<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> March 2, 2007 - 10:30 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#FF0000">Houston Rockets</span> <span style="color:#000000">(35-22)</span><span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Rafer Alston</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Juwan Howard</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Dikembe Mutombo</span><span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Luther Head, Chuck Hayes, Bonzi Wells, John Lucas III, Jake Tsakalidis</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver Nuggets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(28-28)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Yakhouba Diawara</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Marcus Camby</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Steve Blake, Eduardo Najera, Linas Kleiza, Reggie Evans</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming will not play (fractured right tibia)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">J.R. Smith will not play (recovering from knee surgery)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Kenyon Martin is out for season (recovering from microfracture surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 24.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.1 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.3 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Dikembe Mutombo</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 3.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">As A Starter: 5.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.6 bpg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 30.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.2 apg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 28.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.1 spg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Nugget: 26.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.1 spg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Marcus Camby</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 11.5 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 3.0 bpg</span>Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Yakhouba Diawara</span><span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">5.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.1 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Houston's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span><span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.3 apg</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Battier always brings it, he's always consistent, especially defensively. He needs to do his job tonight: try to contain Carmelo.</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 11.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene has been a little inconsistent offensively the past couple weeks, but as a starter he has stepped up some nights. Outside of Mutombo, who will be with Camby anyway, Houston's interior defense isn't anything special. They can't handle Nene if he gets it going. He needs to get it going tonight. That will not only give them a guy to go to in the post for the night, but it draws attention of the perimeter defenders as well, leaving guys like AI/Melo/Blake open a little more.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span></div><span style="color:#000000">Battier will get more looks on Melo defensively, but these two guys are both incredible players. Both are one of the best offensive players in the game, without question. Both score in many ways, both do other things. Both are explosive. Both are capable of going for 40 on any night, and both can score in bunches if you're not careful. Watch out!</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesIf Denver can get out and run early, they can win this one. But if Houston controls the tempo of the game, it's all Houston. Whoever sets the tone early will be in the best position to win this game, IMO. CelticBalla's PredictionI think it's going to be an awesome game, but I'm going with Houston. They've lost their last 2 games to Atlantic Division teams, they should come out with a desire to get win for redemption.
Thanks for the little scouting report. :happy0144: I am obviously rooting for the Nuggets, but Houston is going to one tuff hurdle if AI, an Mello have to carry it by themselves. Ive been looking foward to this game all week. :winkglasses:
Rockets win!Wow, Mutombo was a MONSTER on the boards today. 22 rebounds. We had 51 rebounds altogether. McGrady led this team to victory today as usual. I don't really got much to say right now. I'm pretty sleepy.
Denver didn't play well at all. Like I said in the preview, whoever controlled the tempo in this game was going to win it - Houston did just that. They slowed down the tempo and played excellent defense, as always. T-Mac had a nice night, he slowed down a bit at the end of the game but he gave them a big lift. They were nailing 3's, especially Battier. Mutombo owned the boards.AI really didn't have a great night, Melo didn't necessarily shoot his best either. Camby was swatting shots, but he was a complete non-factor offensively. Too many mistakes, they were murdered on the glass, and Houston controlled the tempo of the game.
As JVG said, Houston is small compared to many college teams. The fact that they killed Denver on the boards is pathetic.Very nice game for T-Mac in 1st half. He slowed donw a ton in 2nd half, going from 50% shooting to below 40% shooting. Nontheless, he had 28/7/6, and really did a great job controlling the game. Everyone else for Rockets played really well.About a week or so until Yao returns. Houston will scary anyone in the playoffs. Hopefully this is the year T-Mac escapes the 1st round.
Houston is fair small ..except for there centersjake 7'2, dikembe 7'2 & yao 7'6 lolI just relised they have some real tall centers on there roster.good game btw.
Yao is hurt and Jake hasn't played all year. Mutombo has been the only constant. After him, they have Juwan Howard, and then undersized players who play PF in Hayes and Battier.
I only seen the 4th Q, but is it me, or every time I watch Denver they are always losing? I thought A.I and Melo would work out, but it seems it isn't so far. Maybe they need more time to play, but A.I is 34, he wants a ring soon. IMO, Cleveland should of moved in on him, he is the kinda PG that they needed to go over the hill, and they missed out on him. Anyway, Denver needs to start winning, before it's to late. I'm sadly rooting for them because they got A.I, other wise, I wouldn't.
wow mutombo 22 rebounds and he's almost 41! nice win for the rockets. hopefully they can use this win to help them against the spurs.
It's surprising that a team with Camby at center is so bad defensively. I guess a strong defensive center is not always enough.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Mar 3 2007, 06:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's surprising that a team with Camby at center is so bad defensively. I guess a strong defensive center is not always enough.</div>Our interior defense is fine, It's the guys on the wing that give up most of the points.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cavsrules @ Mar 3 2007, 02:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I only seen the 4th Q, but is it me, or every time I watch Denver they are always losing? I thought A.I and Melo would work out, but it seems it isn't so far. Maybe they need more time to play, but A.I is 34, he wants a ring soon. IMO, Cleveland should of moved in on him, he is the kinda PG that they needed to go over the hill, and they missed out on him. Anyway, Denver needs to start winning, before it's to late. I'm sadly rooting for them because they got A.I, other wise, I wouldn't.</div>AI is 31... not 34. But offense isn't Denver's problem, it's defense.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Mar 3 2007, 05:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's surprising that a team with Camby at center is so bad defensively. I guess a strong defensive center is not always enough.</div>Like Tony said, the interior defense is alright, but the perimeter defense is what is killing Denver. Surprisingly Iverson hasn't been too much of a culprit in that department (although he has his moments of blowing assignments, but for the most part he is hustling on defense like he hasn't done since 2001), but Carmelo doesn't exert enough energy defensively, and everybody out there alongside AI and Melo on the perimeter (except for Diawara) is basically the same way.Part of the problem though is that these guys are basically playing that way because they feel that Nene and Camby will have their back and block or alter the shot... which they haven't been doing for the most part. Camby doesn't come out to defend his man on the pick-and-roll, and when the perimeter guys get beat he rarely goes up to contest the shot. Either that has to change, or George Karl needs to work harder on getting it through his player's heads that the big men won't always be their to bail them out. He needs to preach defensive responsibility and accountability. I think a full training camp might help them out in that department though. Either way they aren't going to do much damage this season. It's not a two week process, nor is it a two month process. The trade gave them a window of a few years or more to possibly contend for a title.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Mar 3 2007, 04:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Our interior defense is fine, It's the guys on the wing that give up most of the points.</div>You would think the perimeter defenders would guard their man closer knowing they can trust their center to clog the middle. At least that is what Dallas does.
