<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">@</span> November 4th, 2006 - 7:30 PM CST</div><span style="color:#009900">Dallas Mavericks</span> (0-1)PG: Jason TerrySG: Greg BucknerSF: Josh HowardPF: Dirk NowitzkiC: Desagna Diop<span style="color:#FF0000">Houston Rockets</span> (0-1)PG: Rafer AlstonSG: Kirk SnyderSF: Tracy McGradyPF: Shane BattierC: Yao Ming<u>Comments</u>I have a feeling this will be a close game today. This all depends on how the Rockets play if they want to win this game. Yao Ming has to really step it up and contain Dirk and the paint. Last game the Rockets went 22-36 from the line. That needs to improve if we want to win this game. Houston needs to work on the rebounding as well. They got out rebounded by 11 last game against the Jazz. The defense is what im really worried about. JVG needs to stop putting Padgett in there. Last game he got raped by Boozer and Okur, Imagine Dirk. Also our shot selections need to be more smarter and consitant. We went 32-74 last game and went 10-22 from the 3pt. Line.Tracy McGrady also has to step it up and take it in the paint more often. The question is, Is he willing to? With his back and all it's a hard decision. He went 8-13 from the line against the Jazz. That really needs to improve. His shot is somewhat off but some are still sinking in. McGrady went 25 and 9 the last game and looked okay. I still think he has some rust to shake off. Once McGrady finds that shot and/or takes it in, we have a good chance in winning this game.The Rockets really need to watch out for Terry. Some games he shot light outs against us. Same goes with Dirk. We really need to up our defense this game or we're screwed.<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u>X-Factors</u></span> : Jason Terry, Yao Ming<span style="color:#FF0000"><u>Houston Rockets</u></span>: Yao Ming. We need him to step up big time and contain the defense down low. We also need him to distract some of the players in the paint and pass it out for an open shot. Last game Yao Ming didn't look himself despite getting 22 and 9. Yao needs to be aggressive this game and get some shots in. It relies on him if we want to win.<u><span style="color:#009900">Dallas Mavericks</span></u>: Jason Terry. If we don't contain him at all, He's going to shoot lights out on us. Despite getting 5 personal fouls last game, If Terry plays his best today we are screwed. If Terry goes out on us, Our defense will fall apart and will be raped.<u>Keys to a Win</u>- Free throw shooting. We get to the line many times yet we don't take advantage of it and we miss our shots. This is a big key- Defense. We need to contain Dirk and Terry. If they go out on us, our defense will absolutely fall apart.- Tracy McGrady. TMac needs to drive it in if he wants to win this game. He needs to get to the line as much as possible and stop taking shots all over the place- Yao Ming. If Yao contains Dirk and the paint then we have a chance of winning. He needs to be aggressive and smart on the offensive end.<u>Prediction</u>I don't really know how this will turn out. Dallas is a very strong team, But when Houston plays smart they're dangerous.I predict 102-106 Houston.
I predict a Houston loss, but I have a gut feeling T-Mac is gonna have a BIG game, as in 40+ points. He always does extremely well against the Mavs, and I have a feeling he will also do good defensively on Dirk (assuming they put him on Dirk, which they did in 2005 playoffs). But Terry will thrive with Rafer guarding him, and role players will have a tough time against the DEEP Mavs rotation.dsoung, what happenned to Juwan? Why didn't he play vs Jazz?
31 points for tmac, dallas wins. how come bonzi doesn't play? when is he gonna play him?.. I guess I dont have a xfac for houston
Well, It's really up to JVG if Bonzi plays. Bonzi says he feels good. And why did you say CJ Miles as an X-Factor? CJ plays for the Jazz.Nitro, I don't know what's up with Juwan. If he plays this game, Great.
I missed Houston's season opener, but I will surely watch this one.Tears will fly tonight at my house The Rockets are my fav team and the Mavs are my lil bro's fav team.
This should be a really good game to watch, and I'm going to try to catch this game tonight. Hopefully it'll turn out to be as good a game as I expect it to be... I'm hoping for a McGrady-Dirk shootout tonight.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Nov 4 2006, 06:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, It's really up to JVG if Bonzi plays. Bonzi says he feels good. And why did you say CJ Miles as an X-Factor? CJ plays for the Jazz.Nitro, I don't know what's up with Juwan. If he plays this game, Great.</div>shoot.. what the hell is wrong with me.. try not to think any less of me omfg I cant believe I said cj miles.. retarded kcx.. YO I wasnt thinking!!
Tmac has been horrible so far. Too passive, when he penetrates he can't finish. Can't hit his freethrows. He needs to be more agressive.
6:55 remaining in the 3rd quarter, HOU up 63-48(up by 15)<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Melo061 @ Nov 4 2006, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Tmac has been horrible so far. Too passive, when he penetrates he can't finish. Can't hit his freethrows. He needs to be more agressive.</div>I didn't see the first half but here in the second half he's playing better.He's looking for the ball and looking for his own shots in most possessions.He has 6 points in this half so far.
I have lost interest in this game. Dallas is playing like they don't care. This team is playing like they are on the playground. Everything is one on one and no running. Pathetic. Stackhouse is just awful and so is everyone else.
I've only got to see the 4th, but the Rockets look really good. Bonzi played tonight, played well. T-Mac didn't play well, but I'm not too concerned. He needs to get more agressive. Yao=golden.
It looks like that loss in the Finals is still lingering over the Mavericks' heads... unless they wake up soon, they will probably end up being a team that comes on strong in the second half of the season. Not how I expected them to start the year off...
whoa, Came back from the movies and I see this. Very unexpected.Nice game from the Rockets overall. I don't know what happened with McGrady. Im not too concerned as well like Nitro said. Yao with 36!Like I said, He was the X-Factor. He was aggressive and won us the game. Nice work big fella.
I'd also like to point out that Alston had a spectacular game with 14 points, 12 FREAKEN ASSISTS and 8 rebounds. 2 more and he woulda got a triple.Let's hope he can keep this up. McGrady was only limited to 22 minutes because of a small laceration on the tounge. But man...McGrady really needs to find that touch.And it may take 5-10 games before we see the old TMac again. Im not worried at all though. Yao is a monster. And Luther is really shaping up and becoming a great player.
Yes, he really does. He also needs to be more agressive early instead of forcing it to Yao (today it worked nicely, last game it didn't).
It really all depends on how he's feeling and how they defend him. I really don't know. But he did say that this year, he's going to try to get to the line more then shooting. I need to see that. Quickly. The more he attacks the basket, the better we are...But yeah, He will find that shot sooner or later. Im just scared that he might use that "shot" too much.Y'Feel Me?
