Houston Rockets: Potential First Round Playoff Matchups

There may only be six games left in the Houston Rockets 2014-15 season, but the final six games will be crucial in determining where the Rockets will end up in the Western Conference playoff picture.

The Rockets currently sit in second, a half game up on Memphis, but could end up as low as fifth depending on how the final two weeks of the season play out.

With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the potential matchups for the Rockets and which team the Rockets should feel the most confident about seeing in the first round:

Dallas Mavericks (46-30, currently No. 7 seed) – Dallas and Houston have met in the playoffs just once (2005) with the Mavs taking the series, 4-3. If these two teams were to meet again this year, Houston would be the heavy favorite, even without point guard Patrick Beverly, who is out for the rest of the season with a wrist injury.

Although the Rockets’ run-and-gun style of shooting 3’s and moving the ball in transition plays into Dallas’ up-tempo style, with a healthy Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones, Houston will be tough to matchup with on the interior for the Mavs.
My pick – Houston 4-1

L.A. Clippers (50-26, currently No. 5 seed) – The Clippers have been an up-and-down team this season, at times looking like a top-3 seed and at others looking mediocre. But with DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul spearheading a high-flying offense, the Clippers are always a dangerous team come playoff time. A healthy Howard is key for the Rockets to help limit – because you can’t completely stop Lob City – inside play.

With Beverly out, that likely means Trevor Ariza will have to guard Paul, which could be troublesome. Also, the Clippers have done as good a job as any team limiting Houston’s star James Harden. The Beard has scored 16, 9, 21 and 34 points in four games versus the Clippers this season. He will have to be efficient and play his best for the Rockets to advance.
My pick – Houston 4-3

Portland Trail Blazers (48-26, currently No. 4 seed) – A familiar first-round foe for Houston in recent seasons, (I will not mention a certain someone hitting a certain shot last season in the playoffs) with the teams splitting their last two series. Damiam Lillard is an elite scorer, as is LaMarcus Aldridge for Portland. The addition of Aaron Afflalo was big for the Blazers at the trade deadline and Robin Lopez and Chris Kaman are two bruisers inside.

I see this being a tightly contested matchup if these two teams meet in the first round, with lots of physical play inside and lots of free throws – especially from Harden. I think Houston has extra motivation to avenge last year’s heartbreaker in Game 6 and advances.
My pick – Houston 4-2