<div align="center"> (5) <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> (4) <span style="font-family:Arial Black"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">HOU leads series 2-1</span></span> April 28, 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">(2-1)</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> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah Jazz</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">(1-2)</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, Paul Millsap, Jarron Collins</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:#FF0000">Tracy McGrady</span> <span style="color:#000000">Series Stats: 26.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span> <span style="color:#000000">Series Stats: 27.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg</span> <span style="color:#FF0000">Shane Battier</span> <span style="color:#000000">Series Stats: 9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.3 spg</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Series Stats: 24.7 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 3.7 apg</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Deron Williams</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Series Stats: 13.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 8.0 apg, 1.7 spg</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Mehmet Okur</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">Series Stats: 5.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 spg, 2.7 bpg</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> <span style="color:#6666CC">Utah's Keys to the Game</span> <span style="color:#3366FF">- Kirilenko has to show up, period. - Okur needs to start hitting his shots. - 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> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#FF0000">Yao Ming</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#6666CC">Carlos Boozer</span></div> CelticBalla's Prediction I think this is gonna be a good one, but I think Houston might take this one. I think T-Mac is gonna come up HUGE, but it's going to be a very good game.
Houston will rebound in this one and not be limited to 65 points like last time. If they can shut down Boozer, they'll have a chance to keep the lead throughout the game. That is the only Jazz player that they cannot stop at this point. Hopefully the draft will be over so I can watch this game.
The Jazz need to attack Yao Ming. get him into foul trouble and they can have a lot easier chance of scoring.
Wow..this games kinda reminds me of game 3...At least the bench managed to score this game. 83-62 after the third and a Giricek buzzer beater..
Well, this series was expected to be outstanding. It's easily my favorite 1st round matchup, which is why I wanted to make the threads for it. I predicted this one to go 7, so I'm not surprised that Utah is going to make this 2-2. However, I don't think Houston will let Utah beat them 3 games in a row, and I think they win Game 5 at home.
I'm hoping Utah can take the momentum from these two games and win the series in 6. though I'm not expecting it to end in 6.
Utah now has the momentum, and Houston is playing sloppily. This next win is crucial, and I'm willing to make the obvious bet that whoever wins the next game wins the series.
This was such a horrible performance by Houston. Someone outside of T-Mac/Yao/Alston needs to get something done, their defense needs to get back to form, and Van Gundy has to play T-Mac as if he is a scorer, not playmaker.
