<div align="center"> <font color="green">Boston Celtics</font> VS <font color="red">Houston Rockets</font></div> When: Tuesday December 6th, 8:30PM EST/7:30PM CT Where:Toyota Center, Houston Local TV: FSNSW <div align="center"> <font color="green">Celtics</font> <font color="green">Delonte West - PG / Ricky Davis - SG / Paul Pierce - SF / Raef Lafrentz - PF / Kendrick Perkins - C</font> <font color="red">Rockets</font> <font color="red">David Wesley - PG / Luther Head - SG / Tracy McGrady - SF / Juwan Howard - PF / Yao Ming - C</font> Coming off an impressive home win over the Atlanta Hawks, the Rockets had most thinking that they were ready to begin a win streak which will put to rest their 3-11 start. However, Houston came back down to earth against Memphis on Saturday, scoring just 75 points and letting up 15 three pointers. Yao Ming had a dominant offensive night, but Tracy McGrady shot just 5-15 for 12 points. Against the Boston Celtics tonight, the Rockets must defend the perimeter. Raef Lafrentz made 7 three pointers in the last game between the two teams, a 102-82 Celtics blowout in Boston. However, in that game, Yao Ming guarded Lafrentz and Tracy McGrady was injured. In this matchup, with a marginally healthy McGrady and homecourt advantage, however, the Celtics won't find it so easy to win. Expect Lafrentz to not have a repeat of that last game, as Juwan Howard, a more adept perimeter defender than Yao, is expected to cover Lafrentz. The Rockets will also have to contain the wing duo of Ricky Davis and Paul Pierce, which combines for 50 points regularly. On offense, the Rockets will again work around Yao. With a relatively inexperienced and undersized Kendrick Perkins guarding him, Yao should have his way. Tracy McGrady will also have to be making shots and creating for his teammates in order for the Rockets to have a good game. Contributions from rookie Luther Head, David Wesley, Howard and Swift will also be a boost. The Rockets get another boost from the expected return of backup guard Jon Barry. Barry is a killer three-point shooter and one of the veteran leaders on the team. I expect this game to be a hard-fought, with the home team coming out on top and taking a commanding position with about 3 minutes left. Rockets by 6.</div>
I hope it's a kinda precise prediction. We cant lose any more. 1/5 of the regular season is elapsed quietely. Go rockets!
another typical houston game...very low scoring and ugly boxscore... i think the team should focus more about making wise shots, stop the TO, and find a consistent 3rd option...too defence oriented won't help this team...it's proven since day1, especially this season, low scoring, boring game, and houston lost
Well, looks like LaFrentz isn't downing three's like crazy tonight. Hopefully I didn't jinx it either. Anyways, everythings going pretty smoothly after the first quarter but Boston is way too close for my liking. McGrady and the role players need to step it up a bit since Howard and Yao have been doing much of the scoring.
Wow, we our owning I have a feeling it will be our night. McGrady is shooting like a center, making 7-11 and now 12-18, and Yao, I think he has been in foul trouble again. The veterans are struggling again, but so are Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis, so this is ours, 83-70 now with 3:25 left. Luther Head looking pretty solid, and Swift, changing a little, has no turnovers and only one foul, plus 2 blocks his average share of points and rebounds.
we won.... 90 something to 70 something... i think everyones stepping up.... ryan bowen is stepping up his play alot... its jstu the threes that worries me about our team.... only if we can make them... we would be almost unstoppable.... that was lot of blood in yao head... sick... i don't think RAFER PLAYED..... *sigh* maybe his injury is bad...
Ooo we won. 18 point blowout. Yao was one board short off a double double, though I bet I cared more about that than him. He had an off day, making just 4-9 shots and 4-4 free throws.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting houston_owns_u:</div><div class="quote_post">Ooo we won. 18 point blowout. Yao was one board short off a double double, though I bet I cared more about that than him. He had an off day, making just 4-9 shots and 4-4 free throws.</div> Did you even watch the game? Yao was elbowed right in the face by one of the Boston face, and blood started splattering all over his face before the half. The officials called the foul on Yao ming and some one elbowed him (and Yao bleeded like hell). I hate how cruel the officials can be to a big man. He finished 12-9. He wasn't even in foul trouble and they sat him. Wasn't an off night in my eyes.
Boston did gd job fronting yao and placing a guy behind to avoid lobs ...much like what suns did...if ppl do that, houston usually cant get ball to yao; 2night, he got a few touches because he was gaurded like that.
DAMN! First match I miss, first match we won for good. Better if I watch something else in the future or falling asleep like yesterday
<font color="darkblue"><font color="black">Close-up photo of Yao's injury at second half that required 8 stitches.</font></font>
I was at the game last night and it was awful when Scalabrine elbowed Yao while driving to the basket. It's just too bad that Yao was inside the circle so he didn't get the charge. The refs has called a lot of cheap fouls and the Celtics benefit from it. Had the Rockets avoided the penalty situations early, they would have blown out the Celtics by more than 20 points. Good win by the Rockets. La Frenz and Blount got cold this time.
Well, Lonny Baxter got off the bench, played a minute, and had a block. Ryan Bowen did a great job in the starting role, playing some good defense and getting 8 rebounds, 3 of them offensive. Having Luther Head off the bench doesn't look that bad either; he found his rythm almost immediately after entering the game and did a good job rotating the ball. 4 turnovers are expected from a rookie, but I'd rather see that cut to two or less. Anyways, this is the McGrady we'll need to see every night. He was plain unstoppable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tr@cy&ya0:</div><div class="quote_post">we won.... 90 something to 70 something... i think everyones stepping up.... ryan bowen is stepping up his play alot... its jstu the threes that worries me about our team.... only if we can make them... we would be almost unstoppable.... that was lot of blood in yao head... sick... i don't think RAFER PLAYED..... *sigh* maybe his injury is bad...</div> Rafer has a hairline fracture, and will be out at least another two weeks according to Ric Bucher from BSPN.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Rafer has a hairline fracture, and will be out at least another two weeks according to Ric Bucher from BSPN.</div> wtf is a hairline fracture?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Fissure Fracture This bone fracture has minimal trauma to the bone and surrounding soft tissues. It is a incomplete fracture with no significant bone displacement and is considered a stable fracture. In this type the fracture the crack only extends into the outer layer of the bone but not completely through the entire bone. It is also known as a Hairline Fracture.</div> Source
My question still remains, why is Wesley handling the ball. I can recall atleast once in the last three of four games he's been ripped by the opposing guard. I'm not saying he can't be effective, but why is he bringing the ball up court. Obviously that's not his specialty.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">My question still remains, why is Wesley handling the ball. I can recall atleast once in the last three of four games he's been ripped by the opposing guard. I'm not saying he can't be effective, but why is he bringing the ball up court. Obviously that's not his specialty.</div> Because the alternative is having a rookie bring up the ball (who isn't a great ball handler either) or McGrady. And it's good to give your primary scorer a break every once and a while.
