<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (21-13)</font> vs <font color="black">Chicago (20-14)</font> Monday, January 8th, 2007, United Center, Chicago 7:30 Central; FSNSW, SportsRadio 610 AM </div> [div=50%] <div align="center"><font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, T. McGrady, S. Battier, J. Howard, D. Mutombo)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Tracy McGrady - 22.0 PPG Leading Rebounder: Chuck Hayes - 6.8 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 5.7 APG </font></div> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="black"> <font size="1">(K. Hinrich, C. Duhon, L. Deng, A. Nocioni, B. Wallace)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Ben Gordon - 20.7 PPG Leading Rebounder: Ben Wallace - 10.1 RPG Assists Leader: Kirk Hinrich - 5.9 APG </font> </div> [div=50%] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="red">Luther Head (6th Man)</font></font></div> <font size="1"><div align="center">28.2 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.6 APG</div></font> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="black">Ben Gordon (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">29.9 MPG, 20.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 3.3 APG</font> </div> <font size="3">Keys to the Game:</font><ul> [*]<font color="red">Points in the Paint</font> - While the Bulls are quicker, the Rockets do have size advantage over them. Points in the paint are vital in order for the Rockets to win. T-Mac, Juwan Howard, the Rockets guards all need to get inside that painted area and look to score. If we can balance points in the paint with 3 pointers taken/made the Rockets should be fine offensively. [*]<font color="red">Close out the game</font> - The Rockets have had problems retaining leads late in games on more than a few occassions early in the season. And Chicago is the kind of team that's capable of mounting a comeback late in games especially with Ben Gordon. Let's hope the Rockets don't have the same sort of offensive collapse they did against the Spurs and the very same Bulls earlier this season where the Bulls came back from 20 but came up short. [*]<font color="red">Limit Turnovers</font> - The Rockets average 15.2 turnovers per game as do the Bulls. Many of them are caused by petty mistakes such as carrying the ball, traveling, and stepping out of bounds. They need to be careful with the ball-but not too careful, because they still need to work the ball around in order to have a smooth offense running. They also need to stay focused on both offense and defense. It's amazing how fast a nice lead can disappear for the Rockets. [*]<font color=""black"">Push The Tempo</font> - If Chicago can get a fast paced game going, they can mess up the Rockets offensive game plan. The Rockets are tired having played a game yesterday, so the earlier they can do this, the better. If the Bulls play up-tempo right from the beginning, this should put the Rockets down by a big margin early. [*]<font color=""black"">Defend the 3 point Line</font> - Like the Bulls the Rockets are just as capable of putting a lot of outside shots with their roster so always be alert to defend the open man especially with the double team TMac commands. [/list] <div align="center"></div> The Bulls got some rest last night, unfortunately the Rockets had to play one. This should be an interesting match up. Both teams average the same amount of turn overs per game, and shoot the same 37% from 3, rebound well, and play great D. The Rockets win over the Bulls 109-90.
Who would win a 7 game series, a healthy Lakers or a healthy Rockets? I say that because we met them when they had Odom for half a game and we didn't have T-Mac the 2 games we played them. We just lost to KG, and they just beat the hot Mavericks. All I know is I can't wait till this Wednesday, I thought I had that game preview, turns out it's Mag (I believe).
We'll have some trouble guarding Gordon off the bench for sure. The guy's been on a roll. The Rockets should try to continue attacking the basket and finding Battier in the corners for threes. The guy's an amazingly efficient shooter and if we can get him 15 shots, we should be in a much better position to win. Of course, we'll also need TMac to get 30+, althought that's not been a problem of late.
T-Mac is going to have an eye-oppening night from the 3 point line. Heads 3 point streak will end tonight, or he will have a pretty good night from 3. Locke, where did you get that quote in your sig from?
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">T-Mac is going to have an eye-oppening night from the 3 point line. Heads 3 point streak will end tonight, or he will have a pretty good night from 3. Locke, where did you get that quote in your sig from?</div> It's from this thread. I was looking at it the other day for comedic purposes. EDIT: I'm sorry, it's actually this. Both are on the same subject though.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's from this thread. I was looking at it the other day for comedic purposes. EDIT: I'm sorry, it's actually this. Both are on the same subject though.</div> lol, my favorite one is by BigD_95 <font size=""2"">"***He just had 30 points agaisnt the bulls, last time he did that was in Feb*** yea and didnt Jon Barry have 30 pts the one night? Having a good game here and there is a far cry from being a consistent great player. There is no reason why a 7' 6 all star player shouldn't be averaging more then 18pts and 8 rbs a game. Then to think that with T-Mac out, Yao is the focus of the team and that's the best he can do. Sorry, but Yao is just a good role player. He isnt an All Star player. He cant carry a team. I never see him dominate the boards on a consistent basis. Yao is just over hyped. The sooner we realize this the less we get frustrated. Personally I find Yao to be the most frustrating player in the NBA. He drops too many passes, loses to many rebounds, picks up too many cheap fouls, gets pushed around to much under the basket. Its actually hard to watch him at times. Until Yao can average 25 pts and 12 rebs he is either underachieving or is a good role player."</font> Well, not exactly 12 reb, but it's only his 5th year in the league. All Yao does is go up stat wise. What boggles me is if Yao was 23-10. I think that's an all-star at least. An all-star center would be at least 18/9 imho. Too high expectations for Yao Ming. And my favorite is this post by the same fool. "I just checked the stats. Yao come up as 24 on Rebs. That's a joke! Like I said he cant FREAKING REBOUND! Anyone who can control the glass should average 10 Rebs a game!!" LOL, Yao came up as 24th in the whole entire NBA, yet he continues to say Yao can't rebound. Yao was like 8.6 at that time, 2 short of KG who in his opinion is a superstar rebounder.
Mauer just T-up Dike.....what a moron!!!!!!! What the hell!! Is the NBA going to T-up everyone that has an emotional outburst!!!! Maybe Arenas will get a T for yelling "Habachi".
<div class="quote_poster">WildHundreds113 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">this game is almost as boring as the 2003 finals.</div> What are you talking about? This was a great game!!!!!!!!! T-Mac again playing the way I'd hoped he'd play all season!!!!!!
Man what a great game. Mutombo: great rebounds and great blocks. I dont understand why he got a technical for waving the finger when he's been doing it for his entire life. Howard: another good game hitting some key baskets at the end of 3rd and beggining of 4th to give us the lead. Tmac: Oh man! What a great game. I am finally starting to see the old Tmac, the guy right now is playing like Kobe, hitting tough fadeaways and J'ing the mess out of people. He hit those 2 3-pointers in the early 4th quarter which helped a lot. McGrady's shots have been falling in lately. Tmac is playing great, lets hope he can keep his numbers till Yao is back. Alston: He finally scored in the 3rd quarter I believe. He's been struggling these days with his shot and I hope he gets in his rhythm again. But he did hit some cold-blooded 3's in the 4th. Also, like tinyballer said, Yao can wait and take his time coming back. Man Rockets are looking good. Lets hope they can start a winning streak and catch up to Jazz/Spurs in the playoff picture. Also: Did Luther hit a three-pointer? I am too lazy to go look it up.
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Also: Did Luther hit a three-pointer? I am too lazy to go look it up.</div> Yeah Luther did hit a 3. I think he was 2 for 6 from beyond the arc and his streak for making a three in a ball game extends to 34 games.. BTW he leads the NBA with 33 three pointers made in the "4th quarter". Excellent decision by JVG to substitute Alston and let Battier guard Gordon. Alston was burned out by Gordon and can't do anything to stop him.
Skip is playin like a scared little school girl. He better pick his game up before the trade deadline. Tmac played like superman in the 2nd half and Howard came thru as expected To his credit, JVG inserted Hayes in on the last possession and him & Battier made a great defensive play on Gordon. Also, Hayes got a nice offensive rebound in which Tmac missed the 3 (but nice play however). I'm proud of the team as a whole, great win!!
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Skip is playin like a scared little school girl. He better pick his game up before the trade deadline. Tmac played like superman in the 2nd half and Howard came thru as expected To his credit, JVG inserted Hayes in on the last possession and him & Battier made a great defensive play on Gordon. Also, Hayes got a nice offensive rebound in which Tmac missed the 3 (but nice play however). I'm proud of the team as a whole, great win!!</div> I agree, great team effort. Wasn't Hayes playing for most of the fourth quarter, however? He wasn't just inserted in the last possession.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agree, great team effort. Wasn't Hayes playing for most of the fourth quarter, however? He wasn't just inserted in the last possession.</div> Howard was playin and then JVG inserted Hayes in for a stretch......
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Howard was playin and then JVG inserted Hayes in for a stretch......</div> By "a stretch", you mean the entire fourth quarter right? Chuck was subbed in for Deke at the end of the third quarter. He never returned to the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Howard was playin and then JVG inserted Hayes in for a stretch......</div> Ever since Yao got injured, Hayes got quite a few minutes on the floor with Howard. It's not like Deke can play all 48 minutes. I think this goes to show why you are not aware of Chuck (and what he brings) at all. You focus too much on whats happening with the ball and not away.
