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Houston Rockets: Analyzing The Low-Seed Murkiness Of The West

By James D'Elia

Mar 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Michael Beasley (8) celebrates with guard James Harden (13) after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 116-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Michael Beasley (8) celebrates with guard James Harden (13) after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Toyota Center. The Rockets won 116-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a foul was called on him while playing against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half at Toyota Center. The Clippers won 122-106. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after a foul was called on him while playing against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half at Toyota Center. The Clippers won 122-106. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Rockets (35-34)

@ATL, @OKC, UTA, TOR, @IND, @CLE, CHI, OKC, @DAL, PHX, LAL, @MIN, SAC

What more can be said about this years Rockets. They too have defied expectation as they continue to flirt with the idea of being a consistent basketball team. The Rockets finish of the season with what should be five straight wins and nothing less.

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The final four games are lottery teams looking to improve their lottery percentage and they should bring home the “W “in Dallas. Beasley has been a revelation for this team, it looks like the Rockets have finally found that much needed scoring punch of the bench for when Harden sits. Beasley is shooting 52 percent from the field and averaging 12.4 PPG in only 16 minutes of play per game.

This team is starting to play a lot better but they still struggle so badly in first quarters and come the playoffs they could dig themselves some big holes. Overall, they are looking a lot better than the start of the season and Harden has been controlling games since the All-Star Break. He has a monumental stat line of 30.9 PPG, 7.9 APG and 6.0 RPG since then.

However, the worrying aspect is that he is averaging 40 minutes a night. Hopefully in those final five games they can get some blowout wins and give Harden some well-deserved rest leading into the playoffs.

Prediction: (8-5) Rockets also finish 43-39

Mar 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) drives against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center. Golden State won 130-112. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) drives against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center. Golden State won 130-112. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Mavericks (34-35)

POR, @POR, @GSW, @SAC, @DEN, NYK, @ DET, @MIN, HOU, MEM, @LAC, @UTA, SAS

Okay, I’ll be frank here. I had to think long and hard about these games and the second last game of the year against at Utah will basically determine who becomes Golden State’s plaything for four games. The Mavs came back from a long way behind against Denver not long ago and they should get the job done there again, whilst the Kings and Knicks have fallen off the same cliff Ty Lawson did.

Yes, I’m still salty.

My calculations have Dallas sneaking into the 8th seed by one game but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I’m confident with this prediction. If they end up losing to the Jazz that will mean they get a couple of combinations in the lottery rather than being cooked by Chef Curry in the playoffs.

Prediction: (5-8) The Mavs finish off the season 39-43

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