We're playing on ESPN! Pretty good game that could test our dominance in the Western Conference. For us to be one of the top elite teams, we HAVE to give them an ass kicking. By ass kicking, I mean 12-15 points. We have to keep our intensity up throughout the game! LETS GO ROCKETS!
LOL ... just as I say that, the Rockets offense goes south. Too many quick perimeter shots. Yao is having a tough time getting good post position against Dampier. He always defends him well.
It's good to see Tracy finish that alley-oop. But he's getting burned on the defensive end. Josh Howard has had been awesome to start the game. It looks like the Mavs are playing much faster this year. Carlisle is giving them more freedom.
Ron's getting more scoring opportunities on post ups this game. Haven't seen too much of that before, and its good to see.
1st quarter done. Rockets offense much improved. Unfortunately, the Mavs are tougher to stop than the Grizzlies, and we give up 33 points in the quarter. Adelman subbed in Chuck Hayes for Luis Scola in the 1st to try to stop Nowitzki's post up. But Dirk was able to score on a tip in, and got a 3-point play on the fast break. Does Adelman stick with that matchup for the second period? Barry hits his first 3 as a Rocket, off a pass from Tracy. I hope to see A LOT of that this year.
Aaron Brooks is back! That's a surprise. And hits a 3-pointer too. Awesome. Rockets start the 2nd on a 7-0 run. Time out Dallas.
Artest is playing his ass off. He's a special player. I think its time for T-Mac to get back in the game. Rockets up 10.
Looking at the box score, it looks like TMac is taking a deferred role to Yao and Artest. Not necessarily a bad thing, but we'll need him to be the main guy on offense some nights this season and let's hope he can rise to the challenge. From the +/- numbers, looks like Brooks is having an impact on the floor. We've been +11 in the 7:46 he's been on the court.
Halftime: Format Pts - Rbd - Asts Yao 19/5/3, Artest 17/1/0, McGrady 8/2/7, Scola 4/2/0. Hou 62 - Dal 59
