<div align="center"> <font color="blue">Mavericks</font> vs <font color="red">Rockets</font> Wednesday, January 18, 2006 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas 07:30 PM(CT); FSNSW <font color="blue">J.Terry(PG);J.Stackhouse(SG);J.Howard(SF);D.Nowitzki(PF);D.Diop©</font> <font color="red">R.Alston(PG);D.Wesley(SG);R.Bowen(SF);J.Howard(PF);D.Mutombo©</font> </div> <font color="red">Houston Rockets:</font> Will a good news somehow console the Rockets tonight? Maybe, as TMac remains a game time decision although it's been reported that he will miss tonights game and have a reevaluation tomorrow. The Rockets have been playing small nowadays and has been undersized on the shooting guard and small forward position(if Bowen is substituted for Head). Today the Rockets got another special exception again due to injuries as they were able to sign Chuck Hayes to a 10 day contract as well as resigning John Lucas to his second temporary contract. Chuck Hayes might be able to play the small forward position to neutralize Josh Howard's size advantage over Head. With lack of offensive firepower coupled with not so decent field goal shooting, the Rockets will have a hard time tonight matching the Mavs' potent offense. On the bright side though undermanned, the Rockets were able to let the game close with their defense but isn't enough to gain a W as they were prone to turnovers by trying to do too much and inability to grab those loose balls(defensive rebounds) that gives the opponent a lot of second chances to score. These has caused the Rockets to slide down to the last place standing on the West and would be in an instant will claim the worst record in the NBA if the injury miseries continues to go on. <font color="blue">Dallas Mavericks:</font> The Mavericks on the other hand are one of the top teams in the league. Their lineup consist of players who can score anytime on a given situation without any worry coupled with guys who can defend very well especially in the post. Players like Dampier,Diop and Howard have secured the inside. Since Avery Johnson took the reins from Don Nelson, the Mavs has seen a lot of improvements on the defense as they now belong to one of the tops in defense. Nowitzki has become a good leader for the team that suffered the loss of Nash and Finley. He has been able to stay healthy and have guided the Mavs on the way to the top with Spurs ahead only by a hairline. <div align="center"></div> JVG will continue to give moral booster to his team while Avery wants his team to go for the top spot in the west. Though the Mavs may miss Daniels and Van Horn tonight, the Mavs have enough talents to dominate the game tonight. If TMac plays, it will inspire his teammates but expect him also to play passively with extreme caution. Any dangerous, high flying and risky acrobatic moves that lands bad on the floor will probably end his season. Without TMac, the Rockets will struggle taking the ball to the hoop with the Mavs tall frontcourt and they would be forced to take a lot of outside shots which hasn't been reliable either for them. If the Rockets can duplicate what the Kings did to Suns the other night despite missing their star players, it would be a defining moment for them as they can finally win one without TMAc and Yao. It might take a lot of effort, team chemistry, good shooting and consistency to take this game away from the Mavs. Any miracle that would open the door for them(Rockets) would satisfy the wishful thinking of all Rockets fans. The last time the Rockets won at home was last Dec.6,2005 against the Celtics. Will the home game woes/drought ever end? The Mavs probaly will have an easy and dominating game tonight but anything can still happen so let's not lose hope Rockets fans.
Mavericks love to get out and run, while we aren't really built for uptempo games. Expect no one to play too heavy minutes as I think Van Gundy will constantly sub players to keep up with Dallas. If TMac isn't back tonight, we could be in for a long game. I think a blowout isn't out of the question, and with the way things have gone for the past two weeks, I highly doubt we can this one at all. The gap in talent is just too huge.
Chuck Hayes is on the espn box score for this game for the Rockets. I'm wondering if they signed him or not. Anyone hear anything? It could just be a typo or a mistake.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chuck Hayes is on the espn box score for this game for the Rockets. I'm wondering if they signed him or not. Anyone hear anything? It could just be a typo or a mistake.</div> Yup, they signed him to a ten day contract. Oh, and so far this game looks reminiscent of our game seven. But, I'm officially on the draft Morrison compaign so I really could care less. In fact, this isn't too bad at all if you think about it.
End of the 3rd Quarter Dallas 82 - Rockets 50 Playing Roster: C-Mutombo PF-Howard SF-Head SG-Wesley PG-Alston 6-Baxter 7-Bowen 8-Lucas 10-Norris 11-Hayes I'm going to go shoot myself now.
Wait, Let me get this straight....LUTHER HEAD at 6-4 was playing Small forward. Wow! Nice to see AznxBaller has joined the bandwagon for Morrison.
What could the Rockets do? They were outplayed and outmatched, simple as that. We currently have the third-worst record in the league. Things are getting ugly, but not necessarily a bad thing to the guys on the Adam Morrison to Rockets bandwagon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">What could the Rockets do? They were outplayed and outmatched, simple as that. We currently have the third-worst record in the league. Things are getting ugly, but not necessarily a bad thing to the guys on the Adam Morrison to Rockets bandwagon. </div> My fear is that we're going to go on a winning streak when Yao and McGrady come back and we'll end up around 35-40 wins and just miss the playoffs. That's basically a worst-case scenario for the future of this franchise.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">My fear is that we're going to go on a winning streak when Yao and McGrady come back and we'll end up around 35-40 wins and just miss the playoffs. That's basically a worst-case scenario for the future of this franchise.</div> Agreed. It's obvious at this stage that it'd be an uphill battle for us to get to the playoffs, and even if we did get there, we won't do too much damage. If we go on a run and still fall short of a playoff spot, we'd have gone from maybe a top 5 pick to a 14th. We still don't make the playoffs, and get a much worse pick.
I'VE SAID THAT SINCE YAO WASW OUT.... thats been my fear since yao was out... and i'm pretty sure thats its 80 perecnt to happen... anyone has update on swift?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tr@cy&ya0:</div><div class="quote_post">I'VE SAID THAT SINCE YAO WASW OUT.... thats been my fear since yao was out... and i'm pretty sure thats its 80 perecnt to happen... anyone has update on swift?</div> I have a feeling that even if we get a high 1st round draft pick, the Rockets will just blow it on some scrub. They got it right when they picked Yao (he's 7"6 so that is a given) and Luther Head was the best pick up the Rockets ever seen (for #24). But if we pick up Adam Morrison and he sucks, then I will be pissed. If he is great, (for like #3-5 pick) then T-Mac can go back to SG, and we will have a perfect line up. This offseason we will just need a new center (to back up Yao) and we will be set for 07.
ya... it would be perfect except, whos giong to back up morrison? bowen? hell no... we have to get a decent back up center and a GOOD sf starter that plays 20 minutes and morrison could play as 6th man... for 20 minutes... i'm tired of bowen, hes hustly, but did it his husleing help us win games? his offense made us lose games...
As your 2006 draft specialist, The Rockets chances of drafting Adam Morrison at this point are extremely high. This guy can do it all, but as the question asked is who will back him up when Tmac is moved to the 2 gaurd. The rockets have a very early pick in the second round and another one which they have a choice to send to milwakee or not(This might have changed and it might be milwakees regardless) Hassan Adams is a great second round pickup and might go in the first round, but this draft is loaded with amazing SF like vincent grier and Hassan adams who both slash, steal, and are compared to Ron Artest, but with the best attitudes. I would prefer Hassan Adams because he is used to be in red in Arizona and his passion for the game reminds me of KG's love of the game. It is becoming most likely that the Rockets will draft 2 swingmen to fill this roster and then sign a center in the offseason.
The Rockets were just simply disoriented. I agree to what Locke had said. If the Rockets will gonna have a bad season let this be the one. It will be useless in trying to climb up when your chances of making the playoffs is close to hopeless then you'll gonna end up in the last four lottery pick position which by then almost all the marquee prospect are gone already considering this year's draft does'nt offer much at all in terms of quality.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting igotask8board:</div><div class="quote_post">Luther Head was the best pick up the Rockets ever seen (for #24).</div>Remember Cuttino Mobley at 41?
