<div align="center"> VS <font color="red">Monday, March 20,2006, 07:30 PM(CT)</font> <font color="red">Toyota Center, Houston, Texas</font> <font color="red">NBATV, FSNSW</font> </div> <font color="blue">Los Angeles Clippers:</font> With Corey Maggette back in the lineup and with the addition of Vladimir Radmanovic, the Clippers are in a serious contention for the playoffs. Looks like Sam Cassell is true to his words when he said early in the season right after the TWolves traded him that he can take the Clippers to the playoffs. With a healthy roster the Clippers are in a hot streak after being in danger a few weeks back when they lost successive games one of which courtesy of the Rockets. With former Rockets, Cuttino Mobley and Sam Cassell backing up MVP canditate Elton Brand, the Clippers are a tough matchup for every team. They have proven it by being one of the tops in the league in field goal defense. <font color="red">Houston Rockets:</font> The Rockets on the other hand continues to be bitten by injury plague that has ruined their season. TMac has been reported to be out for the season. Although he could be back by the last week of the regular season if the Rockets are already out of contention he might sit it out and promised himself to be fully recovered by the following season. Meanwhile Mr. Ironman David Wesley has fractured one of his ribs and is wek to week basis. He already returned to practice today but is still doubtful to play tonight. With hopes of getting to playoffs almost gone, the Rockets might try to play as spoilers to some aspiring teams. <div align="center"></div> With TMac already out for the season Yao has carried the burdens for the Rockets. He has been the lone consistent Rocket playing during the past four games that they've lost, while his teammates are struggling to find their shots. The additional loss of Wesley has added to their woes. It's hard to say that they can get their shots back after a while because they've been(with the exception of Yao and rare games) shooting awfully the whole season. The two things that provides them the wins they have is their defense and those once in a blue moon nights they were on fire. Surely the loss of TMac has put out their hopes but that's not an excuse for their poor offense. Tonight's game will be a challenging one. If Yao can dominate the game and his teammates shoots well they might have a chance to steal the game from the Clippers. Players like Howard,Swift and Bogans needs to step up. Yao's efforts has been wasted with every poor game his teammates shows. The Clippers are trying to solidify their playoffs push by winning every game left so they can distance themselves and have a comfortable lead against the 6th, 7th and 8th seeded teams. Look for Brand to dominate again.
Yao will need some serious help to win this game. Alston has been miserable from the field recently and Bogans isn't much better. Without anyone to make a three-pointer consistently, we'll see double or triple coverage on Yao regularly. Yao will probably still have a 25/12 game, but if no one else comes up big, we won't have a chance of winning.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Locke:</div><div class="quote_post">Yao will need some serious help to win this game. Alston has been miserable from the field recently and Bogans isn't much better. Without anyone to make a three-pointer consistently, we'll see double or triple coverage on Yao regularly. Yao will probably still have a 25/12 game, but if no one else comes up big, we won't have a chance of winning.</div> I agree.. Players like Alston, Bogans, and Howard need to step up.. And we need help from our bench also.. My prediction: Rockets 81, Clippers 93
WOW the rockets are really stepping up. Head is going great Bogans is doing great so is howard and swift. plus the swift and hayes line seems to be ok. Houston finally stepping up forming a winning streak till end of season?
Lets go Clippers lets go! I really want us to be in position to get Ronnie Brewer or Rodney Carney this draft...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Lets go Clippers lets go! I really want us to be in position to get Ronnie Brewer or Rodney Carney this draft...</div>
If we know we are not gonna make the playoffs.. y dont we try to lose our games kind of on purpose, like the texans.. to try to get the best pick we can get.. HeHe
Problem is i don't think any of the teams below us will be stupid enough to try and win games either cuz they got no shot at playoffs either. If we were tryin to lose Van Gundy would start Yao Swift Lampe Bogans and Head. Or Yao Lampe Hayes Bogans Head
You can't purposely lose because the league will fine players and teams and it wouldn't be fair to fans that come watch games hoping rockets win. I personally think the texans tried to win but failed miserably.
The way the Rockets keep shooting themselves in the foot down the stretch, maybe they are trying to lose these games. How does Yao not get the ball in the post in the last 1 1/2 minutes of the game? Instead, he goes up for a pick and roll, and the ball ends up in Juwan Howard's hands. Ludicrous.
It seems like in the last few games Yao gets only a few touches of the ball in the fourth quarter. In this game, they should have taken advantage of the Clippers plan to double Yao whenever he touches the ball. Pass it to Yao every possesion, than pass it back out when the double comes. It was not like other games where Yao was fronted and getting him the ball was difficult. The other Rockets players need to play off of Yao. MY observations: - Luther Head, a mediocre rookie, technically had more shot attempts than Yao, the centerpiece of the Rockets - All Rockets, aside from Yao, need help on their FT shooting. - Yao was the only player who played over 2 minutes to not have one foul. - Chuck Hayes is shaq-like at the FT line. Not a great shooter with a hesitation on his shot that causes lane violation. - Yao (25,17,0 fouls) outplayed Kaman+Brand (24,14, 9 fouls) - Juwan Howard has shot well the last two games, shooting 8-12 in both of the games - Yao has another FT streak.
Well im getting to the point where I don't care if we win or not, I mean, when the game is on I want us to win...But then after its done its sort of like "Meh draft pick!" So umm Yippee
Luther Head's 3 point shot is better than Rafer. But what's wrong with his jumper technique? forward jumpshot? Was his college coach on crack because his moving jumper always looks bad unless it goes in the hoop. He's shooting it wrongly..if he was taught to shoot the right way he might be a jon barry type shooter. I don't know how you can aim accurately and have momentum when he shoots it that way, especially when under pressure.
