The Rockets look to keep winning, as they face the Mavericks in Houston. Probable Line-ups: Point Guard: Houston - Bobby Sura Dallas - Darrell Armstrong Defensively, Sura should keep a good eye on Armstrong, but Sura's offense has yet to be seen, the seasoned verteran should be ready to go, but Sura should out-rebound and out-assist him. Advantage: Rockets Shooting Guard: Houston - Tracy McGrady Dallas - Michael Finley One of the closer matchups in the game, Finley is coming back from injury, and with Tracy's stellar game against the Spurs, he should be able to win this battle. Advantage: Rockets Small Forward: Houston - Ryan Bowen Dallas - Josh Howard It remains to be seen if JJ will return to the line-up, Ryan Bowen has started in his place as of late.. Howard can take advantage of him, and can put up around 15 in this game. Advantage: Mavericks Power Forward: Houston - Scott Padgett Dallas - Dirk Nowitzki Im not sure if this is optimism, or just gonna happen, but Padgett should start this game, Mo and Juwan need to step it up. Nowitzki, against any of our Power Forwards, should eat them alive, but don't be suprised to see double teams on him every time he touches the ball. Advantage: Mavericks Center: Rockets - Yao Ming Dallas - Erick Dampier Yao should win this, even though his performance last time they met, wasn't where we thought it should've been, he is on his own turf, and has had good games as of late. Advantage: Rockets <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul>Stop Dirk - Don't let him get hot, and we win this game. Double him every time you can, make them hit the outside jumper [/list] <ul>Role players - They have to step it up today, Yao and Tracy can't carry us forever. Sura, Barrett, Padgett, and those two Power Forwards that can't rebound, have to bring their A games.[/list] <ul>Rebound! Dallas will put the game away if they have too many chances, make them adjust to our pace, and control the boards.[/list] Prediction: The Rockets have been riding a win streak, and after their amazing win two days ago, they should be ready. Dallas: 90 Houston: 94 *Guys, let's try keeping this thread cleaner, and more civil than the San Antonio Game Thread.
The Rockets can either respond from the last game with a renewed energy and chemistry, or instead feel like they don't have to play hard the whole game because they can just turn it on whenever. Let's hope the response is the former. If so, I think the Rockets have a great chance to win this game. Otherwise, they'll get killed. Our power forwards struggled a lot in the last game, and they need to play better. I felt that JVG should have benched Gaines and Taylor a while back, and I still so. We can get buy playing Bowen, Padgett, Barret, and Mutombo off the bench. Mo's played like crap for more than a few weeks now, and there needs to be repurcussions for that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">Tmac needs to perform another miracle if the rockets plan to win this one.</div> I don't think he needs to...this shouldn't be another shootout. I just think the Mavs got lucky last time but this time we're gunna get the mavs good. -All we need is Yao to score +20 points and 10 rebounds. -And we T-Mac to get like 26 points and bout 6 assists. -Role players have to step up...if they do then we'll take this game.
Dallas up by 14 with 7:33 left in the 3rd quarter.... Can someone watching it live on TV fill us in on the game? It looks like we're shooting VERY poorly.... What's going on?? We're shooting 33.3% against the Dallas Defense???? And they're shooting 50% on us?? Shouldn't it be the other way around...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I just think the Mavs got lucky last time </div> Yeah there luckily averaging almost 100 points a game? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-All we need is Yao to score +20 points and 10 rebounds. -And we T-Mac to get like 26 points and bout 6 assists. -Role players have to step up...if they do then we'll take this game.</div> Yeah we shouldnt rebound, get to the line, or play defense.
whoa whoa I'm reading flagrant fouls and technical fouls at the end of 3rd quarter... what's going on??
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">whoa whoa I'm reading flagrant fouls and technical fouls at the end of 3rd quarter... what's going on??</div> Nothing major, just Sura and Daniels or howard(forgot) shoving eachother a bit for 2 technicals. And then Mutombo accidently knocks down bradley, bradley gets back up later and shoves mutombo in the back.
The Mavs have been playing some good defense and Dirk and Finley keep scoring. The only thing that bothers me is Terry's playing time. I think he should be playing more and taking more shots.
Yao couldn't do anything against Dampier. McGrady didn't assert himself at all in the second half. And the rest of our players suck on offense. Oh, and we gave up too many open 3s. That's the story in this game. Embarassing.
Yuh the Mavericks didnt play good defense, the Rockets didnt play good offense. Its like the Rockets role players are invisible on the court,except a few. Its ridicolous,this is just how JVG New York teams were, they couldnt score and played that slow down offense, except in New York, they had the players to slow down the ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KleinBaller08:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah there luckily averaging almost 100 points a game? Yeah we shouldnt rebound, get to the line, or play defense.</div> Lucky as in when Nowitzski traveled all over the world and then ran into Yao Ming when it was clear that he had no contol of anything. That part...apprently pushed the Mavs lead even higher when we were in reach. and what the hell are you talking about averagin almost 100 points a game? My comment had nothing to do with what you said. Oh and use common sense on the things I listed...if you could tell I was refering to the offensive part...jeez. Anyways on the game...the term for what happened tonight was that we were MANHANDLED...other than T-Mac and Yao NO ONE could buy a basket...I mean come on. And then in the end you could see that JVG gave up and took out Yao and T-Mac...just simply gave up. Well...first things first and i think that we have to trade for a PF as everyone knows. Then we need to trade for a better 3rd scoring option....just like the Wolves with Sam, Spree, and Garnett. I was thinking of something like Bonzi Wells...when does his contract end? This is what we need for us to not be beaten so bad again...
Horrible game for the Rockets. I actually expected them to play better after Thursday's upset against the Spurs, but it looks like they went back to their roots again. From what I've seen from the box score, McGrady and Yao were struggling with their shooting and getting the shots in. Nowitski and Finley were killing them on both ends of the game while we had nothing to make up for it. The role players from our team didn't step it up where Taylor, Howard, Barrett, and even Jackson had a horrible game. They really put up nothing positive that helped our team this game. I'll excuse Jackson from this since he just recovered from his flu and back spasms, but the others really have no excuse. Overall bad shooting and drive by the Rockets.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Then we need to trade for a better 3rd scoring option....just like the Wolves with Sam, Spree, and Garnett. I was thinking of something like Bonzi Wells...when does his contract end? This is what we need for us to not be beaten so bad again... </div> Bonzi Wells? Isn't he a shooting guard so how will the help us with McGrady there and Jimmy Jackson on the small forward position so he probably won't fit into our starting lineup. Anyways, sorry for getting off topic.
