<div align="center"><font color="blue">Knicks (2-3)</font> at <font color="red">Rockets (3-2)</font> Friday, November 10th, 2006 Toyota Center, Houston 7:30 CT; NBALP </div> [div=50%] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="blue"> <font size="1">(Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford Quentin Richardson, Eddy Curry, Channing Frye)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Quentin Richardson - 19.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: David Lee - 9.2 RPG Assist Man: Stephon Marbury - 4.6 APG The 'X' Factor: Nate Robinson (14.0 PPG, 1.2 APG, 2.6 RPG)</font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="red"> <font size="1">(Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady Shane Battier, Yao Ming, Chuck Hayes) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Yao Ming - 24.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 7.8 RPG Assist Leader: Rafer Alston - 6.0 APG The 'X' Factor: Chuck Hayes (5.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.0 SPG)</font> <font size="3">Prediction</font> With the Knicks missing Steve Francis, this game loses a lot more of its promise. New York is a sorry team with lots of talent but doesn't mesh well, and the lack of Francis could hurt them. Even though Jamal Crawford had a big game in Francis's absence, one can't expect him to drop 30 every night. Channing Frye has been in a funk the whole season and Chuck Hayes would need to get a hand in his face on the perimeter, where Frye can do most of his damage. Tracy McGrady got his shot back against the Bucks, and he could be up for another big night. Rockets: W, Knicks: L
Nice preview. Tomorow night shouldn't be too hard of a game for the Rockets to win. Then again, in this league, wins never are easy to pull out. However, I'm expecting Yao to have a good game since he's playing against Curry (not a good defenseman) and Frye (come on now). Quentin Richardson, probably their most consistent offense option other than Marbury or Francis, should probably have a tough time moving around and getting his shot off with Battier guarding him. Meanwhile, I'm hoping McGrady can cover Crawford well, since he's the type of player that can get very hot at moments and in clutch situations. That really leaves Marbury that I'm worried about (Francis, meh). Shouldn't be too big of a problem however if McGrady and Yao can pull out around twenty points each and we do a good defensive job on the other guys. EDIT: Its also going to be fun watching (well, for you guys anyway) David Lee and Chuck Hayes going at it. Two great hustle players that are great rebounders.
Nice preview. The Rockets should capitalize on the Knicks talent laden but inconsistent team. They just have to watch out for Crawford and Richardson keeping the defense honest on them the whole game as they can become hot anytime like what Charlie Bell and Michael Redd did the other night making shot after shot. Yao will dominate over Curry and Frye while TMac seems to be starting to get into groove. I expect a good home game by the Rockets. Last season the Rockets were a bad shooting team at home I hope it's the opposite this time especially with an enhanced offensive lineup.
I'm gonna enjoy watching this thrashing, I expect the rockets to lead by 40 and i don't care that T-mac hurt his nuts or Yao lost another toe nail. GO ROCKETS!!!
Yao with 5 blocks in 18 minutes. Damn impressive; all while Eddy Curry's shooting 1-8. Rockets should have this one in the bag easily.
Yao with 26pts 10 rebs and 6 blks! Theres 10:31 left in the 4th quater. First career triple double coming???
Considering the amount of shots Yao got in this game and the last game, it seems like the Rockets are finally making him the number one option on offense. Yao should get at least 20 shots a game, especially now with Mcgrady shooting like Ryan Bowen. Yao had a great game despite all the turnovers. Almost a quadruple-double, with 33 pts, 17 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 8 TO's. Great win, but it was against the Knicks so it's not that great of an achievement.
Great game, but yeah, I'm kind of concerned about his ridiculous amount of TOs these past couple games. I'm not actually watching the games though, so can someone fill me in on how he can rack up eight turnovers in a game? All I can think of are little guards running past him when he's posting up and stripping him, but other than that he hasn't really had too much trouble with losing the ball in the paint in the past. Otherwise, a great performance for Yao. Even if it was against the Knicks. Regardless, its pretty hard to get seven blocks in game. As for McGrady, needless to say I'm a bit concerned. I know he's not getting as many shots (thank god) but his scoring and shooting has been a bit iffy lately. As said before, this is probably a mental thing, which is even harder to get over. I just hope his injuries don't take hold of his mind and stop him from having that mean streak in him. Sure, he's making it up with the playmaking and assists, but it would still be nice to see the guy absolutely light up the other team with three's or dunks.... Oh, and nice showings by Hayes, Battier, and Head tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">AznxBaller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Great game, but yeah, I'm kind of concerned about his ridiculous amount of TOs these past couple games. I'm not actually watching the games though, so can someone fill me in on how he can rack up eight turnovers in a game? All I can think of are little guards running past him when he's posting up and stripping him, but other than that he hasn't really had too much trouble with losing the ball in the paint in the past. Otherwise, a great performance for Yao. Even if it was against the Knicks. Regardless, its pretty hard to get seven blocks in game. </div> The Knicks went small a few times (especially the fourth quarter) and pestered him by slapping the ball out of his hands. Smaller, quicker players always gave him trouble, its nothing new.
Great game!! The only thing I didn't particularly like is when Richardson started talkin trash to Mcgrady and Tmac was just sittin there. WE WANT THE OLD TMAC BACK!! The old Tmac would've brought it to him. But instead he just let Richardson get away with murder. Tmac's gotta wake up sooner of later. But Yao was great and he seems to understand that nobody is gonna block his shot. Battier just doesn't miss many open shots. Where the hell is Bonzi? I hope JVG doesn't go overboard with not playin Bonzi. We play Miami Sunday, I PRAY that Bonzi plays in that game.
I'm estimating that about 50% of Yao's TO's are because of traveling and offensive fouls. Another 30% is result from him getting stripped. The last 20% are bad passes, etc. The Memphis game, where Yao had 6 TO's, I know he had at least 3 traveling calls. JVG said he was a "traveling travesty" for short stretch of the game. This is mainly because of the league's increased focus on traveling. Yao also tends to get stripped by guards who come from behind to double team.
Wow, no body said anything about that jaw-dropping 3 T-Mac pulled with 1.1 seconds left in the half. It was at least 34 feet out there. Turn around fade-away...he just drained it. I knew if T-Mac got the ball something gorgeous would happen, and yes indeed that was the case.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Great game!! The only thing I didn't particularly like is when Richardson started talkin trash to Mcgrady and Tmac was just sittin there. WE WANT THE OLD TMAC BACK!! The old Tmac would've brought it to him. But instead he just let Richardson get away with murder. Tmac's gotta wake up sooner of later. But Yao was great and he seems to understand that nobody is gonna block his shot. Battier just doesn't miss many open shots. Where the hell is Bonzi? I hope JVG doesn't go overboard with not playin Bonzi. We play Miami Sunday, I PRAY that Bonzi plays in that game.</div> If I'm not wrong, Bonzi's been held out because of that groin strain. I know that he was a game-time scratch against Memphis because of it, and it's likely that it's been holding him back since. I'd like for him to recover through it safely and not rush back. The Rockets aren't playing like they missed him anyways, and if he plays like he did against New Orleans he might turn out to be detrimental to the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The only thing I didn't particularly like is when Richardson started talkin trash to Mcgrady and Tmac was just sittin there. WE WANT THE OLD TMAC BACK!! </div> Richardson was just mad because we chanted "Brandy" and "Moesha" when he shot his foul shots....Yao was a MONSTER last night...my 2 big question marks for this year are Tmac and Bonzi.....Tmac is still extremely passive, when it comes to taking it to the basket, and when will Bonzi be in shape?
