GT: Bulls at Rockets

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VS
BULLS(3-4) At ROCKETS(5-3)
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Toyota Center, Houston
07:30 PM(CT), TNT

<font color="red">Projected Starters</font></div>


Chicago Bulls:

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K.Hinrich(PG),B.Gordon(SG),L.Deng(SF),P.Brown(PF),B.Wallace&copy;</div>

Leading Scorer: Kirk Hinrich(18.3 PPG)
Leading Rebounder: Ben Wallace(10.0 RPG)
Assist Leader: Kirk Hinrich(5.9 APG)


<font color="red">Houston Rockets:</font>

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<font color="red">R.Alston(PG),T.McGrady(SG),S.Battier(SF),J.Howard(PF),Y.Ming&copy;</font></div>

<font color="red">Leading Scorer:</font> Yao Ming(26.4 PPG)
<font color="red">Leading Rebounder:</font> Yao Ming(9.5 RPG)
<font color="red">Assist Leader"</font> T. McGrady(6.4 APG)


<div align="center">KEYS TO THE GAME</div>


Play Swarming Defense: The Bulls are one of the top defensive teams in the league last season and with the addition of Big Ben, PJ Brown, Tyrus Thomas and Sefolosha, defense was more enhanced. They have the quickness to put some pressure on the ball handler. Shane Battier also has an equal match in the person of Andres Nocioni who can also offer his body for defense. Look for Big Ben to do his best in limiting Yao's production.

Put On the Gas Pedal: With majority of the Bulls players are in their young age so they seem to have the speed to outran the Rockets. If they play the transition and running game the advantage is theirs. Gordon, Deng, Hinrich and Sefolosha are speedsters that can make the Rockets defense scramble to chase their man.

Good Shooting Night: Eversince the Bulls have blownout the Heat in their first regular season game their offense have been somewhat up and down. They are capable of exploding anytime just like what the other teams have done to the Rockets especially in the 4th quarter. The Rockets are having consistency problems in the last quarter. If one, two or three Bulls gets hot, confidence will build up and that will take away the life out of the Rockets' defense.

<font color="red">TMac and Yao Needs to Dominate:</font> If the Rockets want to be serious contenders both of their All Stars should dominate. Yao has shown a lot of promise this year but at the same time TMac seems to slowing down though he's just 27. TMac needs to rediscover at least his explosiveness on the offense. Eventhough TMac has become a good playmaker, he is still needed in the 4th quarter when Yao sometimes seems to lose his effectiveness.

<font color="red">Taking Care of the Lead:</font> With a lesson learned from the Spurs come from behind win, the Rockets should be able to figure out this time around what went wrong and on how to remedy it. Consistency on the defense is needed badly. They seem to pay less attention to any opponents role player that may in the end become unsung heroes. If stopping the opponents' leading scorers has been a success be sure to watch out the other role players also preventing them from gaining confidence like what Udrih and Horry has done to them the other night.

<font color="red">Give Playing Time To Novak, VSpan and Bonzi:</font> We all know that it's very hard for JVG to play extra players aside from his regular rotations. If the offense is stagnant give chance to one or two or three of these boys. Who knows they can make a difference and stop the bleeding when points are hard to find. It does'nt help playing them only in a blowout situations. You don't have to play them every night but giving them chance to earn playing time would be helpful in developing their confidence. JVG should stop worrying about Novak's flaws on the defensive end as he'll be able to figure it out given more playing time. JVG must realize that he's a threat on the offense.



Prediction:These will be a game between two defensive teams just like the other night. I always lose everytime I do the game preview but I always think the Rockets will win anyway. Expect a close game this time just don't let the Bulls get loose. <font color="red">Rockets-99</font>/Bulls-93

 

good preivew

 

We get a great chance tonight to get back to our winning ways. The Bulls are playing pretty badly right now and the Rockets are at home. Unless Chicago can guard Yao as effectively as Miami did, Houston has a huge advantage. However, Tyrus Thomas, PJ Brown, and Ben Wallace can be a nuisance defensively. TMac needs to get his shot going, as he'll have either Luol Deng or Ben Gordon on him to begin the game. If Gordon guards him, it'll be a huge mismatch. If Deng's on him, it'll mean Battier's got a chance to post the 6-3 Gordon up. Either way, good for the Rockets.

I think the Rockets take this, 89-81.

 

We should beat up on Chicago, I'm starting to believe that this team recieved way too much hype in the offseason.

 

Chicago has well deserved hype. They just need to mesh all that talent.

 

Chicago has no interior scoring whatsoever, I'll be surprised if they make it past the 2nd round.

 

I read in the Chronicle that Nocioni has moved into the starting lineup, replacing PJ Brown. So, I expect Battier will move over to PF, and Snyder or Head will start at SG.

 

hopefully it's snyder.

 

Yao Ming will need to bring his A-game and be able to outplay Ben Wallace. The Rockets have been winless win Yao scores less than 23 points, but undefeated when Yao scores above 23 this season.

 

Get Yao the ball early and often......Tracy can get his anytime he wants to.

 

I hope Bonzi suits up for this game, and I think this will be a high scoring game. My prediction 96-90 Rockets win.

 

Hrmm.. I see the Rox losing this game 88-84. The Bulls swarm Yao and he ends up turning the ball over a bunch of times. Tracy never gets it going to help relieve the pressure on Yao and the supporting cast can't do enough to stop the bleeding.

Btw, I wouldn't be surprised to see a starting 5 of Yao, Battier, TMac, Head, Alston. That's assuming Ben Gordon starts at SG and Noce starts at PF. IMO, Snyder's taking too many 3's and not doing what he's best at, which is slashing to the hoop.

 

Where are the fans? The Toyota Center is a DESERT!

 

I am planning on going to the Rockets vs. Clippers game on Dec 23.

 

Damn, McGrady's really driving to the rim this game. Whether thats good or bad, I don't know.

 

I guess its good since he shows his back is not a factor, and I believe if he drives in more, he will get more points.

 

Yao stuggling early 3-10 at the half, but is able to grab 9 rebs.
Tmac driving a lot more.
Good production from the bench (esp. Padget 4-7 11pts)

 

Damn, the TNT crew seems to be intent on ripping the Rockets apart; especially Charles Barkley. For someone who said the Rockets were the best team in the NBA a year ago, he sure is confident in us.

 

Rockets playing great! They are winning 71-50 with 5:50 to go in the 3rd. Tmac is OFFICIALY back. He is shooting 7-11 and he is shooting 2-4 from downtown. Yao 5-14 with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

 

Oh crap. The Bulls are starting to heat up (well, Gordon) and it looks like they're going to make a strong fourth quarter surge. Meanwhile, our guys are starting to disconnect from making shots again. This has the Spurs game written all over it...