While you were sleeping… 19 March 2008
March 19th, 2008 by 
Basketball John
Boston is becoming my second favorite team. After beating the Spurs the night before, they continued their winning ways in Houston last night, crushing the Rockets, 94-74. McGrady was held to just 8 points in the loss. So the 22-game win streak is over. How crazy is it that with 22 straight wins, it only gives you a one-game lead in the conference? They were only 24-20 before it began. But it goes to show that any hope you have of overcoming even 4-5 game leads this late in the season is pretty tough.
Houston now has a pretty brutal schedule, playing @ NO, GS, and PHX. So they could be brought back down to earth this week.
The other good news is that Denver got absolutely lit up by Detroit. Denver scored 120 but still lost by 16. That’s because like UtesFan89 said, there’s no D in _enver. So the next time you think the Jazz don’t play good D, remember, it could be much, much worse. That drops Denver four games back of the Jazz and I think drops their magic number to clinch to 11 games. Golden State also lost though, do the Nuggets still have a glimmer of hope that they can still make the playoffs.
Dallas also lost, but it was to the Lakers. So we go up a half game on the Mavs, but lose a half game to LA. With a win Thursday, we could move within one game of LA and depending on how Houston, NO, and PHX does, we could be close to the top by early next week.
So steal the words of the immortal Bolerjack & Booner,
Boler: Buckle up! Booner: It’s the law.
Posted in While you were sleeping... | 
March 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I’ve been examining the schedules for a good hour now (the byproduct of a really boring class) and this is what I’ve noticed:
1. The Jazz have a legit shot at 55 wins
2. The last game @ Spurs could determine whether the Jazz are 2nd or 4th.
3. The Spurs play 5 games in 7 nights, starting Thu, including 2 split back to backs (1 home, 1 away)
4. The Rockets or Lakers could get the #1 seed with 56 wins.
5. The Hornets’ remaining schedule is BRUTAL: vs HOU, vs BOS, then 6 straight roadies, including @ BOS and @ ORL. Then 3 home games including GSW and UTH, then 4 of 5 on the road to finish the season, including @ LAL and @ DAL.
6. Dallas still has games against BOS, SAS, GSW, UTH, and NOH at home, and GSW, LAL, and PHO on the road.
7. Phoenix still has to play @ BOS and @ DET. Plus, a split back to back against DEN, vs DAL and @ SAS and @ HOU.
8. Lakers still have @ UTH, a split back to back with GSW, home against DAL, SAS, and NOH, and a 3-game roadie the 2nd week of Apr.
Looks like there will be 2 games between 1st and 6th place (maybe 1st and 7th). I like that the NBA scheduled a lot of big western conf games at the end of the season, makes it more exciting! A very optimistic Jazz outlook may put them at #2 with a shot at #1, the 9 more home games is VERY favorable and only 1 back to back (but the first game is a 3:30 start, then at home for the second game).
March 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
classless Rockets fans
March 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
That picture can’t be from the game. Half the court is missing. I didn’t notice too many leaving last night. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I didn’t notice the court the first time…but I think you’re right. I watched the game and I was really surprised to see it nearly empty by the end, I really was. Are Rockets fans that fickle that a 22-game win streak can’t be celebrated after a 20-point loss?