<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (26-16)</font> vs <font color="black">Blazers (18-25)</font> Friday, January 26, 2007, Toyota Center, Houston 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 - 23.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dikembe Mutombo - 6.6 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.3 APG </font></div> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="black"> <font size="1">(J. Jack, B. Roy, I. Udoka, Z. Randolph, J. Przybilla)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Zach Randolph - 23.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Zach Randolph - 10.3 RPG Assists Leader: Jarrett Jack - 5.5 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">29.1 MPG, 11.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.4 APG</div></font> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="black">Martell Webster (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">21.3 MPG, 7.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 84</font>, Blazers 72</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac is coming off a big game in San Antonio and looks to be healthy. Rockets have to dominate this game and basically close it out. Dont let the Blazers back in after we have the lead and just play hard. Mutumbo more BLOCKS!!! Dont give the lead on runs and transition D is a key. Also, don't give up the lead close the end of the 4th quarter. Contain Przybilla and Randolph and the Rockets should be good. This game is an easy game for the rockets so they need to win it.<font color=""Red"">let Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""black"">Blazers:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30. Blazers should use Przybilla sometimes and rebound. Use Randolph to their advantage because he will have a smaller man on him. Bench needs to produce and let Roy set the offense along with Jack. Not much else to say but good luck trying to beat the rockets. Cover luther head on 3's! This game should be a must win for the Rockets. These chippy games are what can get us above SA and Utah recordwise. Also, we have alot of easy games ahead and we can start a new streak and more momentum goes into each win so it will help if the Rockets win. Hope for a great game at Toyota Center and may the best team win.
Nice preview! The Rockets must take advantage on these five game homestand. All of the opponents have sub .500 record and winning all of these should put the Rockets 15 games above .500. I know it might not be easy co'z an offnight in shooting, defense and performance will ruin the momentum. It's best for the Rockets not to underestimate these teams and just keep on doing what they do best. On these 5 game homestand , it's time for JVG to give playing time to Snyder, Novak, Spanoulis and Lucas. Although you can't acommodate all of them in a game at least by spreading them to these 5 games. You cannot develop a deep bench if these guys were stucked on the bench playing only when there's a blowout.
<div class="quote_poster">blueracer Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview! The Rockets must take advantage on these five game homestand. All of the opponents have sub .500 record and winning all of these should put the Rockets 15 games above .500. I know it might not be easy co'z an offnight in shooting, defense and performance will ruin the momentum. It's best for the Rockets not to underestimate these teams and just keep on doing what they do best. On these 5 game homestand , it's time for JVG to give playing time to Snyder, Novak, Spanoulis and Lucas. Although you can't acommodate all of them in a game at least by spreading them to these 5 games. You cannot develop a deep bench if these guys were stucked on the bench playing only when there's a blowout.</div> For some reason, I get really nervous when rockets play a subpar team.
Keep em' coming tracymcgrady01 <div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">For some reason, I get really nervous when rockets play a subpar team.</div> During the 04-05 season I felt the same way, but this season we have shown a lot more consistency. We beat the sorry teams and mostly lose to the better teams of the NBA. I really think we are the second best team in the league with a full healthy roster. We just need our full/healthy rotation to get some chemistry together. I hope we meet SA in the 2nd round. I would much rather see them rather than PHO. <div class="quote_poster">blueracer Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> On these 5 game homestand , it's time for JVG to give playing time to Snyder, Novak, Spanoulis and Lucas. Although you can't acommodate all of them in a game at least by spreading them to these 5 games. You cannot develop a deep bench if these guys were stucked on the bench playing only when there's a blowout.</div> Yea I miss Snyder's presence on the court and want to see Span get some PT. Snyder was the only one on the Rockets to attack the rim and make hard cuts to the basket (T-Mac use to attack, but not as much anymore with it just being regular season and his back issues). It sucks that JVG can't fully utilize Spanoulis penetrating abilities. Lets see, we play POR, PHI, SEA, NOK, and MIN. I hope we can pull 4/5 then beat MEM the next game.
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Lets see, we play POR, PHI, SEA, NOK, and MIN. I hope we can pull 4/5 then beat MEM the next game.</div> I'll be disappointed if we don't win all 6 of those games. We have a great opportunity to make a push for that 5th seed (or 3rd seed if San Antonio continues to slump, but that's less likely). We shouldn't blow it.
Man we have a chance to go on a 7 game winning streak if we keep on playing good. We need to take advantage of our home stand and get a streak going and climb up in the seedings.
We can win all 7 games, but this Portland team is dangerous. They have just as much young talent than anybody in the league. Plus theiy're overrall team speed might give us problems. Hopefully we'll overcome......
Well, McGrady decides to kill this game in the 3rd (hopely). I'm courious to see if JVG will use Novak and Spanoulis in the 4th for at least 5 minutes....
<div class="quote_poster">DaRocket Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm courious to see if JVG will use Novak and Spanoulis in the 4th for at least 5 minutes....</div> Here they come, with less than 3:00 left and Rockets leading by 30+
I guess JVG wanted to make sure we got the win. I still think Span should have got more time to put up or shut up. I found it funny how JVG put Novak in before Span.
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I guess JVG wanted to make sure we got the win. I still think Span should have got more time to put up or shut up. I found it funny how JVG put Novak in before Span.</div> Should have put them much early in the 4th. The Blazers already flashed the white flag when McMillan chose to bench his starting five the whole 4th quarter. 3 minutes is a very short time for a player to get warmed up. Of course Head and Lucas will be the go to guy leaving Novak, Padgett and Spanoulis to contend for leftover opportunities. Maybe the Rockets should build a 40 point lead in the 3rd before JVG decides to give these poor bench warmers the whole 4th quarter.
The Portland guards must have had nightmares of TMac rising and shooting TMac, Ray Allen, Arenas have the best looking in your face jump shots Portland has a ton of young talent. JVG made a point of getting the ball to Bonzi in the post and some good things happened.
Man last night was the first time all season that I was actually bored at a game....the blazers organization should give all toyota center fans half of their money back, because there was only one team playing basketball last night.
