<div align="center"> @ <font color="red">Houston Rockets</font>(25-21)<font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font>(21-23) <font color="blue">Place:Wachovia Center</font> <font color="blue">Time:7:00 PM </font> <font color="blue">TV:Local, CSN</font></div> <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(PG Allen Iverson, SG Kyle Korver, SF Andre Iguodala, PF Kenny Thomas, C Samuel Dalembert)</font></div> <div align="center">_________________________________________</div> <div align="center">Probable Satrters <font size="1">(PG Bob Sura, SG David Wesley, SF Tracy McGrady, PF Juan Howard, C Yao Ming)</font></div> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="Red">Perimeter Defense</font> Most Sixer fans know that the 76ers are a weak perimeter defending team. The Rockets have players that are capable of hitting the 15-foot jumper-to the three point shot with consistency. We can't let guys like Tracy McGrady, David Wesley, and Jon Barry get open looks from down town. As if we don't have enough to worry about on the perimeter the Rockets big men have a well-rounded game of inside scoring and mid range shooting. Howard can hit the open jumper with consistency, and Yao has a soft shooting touch as well as an array of low post jump hook shots. With that being said it's important to not get sucked in by penetration from Bob Sura, if Sura gets penetration he will not hesitate to kick the ball out to the guys that I mentioned above. If we stay at home in JO's zone defense, then we'll be able to contest every shot on the perimeter. If not we may be in for a long night defensively.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Control the Tempo</font> I think it's important for the Sixers to control the tempo and play with energy in this game. The Rockets are a good half court defensive team, and the Sixers struggle scoring and shooting in the half court offense at times. When I watched the Heat play the Rockets they beat them by controlling the tempo, they created easy points by running the break and playing good perimeter defense. If we play a game similar like we did against the Heat, I feel we can be successful against the Rockets.[/list] <ul><font color="Red">Play Effectively Inside</font> It's key for the Sixers to play with purpose in the paint. Sam Dalembert can't pick up the early ticktack fouls like he usually does. We need his long frame and quickness to defend Yao inside. Offensively the Sixers need to attack the paint and look to get Yao in early foul trouble as well, because he also has this tendency to get in early foul trouble. We'll need guy like Marc Jackson to play strong and bang against Yao and hopefully we can make him pick up these fouls I already mentioned. Yao is coming off a big game in Boston, I feel if we can hold his production then we can be successful against the Rockets themselves.[/list] <div align="center"><u>Key Players</u></div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="red"><div align="center">Yao Ming Projected Game Stats: 19 points 9 rebounds 2 blocks Allen Iverson Projected Game Stats: 30 points 5 rebounds 7 assists</div></font> My Prediction: The Sixers seem to be hot and are gaining confidence. The Rockets are also starting to mesh as a team. The last time these two played it went into the final seconds, and I think a similar situation will occur again. This time I predict the Sixers hold off the Rockets and end the end and close the game with made free throws.
The Rockets are a better team than the Sixers, and the fact that they just beat Boston on the road should make the game much easier for Houston. Nobody on the Sixers can contain Yao and he should go for 25 and 11 tonight. McGrady will be guarded by a rookie, so he should automatically go off for 30. If Sura can contain Iverson, the Rockets should win this one. Houston by 6.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Nobody on the Sixers can contain Yao and he should go for 25 and 11 tonight.</div> If Samuel Dalembert stays out of foul trouble that really shouldn't be a problem. There are much worse defensive centers in the league and I've yet to see "the amazing Yao" consistently pull those numbers. You really can't count on him for anything. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">McGrady will be guarded by a rookie, so he should automatically go off for 30.</div> I'd put a shitload of money against that one. Do I smell a bet?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I'd put a shitload of money against that one. Do I smell a bet?</div>I don't think we can bet money on JBB, but I'd go for a signature bet. The loser will have to wear a degrading sig for 2 weeks. How's that sound?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think we can bet money on JBB, but I'd go for a signature bet. The loser will have to wear a degrading sig for 2 weeks. How's that sound?</div> Fair enough. Here are the final rules. If Tracy McGrady scores thirty points or more tomorrow night against the 76ers, I will display a degrading signature of your choosing for two weeks. If he does not, then you will have to display a degrading signature of my choosing for two weeks. The loser may not post anything saying that he lost a bet until after the two weeks are over. For the designated time period, he will have to act as if he chose the signature himself. Sound good to you?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MaxBallin:</div><div class="quote_post">Fair enough. Here are the final rules. If Tracy McGrady scores thirty points or more tomorrow night against the 76ers, I will display a degrading signature of your choosing for two weeks. If he does not, then you will have to display a degrading signature of my choosing for two weeks. The loser may not post anything saying that he lost a bet until after the two weeks are over. For the designated time period, he will have to act as if he chose the signature himself. Sound good to you?</div> Absolutely. So the bet is on!
- Allen Iverson will struggle from the field. - Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala will have a big game. - Dalembert will get into early foul trouble, which will ultimately lead to Yao Ming domination. Yao will go for 25 and 10. - Aside from Yao Ming, Scott Padgett and David Wesley will also have big games. - Tracy McGrady will struggle from the field and finish with a subpar game. I'm projecting a 21 Point (7-21), 6 Rebound and 3 Assist night from McGrady. - I don?t ever recall the 76ers defeating the Rockets since Yao Ming was drafted and I think that will continue. The Rockets will end up winning this game by a reasonable margin (preferably a nine point margin) and give the 76ers their first if not only lost in their four-game home-stand. * Andre Iguodala runs shares the backcourt with Iverson not Korver. I'd suggest you edit that error in the preview Silky. But then again, it's not really that important anyways.
Eh.. as a team leader isn't it your job to "rally the troups"? You know.. rather than finding statistics to kill morality.
Those are just his predictions. Besides, its not really the job of a team leader to "rally the troops" and get everyone riled up about games. Teams are going to win some games and lose some games. In my opinion, Avery you can correct me, is to make sure the forum has high quality posts, shares ideas, and adds interesting thoughts and updates on the team.
Fair enough. It is still my personal opinion though that he shouldn't share his predictions if they're not in favor of the Sixers. Sure, I understand that teams will win some and lose some. In fact, I happen to agree that the Sixers' chance of winning here are very slim. However, I would define the role of "leader" as someone who sets an example. The example he should be setting for us is one in which we have confidence in our team. Just my opinion.
Trip you are a <strike>moron</strike> for betting ... you are going to lose. You can't F with AI2. NO WAY NO HOW. I'll go out on a limb here and say that he wont even score 20. <font color="Red"><font size="1">- Please refrain from personal attacks. If you have any questions, I'd suggest you take a look at the JBB Guidelines. ~ Avery 76ers Team Leader</font></font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">My Prediction: The Sixers seem to be hot and are gaining confidence. The Rockets are also starting to mesh as a team. The last time these two played it went into the final seconds, and I think a similar situation will occur again. This time I predict the Sixers hold off the Rockets and end the end and close the game with made free throws. </div> I completley agree. I think the Sixers have a great chance of winning this game because everyone on the team is doing their roll fine and hopefully Obie plays Green, I think he can do a great job guarding McGrady. Green plays in a very quick style while T-Mac has a very slow pull-up jumper to his game. Even though I said Philly has a good chance of pulling this one out, I see Houston taking the W.
Should be a good one. I think if the 6ers can rotate different bigmen through-out the game it will tired Yao out and this will be the key. There really isn't any way you can stop T-Mac.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Andre Iguodala runs shares the backcourt with Iverson not Korver. I'd suggest you edit that error in the preview Silky. But then again, it's not really that important anyways.</div> Well I never recognized that. Andre Iguodala started the season at the SF position; amd I correct? And sense then he has started every game for us, so I figured he would probably just stay listed at the SF position. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Green, I think he can do a great job guarding McGrady. Green plays in a very quick style while T-Mac has a very slow pull-up jumper to his game.</div> I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Willie Green is an average on ball defender as it is. So in that case I don't see him being able to guard a much longer/taller player, in McGrady. Most likely Iguodala will be guarding him throughout most of the game, since he matches up with T-Mac well in size, is more physical and stronger then McGrady (I'm not saying McGrady is weak just a very lean guy) and has the athleticism to guard him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting zEx69:</div><div class="quote_post">Trip you are a <strike>moron</strike> for betting ... you are going to lose. You can't F with AI2. NO WAY NO HOW. I'll go out on a limb here and say that he wont even score 20. <font color="Red"><font size="1">- Please refrain from personal attacks. If you have any questions, I'd suggest you take a look at the JBB Guidelines. ~ Avery 76ers Team Leader</font></font></div> As of now, McGrady has 26 points, in the third quarter. Guess 30's for certain now huh? Oh yeah, 20 already is surpassed. Who's the moron now?
The Rockets were just the better team tonight. We played bad defensivly and the 2nd quarter killed us. What can you say, I know the Rockets aren't 23 points better then us. Boston is now the Atlantic Division lead, and we fall .5 of a game back. Next up, Atlanta. Now we should be able to beat these guys, no questions asked.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting zEx69:</div><div class="quote_post">Was AI2 up on TMAC?</div> Not for the entire game. He should have been though. If he was I wouldn't have lost my bet. Speaking of which, congratulations Trip. Any signature that wish to have me display is fine. Just e-mail it to me at TalkBak2U629@aol.com. Make sure to give the e-mail a noticeable title so I don't prematurely delete it thinking that it's spam. I'll put it up as soon as I get it and it'll stay there for fourteen days.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MaxBallin:</div><div class="quote_post">Not for the entire game. He should have been though. If he was I wouldn't have lost my bet. Speaking of which, congratulations Trip. Any signature that wish to have me display is fine. Just e-mail it to me at TalkBak2U629@aol.com. Make sure to give the e-mail a noticeable title so I don't prematurely delete it thinking that it's spam. I'll put it up as soon as I get it and it'll stay there for fourteen days.</div> Sure. Thanks for the commitment man, some have just disappeared when they lost. Good luck to you if we are ever gonna do this again next time.
