<div align="center">@</div> <div align="center"> <font color="Red">Houston Rockets</font> 4-6 <font color="Blue">LA Clippers</font> 5-4</div> <div align="center">Time 3:30 PM,EST Location:STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA TV:KTLA, NBA League Pass</div> <div align="center">Projected Starters</div> <div align="center"><font color="Blue">Los Angeles Clippers</font></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><font color="Red">Houston Rockets</font></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><font color="blue">Head Coaches</font></div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="blue"><div align="center">Mike Dunleavy- Jeff Van-Gundy</div></font> <div align="center">Key Matchup</div> <div align="center"> vs </div> This is tonite's Marguee matchup, and both Tmac and Maggette should put up some big numbers offensively. Look for them to go at each other, and light up the scoreboard. Maggette shouldn't try to make it a one on one matchup, and continue to move the ball around and run the offense unless the Clippers will be in for a long afternoon. <div align="center">Keys To The Game</div> <div align="center"><font color="Blue">Los Angeles Clippers</font></div> The Clippers need to get the ball inside to Brand, and play inside out all game. Defense is definately a key, and they need to play tough defense, and good help defense. Jaric needs to establish the offense, and move the ball around, and Maggette needs to continue that by taking good shots, and moving the ball rather than forcing it. The Clippers need to continue getting to the line like they were before, because in the Laker game they were not getting inside and pressuring the opposing big men. They need to get inside and get Yao in foul trouble, and make McGrady have to do most of the work. <div align="center"><font color="Dimgrey">Houston Rockets</font></div> Get the ball to Yao, this is a defining factor for the Rockets. Yao will have Wilcox guarding him and Wilcox just isn't a match defensively for Yao. The Rockets need to get it to Yao as much as possible, and also play defense because the Clippers are a very capable offensive team. McGrady should have a good game too, but it wont be a easy game for him if the Clippers can play the defense they're capable of. The Rockets PG's need to go at Jaric, and try do get in the lane and become playmakers inside. Jaric is weak defensively against quicker PG's, and he'll likely have a problem with them if they can take advantage of the situation. <div align="center">The Bench</div> <div align="center"> vs </div> The Rockets have the advantage on the bench as the Clippers bench is short and inexperienced. The Rockets bench isn't filled with too many scorers except Juwan Howard, but JH will be matched up against Brand most of the time as opposed to a Rockets bench player. If the Rockets bench can come in and control the tempo while putting up some points, they can give them a boost. <div align="center">My Predictions</div> LA Clippers - 98 | Houston - 96, the Clippers come out strong and play the Rockets well. Simmons get's the job on McGrady defensively, and plays him tough, and even though Mcgrady puts up his points, he doesn't do it efficiently. Brand abuses Maurice Taylor and Juwan Howard at the PF spot, and puts up 25 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. The game goes down to the wire, and the Clippers win it in a close one.
Yo I dunno homie, I hope you're right and I hope they didn't play like they did against the Lakers...or should I say Fakers the other night...haha. They looked hella tired the other night, I could tell....they were at a disadvantage fo sho...back to back games and all. Anyways...I wouldn't be suprise if they lose this one...but I think they got a chance if they play hard like they did with the teams they beaten. This team can be so much more than what people take granted for...it's sad to see how ignorant people act. I like houston also...but I gotta go wit the Clips on this one cause they need to show the world what they got. But I'll be really impressed if we do beat the rockets with T-Mac. Another possible lose...Prove me wrong!! peace..
<u>Halftime Report</u> Clippers - 40 Rockets - 45 Wilcox hasn't made a FG, and Brand has been havng a good game, but I expected Brand to rape MoTaylor and Juwan Howard anyways. Livingston is playing pretty good in terms of scoring and rebounding, and Simmons is also having another good game. Maggette and Jaric are just doing okay so far.
Damn, that looked like a good game...I was watching the play by plays on the internet like always.... Wow....OT again...I thought the Clips could of had that game just like the Pistons but they meased up again during OT. If only T-Mac missed the freethrow... Seems like both teams were in a dead heat stats wise...too much foul trouble for us this time...but it looks like Shaun Livingston had a good game today. Good to see that... I think T-Mac did a reverse dunk during the game or something? Wilcox didn't get to do much it seemed like...what was up with him today with the early foul trouble...? The more I think about it, I think we need Kittles playing soon...we need a clutch shooter to help shut out games like this. Kaman would have helped as well... Livingston seems like he been working on his shooting...good stuff...
Shamockery! I do not like using the refs as an excuse ever, but the foul call they made on Simmons at the end of regulation was ridiculous. Tracy McGrady took a reckless shot and was bailed out by the refs putting him on the line with an opportunity to tie the game. The Clippers played very well dispite an off night by Jaric and CMaggs. They did a great job inside against Yao and neutralized his presence. Shaun Livingston looked great in this game and stepped up big defensively in OT, blocking a shot by T-Mac and then forcing T-Mac to give the ball up on an isolation play. He also rocked the FRO for the first time as Clipper. I wasn't a big fan of him being selected by the Clippers originally, but I'm starting to see why scouts were so high on him. He's got a natural feel for the game in knowing when to be aggressive and how to keep getting the ball to your hot shooting players. Solid game by the Clipshow despite a tough OT loss.
That was a horrible call, I don't know how the refs saq a foul in that, I was very dissapointed, but also Tmac should've been double teamed before hand and forced to give up the ball, we should've made someone else take that last shot. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaun Livingston looked great in this game and stepped up big defensively in OT, blocking a shot by T-Mac and then forcing T-Mac to give the ball up on an isolation play. He also rocked the FRO for the first time as Clipper. I wasn't a big fan of him being selected by the Clippers originally, but I'm starting to see why scouts were so high on him. He's got a natural feel for the game in knowing when to be aggressive and how to keep getting the ball to your hot shooting players.</div> He still needs to learn how to run the offense, and he made some mental errors in OT, but this guy is the master of the pick and roll, he knows how to get the screner the ball real nice.
