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Rockets' Playoff Seeding on Thin Ice
4 Mar
Summary
- Houston Rockets tied for third seed in Western Conference.
- Key players Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet are out for the season.
- The team aims for a 7-2 record in their first nine games post-All-Star.
The Western Conference playoff race is intensely competitive, with the Houston Rockets currently holding onto the third seed. They are in a dead heat with the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Denver Nuggets trail by just one game, and the Los Angeles Lakers are two games back.
This tight seeding race makes the Rockets' upcoming schedule critically important. They face a back-to-back series this weekend against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Internally, the Rockets aimed to be at least 6-3 in their first nine games after the All-Star break; they are currently 5-2.
Compounding the challenge are significant injury concerns. Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet are confirmed out for the season. Dorian Finney-Smith has had limited availability, and Tari Eason and Amen Thompson have recently dealt with injuries. Jabari Smith Jr. also missed the last two games, creating a lengthy injury report.
Head coach Ime Udoka faces difficult decisions regarding player management, especially with upcoming difficult road games next week. Maintaining their seeding is crucial for the Rockets' postseason aspirations.
