GAME: Houston Rockets(36-26) vs. LA Clippers(26-36) LOCATION: Toyota Center, Houston TIME: 8:30 PM EST/7:30 PM CT PROBABLE STARTERS SF Jim Jackson/Corey Maggette PF Kelvin Cato/Elton Brand C Yao Ming/Chris Kaman PG Steve Francis/Marko Jaric SG Cuttino Mobley/Quentin Richardson TEAM LEADERS Rockets: Yao Ming-17.5 points per game Yao Ming-8.7 rebounds per game Steve Francis-6.0 assists per game Spurs: Elton Brand-20.1 points per game Elton Brand-11.1 rebounds per game Marko Jaric-4.8 assists per game KEYS TO THE GAME <u>Rockets</u> 1: Yao Ming Has His 4th 25+ Game-Yao Ming has been on fire over the past week. Scoring 33 on Shaquille O'Neal, 27 on Kevin Garnett and 29 on Dirk Nowitzki consecutively. This is a feat not everyone can accomplish. Not surprisingly, the Rockets have been 2-1 over that period. The Dynasty has to keep his hot hands tonight, especially with either rookie Chris Kaman or the 6'8" Elton Brand on him. I'm predicting a 30 point, 12 rebound performance, certainly attainable. 2:Keep The Clipper Trifacta In Check-Even with a losing record, the Clippers still have one of the most exciting trios in the league in Elton Brand, Corey Magette and Quentin Richardson. They average an astounding 58 points among themselves. The Rockets defenders will have to keep their scoring tonight to a minimum. 3:Take Care Of The Ball-Against the Mavericks on Sunday, the Rockets committed a shocking 30 turnovers, 4 off a franchise record. We were lucky to come out with the win but if the same amount of turnovers is committed this game, it might be hard to overcome the Clippers. Our guards have to keep the turnover numbers low tonight. <u>Clippers</u> 1:Trio Scores 20 Each-Besides their thunderous trio, the Clippers have no other player capable of taking over the game. That is exactly why the trio have to play well tonight. If they score less than 20 each, they will find it hard to come out of Houston with a win. 2:Crash The Boards-In Yao Ming, the Rockets have a towering center capable of getting 1 offensive rebound every possesion. The Clippers have to box him out. Elton Brand has to try his hardest to get reounds over a player 10 inches taller than him. Chris Kaman, the surprising rookie will also have to help out. 3:Contain Yao Ming-Yao Ming has an amazing post game and is as hot as any NBA player right now. It appears as if there is nothing in his way to getting another double-double against the Clippers. Elton Brand and Chris Kaman will have to prevent Yao from getting good post position and contest him on every shot. GAME OUTLOOK Rockets are on a roll after beating two top Western Conference teams and this game against the disappointing Clippers looks like a lock. However, the Clippers have a knack for surprising, which means we have to be on our guard tonight. Never take the opponents lightly. I'd like to see Clarence Weatherspoon being used more since he is the perfect power source we need. If our bench and backcourt plays well, I don't see any reason we can blow the LA's worse team out. GAME PREDICTION Rockets-95 Clippers-79
Nice preview,Yao has been on fire last week.I think he will have a big game.Maybe 30+ points.The Rockets will need to play great defense and Yao and Steve do the rest on the offensive end.I predict that the Rockets win by 12.
Nice preview. Yao has a lot of momentum from the last game, so that should be enough to wipe over the clippers by no more than 9.
The Clippers will play a hard fought game, like always Brand will come out and get a double double and play hard, but I say Houston by 7. The Clippers downfall will be the lack of defense and the fact that Yao is in the middle and has been averaging 29.5 ppg in the last week.
Clippers lost to Hoston 90-85, I predicted a 7 points loss, so I was pretty close on this one. The Rockets had very balanced scoring and even though the Clippers held them to 41% shooting won this game. The game changer wa freethrows, the Rockets went to the line 33 times to the Clippers 20. They also made 25 free throws to the Clippers 16. The Clips were also outrebounded 40-36. Yao didn't shoot so well, but made 11-12 from the line. Francis had a good game with 24 points on 10-15 shooting and dshed out 7 assists and also got 5 steals to match his season high in steals.
SF definitely played his best game this season, based on the statistics. Yao was pretty effective as well due to the fact he was rested for a long time and didn't play for his usual 40 minutes. Yao sealed the game for us in the 4th when it mattered
Nice win for us, it's great to finally see Steve Francis performing at a high level again. Yao and Steve might make some noise in the playoffs.
the one thing that i really really hope is that steve can maintain this good performance.....then if yao doesn't mess up too bad....the rockets will really be the team to fear and look out for in the playoffs. btw...i'm new here...so hey guys.
