<div align="center"> at <font color="red">Rockets (12-20)</font> at <font color="navy">Bobcats (10-23)</font> Tuesday, January 10th, 2005 Charlotte Bobcats Arena, Charlotte 7:30 ET, Fox SW (Away) </div> [div=50%] <div align="center"><font color="navy"> <font size="1">(B. Knight, K. Rush, E. Okafor, G. Wallace, P. Brezec)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Gerald Wallace - 13.7 PPG Leading Rebounder: Emeka Okafor - 10.1 RPG Assist Man: Brevin Knight - 8.1 APG The 'X' Factor: Kareem Rush (12.5 PPG, .350% FG, 2.5 RPG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brevin_knight.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Brevin Knight</font> PPG: 12.9, APG: 8.1, SPG: 2.48 As one of the only true point guards in the league, Brevin Knight has made a name for himself since joining the Bobcats last season. Peaking late in his career, Knight has shown teams that he make create plays for his teammates, play some tough defense, and score a bit for himself as well. On several occasions this season, Brevin Knight has stepped it up a couple notches and brought Charlotte twenty point games. The knock on him is that he isn't the best of shooter and his shot is at times streaky. Still, Knight isn't exactly out there to score for the Bobcats but rather create some offense for his teammates and provide the all important veteran presence on the young team. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kareem_rush.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Kareem Rush</font> PPG: 12.5, RPG: 2.5, 3PT%: .350 On and off, on and off. Thats pretty much how it is for Rush. For several games he can completely torch the other team but other times he's completely invisible and unnoticeable in the game. Considering if he is on, Kareem Rush is a great shooter and packs a pretty big offensive punch for the Bobcats. Many times he has impressed and put up around twenty points for his team. If he's not, well then he's going to be putting up some horrible percentages from the field. Tonight Rush better have his A game on if he wants to help give the home crowd a win. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/gerald_wallace.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Gerald Wallace</font> PPG: 13.7, RPG: 6.2, SPG: 2.12 Considered to be one of the better defenders in the league, Gerald Wallace has been a steal for Bobcats when they picked him up last season. Wallace has a curious knack of racking up numbers in many of the assists categories with points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. In addition to that, its obvious he has been working on his shot because this season, his shooting has improved which means he has a bigger array of offensive weapons now. In the new year, Gerald Wallace has been above average in points, blocks, and rebounds- meaning he is hot, and very dangerous. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/emeka_okafor.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Emeka Okafor</font> PPG: 12.9, RPG: 10.1, BPG: 1.92 Injuries woes have hurt Emeka Okafor this season. In fact, he's listed as questionable for this game so it might even be a stretch for him to play tonight. However, if he does play, you'll know what you can expect from him. A beast on the boards and defense, Okafor is sixteenth in the league for double doubles and fifteenth for blocks per game. However, its obvious this season Okafor has hit some sort of sophmore slump because he's having lows in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. He's upped his turnovers as well and its obvious that his injury has effected his game somewhat. If he plays tonight, expect him to provide some offense and a lot of defense in the paint for the Bobcats. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/primoz_brezec.jpg[/imgl]<font color="navy">Primoz Brezec</font> PPG: 11.3, RPG: 5.5, FG%: .551 In Okafor's absence, Brezec has stepped it up quite a bit, topped by a nineteen point game recently. Although he's a pretty good offensive threat in the post, he doesn't exactly bring too much else. Primoz Brezec isn't a good rebound, is considered a fairly bad defender, and not a shot blocker by any means. In addition to that, he picks up fouls rather quickly so if Swift can attack the basket more down low, it can literally bring Brezec out of the game. </font> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, D. Wesley, R. Bowen, J. Howard, D. Mutumbo) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Rafer Alston - 9.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Juwan Howard - 6.5 RPG Assist Man: Rafer Alston - 5.3 APG The 'X' Factor: Stromile Swift (9.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG,.72 BPG)</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: 9.8, SPG: 1.15, APG: 5.3 Alston has turned the corner, hitting more of his shots, turning the ball over less, and creating a lot better for his teammates. Undoubtly, much of this has to do with getting familiarized with Van Gundy's system. Most notably, his turnovers have gone down and his scoring has considerably picked up. Regardless, Alston has shown in the last few games that he can step it up for the team. If the Rockets want to win tonight, the entire Rockets team including him are going to have to play their hearts out. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/david_wesley.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">David Wesley</font> PPG: 9.6, RPG: 2.9, APG: 3.3 David Wesley has done a noble job of filling his role for the team. Unfortunately, all that isn't enough. For tonight, he's going to have to step it up another notch to bring the Rockets a win. In the past few games, Wesley has notched nineteen and fifteen points as well as shooting respectable percentages. If he can keep it up, that should be enough from his job. However, the problem is that Wesley is most definitely a streaky shooter and its hard to pin point which man will show up in his shoes. This season his defense has taken a dive, but he's still one of our better defenders we have right now. </font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ryan_bowen.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Ryan Bowen</font> PPG: 2.0, RPG: 1.8, SPG: .42 What can be said about Bowen, that already hasn't been said? He's pure effort. True hustler. Whatever, you call him, you can count on Ryan Bowen to give it his all on the court. Although his great defender status has taken a plunge, he's still a pretty good defender in his own right and can minimize any opposing player's points. In general, Ryan Bowen is still a great energy and defense player, but terrible shooter that can't give the team any offense whatsoever. </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: 4.9, BPG: .86 In Yao's absence, Mutombo has done quite admirably. Probably as best as any thirty nine year old can. He's grabbing boards, blocking shots, and in general, is a great defensive presence to have on any team. It was quite obvious that he's altering shots around him whenever guards try to drive in or even when the big men try to hook it into the basket. He's out only legit center left, but hey at least the good thing is that the starting center can be worse. More power to Mutombo that he's actually holding it down well into old age for the league. Offensively, he's below average, but in my opinion, he's making that up with his stellar defense. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/juwan_howard.jpg[/imgl]<font color="red">Juwan Howard</font> PPG: 9.4, RPG: 6.5, APG: 1.3 First game back after his one game suspension, I'm hoping Howard's going to bust out for twenty points. Unfortunately since we're not living five years ago, we're going to have to settle for something around 12 points and 8 rebounds from Howard. In fact, I would be pretty happy if that happened. Still, Howard has surprised me before with his scoring but this time, he isn't playing alongside McGrady or Yao which leaves him open. He's going to have to actually play with people guarding him now instead of taking those open mid rangers. Hopefully, he'll be well rested from the suspension ready to contribute a bunch of points like he has in the past for the Rockets. </font> <div align="center"></div> <font color="red">Collective contributing</font> - With both superstars out, the Rockets role players will be fending for themselves tonight. That means no more open shots which they have been missing anyway. They're going to have to be agressive in going to the basket if shots aren't falling for them instead of continually taking three pointers. <font color="red">Defense</font> - Since the Rockets right now don't exactly have the best of scorers on the team, I think it would be wise to just play some stifling defense. If they can limit their opponent's points to the minimum through contesting shots, clogging the lanes, and playign the passing lanes, we'll have a better chance of winning. <font color="red">Ride the Hot Hand</font> - If someone gets hot, it would definitely be wise to just keep feeding him the ball. That means other players will get more open shots since other teams might have the double the guy which in turn means more points. If there isn't a hot hand, well then read number one and two. Regularly this would be an easy game. Unfortunately its not with our recent injuries. Thus, the role players are going to need to step it up and show Houston that they haven't given up hope yet. Rockets: 90, Bobcats: 85
It's really sad. You look at the bench and you see the coaches, then 4 players, then 4 or 5 empty seats at the end of the bench. It's unbelievable how bad it's gotten for the Rockets.
Well, Rockets manage to at least stay in the game, down 45-49 at halftime. Juwan Howard is having a monster game with 20 already on 9-15 shooting. He also has 7 rebounds. Rafer Alston has 4 assists already but the team is turning the ball over too much; 10 in 24 minutes. Lonny Baxter has also come in off the bench and done a good job.
No one has mentioned that Swift isn't playing because of injury. This is getting sad. 6 of our best players our injured leaving our 15 man roster to 9. I know this is seriously bad luck, but we need at least one of these players back because we have a really old team and eventually fatigue will become a huge factor in the next two weeks.
My god can things get better for this team at all???? When wil swift be back???? and this was his great chance to show us what he could do and what he gets injured???
63-64 We are down by 1 going into the fourth quarter. We finished off the third pretty bad by giving up a 3 point lead and missing 2 consecutive 3 pointers.
I just wanted to say this we could use Gerald Wallace. I remember watching him all last year and he was ok, but this year he is just a dominating defensive player. Van Gundy would love him. I know it's not possible to get him, but he's going to be a really good player and he's only 24.
It seems like vintage Howard and Wesley broke out. They must have drank the stuff Bugs Bunny gave everyone in Space Jam. Who says vets can't play?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Chronicle reported today that he was struggling and the injury is bothering him slightly.</div> Wow... i dont know what to say.... injuries hurt..
Overtime has now begun. It was kind of scary because gerald wallace had a shot to win the game, but missed so here we go. 96-98 Houston has the ball with 23 seconds left in overtime. OMG LUTHER HEAD HIT A THREE TO TAKE IT INTO DOUBLE OVERTIME!!!
A double overtime game can't be too good for our vets. At least we don't play a back to back (at least I don't think we do).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">A double overtime game can't be too good for our vets. At least we don't play a back to back (at least I don't think we do).</div> Haha, we do. Tomorrow vs Kings. I love the way the Rockets keep on fighting!
It was a good effort, but fouls caught up with us. I don't know how the game will go tommorrow. Wesley played a career high in minutes with over 50.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">It was a good effort, but fouls caught up with us. I don't know how the game will go tommorrow. Wesley played a career high in minutes with over 50.</div> Thats a lot of minutes for anyone but especially a 36 yr old vet. I hope they don't come out sluggish tomorrow.
Cant fault the effort. JVG still has everyone playing hard. what a confidence builder J.Lucas3 had with his big shot in regulation.
