<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (24-13)</font> vs <font color="purple">Kings (14-19)</font> Saturday, January 13, 2007, Arco Arena, Sacramento 9:00 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 - 21.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Chuck Hayes - 6.7 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.2 APG </font></div> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(M. Bibby, K. Martin, R. Artest, S. Abdur-Rahim, B. Miller)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kevin Martin - 21.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Kenny Thomas - 7.3 RPG Assists Leader: Mike Bibby - 5.8 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">28.3 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.6 APG</div></font> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="purple">John Salmons (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">29.6 MPG, 9.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 95</font>, Kings 81</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac is struggling with the back so others need to make shots because he was ice cold in Denver. Play some good D but this team is really not a threat offensively. Howard needs to score on the wide open jumpshots. Mutumbo more BLOCKS!!! Guard Kevin Martin because he's dangerous and basically give the ball to battier if everyone else is struggling. <font color=""Red"">let Luther Head hit another 3!! </font> <font color=""purple"">Kings:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30 and let Kevin Martin shoot most of the time. Ron Artest needs to provide offensively to along with Mike Bibby and Brad Miller. Use Miller to your advantage on the outside jumpers and try to make the Rockets shoot 3's instead of easy layups. Cover luther head on 3's! This game is going to be pretty good. They are a good team with Kevin Martin and he is a dangerous scorer. Ron Artest is also a good defender so that will be key when he guards T-Mac but I bet Shane Battier will carry his momentum from Denver's game on to this one so he will be a big time shot make if this game comes down to the wire. Unfortuanetly, T-Mac was stiff before the game in Denver, lets just hope he's fine before this game to play.
We tried to lose this game a few times but at the end we got another important win. Excellent game by Tracy McGrady with some killing shots especially the 2 3's that gave us the necessary margin to lead and win in the OT.
Oh, and I forgot! Another impressive game by Deke, with 11 pts (7-8 FT), 18 rebounds, and a decisive tip shot in the overtime.
The starting 5 and Luther had great games today. Battier has really picked up his scoring with Yao out. Rafer hit some big shots. The Rockets finally passed up the Lakers to take the 5th seed. The LAL have a pretty tough schedule (as do we, but we've had many tougher road stretches this season) coming up with Miami (won 4 straight), SA, DAL, and NOK (won 2 straight). Ron Artest hit a couple of lucky three pointers. One bounced off the rim and almost hit the shot clock and still went in. + the banked shot with S. Battier right in his face to send it to OT. -- Anyone know the status on Shane Battier? He hit his head on the floor, it looked gruesome, and just left the court.
Pretty perfect game for Houston. And I'm so glad that T-Mac made a huge game after those last 2 games, when he was off. BTW: When Yao returns ?
<div class="quote_poster">Flow Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Pretty perfect game for Houston. And I'm so glad that T-Mac made a huge game after those last 2 games, when he was off. BTW: When Yao returns ?</div> What? Pretty perfect? The game went to overtime!!!! I don't call that perfect. But a win's a win.
Damn, another great game by Deke. How exactly did we let Corliss Williamson go off for 30 points? I'd imagine that Howard was on him most of the game?
Last time we went to OT with the Kings, it was during our great 04-05 season. Bibby inbounded the ball to Webber, who faked the pass back to Bibby, then turned around and hit the 3. They went on to win it, unlike this time. Kevin Martin is a pest, he can draw fouls and go to the line so easily. No wonder he averages 21ppg. <div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Damn, another great game by Deke. How exactly did we let Corliss Williamson go off for 30 points? I'd imagine that Howard was on him most of the game?</div> Yea Howard covered Shareef Abdur Rahim who got 15 points on 6/7 shooting and Corliss Williamson who got 30 and 12. Him and Deke basically switched off. I am glad defense doesn't show up on fantasy teams because Howard got me 17, 4, 3 on 8-11 shooting. Juwan Howard. Not only did C. Hayes lose his spot in the starting line up, but he has averaged only 15mpg the last 3 games. I hope he picks up his play, it seems like he's not hustling as hard as he use to.
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Not only did C. Hayes lose his spot in the starting line up, but he has averaged only 15mpg the last 3 games. I hope he picks up his play, it seems like he's not hustling as hard as he use to.</div> The last two games he's been totally ineffective. Two games before that, he played pretty well, imo.
Wow what a game! Tmac and Artest went at it. But Tmac showed him some of his old Magic moves at the end of 4th quarter when he drained two big threes in Artests' grill. Tmac played cold, I mean cold-blooded! Hopefully he can keep up his pace till Yao is back. Deke with another stellar rebounding game with 18 and he finally showed some offense in OT when he made that great tip-in to give us a 6 point lead. Great win! GO ROCKETS!!
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Damn, another great game by Deke. How exactly did we let Corliss Williamson go off for 30 points? I'd imagine that Howard was on him most of the game?</div> Or maybe Chuck Hayes sent him to the free throw line 15times
<div class="quote_poster">AznxBaller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">^Only because Hayes fouled a total of four times.</div> Well he usually fouls out midway thru the 4th quarter.....what a defensive juggernot
<div class="quote_poster">dakeem1 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What? Pretty perfect? The game went to overtime!!!! I don't call that perfect. But a win's a win.</div>Well, I like Houston and T-Mac is one of my favourite players. It was a close and interesting game and in the end, the Rockets won and Tracy had a great game. I like games like these, the best ones for a fan.
