<div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets (35-22)</font> vs <font color="deepskyblue">Nuggets (28-28)</font> Friday, March 2, 2007, Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 9:30 Central; ESPN, FSNSW, SportsRadio 610 AM <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 - 24.5 PPG Leading Rebounder: Dikembe Mutombo - 7.1 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.1 APG </font> <font color="deepskyblue"> <font size="1">(A. Iverson, Y. Diawara, C. Anthony, Nene, M. Camby)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Carmelo Anthony - 30.4 PPG Leading Rebounder: Marcus Camby -11.7 RPG Assists Leader: Allen Iverson - 7.4 APG </font> <font size=""1""><font color="red">Luther Head (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1"><div align="center">28.0 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG</div></font><font size=""1""><font color="deepskyblue">Steve Blake (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">24.6 MPG, 5.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 4.4 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 95</font>, Nuggets 83</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac had an OK game after the loss to the Raptors. The Rockets have really been struggling agaisnt poor teams and this team is not a poor team. This game can prove alot and what the Rockets can do to prepare for San Antonio with this game. T-Mac needs to score along with everyone else because it will be hard to stop their high powered offense. The last few matchups have been without Carmelo Anthony so we will have to contain him. Juwan Howard has been in a slump shooting the ball and Mutombo has been not rebounding well. The Rockets need to rebound, score, and defend. The first of March needs to start positive with this first game of back to back so we really need this for the hunt of the 3rd/4th seed. <font color=""Red"">Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""deepskyblue"">Nuggets:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30. They have to exploit the matchup of Iverson and Alston because he has the quickness advantage. The Nuggets also need to keep their scoring effiecently because the Rockets will be hungry for this win coming off a few bad losses. Carmelo is back for this matchup for the first time so the Nuggets need to use him. The bench needs to produce and Blake needs to give them energy with points. Nene is also a key player because he has been outstanding and he might pose a problem for the Rockets. The offense needs to go through Iverson and Blake. Diawara needs to give them some energy and Camby needs to defend and rebound inside. Cover luther head on 3's! This game is a big, big game for the Rockets. This game is needed in the win column because the Rockets have been in a slump of late. The Rockets mainly need to score or else they will not win this game. The defense cannot always win the game if you dont score so they really need everyone to score. Denver came off of a win and Rockets off a loss so the Rockets will be more hungry than Denver for this win. All the Rockets need to do is pickup their defense and not play Lazy then they should be in the game. If the Rockets can close the game out well they might come away with the victory. 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 and may the best team win.
now that U did the review, i'm having a feeling that the rockets will take this one! GO ROCKETS!!! (cant wait till yao comes back, AHHHHHH)
I dont think the rockets can beat the nuggets with both carmelo and AI in the lineup. Iverson usually has big games against the rockets and Carmelo has been playing very well all season. Camby and Nene are much younger and more athletic than mutumbo and howard. The whole starting lineup is filled with mismatches in favor of the nuggets. However, with T-mac and Battier alot can happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I dont think the rockets can beat the nuggets with both carmelo and AI in the lineup. Iverson usually has big games against the rockets and Carmelo has been playing very well all season. Camby and Nene are much younger and more athletic than mutumbo and howard. The whole starting lineup is filled with mismatches in favor of the nuggets. However, with T-mac and Battier alot can happen.</div> Probably.. But our Defense can stop those 2.. and make others make shots or at least one.. Battier will be on Carmelo.. So probably AI will be getting the shots to go in.. Now in this matchup Battier finally has someone to guard so we'll see how it goes but your right.. if both score 30 I dont think the rockets can win..
Dikembe Mutombo has undoubtedly gotten younger by ten years! 20 rebounds in 26 minutes! I'm pretty sure that he's the oldest guy to grab 20 rebounds in a game. Juwan Howard is also having a pretty well-rounded game; 7 assists already. Rockets look like they'll take this game.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Dikembe Mutombo has undoubtedly gotten younger by ten years! 20 rebounds in 26 minutes! I'm pretty sure that he's the oldest guy to grab 20 rebounds in a game. Juwan Howard is also having a pretty well-rounded game; 7 assists already. Rockets look like they'll take this game.</div> Lol, he got 4 off. rebs. in one sequence, but missed like 3 tips. Commentary just said Mutombo is the first 40 year old to get 20 rebs in a game.
Dikembe is the X-factor. Since Yao has been out, when Deke plays well we win. When he doesn't, we struggle.
What a win by the Rockets to stop the bleeding. The Rockets finally found their offensive rhythm on the arc. Looks like Mutombo and Camby exchange ages . Good to see Juwan and Deke performing very well against their former team. I hope they can carry the energy tomorrow against the Spurs. Both are playing back to back but the Spurs are much well rested cause they finished early as well they don't have to travel far while the Rockets have to deal with late rest and time difference.
I love Tracy McGrady. He's the only guy that can go 11-28 or whatever and I still like him. Most of those bad shots were when he was up 15 anyway
Rockets seem to be on the money this game. 5 players in double figures, Grady dropped 28 points, Mount. Mutombo 22 rebounds proving he can still do it at age 73. It wasn't really a contest at all throughout the game. Denvers only lead being 2-0 and since then Houston just took over. Rockets shot 14-30 from beyond the arc impressive. I wasn't impressed with the way Iverson played, but congrats you guys got the win, and good luck chasing down Utah and getting Yao back.
<div class="quote_poster">Detroit Madness Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Rockets seem to be on the money this game. 5 players in double figures, Grady dropped 28 points, Mount. Mutombo 22 rebounds proving he can still do it at age 73. It wasn't really a contest at all throughout the game. Denvers only lead being 2-0 and since then Houston just took over. Rockets shot 14-30 from beyond the arc impressive. I wasn't impressed with the way Iverson played, but congrats you guys got the win, and good luck chasing down Utah and getting Yao back.</div> Thank you and welcome to JBB. Bad thing though is that Utah won as well, so our win didn't really give us any advantages.
