Let's BELIEVE this time. Impossible is nothing (tmac). Expect perfection this time from our starters...let's hope we can see tmac do the spectacular and yao throwing it down unfazed focused fearless with his 7'6 frame doing it on both ends. Or maybe it's just one of my dreams..hey dreams are free and sometimes reality sucks. Nevertheless, I WILL be watching this game win or lose since I'm a true rockets fan. Plz post any pregame analysis or thoughts for this game. I'll post my thoughts after the game if we win..
Well I think we'll see a better game from the Rockets and more desire...I expect them to win because they need to show more urgency in their play...
I think the Rockets are going to really struggle the first month. They have a very tough schedule. As for this game, I think both teams really need a win. Memphis lost its first home game, and the Rockets have been very sluggish in their execution so far. I think it should be a close game, and Memphis will win down the stretch. Hopefully I'm wrong.
It'll be a tough game, no doubt, but Yao will come up big against Swift...and I don't really think that Wells can hold McGrady either. However, the Rockets don't have an answer for Pau Gasol and/or Jason Williams' nice passing, so I can't really say what they'll do as far as those two guys go, since I haven't seen the Grizzlies play yet. It should be a Rockets' win.
Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies By SupraJames Friday, Nov 5th. 7:30PM EST Probable Starters: Rockets: Yao Ming Juwan Howard Jim Jackson Tracy McGrady Charlie Ward Memphis: Lorenzen Wright Pau Gasol James Posey Mike Miller Jason Williams Injuries/Suspensions: Rockets: Bob Sura Memphis Grizzlies: None. Keys to the game: Houston Rockets: - Produce from outside. The Grizzlies were number 1 last year in blocked shots as a team. The Rockets shooters must hit their outside shots or it will be a tough game for them to win. - Contain Gasol. The Grizzlies have plenty decent big bodies up front, however it's obvious that their star is Pau Gasol. Pau has recently started to play tougher on offense and it is imperative that the Rockets contain him. - Take advantage of Tracy McGrady. There is no single player in the Grizzlies that can guard Tmac one on one. The Rockets must take advantage of Tmac's ability to penetrate and score. Tracy should be the only one penetrating and creating for the Rockets. Memphis Grizzlies: - Shut down Tracy McGrady. The Grizzlies will have to find a way to collectively shut down McGrady or at least hold him to 20 points if they want to build a comfortable lead against the Rockets. - Establish paint presence. With so many able big men in the roster, Memphis must take advantage by making smart rotations down low, keep their frontcourt fresh and have them produce to the max. - Swarm Yao. As it is the case with any teams playing Houston, the Grizzlies will have to keep going at Yao and clobber him with their plethora of big man. Prediction: 90 - 80 Grizzlies. The Rockets started the season with a tough matchup against the reigning NBA champions and suffered a disappointing loss on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors, which didn't even make the Eastern Conference last year. It won't be easy for the Rockets to win this game. They are still not gelling together as a team. Tmac even said so after their loss to Toronto: "I'm waiting for Yao to do his thing in the post. He's waiting for me to attack,'' McGrady said. "Did I think it was going to click right away? Not at all.'' It will be one of the toughest early season for the Rockets. They need to be able to play together as a team, cut down on silly turnovers, and have Yao play free from his elbow injury. Historically however, the Grizzlies have the edge on Houston with pretty much the same roster while Houston has 9 new players in their roster. They will have to play well as a team to have any chance on winning this game. That, or let McGrady go loose and ride on him like when he was back in Orlando.
Regarding the game, I'me pretty sure we could ride McGrady to a victory. Yao Ming looks like he's pretty affected by his elbow injury, so don't be surprised if he sits out tonight's game, not that I have any source for this anyways. Mo Taylor would really get eaten up by Pau Gasol on defense. Expect the Grizz to go at him with Swift and Gasol continously. The X-Factor for us in this game will be Jim Jackson. In the previous two games, Jackson has been very quiet. If he can take on more of a scoring load for us and demand the ball, him and McGrady might drag us out of this game and return to Houston with a win. Houston over Memphis, 89-82.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post"> Yao Ming looks like he's pretty affected by his elbow injury Houston over Memphis, 89-82.</div> I was wondering why he was wearing that elbow pad thingy. I take rockets over Memphis by 7.
i think they would do better playing dik at PF with yao, because mo and juwan howard are both sucking on defense.
Havin Deke at power forward would put a lot of pressure on Yao to score in the low post, since Deke can't. Also, Deke and Yao would clog the lanes since they both camp down low. On to the game, can anyone watching it give us an update and sort of a play-by-play? How's Yao doing?
Hey Trip, I'm relying on the play-by-play NBA.com's java courtside live. At the moment there 8.48 left in the 3rd quarter. HOU 48, MEM 43 Last person to score was JJ. He;s got 11 pts. He and T-Mac share the honours of highest scorers in the game.
and Yao just hit 2 free throws. 50-43 HOU Lay up from Mo Taylor (assist from T-Mac who has 7) Bonzi foul Mo for a possible 3pt play. Mo hits the free throw 53-43 HOU.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">and Yao just hit 2 free throws. 50-43 HOU Lay up from Mo Taylor (assist from T-Mac who has 7) Bonzi foul Mo for a possible 3pt play.</div> Great. Thanks. I would be watching it on TV but we don't get so many Rockets game in Canada too. Anyways, the game is still too close for comfort. Dakeem, do you know how many points Yao has? We'd need an effective Yao against the Kings tomorrow.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Great. Thanks. I would be watching it on TV but we don't get so many Rockets game in Canada too. Anyways, the game is still too close for comfort. Dakeem, do you know how many points Yao has? We'd need an effective Yao against the Kings tomorrow.</div> Yao isn't producing too wel statistically. He just for his 4th personal and was sub for Deke. Thats a good thing because Deke just blocked a possible Gasol dunk. He's got 5 blocks!!! DAYUM!! Top scorers for rockets are as follows: T-mac 13 Jimmy 11 Mo Taylor 9 Yao 8
Rockets are still having trouble with turnovers and controlling the defensive boards but Mutombo is playing some great defensive basketball and McGrady is being smart by attacking the rim time after time...Yao is starting to really frustrate me...hes blown an open layup...missed an easy open dunk on what couldve been a 3-point play...and been blocked countless times while showing very little agility on the defensive end...
At the moment its 59-50 HOU. Jason Williams has hit a jumper. T-mac's hit 4 free throws. He's on 17 pts. Battier's gone for a dunk and Deke swats that away aswell. He's on 6 blocks now. Yeah I wish I could watch the game on TV. Its not the same when you just relay a couple of stats on a computer screen.
It seems that this might not really be Yao's breakout year after all. How ironic that Steve Francis was labelled as the problem for Yao's lack of production, and now that Steve is gone, Yao gets worse instead. Mutombo is looking like a real gem for us; 6 blocks and it's only the third quarter? He might be going for 10.
T-mac hits 3 free throws. He's on 20 pts. Stromile Hits a Dunk Deke gets a lay up (assist to JJ) 64-52 HOU with 2.17 left in the 3rd quarter.
Brian Cardinal hits a shot. Watson gets a layup (dont know this guy) Jimmy hits a shot (assist to T-Mac) T-mac has 8 assists Jimmy has 8 rebounds. nice numbers Mike Miller gets a layup. T-Mac gets blocked by Stromile. T-Mac misses a shot in the dying seconds of the quarter. 67-60 HOU @ the end of 3rd quarter. To check out the full stats so far, go to: http://www.nba.com/games/20041105/HOUMEM/livestats.html
