<div align="center"> <font color=""Green""><font size=""4"">Seattle Supersonics</font></font> Houston Rockets: 16-29 Seattle Sonics: 19-26 Houston Rockets Coach (Jeff Van Gundy) Sacramento Kings (Bob Hill) <font color=""Green""><font size=""3"">Seattle Supersonics</font></font> C ? Robert Swift PF ? Vladimir Radmanovic SF ? Rashard Lewis SG ? Ray Allen PG ? Luke Ridnour <font color=""Red""><font size=""3"">Houston Rockets</font></font> C ? Yao Ming PF ? Juwan Howard SF ? Tracy Mcgrady SG ? David Wesley PG ? Rafer Alston Another game with Tracy and Yao together?How long will it last, let?s just enjoy it while we can for now. It?s been reported that Jon Barry and Derek Anderson may play this game but I?d doubt they?d get many minutes or even make a huge impact. Previously, in Rockets basketball, our heroes faced off against the Redd-Less Bucks, a sloppy win in which we won only because time was on our side, we were dominated in the first and fourth quarter but still managed to grind one out (Hey, I?ll take the win?). T-Macs back ?locked up? which resulted in him shooting a terrible percentage from the field, Yao however had a pretty good game he had 21 points and 13 boards (11th Double-Double of the season I think?) but the spark was Chuck Hayes, who had 8 points and 8 boards in only 13 minutes of play! He brought us back in the second quarter and is a main reason, or even THE reason we won the game against the Bucks. Yao should dominate this game, he normally plays really well against Seattle and I can?t see Robert Swift being able to stop him?or even contain him, my prediction is Yao will score 30 or more points, he?ll have his game but it depends on the rest of our players on whether we?ll win or not, both teams have been a disappointment, both making the playoffs last season and now both trying to get up from being third and second to last in the Western conference. To win I think we need to get the ball to Yao as much as possible and let the offense run through him, if they don?t double team then let Yao do his thing, if they do pass it back out and run it again or just take the shot if its there. It?ll be a close match, one team or the other will make a comeback and the game will be decided in the last 3 minutes. </div>
Whenever we've faced Seattle, they always bombard us with three pointers, especially Radmanovic. Howard, Hayes and Swift (argh) will have to do a good job of keeping him in check on the perimeter as he can go off for 25 if he's hot. Containing Allen and Lewis is a given, but the main thing I think the Rockets must do is guard the perimeter. Last time we played, TMac was big. Hope he is again.
Yao is starting to look good, IMO. C'mon Yao, prove 'em doubters wrong. Yes, Trip, the Rad-Man joins the list of Rocket Killers (Damon Stoudamire, Mike Miller, Nick Van Exel, I know there are others..). All we need is Yao to play big, like he did against the Bucks, and we should win this. We need a winstreak! We need a winstreak! [Optimism] Me thinks this team goes 21-0, and the only team we lose to is whoever is the 22nd on the list. [/Optimism)
I was surprised that it was a blowout game by the Rockets. It seems that the Sonics could not get their hands hot tonight. Great offensive game by TMac and Yao is almost back to normal. With the following schedule being light to moderate, I hope the Rockets would start building a longer winning streak.
What a game by the Rockets. Yao dominated, like I asked for, and McGrady had a great night as usual. What made me kinda laugh is that Rafer nearly had more assists than the ENTIRE Sonic team. Now, I am not being a Rafer-homer, even though it seems that way, I just feel, once he gets his shot going -- it's downhill (meaning easier..) from there. Only 19 (wins that is..) to go!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">Yao is starting to look good, IMO. C'mon Yao, prove 'em doubters wrong. Yes, Trip, the Rad-Man joins the list of Rocket Killers (Damon Stoudamire, Mike Miller, Nick Van Exel, I know there are others..). All we need is Yao to play big, like he did against the Bucks, and we should win this. We need a winstreak! We need a winstreak! [Optimism] Me thinks this team goes 21-0, and the only team we lose to is whoever is the 22nd on the list. [/Optimism)</div> The most hated Rocket killers are.Jason Terry and Dirk NOwintski
I guess nobody would argue the impact of Yao on Rockets team anymore after watching latest 2 games. Yao is well worth the starting center in all star game IMO. I wanna see T-Mac + Yao combination VS Wade + Shaq in all star game...Heee BTW, it's good to see Head starts to get some points again.
man... now they are making me believe again.. but its like impossible to go to the playoff...especialy in the west... when you were dead last
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mag:</div><div class="quote_post">What a game by the Rockets. Yao dominated, like I asked for, and McGrady had a great night as usual. What made me kinda laugh is that Rafer nearly had more assists than the ENTIRE Sonic team. Now, I am not being a Rafer-homer, even though it seems that way, I just feel, once he gets his shot going -- it's downhill (meaning easier..) from there. Only 19 (wins that is..) to go!</div> Great job by Yao to overcome a slow start and end the game shooting 9-19. His work on the boards was impressive, and TMac, well, was amazing. Swift also played quite well, but Howard seems to be cold from the field. Time to start Hayes or Swift over him?
Man this is the Rockets team I've been waiting to see alllllll season long.......Tmac and Yao dominated, and Raefer did an oustanding job running the offense........great win.......and we should be able to win our next 3, if we keep the same intensity that we had last night.
i think a long winning streak is coming up following these two wins.. Now remember we are only at a 2 game winning streak.. Next we have coming up ny, phili, and lakers.. Now we have Yao and t-mac back and healthy... Now i think that rockets are gonna make a long winning streak (including these 2 games that we won in a row). I look at a possible 10-15 game winning streak.. We have our next 5 out 10 games at home... These are the 10 teams.. New York- should be an easy win Phili- easy win with iverson's ankles. Lakers- if t-mac holds kobe and not wesley Utah- easy win since yao will be on okur and t-mac on kirelenko New York- should be an wasy win Clippers- just hold brand and we got this Phoenix- If we work hard and hustle on defense... this will be a surprise...we will need a 100% team effort.. including 30 and 30 from both Yao and T-Mac. Clippers- hold Brand and we got it Golden State- Richardson is out and hold B-Davis Orlando- They dont have any one that can hold T-mac and yao..If we give it to yao more we got this..
We've won six games at home all season. The way you say things, we can beat any team in the league. "Just hold Duncan and we got it"; "Just hold Shaq and Wade and we got it". It's not that easy pal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">We've won six games at home all season. The way you say things, we can beat any team in the league. "Just hold Duncan and we got it"; "Just hold Shaq and Wade and we got it". It's not that easy pal.</div> I didnt say hold d-wade and shaq..or duncan <<< i didnt say those types of players.. what r u talking about? all im saying is that if the other teams star players are shut down defensively the other teams dont have another star players that can take over so im saying if we shut down the star players the game should be easy
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Umair15:</div><div class="quote_post">I didnt say hold d-wade and shaq..or duncan <<< i didnt say those types of players.. what r u talking about? all im saying is that if the other teams star players are shut down defensively the other teams dont have another star players that can take over so im saying if we shut down the star players the game should be easy</div> The Clippers don't depend on Brand. Cassell and Mobley can both give you 20 any night and Maggette is a hard cover for anyone. Winning games is not just about shutting down star players; it's more about playing well as a team and shutting down everyone.
