<div align="center"> at <font color=""Red"">Houston Rockets</font> (52-29) at <font color=""Navy"">Utah Jazz</font> (50-31)</div> Date: Wednesday 18th April, 7:00 PM (MST) Location: EnergySolutions Arena Local TV: KJZZ / FSNSW National TV: NBALP Last Game <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> Suns 117 at Rockets 120 <font color=""Navy"">Jazz:</font> Blazers 93 at Jazz 130 Streak <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> Won 5 <font color=""navy"">Jazz:</font> Won 1 Last Ten <font color=""Red"">Rockets:</font> 7-3 <font color=""Navy"">Jazz:</font> 3-7 <div align="center">Projected Starters <font color=""Red"">Rockets</font> <font size=""1"">Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, Yao Ming</font> <font color=""Navy"">Jazz</font> <font size=""1"">Deron Williams, Derek Fisher, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur</font></div> Prediction Jazz aim to make a statement, win by 10
Preview of Playoffs.. Sorry Jazz fans, but Mr. McGrady and Yao Ming will just torture the Jazz on their homecourt.
Both Yao and McGrady are sitting this one out, on the basis that Van Gundy can't risk injury or unnecessary fatigue. Sloan isn't sitting anyone out though, "you play the game and do everything you can to try to win, I don't know how else to try to do it." Exactly.
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Preview of Playoffs.. Sorry Jazz fans, but Mr. McGrady and Yao Ming will just torture the Jazz on their homecourt.</div> Houston has got some confident fans on this forum. I don't see why they are that confident..... it's most likely going to be close.
<div class="quote_poster">Marbire Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Houston has got some confident fans on this forum. I don't see why they are that confident..... it's most likely going to be close.</div> Don't worry, no Houston fans are thinking it's a blowout, but you'd have to agree that the Rockets are the favorites here. TMac's play the past two weeks have been out of this world and Yao has been solid as well. The lineup is meshing well together and with homecourt, it's plausible to think that the Rockets could win in 5 or 6 games. However, one problem will be how Yao will fare against Okur, as Hayes would most likely be on Boozer. If Okur can get his shot going and make Yao come out on defense, it'd leave space for the Utah wing players to get into the lane.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Don't worry, no Houston fans are thinking it's a blowout, but you'd have to agree that the Rockets are the favorites here. TMac's play the past two weeks have been out of this world and Yao has been solid as well. The lineup is meshing well together and with homecourt, it's plausible to think that the Rockets could win in 5 or 6 games. However, one problem will be how Yao will fare against Okur, as Hayes would most likely be on Boozer. If Okur can get his shot going and make Yao come out on defense, it'd leave space for the Utah wing players to get into the lane.</div> I expect Yao will guard Boozer and Hayes will guard Okur, actually. That was plan last time, and Yao generally only got stuck on Okur when the Rockets failed to cross match in transition.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I expect Yao will guard Boozer and Hayes will guard Okur, actually. That was plan last time, and Yao generally only got stuck on Okur when the Rockets failed to cross match in transition.</div> That somehow slipped my mind, thanks. Regardless of who Yao is guarding though, he'll be in a mismatch. Boozer has the quickness to beat Yao off the dribble. I think Yao will do fine but Boozer will get his numbers. On the other end of the court though Yao should be more dominant over Okur.
<div class="quote_poster">Marbire Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Houston has got some confident fans on this forum. I don't see why they are that confident..... it's most likely going to be close.</div> I know, these guys are getting ridiculous. Utah always plays good when they're the underdogs, so this might help considering the only people that think Utah will win are Jazz fans. So Utah will practically have no pressure IMO, all the pressure will be on Yao & T-Mac to perform how they have all year. Utah is also getting AK back who they haven't had in awhile, they were playing bad but part of it was not having AK cuz he's the glue guy. Even though he's had a sub-par year, he is still a big part of this team. I'm tired of hearing everyone saying Houston is going to own Utah in 5-6 games, I just want to get this thing on the road cuz I have that feeling Utah will win this series in 5 games
