Houston Rockets (9-5) at Sacramento Kings (10-4) 9:00 pm CST Houston Rockets Record: 9 - 5 ( .643) Standings: Second, Midwest At Home: 5 - 1 On Road: 4 - 4 PPG: 88.1 Opp PPG: 82.2 FG%: .425 Opp FG%: .376 RPG: 43.3 Opp RPG: 40.8 Sacramento Kings Record: 10 - 4 ( .714) Standings: Second, Pacific At Home: 8 - 0 On Road: 2 - 4 PPG: 105.6 Opp PPG: 98.4 FG%: .476 Opp FG%: .458 RPG: 41.5 Opp RPG: 42.7 Probable Starters vs. Jim Jackson/Peja Stojakovic vs. Kelvin Cato/Brad Miller vs. Yao Ming/Vlade Divac vs. Steve Francis/Mike Bibby vs. Cuttino Mobley/Doug Christie Game Outlook - Kings The key for the Kings is to continue to do what they are doing. They play the best team basketball in the league and they have five players that average double digits a night. The Kings also have a perfect record at home coming into tonight?s game. The Rockets are a solid defensive unit, forcing opponents to shoot 37.6% from the field. Sacramento on the other hand is an excellent offensive unit shooting 47.6% from the field. It will be necessary for the Kings to shoot as well as they have in the past tonight. The Rockets want a low scoring game, so they need to come after them hard offensively and keep attacking the rim. On the defensive end, they need to do a good job of limiting the Rockets second chance points. Along with containing Yao Ming down low, if they can limit the rockets second chance scoring, they should win this game. One thing to point out is that the Kings are averaging 106 points per game compared to the Rockets 88. If this game gets into the nineties, you say bye-bye Rockets. Game Outlook - Rockets The key to tonight's game is Yao Ming. He must have a monster game tonight for the Rockets. Shooting 3-15, from the floor didn't cut it against the Jazz, and it certainly won't cut it against a much better Kings team. Yao needs to use his strength in the game tonight down low. Vlade Divac is more of a finesse center, so making strong moves down low is the way to go against this team. By fading away, he is playing right into the game of Vlade. Yao must be a force inside tonight and stay out of foul trouble. The Rockets as a whole must keep the turnovers to a minimum, especially the backcourt. The Kings are a team, in which if you make a mistake, they will make you pay. The Rockets as a team must do an excellent job of contesting shots, especially on Peja. Peja is tearing apart the league as he is shooting 52% from the field. The Kings shoot 47.6% from the field. Add to that the fact that they are playing in their home gym, and teams can always shoot well in their own gym. Game Prediction Even though I am a huge Rockets fan, I just cannot foresee a Rockets victory tonight in Sacramento. The facts are simple, the Kings remain unbeaten at Arco Arena(8-0) and they play absolutely fantastic team basketball. Divac and Miller combine to average 10.2 assists per game. Add to that the fact that the Kings have not played since Tuesday means they should all be very well rested for the game tonight. The Rockets are 1-2 on their road trip coming into tonight's game, and unfortunately they will leave 1-3.
My prediction Kings 103 Rockets 74 Don't ask me why but I have a feeling thats what the score will be
Yao will have his hands full against Divac and Miller. Sac wins this one. Mobley will have his hands full too trying to shake off Doug Christie
Thanks for posting in my preview guys but the game has already taken place. I wish you would have all posted that stuff three days ago.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dexter:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks for posting in my preview guys but the game has already taken place. I wish you would have all posted that stuff three days ago.</div> I would of done if I was here at the weekend,I think Trust didn't notice my joke Kings are playing amazing ball.
Since you are all so interested in talking about the Rockets please check out this thread: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9155 Notice: The thread is current
