Can the Rockets, 12th in the West, make the playoffs?
Following their last home win over the Knicks, the Rockets will travel to the Memphis Grizzlies today. Although the Rockets had a bad start against the Grizzlies, they persevered. But in the end, the Rockets still lost the game by a score behind in the first game.
Especially after VanVleet, Whitmore, and Eason left one after another, the Rockets can be said to be completely finished, and the overall level of the team has also dropped a lot, compared with the Rockets last season, it is simply a drop in the bucket.
However, according to Udoka, most injured Rockets players can play in the post-All-Star break. After the game against the Grizzlies, the Rockets will have an All-Star Game the following week, which gives them a week off. However, Rockets shooter Jabari Smith will still have an All-Star Game "rookie challenge" in Indiana, while Smith will have to play as a sophomore. After the All-Star, the Rockets will really start the sprint stage, and whether they have a chance to hit the playoffs depends on the performance of the next 20 games.
Maybe it's because the league wants to see the Rockets return to the playoffs after three years, and the Rockets, who don't have any superstars, are no less popular than the Lakers and Warriors. If the most important thing in the NBA is that the Rockets can make the playoffs, then the NBA will get more attention. That's why the last time the Rockets played the Knicks, the Rockets ended up winning. I think you've all seen this game, the Rockets Holiday made three points, the Knicks Brunson fouled, Holiday made two of three free throws, and the Rockets won them.
After the game, the referee admitted in public that it was a bad decision. The Knicks have complained to the league about this decision, but it has been fruitless, and people believe that it will be a farce and will not happen again. Still, the league helped the Rockets win the game. Perhaps there will be more penalties in favor of the Rockets in the future, and the league will use those penalties to help the Rockets reach the playoffs. The Rockets are currently in 12th place in the West and are on track to make it to the top 10 in the West, and with the return of some injured players, the Rockets are expected to have a win rate of more than 60%.
Without the help of the referee, the Rockets still need to improve to win the game. If they have a chance of winning, then the referee won't make a move. In addition, if the Rockets trail by 20 points in the first quarter, then even if the referees are there, there is nothing they can do to change the score, let alone play any role in the Rockets' playoff performance. Only by strengthening their abilities and winning a few more games can the Rockets make the playoffs.