<div align="center"> <font color="red">Houston Rockets (47-28)</font> vs <font color="black">Portland Trail Blazers (30-44)</font> Friday, April 6, 2007, Toyota Center, Houston, TX 7:30 Central; Ch.51, SportsRadio 610 AM <font color="red"> <font size="1">(R. Alston, T. McGrady, S. Battier, C. Hayes, Y. Ming)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Yao Ming - 24.7 PPG Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 9.7 RPG Assists Leader: Tracy McGrady - 6.3 APG </font> <font color="black"> <font size="1">(J. Jack, B. Roy, I. Udoka, R. LaFrentz, J. Magloire)</font></font> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Brandon Roy - 16.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Jamaal Magloire - 5.7 RPG Assists Leader: Jarrett Jack - 5.4 APG </font> <font size=""1""><font color="red">Luther Head (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1"><div align="center">27.3 MPG, 10.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.4 APG</div></font><font size=""1""><font color="black">Travis Outlaw (6th Man)</font></font> <font size="1">21.8 MPG, 8.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 0.8 APG</font> Predictions: <font color=""Red"">Rockets 94</font>, Blazers 86</div> Keys To The Game: <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> T-Mac is questionable for this game against the Blazers so the Rockets really need to do good to stay with Utah because they had a terrible loss against the Warriors. Yao has started now to get on the offensive side of games and defense on games and he is slowly recovering back to the player he was before his injury. The Rockets had a bad offensive game after losing to the Warriors. Bonzi may also play in this game if JVG lets him so it will be good for the Rockets. T-Mac needs to continue the offense but also now the Rockets need to start using Yao on offense alot because the Rockets will need it for the playoffs. The homecourt race is still on because that game was big but the Rockets can still get homecourt but they need to keep winning and hope the Jazz lose not to mention one more matchup against the Jazz. The Rockets defense needs to continue and they need to lower the opp ppg. We have to contain Jarrett Jack and Brandon Roy because they are great shooters. The Rockets really need to contain Brandon Roy because he is a threat on the offensive end and is a hustle player. This game is needed for the Rockets so they can start a new streak for these final games before the playoffs. Juwan has been in a slump for a while and luther head has been injured for this small strech so the Rockets really need Juwan to make shots that are open because they need some bench scoring. The Rockets need to rebound, score, and defend. Ime Udoka and Raef LaFrentz are big players too so they need to contain them. The Rockets will have trouble guarding Roy but they need to do their best on him. If T-Mac can play and Luther can do what he did against the Warriors the Rockets should do good. The Rockets have to contain the penetration of Jarrett Jack. <font color=""Red"">Luther Head hit some 3's!! </font> <font color=""black"">Blazers:</font> Keep Tmac from scoring more than 30 if he plays. The Blazers need to rebound and get points in the paint and make open 3 pointers. They also need alot of transition points and need to control the pace by pushing the ball up every chance they can get so they can ware Yao down. Roy should continue what he is doing and keep scoring on and on. The Blazers should give the ball to Jack because he is a good scorer and run plays for Outlaw. Fred Jones will come off the bench so he needs to contribute well and they also need Magloire to score. The bench needs to produce and Outlaw needs to give them energy with points and rebounds. LaFrentz is also a key player because he is offensive minded and he can help the Blazers on the offensive end. LaFrentz needs to use his perimeter offense to force the Rockets to open the paint a little bit. Use Roy to space out the offense and give Magloire the ball from time to time on offense to score on Yao so he can ware Yao down. The Blazers need to do what they did against the Jazz so they can win. The offense needs to go through Jack and Roy. The Blazers need to just do what they are doing best and score in transition. The Blazers, if the game comes down to the line, have to find a way to get the ball in to Roy's hand. Cover luther head on 3's! <font color=""Black"">Bottom Line:</font> This is the game that will help the Rockets closer to getting homecourt advantage again after they lost against the Warriors. The Rockets cannot take any team lightly because you can see the Warriors just took one from the Rockets and they cant let the Blazers do that. There is a probability that McGrady might not play but it is a game time decision so hopefully he plays. The Blazers won against the Jazz on Wednesday so they will be hungry for this win because they have confidence. Rpy is a tough player and is good at scoring so the Rockets have to be ready. The Rockets mainly need to score because you cannot win a game if you do not score. All the Rockets need to do is pickup their offense and defense and not play Lazy then they will win. If the Rockets can close the game out well they will come away with the victory. The Blazers are still a tough team to beat because they have Magloire at the C to contain Yao and LaFrentz at PF and they are both tough players, nonetheless the Rockets should do good. The Rockets lost the game earlier in Portland but they need to get this win just to stay with Utah. There is no report of Bonzi playing but JVG said he may consider it now that T-Mac is probable. The Blazers will really come out strong so the Rockets need to do their best and execute in crunch time in the 4th quarter because if you dont, you will lose the game. Hope for a great game at the Toyota Center and may the best team win.
I hope T-mac's okay. Good thing Utah lost to Portland yesterday to still put them only 1.5 games ahead. whew! Lets win this one!
Well JVG might just be resting his stars and giving some other less-used players a chance to prove their worth prior to the playoffs. If Bonzi doesn't make use of this chance then he's really a bust.
it says yao is out with a sore back ...he said he is in pain when sitting down...wants to miss sunday game against sac too..hope the MM combo will b healthy soon
Let them rest up for the playoffs. Hopefully they can return to full strength. Edit: Don't really care that we lost, but that game was torture to watch. The officials kept calling blocking fouls on Hayes just because he is Chuck Hayes.
Waddaya know, the Jazz blew a 17 point lead against Sac-Town. I hope they never find their groove. The Rockets had to lose the last 2 games, now I'm
the rockets peaked too early this season, ever since the all-star break we have been a mediocre team....I understand we didn't have Yao or Tmac last night, but Portland didn't have Randolph yet they still looked like they were running some sort of offense
<div class="quote_poster">Blurr#7 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hmm wonder if we'll still win 50 games.................</div> Thats what I was hoping..Actually I wanted us to win at LEAST 52 games to surpass our 51 wins two seasons ago. Now that seems kind of hard to reach with our injuries and the team's play as of late
