GAME: Houston Rockets(38-26) vs. Memphis Grizzlies(41-24) LOCATION: Toyota Center, Houston TIME: 7:30PM PROBABLE STARTERS SF Jim Jackson/James Posey PF Kelvin Cato/Pau Gasol C Yao Ming/Jake Tsakalidis PG Steve Francis/Jason Williams SG Cuttino Mobley/Bonzi Wells TEAM LEADERS Rockets: Yao Ming-17.5 points per game Yao Ming-8.8 rebounds per game Steve Francis-6.0 assists per game Grizzlies: Pau Gasol-17.8 points per game Pau Gasol-8.0 rebounds per game Jason Williams-6.8 assists per game INSIDE THE TEAMS <u>Rockets</u> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Recent outings against Minnesota and Dallas in which Houston secured victories with key plays down the stretch give Rockets fans reason to believe their team finally has put its fourth quarter doldrums in the rear view mirror. If tonight?s contest is up for grabs late in the final period, let?s hope the Rockets can give the Grizzlies a taste of their own medicine. </div> <u>Grizzlies</u> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Look up and down the Grizzlies roster and you?ll find a player that knows his role, accepts that role and executes it perfectly. Posey has been a perfect fit for Memphis with his athleticism on the defensive end. Point guard Jason Williams has toned down his game, eschewing the fancy play for simply getting the job done. Pau Gasol continues to be one the NBA?s most underrated players with his solid all-around game. One of the keys to the Grizzlies success has been their depth. Memphis goes 10-deep in its rotation allowing Brown to reduce his starters? minutes and keep them fresh for the fourth quarter. </div> Full Rockets.com preview GAME OUTLOOK Both teams come in riding 4 game winning streaks. This will be an intersting one to watch as they are level in talent and coaching. The outcome will depend on which team wants the win more. Yao Ming has to get a high-scoring game for us to outperform. Jim Jackson will also be the X-Factor. When he plays well, the Rockets normally win. GAME PREDICTION Rockets-95 Grizzlies-90
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> <font color="Red">Jamal Magloire</font></div> You might wanna fix that. Anyway,both teams have been playing well but i think the Rockets defense will help them win this one.Yao has been playing good ball lately and I don't think it will stop in this game.I predict the Rockets win by 9.
Yao has to avoid foul trouble like the night against the Hornets, so he gets a lot of playing time to score big. If he does that, then I predict the Rockets will end the grizzlies 7 game winning streak.
another win! this is like what? the fifth consecutive win for us?! it IS the fifth consecutive win for us!!!!! props to every rocket! i'm sooo excited! we're 7th in line to the playoffs right now....that's so damn good....considering we couldn't even qualify in the last few years.....this is the ultimate rewarding moment. don't wanna jinx anything...so....keeping my fingers crossed.
wat a great grizzly hunt!! Great great win. We showed them we're better than them and that they were lucky the past 2 games against us. Does anyone know why Spoon didn't play today? Is he rested? Well good job to his replacement, Padge
Yeah man that was such a nice win although i coudlnt follow it live were definitely gonna make the playoffs
5 straight wins! We gotta keep this roll rolling into the playoffs and destroy every team in our way. I can sense 1995 again! Although this time, it might be harder with the strong teams.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">5 straight wins! We gotta keep this roll rolling into the playoffs and destroy every team in our way. I can sense 1995 again! Although this time, it might be harder with the strong teams.</div> Boy, you sound like two weeks ago, when Yao averaging 27 points didn't exist. Yao, Francis and the rockets have all the tools to be in the finals. They just have to capitalize on that oppurtunity.
This team looks just like the team in 1995. 7th place, 47 wins which the 2004 team might just have as well. Good bench players, a fine center, and a player like the Glide. I'm just trying to sound optimistic after all.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">This team looks just like the team in 1995. 7th place, 47 wins which the 2004 team might just have as well. Good bench players, a fine center, and a player like the Glide. I'm just trying to sound optimistic after all.</div> Yao is a fine center dont get me wrong however during the 1995 season we had the best player in the game at the time. Now that is the big difference between us and 1995. 1995 - Hakeem and Drexler 2004 - Yao and Steve Hakeem and Drexler > Yao and Francis
Yeah, this team has a lot of tools and this was a great win...finally they are mastering JVG's system somewhat as Yao is getting as many touches as he needs...Francis has grown incredibly as a player, its remarkable...and who reminds you of Drexler Trip?? Yao still does not have the consistent sidekick scorer that Glide was, as Francis-Mobley-Jackson step up on any given night, but also can be inconsistent...I love the Francis-Yao combo (tho nowhere near the quality of Dream-Glide), and the role players of Jackson, Mobley and Taylor are more than sufficient...all the pieces are in place, but the Rockets have a tough schedule ahead (the toughest of any Western Conference team) and it will be a telling sign of their progress as a team with how well they do...
The reasons for thinking the way I do: 1-Yao Ming, if he keeps his current form in the playoffs, might very well be as good or better than Olajuwon. 2-We look on track to be finishing the season with 45-50 wins, just like the 1995 team. 3-Steve Francis might not be the Glide, but with one of Mobley, Francis and Jackson performing above standards each night, they can equal the firepower that Drexler provided. 4-We also have the clutch player in Jim Jackson, just like Robert Horry. All the signs, to me, are already in place. All we need to do is to do our best to get to the finals.
