<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#c8362d"><span style="font-family:Impact">Toronto</span> </span></span><span style="color:#c8362d">(23-38)</span> vs. <span style="color:#C5011E"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Impact">Houston</span></span></span> <span style="color:#C5011E">(38-22)</span> </div> <div align="center"> When: Tuesday March 3rd, 2008 @ 8:30 PM EST Where:Toyota Center, Houston, TX TV/Radio: TSN2, FAN 590 </div> <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:Impact"><u>THOUGHTS ON THE GAME</u></span></div></span> The Rockets have won 6 of their last 7, while Toronto's trying to break a 2 game losing streak (if it applies to wins, it should apply to losses). I don't think I need to spell out the momentum of both teams. I can sit here and type all sorts of encouraging words, but the fact is that our "untouchable" building blocks have been outplayed by role players of late. This team is entirely disheartening. But apparently they're a good enough product to put on a inaccessible premium sports channel. Go figure <span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Impact"><u>STARTING LINEUPS</u></span></div></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Jose Calderon - Anthony Parker - Shawn Marion - Chris Bosh - Andrea Bargnani</span> <span style="color:#C5011E">Aaron Brooks - Ron Artest - Shane Battier - Luis Scola - Yao Ming</span></div> <span style="font-family:Impact"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><div align="center"><u>KEY MATCHUP</u></div></span></span> <div align="center"> <span style="color:#c8362d">Shawn Marion</span> vs. <span style="color:#C5011E">Shane Battier</span></div> Marion's absence against the Mavericks (from flu symptoms) really blindsided most of us. I guess he wasn't kidding when he said the weather up here was bothering him. He's listed as questionable for tonight, but I listed him in the starting lineup anyways. The truth is, we might actually be overmatched at every single position tonight. Looking merely at individual talent, that might be hard to believe. But the Rockets are playing strong team basketball lately and even if their individual totals may not stand out, each point/rebound/assist/steal from every player is unwasted and contributing to winning efforts. Contrast that to the Raptors, where you can expect 2 or 3 players to have a solid game each night, but its ultimately meaningless and wasted because they're never on par with their teammates. The point I'm sloppily trying to make is that, unless everyone on our roster is on the same page, individuals statistics and matchups are pointless to analyze. And Shawn Marion figures in strongly, in that respect. Without him, we just lack chemistry. We take huge hits in defense, rebounding, and offensive consistency. The Raps need Marion to suit up tonight to make this game the least bit meaningful.
I figure, after this season, we need as much cheering up as we can get. Might as well start by bringing back the hot girls:
indian men have had an incredible past few years from dominating the list of the wealthiest men in the world to political strides but the greatest achievement by the indian man has been arun nayer's conquest of liz hurley.
i say the chinese massage therapist they have, he looks bright. in the amidst of triano's daily massage with the "happy ending"- the massage therapist must have slipped in the suggestion.
I think I read once that Reggie Miller admitted she was a better player when they were in college. I think that's what they meant.
