Houston Rockets (6-3) at Philadelphia 76ers(5-5) 6:00 pm EST Houston Rockets Record: 6 - 3 ( .667) Standings: First, Midwest At Home: 4 - 1 2 On Road: 2 - 2 Season PPG: 90.7 Opp PPG: 82.7 FG%: .437 Opp FG%: .376 RPG: 42.9 Opp RPG: 40.7 Philadelphia 76ers Record: 5 - 5 ( .500) Standings:Third, Atlantic At Home: 2 - 2 On Road: 3 - 3 Season PPG:94.1 Opp PPG:92.9 FG%:.435 Opp FG%:.449 RPG:38.9 Opp RPG: 44.9 Starters Game Outlook The Rockets are in a desperate need of a win after losing two of their last three contests. One of main factors tonight will be conditioning. The Rockets are coming off a double overtime loss last night against the Raptors so they are bound to be tired. Yao Ming played 50 minutes in that game. His conditioning will be a big factor in tonights game. While the Rockets are tired, the 76ers are fresh. Are coming off a an overtime loss on Saturday against the Cavaliers. Having yesterday off, is a major bonus for the Sixers. The goal for the Sixers is simple...push the ball up the court and try to get easy baskets in transition. Houston is tired and they will not want to run tonight alot. Allen Iverson is especially deadly in the transition game so look for a fast paced game on the Sixers end of the court. The Rockets want to do the direct opposite. They want to make it a half-court game where they can feed Yao. Look for Yao to have a strong game tonight as the Sixers dont have a big man that has the power to control Yao. A key tonight for the Rockets is open jump shots. Yao will get double-teamed alot tonight. The Rockets perimeter players must make their shots. For Christ's Sake, the Rockets must also play team basketball. 5 assists from your starting back court wont cut it against the 76ers tonight. Im predicting a Rockets victory, 90-85.
I agree with most of ur analysis .. but .. the ball has to go through Yao in order for Houston to win ! Rebounding will be a big factor in the game .. considering Philly ain't a good rebounding team Stevie has to pass more and stop doing those one on one moves ... it makes it complecated than simplifying it !
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kvh4fan:</div><div class="quote_post">thomas is playing. coleman's not.</div> My apologies. I got the starting line-ups from ESPN.com. They said they were updated this morning, but obviously they made a mistake on Coleman. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Air Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with most of ur analysis .. but .. the ball has to go through Yao in order for Houston to win ! Rebounding will be a big factor in the game .. considering Philly ain't a good rebounding team Stevie has to pass more and stop doing those one on one moves ... it makes it complecated than simplifying it !</div> Obviously the ball has to go through Yao. That is the entire basis of the Rockets offense this year and it will be for many years to come. Most teams, are doubling the ball once Yao gets it in the post. This creates a 4-3 perimeter match-up which means someone is open. That open player must hit shots. The ball still goes through Yao, it just ends up that Yao doesn't take the shot. As for Stevie, he has alot of talent and there is no way you want to take that away from him. He is not a robot, this is basketball, and he is human. Sometimes people get to caught up in a system, and they forget the common sense of basketball. There is no possible way Yao can get the ball everytime on offense. Stevie is one of those players who can take someone one-on-one and score consistantly. Having him go one-on-one is a great thing to do occasionally to mix it up for the defense.
The Houston Rockets only shot well in one quarter, but they shut down Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers for four. Iverson was held to a season-low 15 points on 5-of-19 shooting as the 76ers endured one of the worst games in franchise history en route to a 74-66 loss to the Rockets. recap box score
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">Iverson was hurt. </div> Iverson was hurt? Considering he played 45 minutes in the game, I doubt he was hurt badly enough to use him as an excuse for losing the game.
He was, his knee was bothering him, as has been the case since the Spurs game I believe. And thus is why he won't be playing in Toronto tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post">He was, his knee was bothering him, as has been the case since the Spurs game I believe. And thus is why he won't be playing in Toronto tonight.</div> He might not be playing tonight, however if his knee was bothering him enough during the Houston game, he wouldn't have played 45 minutes.
