 13 fouls in 58 minutes? But 26 for the Bucks? Fixed! Thump City!
They have pretty similar schedules. Both have 11 games left, 4 home/7away with 2 b2b. They both play: Magic (GSW away, HOU home), Jazz x2 (GSW 2x home, HOU 2x away), Mavs x2 (both 1x home and 1x away), Blazers (both away) and have direct matchup in Houston. Remaining 4 games for the Warriors are: Hornets (away), Spurs (away), Lakers (away) and Pelicans (home). For the Rockets: Thunder (away), Wolves (away), Heat (home) and Clippers (away).
Houston is much better at home and with most games on the road I would give an edge to the Warriors.
I’d find it funny if the Warriors didn’t make it…
Just to see Warrior fan reactions and what excuse Draymond comes up with…