<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (33-18)</font> vs <font color="blue">Mavericks (43-9)</font> Thursday, February 15, 2007, Toyota Center, Houston, TX 7:00 Central; TNT, 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 - 7.1 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.2 APG </font></div> [/div] <div align="center"><font color="blue"> <font size="1">(J. Terry, G. Buckner, J. Howard, D. Nowitzki, D. Diop)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Dirk Nowitzki - 25.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dirk Nowitzki - 9.5 RPG Assists Leader: Jason Terry - 5.4 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">28.7 MPG, 11.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG</div></font> [/div] <div align="center"> <font size=""1""><font color="blue">Jerry Stackhouse (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">23.1 MPG, 11.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.2 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 93</font>, Mavericks 90</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac is coming off a great game against the Kings and had an OK shooting night. We need to really control the tempo of this game because last time we had the lead and we lost again because of the 3rd quarter. This is a big test for Rockets again because we played them just last week and now we play them again and we need to even up the series at 2-2. This will also raise our confidence for some of our other games coming up. We cannot give up the lead in 3rd quarter if we have one because the Mavericks never lose if they are winning after the 3rd and we haven't won a game yet this season if we are trailing after 3 quarters. 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 Jason Terry and Josh Howard's jumpshot and the Rockets should be in it. Of course, it will be hard to contain Dirk but we can do our best with Battier or McGrady. Not sure if Bonzi will play in this game but if he doesn't we need points from Battier, Howard, Head, Alson, and others because its not guarenteed McGrady will have a great night. Also, if this is a clutch game, we need Luther's clutch shots and others down the strech. Last game for the Rockets before the All-Star break and we need to finish strong. <font color=""Red"">Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""Blue"">Mavericks:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30. They have to exploit the matchup of Dirk and Howard because he can just shoot right over him. Last game before the All-Star break for the mavs so they need to win to keep their streak alive at 9. They are missing Devean George because of a sprained ankle so buckner will have to defend T-Mac. The bench needs to produce and Stackhouse needs to give them energy with points. Terry is also a key player because he has been struggling in the season and he needs to hit some shots for them. The offense needs to go through Terry and Harris. Howard needs to give them some energy and Diop needs to defend and rebound inside. Cover luther head on 3's! This game is a big, big game for the Rockets. This game will prove that we are an elite team and this is the last game for both teams before the All-Star break. The Mavs are riding an 8-game winning streak so it will be hard game for the Rockets. After coming of a great win against the Kings, the Rockets have had 1 day of rest and so I look for a good game from both teams but I wont be surprised if its a low scoring game. Also, the Rockets can tie this season series up at 2-2 and it is the final matchup between both teams in the regular season. This should be a great matchup for Rafer again because Jason Terry is good. I don't know who will guard Howard, im guessing Battier but he will be tough so the Rockets need to do good offensively. All the Rockets need to do is pickup their defense and not play Lazy then they should be in the game. This team is not a chippy team and they dont mess around and is considered the best team in the NBA not only recordwise but by skill too. The Rockets need to focus on the 3rd quarter and just dont let them come back. If T-Mac has a bad shooting night he has to take it to the basket or someone has to pick up the slack offensively or the Rockets will be toast. Hope for a great game at Toyota Center and may the best team win.
Devean George will miss the game for the Mavs. He's probably the only one who could've shutdown T-Mac. T-Mac should score 40+ easily but the Mavs depth will help steal this one on the road.
<div class="quote_poster">dallasdude Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Devean George will miss the game for the Mavs. He's probably the only one who could've shutdown T-Mac. T-Mac should score 40+ easily but the Mavs depth will help steal this one on the road.</div> whoa whoa whoa, slow down. Now... nobody can shut T-mac down bro.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I have a feeling that we're going to steal this one....</div> Rockets + Rowdies = A good home win!
Rockets need to be aggressive and go to the rack relentlessly!! Settling for 3 pointers and perimeter shots is not gonna do it. Gut check time.
Dallas being without Gump will be bigger than most will think. He was a big reason why T-mac struggled in the past few meetings in Dallas. Looking forward to this one. TNT rules!!
Defense will be a big key for Rockets. If we have the defense, we have the game. I feel McGrady with a big game!
Who cares about George, Yao Ming is out. Man, is it me or does Steve Kerr seem to have some hate towards the Rockets today. Once anouncer says, "There goes that good defense from Houston." Kerr, "Looked like a sloppy pass." It's the first quarter and he is counting us out, "Houston is showing some resiliance." "Houston is one of the worst fast break teams, they are too slow on the break." "T-Mac has to create, or the Rockets will struggle to get anything going offensively." "Juwan Howard has been hot, LATELY(he put emphasis on it)" He takes any chance he gets to praise Dallas especially Dirk. All this and more and it's only the first freakin' quarter. I use to like this guy, but damn it seems like he doesn't like us, possibly because we swept the Bulls, and blew the Spurs out twice. <div class="quote_poster">AllNet Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Dallas being without Gump will be bigger than most will think. He was a big reason why T-mac struggled in the past few meetings in Dallas. Looking forward to this one. TNT rules!!</div> Hmm. 45 points on 17-29 shooting and 20 points on 7-16 shooting hardly seems like struggling to me. Maybe your on to something though.
Anyone else notice that dumb b*tch who keeps screaming everytime the Mavs make a play? Wow thats annoying and you can even hear it on TNT. Did you hear it dream? Edit: Christ, its getting unbearable. Why won't somebody from security shut her up or something, especially since she's clearly a Mavs fan.
<div class="quote_poster">XSV Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone else notice that dumb b*tch who keeps screaming everytime the Mavs make a play? Wow thats annoying and you can even hear it on TNT. Did you hear it dream? Edit: Christ, its getting unbearable. Why won't somebody from security shut her up or something, especially since she's clearly a Mavs fan.</div> Yes yes, she's crazy
Well the Rockets fell apart at the end. The Mavs D was great, but most of the blame for that loss ahs to fall on the screaming b*tch.
NOOOOOO. HEAD SHOULD HAVE PASSED! Oh well. I think JVG should have saved his timeouts, bad move. Hayes was hustling hard, if Juwan Howard just hit those FTs it would have been a different game. I still like having both of them on our team. I hated it when the Rockets fans kept chanting MVP everytime T-Mac went on the line and missed it. <div class="quote_poster">XSV Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone else notice that dumb b*tch who keeps screaming everytime the Mavs make a play? Wow thats annoying and you can even hear it on TNT. Did you hear it dream? Edit: Christ, its getting unbearable. Why won't somebody from security shut her up or something, especially since she's clearly a Mavs fan.</div> Yes she was VERY annoying.
L!!! Not considering the above mentioned FT curse, once again JVG didn't understand a damn thing in the final minutes. Also, a coach with his team out of time outs in the final minute is simply an idiot.
To be honest, my chest has never pounded so hard during a Rockets game. I think we all really wanted that game because we fought so hard on D, and not to mention they are our biggest rivals, and the best team in the league. I missed that SAC game, so other than that I think this was the closest Rockets game I have seen this season. I hated it when the Rockets fans kept chanting MVP everytime T-Mac went on the line and missed it.
We got destroyed on the boards again in the second half. Dallas is simply, flat out, a better team when we don't have both Yao and Tracy playing.
This loss wasn't so bad, it's just a regular season game without Yao Ming against the best season team, record wise, in the league. I want the Rockets to stay under the radar, so they can surprise everyone in the playoffs. Then ESPN and TNT "analysts" will be all over the Rockets acting like 95% of the sh*t they said this season never happened.
<div class="quote_poster">XSV Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well the Rockets fell apart at the end. The Mavs D was great, but most of the blame for that loss ahs to fall on the screaming b*tch.</div> Lol I thought I was the only one that noticed that (I assume you were being sarcastic with the "blame" part of your post). Cheers we (sort of) agree!
Dang man. We had this game in the bag till the second half. We did a good job of not blowing our lead, but we had to close them out if we played good all throughout. Head thinks he is Mr. Big Shot but he isn't. He is not suppose to be the hero. He should've passed it out to McGrady, there was enough time for McGrady to get a good look. Head you sucked!!! We lost yet another game we had a big lead in. But our defense was pretty good though. We held Mavs to 80 points. That's amazing. But when you play good throughout the whole game and don't let the other team get big leads on you, you have to get a win.
