Rockets Ready to Make Playoff Run

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Created on Saturday, 17 March 2012 20:23

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51

Written by Travis Pulver

For the Rockets, the playoffs have been something that was just out of reach the last couple years. For most of this season they’ve been flirting with becoming the bottom seed of the Western Conference as well. Although they’ve been in contention for one of the lower seeds, it was until recently that they looked like a possible dark horse contender in the West.

A defensive presence like Marcus Camby can do that for you.

The team has been on the verge of excellence all year. They’ve been one of the better offenses in the league this season (No 8 with 98.07 points per game). The problem has been their defense. Through 44 games they have been allowing 97.71 points a game. It helps to score more than you allow, but if a team hopes to do more than make the playoffs it needs to do better than that.

Even though he is closing in on 38 soon, Marcus Camby remains one of the better defensive players in the game; so far this season he has averaged just under nine rebounds in just 22 minutes of play this season (in Portland). He’ll likely get the same number of minutes—if not more in Houston. Add in the additional incentive of being able to play for his home town team and Houston doesn’t just have the big man it needs, but one that really wants to be there.

“I think I’m more excited about being here, than they are in having me,” Camby said. “…I kind of feel like—have you ever felt like the new kid in school? The new kid comes into school that just moved into town. I’ve got that nervous feeling, but once I get out there on the court, it’s just basketball.”

Should the post season start tomorrow the Rockets would have the No 8 seed locked in and would play the Oklahoma City Thunder. Only two games separate the No 8 seed from the No 4. If Houston were able to move up into any of those slots they would have to play the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, or Los Angeles Clippers—all teams the Rockets have been competitive with all season.

Just imagine what they can do once Camby gets acclimated to the team and gives them a stronger defensive presence in the paint!