<div align="center"> (4) <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> (5) <span style="font-family:Arial Black"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">HOU leads series 1-0</span></span> April 23, 2007 - 9:30 pm ET <span style="color:#FF0000">Game on TNT</span></div> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah Jazz</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">(0-1)</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">PG</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Deron Williams</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">SG</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Derek Fisher</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">SF</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">PF</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">C</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Mehmet Okur</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Matt Harpring, Gordan Giricek, Jarron Collins, Paul Millsap</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Houston Rockets</span> <span style="color:#000000">(1-0)</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">Chuck Hayes</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Juwan Howard, Luther Head, Dikembe Mutombo, Kirk Snyder</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#000000">HOU:</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Bonzi Wells is not with the team</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Game 1: 11 points, 12 rebounds</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Deron Williams</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Game 1: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Mehmet Okur</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Game 1: 6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Game 1: 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assists, 1 block</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">Game 1: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span> <span style="color:#000000">Game 1: 28 points, 13 rebounds, 1 block</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span> <span style="color:#000000">Game 1: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah's Keys to the Game</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">- Kirilenko must somewhat contain Tracy McGrady. - Make Yao work on both ends of the floor. - Help defense. - Take advantage of the size mismatches (in Utah's favor). - Attack and make sure the easy opportunities don't turn into blown opportunities.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Houston's Keys to the Game</span> <span style="color:#000000">- Make sure the defense is in sync like it has been all year. - Play inside-outside, don't go to either T-Mac or Yao too often. Move it around, make the defense think. - Rebound! Utah is a good rebounding team, Houston needs to make sure they control the glass. - Somebody off the bench needs to have a big impact. - Take advantage of the home court and momentum.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#6666CC">Andrei Kirilenko</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">AK47's defense is key. Can he slow McGrady down? If he can contain T-Mac, Utah would increase their chances of stealing Game 1 immensely.</span> CelticBalla's Prediction Houston played very well in the 2nd half of Game 1. I hope that carries over so they can jump on Utah early in this one, but I think Utah will grind out a Game 2 victory. I think they'll steal Game 2 in Houston.
Hayes on the offensive boards is pretty much what is keeping the Rockets in this game. Alston seems to be settling for the three, as I have seen him take two 3 pointers that I wouldn't have taken. Boozer offensively is doing awesome, carrying that team offensively early here.
Chuck Hayes has been great for Houston so far. He's working incredibly hard around the basket, coming up with some loose balls, hustling, and he has squeezed in a couple layups under the basket. McGrady and Alston are just taking bad shots, they are shooting way too quickly. They need to slow down and make sure they take good shots. For Utah, Boozer has been outstanding so far. Houston just doesn't have an answer for him, he's dominating the first quarter down low on the offensive end. AK47 is hustling, trying to play well and bounce back, but he is trying to do too much offensively.
Wow!Carlos Boozer is the biggest beast I've ever seen. He can score so easily. I think he just passed Pau Gasol and Jermaine O'neal for best post scorer in the NBA in my opinion.
Not really, I would still put Yao Ming, and Tim Duncan above Gasol, Boozer, and O'neal as post scorers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Apr 23 2007, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not really, I would still put Yao Ming, and Tim Duncan above Gasol, Boozer, and O'neal as post scorers.</div> I also think that Zach Randolph and Elton Brand need to be mentioned. Boozer is not the best post scorer in this league, no way. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Legacy @ Apr 23 2007, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow! Carlos Boozer is the biggest beast I've ever seen. He can score so easily. I think he just passed Pau Gasol and Jermaine O'neal for best post scorer in the NBA in my opinion.</div> PFF
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 23 2007, 09:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also think that Zach Randolph and Elton Brand need to be mentioned. Boozer is not the best post scorer in this league, no way.</div>I knew I was forgetting some people, I just named the first two that came to mind, but I would easily place Brand and Randolph ahead of Boozer, O'neal, and Gasol. I'm such a big fan of Brand's game, I don't know how I forgot about him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Apr 23 2007, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also think that Zach Randolph and Elton Brand need to be mentioned. Boozer is not the best post scorer in this league, no way.PFF</div>PWNT?I'd say so.I'm rootin for Houston here. I'd like to see tmac and yao succeed.
I like how the Rockets are attacking the offensive boards, and I really believe that is what is keeping this game close right now is offensive rebounding. Mcgrady looks like he might be about to take the game over, has attacked the basket a couple of times now, and that is what they are going to need with Ming on the bench now. The Jazz are doing a good job of getting inside, and getting to the free throw line. I am liking how they are playing today. This looks like it could end up being a good game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Apr 23 2007, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mcgrady looks like he might be about to take the game over, has attacked the basket a couple of times now, and that is what they are going to need with Ming on the bench now.</div> T-Mac is getting to the basket, but if Houston is gonna win this game he needs to knock down his jumpers in the 2nd half. He has been off from the perimeter thus far. I know Tracy McGrady is a different player in the 2nd half, and I expect him to hit his jumpers eventually, but it needs to happen. His shot selection hasn't been that great so far, it needs to be corrected. EDIT: Chuck Hayes is the difference maker tonight, he is doing an outstanding job on the offensive glass!
Attacking the basket more will help those jumpers to start falling more when he takes them, because he will get to free throw line and get a chance to get his rythm going. I agree, some of his shot selection has been terrible, but that will improve.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Carlos Boozer is the biggest beast I've ever seen. He can score so easily. I think he just passed Pau Gasol and Jermaine O'neal for best post scorer in the NBA in my opinion.</div>The Jermaine O'Neal, and him being the biggest beast you've "ever" seen (IE you started watching basketball after shaq's decline) indicates that you're definitely PFF
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Apr 23 2007, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Attacking the basket more will help those jumpers to start falling more when he takes them, because he will get to free throw line and get a chance to get his rythm going. I agree, some of his shot selection has been terrible, but that will improve.</div> There are some guys in the league that you just don't worry about, Tracy McGrady is one of them. Even if he shoots 20% for an entire game, he's bound to come up big in the clutch.
While it is true he doesn't need to, when he was in Orlando that is what he often used to do was get to the line to get his jump shot going. The Rockets need someone else to step up and start hitting their open shots also. Whether it be Alston, Battier, or Head someone has got to hit an outside shot as well as Mcgrady.
Wow, T-Mac just absolutely bulled that ball up. He muscled himself up their and still had the body control and strength to complete the play. On top of that, Kirilenko has 5 fouls. That was a huge momentum changer. EDIT: Houston has all the momentum going into the 4th, but there is PLENTY of basketball to be played. We'll see how this one plays out, but I hope Houston can continue to come up with all the hustle plays. Also, hopefully that 3 will give T-Mac some more of a boost so maybe he can actually hit a couple jumpers in the 4th. He has been ice cold from the perimeter all night. EDIT: Wow, what a run by Houston! They are taking over this game, and T-Mac hasn't even come back on yet. Utah has to get their act together quick offensively. I think Okur needs to be the guy to step up here, he has been very ineffective tonight and now is the time to start knocking down some shots. EDIT: Solid little run by Utah, but that's not enough. They need to keep this going. I don't expect Houston to lose focus because of that little 6-0 run. Once T-Mac comes back in the game, I think they'll be alright, but again - there is still plenty of basketball to be played. It's Houston's to lose. Anybody home? I'm talking to myself here.
Your not talking to yourself. With the Rockets in the lead, I like what they are doing, getting stuff going to the rim a little more and starting to go to the free throw line. There is no reason for the Rockets to be taking outside shots right now. Try to get it inside, to Yao, driving to the rim, and Mcgrady set up people with his passes. Don't know what's wrong, but Williams definately looks shaken up. I still don't think that was a foul though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (valo35 @ Apr 24 2007, 12:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Don't know what's wrong, but Williams definately looks shaken up. I still don't think that was a foul though.</div> I agree, there shouldn't have been a foul called. And if you were gonna call one, I think it should have been on Deron. Deron was the on trying to intercept the pass and he actually ran into Battier. The only reason they called it on Battier was because Deron was shaken up on the ground while Battier was ok. That's the ONLY reason they called it on Battier. EDIT: Great to see Houston take Game 2, this team is VERY dangerous. Going into Utah is gonna be tough, but I think they could steal one of the next 2 in Salt Lake City. T-Mac is more focused on winning a series than ever, and I think it's "his time." Way to go, Rockets!
<span style="font-family:Arial">Andrei Kirilenko seems to be done in Utah...He's crying right now, in an interview. He's frustrated from the lack of playing time.</span>
Andrei needs to stop crying and play some freaking basketball, I heard of off games and I even heard of off seasons, but this is playoff time. Get your head in the game and start playing like you used to. Loozer had a nice game tonight, but Houston was just to much. I doubt this comes as a sweep, but Utah needs to pick it up and AK really needs too.
I'm glad Andrei finally cares about the game, but it's a little to late. he's been disinterested in the game for most the season. The Rockets are going to win this thing in 5 though, T-Mac is abusing Fisher and Sloan is to stupid or to stubern to change his rotation.
