<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (30-17)</font> vs <font color="blue">Grizzlies (12-36)</font> Tuesday, February 6, 2007, FedEx Forum, Memphis 7:00 Central; FSNSW, NBATV, 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 - 23.8 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dikembe Mutombo - 6.8 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.2 APG </font></div> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="blue"> <font size="1">(D. Stoudamire, D. Jones, M. Miller, L. Roberts, P. Gasol)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Pau Gasol - 20.3 PPG Leading Rebounder: Pau Gasol - 8.3 RPG Assists Leader: Damon Stoudamire - 4.6 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">28.9 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.4 APG</div></font> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="blue">Chucky Atkins (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">28.0 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 4.6 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 105</font>, Grizzlies 85</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac is coming off a great game against the Wolves as well as the Rockets are too. The Grizzlies have become a terrible defensive team now since the coaching change so the Rockets need to hold the Grizzlies and score. Yesterday's win was a great one and we got to rest most of the starters in the 4th quarter so I don't think fatigue will factor too much. Deke needs to stay out of foul trouble against Gasol and the Rockets just need to win against this team because this team is struggling with only 12 wins this season. We have won all 3 matchups against this team and we can sweep them in this game so I look for the Rockets to do good. Gasol will be a key so we need to contain him and Miller has to be guarded at the 3 point line. 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 Damon Stoudamire and Chucky Atkins at the 3-point line and the Rockets should be good. Bonzi was injured in last nights game with a bruise but I look for him to play. And, Luther is coming off a good shooting night last night so I look for him to continue. <font color=""Red"">Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""Blue"">Grizzlies:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30. They have to exploit the matchup of Gasol and Mutumbo because Gasol is very talented. They are coming off a terrible game on Saturday and so they need to recover and focus. The bench needs to produce and Atkins needs to give them energy with points. Miller is also a key player because he can light it up at the 3-point line. Transition offense is a key because its hard to make shots against the rockets in the half court. This team is a great fastbreak team so they should keep running against the Rockets. The offense needs to go through Stoudamire and Atkins. Not much else to say but good luck trying to beat the rockets. Cover luther head on 3's! This game is another must win game for the Rockets. These chippy games are what can get us above Phoenix and Dallas recordwise. After coming of good win against the Wolves, these games help our away record so the Rockets need to win these. Also, we have a chance to sweep the series and it would be good if the Rockets could win this and just be ready for the next game against Dallas rather than lose and no momentum against Dallas. This should be a great matchup for Rafer again because Stoudamire is good. All the Rockets need to do is pickup their defense and not play Lazy then they will be fine. They also need to score the ball because without scoring you cannot win a game. This team is a high scoring team so we will be great hopefully offensively. Hope for a great game and may the best team win.
Nice Preview! It's good to see the Rockets sweeping(4-0) the Grizzlies this season as a payback for last season's 0-4 record. We got also the better end of the trade as Battier became a significant part of the Rockets success. Rudy Gay is not ready yet for primetime. He got the opportunity when Pau was out but did not take advantage of it. Now he's been given lesser minutes.
I was watching the game with a friend and with Rudy Gay in the game, we got some serious cracks...unintentionally. When T-Mac dunked the ball, I waited to see the replay in order to see who he got, and I said "Oh, that was gay." My friend said"no it wasn't," and he got all defensive saying that it was badass and T-Mac slammed it hard or something like that. Then I told him that I meant he dunked it on gay, not that the dunk was gay. It happened more than once, but in different contexts and they got us a couple of cheap laughs. Kind of immature, but I am sure it's going to happen to a lot of NBA fans. Anyways that was a great game, after Gay blocked T-Mac, he started going off on Rudy. Nice preview tracymcgrady_01
