<div align="center">VS</div> Schedule: October 11, 2005(Tuesday) at Philadelphia. 6PM(Central Time). Local TV: Channel 51. National TV: NBATV Starting Lineups: Key Matchups: Center: Both Centers had signed a lucrative contract extension during the offseason. They also performed well last playoffs. Expect them to continue improving. They have not yet reach their prime. Yao's confidence is increasing each year and will pose some matchup problems to most centers with the exception of Shaq. Dalembert has the potential of becoming a good defensive center but has yet to show some consistency as well as Yao. Advantage: Rockets Power Forward: We'll have to see if Stromile Swift is for real. If he'll be able to adjust to Van Gundy's system as well as know his role on the team he'll be a very good compliment to Yao and TMac. He's above average defensively, athletic, can score inside and out, play both center and pf position but has yet to show consistency on rebounds. Expect his stats to improve this year. He's young and has lots of rooms to grow. Chris Webber has more than enough left in his tank. He's still has post up game but tends to settle for jumpshots lately. He's also good in rebounding and passing but became average defensively. If he fits Mo Cheeks system he can revive his career from his worst perfomance under Jim O'Brien's coaching. He's an experienced player and together with Allen Iverson can still be a dynamic duo. Advantage: Sixers Small Forward: After a frustrating game 7 playoff loss to Dallas, TMac vows to come back strong this season. With the issues of lack of Athleticity, speed, stability in the PG position and defensive matchup problems being able to be solved somehow, TMac will be more inspired to play the game. His all around performance in the playoffs indicates he wants to get everyone involved not just him and Yao making up most of the team's offensive production. He continues to be a matchup nightmare among opposing player as he has the ability to shoot everywhere with his quick release style as well as his hard to stop slashing moves to the basket. Andre Igoudala has shown a lot of promise from his impressive performance during his rookie season. He's above average defensively, has shooting range, speed, athleticity,can play both sf/sg positions as well as passing abilities. A great steal by the Sixers. Advantage: Rockets Shooting Guard: With the Rockets' starting lineup not yet fixed or known, I'll go with Derek Anderson. If there is an opportunity to revive your career it would be here playing for the Rockets. DA has played well for San Antonio as well as his first few years in Portland but being injury-prone halts his progress and consistency. He still has speed, ability to play 3 positions, and passing skills. He is also average defensively, can average double figures and has enough height to play against taller guards. Kyle Korver has shown he belongs to the league. He can play the SF/SG position and has become one of the better shooters from the outside range. The Sixers have done a great job resigning him. He's still young and will become a good player for years to come. Both Anderson and Korver have almost the same stats.Advantage: Even Point Guard: Let's hope Rafer Alston can play well under JVG and is worth trading for. Skip posted career highs in his last season's stats playing for the Raptors. He also played well under Stan Van Gundy's Heat which helped the Rockets' cause for giving up Mike James. Skip can provide stability at the PG position while Sura is out. Anyway he has the playmaking skills to show for it. Allen "The Answer" Iverson is still one of the toughest players in the league. Like TMac he's also a matchup nightmare with his ability to drive in traffic with his speed, quick-release shots and excellent ballhandling capabilities. He played his heart out every game. Though he's not efficient from the 3 pt. range he can be deadly in close game situations. He has goals of averaging double figures in assist to compliment with his league leading scoring stats. Barring injury and team chemistry problem he can lead his team to the playoffs again. Advantage: Sixers Sixth Man: Either Wesley or Juwan can be the sixth man for the Rockets while the Sixers have no offensive and scoring threat other than Lee Nailon. Of course Willie Green could be the one if not for his offseason injury that postponed his resigning for a new contract. Both players contribute the same way to their respective teams aside being good role players. Wesley and Juwan provide veteran leadership as well as promoting good chemistry among the Rockets. While Nailon can be a good compliment player to good teams. Advantage: Rockets Bench: The Rockets have a deep bench comprising veteran players like Howard, Motumbo,Wesley,Barry,Sura(injured)and Bowen who can provide some spark and hustle with years of experience under their belt. They also promote nice leadership and good chemistry to the team. Head and Baxter looks to be promising. The Sixers only have Hunter, Salmons and Ollie as reliable back-ups while the rest are new ones trying to prove their worth in the NBA. Willie Green is still unsigned due to his offseason injury. Advantage: Rockets Coach: Game Analysis: Well it's just a preseason game so starters may or may not play. If they play it will be just for a limited minutes as each team give opportunities to the bench/role players comprising of rookies, veterans, free agent acquisitions as well as players and prospects given temporary contracts with hopes of making the regular season roster. We can also see teamates mesh with each other forming a new chemistry between them aside from executing offensive and defensive plays called by their respective coaches. The Rockets have a more stabilized roster compared to the Sixers who have more than 2 rookies signed. Players who have worked hard in the offseason will be noticed. Preseason games provides an insight of how a team prepares for the regular season. It conditions every player and allows the coaches and staffs to make some adjustments if necessary for the good of the team. As each preseason game goes on the more we can witness the readiness of a team. Predictions: I expect the Rockets to win more preseason games compared to the previous years wherein they just fared well.
Wow, nice preview. Little tip though, include the time, date, channel and other miscellaneous stuff like that. You actually hit a lot of stuff on par with the Sixers, great insight.
Nice preview blueracer. You went really in-depth for a preason game preview and definitely set the bar high for others to follow. Good job. I think that both coaches will try to use this game to test out different lineups and for the players to get a feel of the game back. It will also be the biggest opportunities for the guys with training camp invites to show their skills in a game situation. Hopefully, that competition would make it enjoyable for any fan watching the game. I'm going for the Rockets in this game, 98-90, in a game with many turnovers and low shooting percentages.
yeah very nice preview...job well done buddy...I loved how in-depth it was and the analysis was on point...
Very nice. I hope that advantage at power forward for the sixers changes to the rockets soon during the season.
Center: Rockets Power Forward: 76ers Small Forward: Rockets Shooting Guard: Rockets Point Guard: 76ers Sixth Man:Rockets Bench:Rockets Coach:JVG
Very nice Analysis. Only thing I don't like about is that you put Korver at SG (Why are everyone doing it? McGrady is the best scorer on the Rockets and Iguodala will be on him but on offense Korver is a SF) As this is a preseason game and a bunch of unknown names will be played I won't say my prediction as it could go either way and nobody would care
My predictions: 1)The Rockets will win 2)Iverson will shoot horribley (but will get his points) 3)Stormile will play very well 4)Skip's shot will be off, but his passing will be on point 5)Head will show some signs, but very little
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">My predictions: 2)Iverson will shoot horribley (but will get his points) </div> So he will get 30+ points in a preseason game with 16-25 minutes while shooting bad? If that happens the Rockets are gonna lose unless McGrady matches
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Martin:</div><div class="quote_post">So he will get 30+ points in a preseason game with 16-25 minutes while shooting bad?</div> Read my quote again..................
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Read my quote again..................</div> I did it and the meaning stayed the same,his points are in 25-30 range and he won't play big minutes.Ok,this is my last post about AI cause it can go on forever and I don't want to keep the topic on AI instead of the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Martin:</div><div class="quote_post">I did it and the meaning stayed the same,his points are in 25-30 range and he won't play big minutes.Ok,this is my last post about AI cause it can go on forever and I don't want to keep the topic on AI instead of the game.</div> Thank you
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2)Iverson will shoot horribley (but will get his points)</div> You just had to get that one in there didn't ya? I can't wait till me and the guys over the Sixers forum start putting up game previews. You're going to have a thrill with those. See ya there! As for the game, I've got my money on... the Rockets. Chris Webber is questionable with a right quad strain and Dalembert is expected to miss this game too(as well as the upcoming SA game). Mo Cheeks will give Iverson star treatment and he'll get like 20 minutes at most. John Salmons, Steven Hunter and Kyle Korver will be the stars of the team. I expect those three to get 30-35 minutes. Final Score: 92-78 Rockets John Salmons: 26 Points, 6 Rebounds, 5 Assists
Great preview. I don't know if you guy's do quarterly updates and info, but it would be appreciated. Im going to miss most of this one.
nba.com should be doing play by play as do yahoo. So just check those sites out. I hope the Rockets give Head some good minutes. He was one of my favourite college players last year so I'm certainly rooting for Luther to do well. Hope JVG gives him playing time.
biggest surpirse of the night is..... LUTHER HEAD!!!!! theres no way he's playing in NBDL with that kind of performance!!! one more thing, i think skip > mike james
