<div align="center"><font color="red">Rockets (12-19)</font> vs <font color="teal">Nuggets (16-18)</font> Sunday, January 8th, 2006 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas 7:30 CT; FSNSW and NBATV . Both match-up well, Deke probably has the advantage on the Defensive end. Elson will be a non-factor in the game. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kenyon_martin.jpg[/imgl]<font color="teal">Kenyon Martin</font> PPG: 12.3, RPG: 5.8, APG: 1.8 The Nets Forum were ready to tear down their team when the sign-n-trade for Martin went down. Now, they are enjoying the three first rounders they got for them. Martin was poised for a great career along with a budding star in Anthony, but this season, has yet to earn his Max Contract. Defensively, he might be down on the athletic end, and with Stromile Swift coming off a good performance against the Raptors, Martin will have to be ready. </font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, D. Wesley, T. McGrady, S. Swift, D. Mutombo) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Tracy McGrady - 25.9 PPG Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 9.0 RPG Assist Man: Tracy McGrady - 5.1 APG The 'X' Factor: Stromile Swift (9.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.5 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/rafer_alston.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Rafer Alston</font> PPG: 8.6, RPG: 3.8, APG: 4.8 Alston's return from the sidelines has lifted the Rockets, as they finally have a point guard. Whether Rafer fits the team, has yet to be seen. The healthy squad has played under 10 games with Rafer at the helm, and with Yao returning, Rafer's stats should increase substantially. He will be the under-dog against Andre Miller, and Rafer needs to prove he was worth Mike James. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/david_wesley.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">David Wesley</font> PPG: 9.4, RPG: 2.9, APG: 3.2 Wesley has really been the only Rocket rotational player not nagged by injuries throughout the season. His consistency to be fit for games, however, doesn't translate on the court. He hasn't been playing with the same intensity or fire he used to play with, yet Van Gundy has kept faith in him. With that being said, Wesley still is a smart player, and has recently shown us glimmers of his old self. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/tracy_mcgrady.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Tracy McGrady</font> PPG: 25.9, RPG: 7.0, APG: 5.1 In a season of revelations, most Rockets fans have discovered that Tracy may not carry the team. In fact, I will go as far as to say that not only is Yao just as important to the squad as McGrady; the Rockets were a stronger team when he was in and Tracy was out. <font size="1">(I bet I get bashed for this .. ).</font> I have a feeling though, he will outplay Carmelo tonight, even with the double team. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/dikembe_mutombo.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Dikembe Mutombo</font> - PPG: 2.1, RPG: 4.6, BPG: 0.1 Deke is in for Yao, but is having a hard time filling his presence. Deke's offense is not half as polished as Yao's, but thankfully his defensive presence is being felt. Elson should not provide Deke with an problems, nor Deke will with Elson. But watch out for 'em Elbows. Deke's presence might help stop Martin. Miller's penetration can also be stunted, but that would depend more on the guards, than Deke. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/stromile_swift.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Stromile Swift</font> PPG: 9.4, RPG: 5.0, APG: 0.5 Stromile Swift.. sigh. Well, I said it before, Stromile Swift just looks like a younger Cato to me. Sure enough, he is. He lacks that extra effor that could turn him into a 15 and 10 guy, and all of us are hoping he just decides to. Against Martin, he'll have to be astute, a word he probably doesn't know the meaning of. His Bball IQ and any other IQ is pretty low, hopefully Martin doesn't rediscover his Nets form. </font> <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="red">Role players step up</font> - This is always one of my keys to the game, and when the Rocket players Log onto JBB and read this, they usually pay attention. So here it is. Don't suck role players. Yao's out, they need to, and had needed to, step it up. Tracy can't shoulder the load alone, and with Yao out another 3 weeks, we gotta get the train rolling or be in the lottery.[*]<font color="red">Rafer</font> - Rafer Alston is a key to this game. Even though, McGrady should be a key to EVERY game, Rafer has this one. The Rockets look good with him running the show, and that's without Yao. Against the Raptors, we just didn't execute, but agains the Cavs and Wizards, his presence shined.[*]<font color="red">Keep it close</font> - The Rockets have to play a four-quarter game. If they can keep the game close throughout, expect McGrady to pull it out at the end. The Rockets have been nagged by injuries, something the National Media doesn't really see (Ahem, the TNT Crew -- which really, SUCKS.). We are still an incredibly talented squad, maybe not top 4 in the West, but at our strength, easily top 8. This Key goes for all the game Yao misses. KEEP IT CLOSE.[*]<font color="teal">Stop T-Mac</font> - Nothing really BIG, just stop the guy from scoring. IF he scores under 30, the Rockets will probably lose, which as a Rocket fan, scares the living daylight out of me. But that is the case with all the injuries. Stopping McGrady is near impossible though. (see December 9th, 2004) [*]<font color="teal">Carmelo must show up</font> - Carmelo has been pretty consistent throughout, but McGrady can change that. He cannot be frustrated and must show a more Mature player than he has before. In doing so, he could lead the Nugs that much closer to .500.[*]<font color="teal">Exploit Frontcourt</font> - The Rockets are lacking their big man presence, and their veteran power forward. The Nuggets should attack this, and attack it hard. Kenyon Martin, however good Jason Kidd made him to be, is still a good player, and he has to put a stamp on this game.[/list]<font size="3">Other Notes</font><ul>[*]The Rockets are 3-9 at home, the Nuggets 5-10 on the road.[*]The Nuggets score a respectable 100 points a game, but let in 98. The Rockets, score 89 a game, letting in 91..[*]The Rockets are 3-15 when either Yao or Tracy doesn't finish the game.[/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> I've never predicted a Rocket loss -- and that's how it'll be here. McGrady scores 50. Bank it. Rockets: 92 , Nuggets: 86 <font size="1">*All Pre-Game, and Post-Game discussion should go in here. Thanks. EDIT: Some Mod -- wanna edit the title (in case I need Official Game Thread). Thanks.</font>
Houston's playing at home, where they've been crap all game long, and missing Yao Ming and Juwan Howard. However, Denver is missing Camby and Nene, so the Rockets might not be so disadvantaged in the frontcourt. It'll be nice to see a scoring duel between Anthony and McGrady, and hopefully Swift will do enough on defense to negate Martin's probable dominance. However, it's more likely Stro plays just 20 minutes due to foul trouble.
this is what we paid stromile to do to be able to guard some of the best power forwards one on one so far he has been robbing the rockets of their money but this is a chance for him to earn his paycheck its time for him to show us he can be that shut down defender we thought him to be. If he shuts down martin and gives us a little offence and add in some rebounding then we have ourselves a win. Him and Alston are teh Xfactors for todays game and its time for them to show us what they can be
Nuggets, at home, we didn't win at home for a long time... Denver won us last game, Melo won Tmac... with the stupid decision to suspend Juwan Howard for 1 game!! David Stern know we are an injured team, with Yao and Anderson outside, Howard played only 8 mins before the suspension, and we lost the game already so why ??? We should win this by atleast 20.
TMac just went down in awful pain on the last shot before the half. SHOOT ME NOW SOMEBODY ANYBODY I'll give you the gun.
T-Mac Down! He took the final shot in the 1st Half and It looks like he hurt him self as he came down. He was on the court holding his back in pain. Lets hope he's ok.
T-Mac's injury is serious, word on the radio is that he was taken out on a stretcher..... -Edit- I forgot to mention that Swift also got hurt. He turned his ankle. I hate this season..... -Edit- Swift is Ok. He's out there playing again, but T-Mac is out for the rest of the game.
damn it why cant we stay healthy if our season keeps going like this were gonna need High Schoolers to play. I cant wait till All_star break.
People are saying that T-Mac is on the way to the hospital. But the Rockets have a small lead right now, hopefully they can still win this game without our superstars.
Sever Back Spasm Kenyon martin had one to but not as severe. Tmac was taken to memorial for a check up and to see how badly the extent is. I'm assuming he'll be out for 2+ games by Alston and Wesley are stepping it up. 56-53 rockets up by 3 denver timeout.
Damn that doesn't sound good. Rafer needs to play like he did a couple of games ago when he went for 17 and 10, and hopefully Swift will keep playing good.
Damn, I jinxed him.. First T-Mac is out, Yao steps it up (give him credit..). Then they come back -- the Rockets own it up (except Boston game, where T-Mac wasn't that healthy). Yao goes down, T-Mac steps it up -- we play around .500. Now both out?! WTF. Rockets need to be a bit bold in the market. Sacramento is sucking, Artest wants to go .. make it happen. In April, once we're back -- the league better look out.
<u>If </u>T-Mac is out for any length of time, could this year end up being like it was for San Antonio a few yrs back where David Robinson went down for the yr and they ended up getting the #1 pick (Tim Duncan)? Seems like it just isn't going to happen this season for the Rockets, so I don't see the need for making trades or rushing Tracy/Yao back just to finish 9th or 10th in the conference. JMO. 88-87 Rox with 1:19 left ...
Melo makes a shot and leaves 1 second left on the clock. Rockets don't have Mr.Clutch aka T-Mac, and don't even get a shot off. Rockets lose 92-90
Wow this sucks really bad. We play really easy teams coming up also and we don't have either player. Starting line up looks to be alston, wesley, bowen, howard, deke. Swift had a pretty good game along with alston and we didn't do that bad without Tmac but this sucks.
