<div align="center"></div> .500 is avoiding the Rockets, as they try to get closer today, against the somewhat explosive, and lethal Clippers. Probable Line-ups: <div align="center"><font color="red"> Rockets </div></font> <div align="center"></div> <font color="red"><div align="center"><font size="1">Bob Sura, Tracy McGrady, Jim Jackson, Juwan Howard, Yao Ming</font></div></font> <div align="center"> Clippers </div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"><font size="1">Marko Jaric *, Corey Maggette *, Bobby Simmons, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman</font></div> <font size="2">*Jaric and Maggette are questionable for tonights game.</font> <u>KEYS TO THE GAME</u> <ul>Don't let a lead slip. The Rockets have to establish some sort of lead in the game, and they cannot allow this game to go into OT or even late in the fourth. They have to finish LA as quickly as they can, and don't allow a fourth quarter come back.[/list] <ul>Yao and Tracy, gotta Step it Up. The Rockets are struggling, yes, we all know that, but the two main men on our team have to show that they are the leaders of this team. Ride them as long as we can, then let the Role Players assert themselves.[/list] <ul> Control the Tempo. I know I say this a lot, but if we can control the tempo, and change it to our style, we can win the game. If we decide to play catch-up, we won't have enough push to get over the hill. Keep the game winnable, and keep it in our hands, not theirs.[/list] Prediction: The Rockets should have .500 in their minds by now, and if they don't, we have a problem. This game will be won in the fourth, but I cannot see the Rockets slipping up, after all theyve said and done. Rockets: 93 Clippers: 86 Sorry, no Position by Position Analysis this time, I'll be sure to have em' next time.
This should be a win for the Rockets. After those embarrassing losses to the Bobcats, I really hope they assert themselves this game. Basic things they need and should do for this game and every game: Be Agressive. I know its not in some of the players' styles but they need show some dominance and hustle. For the point guard position, the Clippers will probably have the advantage. Although Jaric is turnover prone, he also is a fast energetic player that can score on the perimeter as well as dishing it to other players. Sura right now just isn't the player he was last year. McGrady definitely claims the shooting guard spot for us. I know Maggette is a great player, but you really have to give the advantage for McGrady. Maggette is questionable for this game, and if he shows up, McGrady will need to do an extra great job on defense to contain this guy. Clippers take the advantage for the forward spots. It's obvious our PFs are horrible, but whats more is that they've got Elton Brand, a proven powerful PF that can bang some bodies down low. Jim Jackson has not been that consistent as of late, so we should look for him to try and prove himself once again in this game. Yao needs to dominate, period. If he does, he will easily take the center spot as an advantage for us. However, as seen by the Bobcat's game, he got beaten in the boards against Okafor, so it will be a problem for us if Chris Kaman beats him to rebounds and such.
Rockets up at the half, Rockets 52 Clippers 39 Jon Berry has played 11 minutes Team Leaders: <ul> [*]Points: Yao Ming - 17 [*]Blocks: McGrady/Yao Ming - 1 [*]Steals: Sura - 2 [*]Ast: Sura - 4 [*]Reb: Yao - 9 [/list]
Rockets Win! Rockets 96 Clippers 79 Rockets are now 1 game under .500 Clippers are now 1 game under .500 Rockets Leaders: <ul> [*]Points: Tracy McGrady/Jim Jackson - 21 [*]Blocks: Tracy McGrady/Yao Ming - 3 [*]Steals: Bob Sura - 5 [*]Ast: Tracy McGrady - 9 [*]Reb: Yao Ming - 11 [*]MIN: Jim Jackson - 45 [*]3PM: Jim Jackson - 5 [/list] EDIT: Dan Le beat me to posting end game stats PS: Nice screenshot
Im curious, Sura is the only point guard who played, and he only played 33 minutes. Who ran the point for the other 15 minutes?
I have no clue, maybe they don't think he's ready, or he doesnt do what he's suppose to doing pratice? I felt very comfortable with Berry playing the point. He did an awesome job and making the tempo of the game fast.
I didn't know that Barry could play point guard, that may be handy However, i still want Barrett to play, he has already shown some great talent. Nachbar has shown talent too. I'm dying for both of them to get more time.
Nachbar didnt play because of the fact, Jimmy J was having an awesome game, he had POTG, (Player Of The Game). Also, Barry was playing the point when sura went out he was doing EXACTLY what needed to be done. He made awesome one handed passes to JJ and T-mac.
I think you have to spend at least 5 games on the IL before you can be activated... so 3 more games to go for Barrett.
Great game for Houston! Everyone came onto the court and did a fantastic job offensively as well as defensively. Jim Jackson finally had a great game as did Maurice Taylor. I'm hoping at least one of the PFs show some consistency in offense, which is what they were supposed to be at the beginning of the season. Overall, the entire team had a nice shooting percentage, so I hope they keep what ever strategy they were doing last night to come up with some more wins. They all showed agressiveness on the boards, evident by their rebounds and such. Just hope they keep this up.
