Preview: Rockets @ Magic <div align="center"> vs <font color="Red"> Houston Rockets </font> @ <font color="Blue">Orlando Magic</font> When Sunday, January 25 Where TD Waterhouse Time 6:00 ET TV Local</div> Records Houston: 25-17 Magic: 12-32 Previous Games <u>Orlando</u> <ul>January 23, Won 98-93 @ Philadelphia January 21, Loss 113-102 @ Milwaukee January 19, Won 106-99 vs Milwaukee[/list] Last 10: 4-6 <u>Houston </u> <ul>January 23, Won 78-74 @ Indiana January 21, Won 86-71 vs New York January 19, Loss 88-83 @ Memphis [/list] Last 10: 7-3 Probable Starters Andrew DeClercq vs Yao Ming Juwan Howard vs Kelvin Cato Keith Bogans vs Jim Jackson Tracy McGrady vs Cuttino Mobley Tyronn Lue vs Steve Francis Injury List <u> Orlando</u> Pat Garrity Reece Gaines Grant Hill <u>Houston </u> Adrian Griffin Team Updates <u>Orlando</u> The Magic have won 2 of their last 3 games. Rookies Keith Bogans and Zaza Pachulia have been a huge spark for the Magic, providing great energy. On Friday night, the Magic beat the 76ers 98-93. Juwan Howard recored a double double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Tracy McGrady scored 33 points and added 10 rebounds along with 6 assists. Watch for Gordan Giricek to play more after a good game against the 76ers. <u> Houston</u> The Rockets have won 5 of their last 6 games. Yao Ming has played phenomenal basketball and has been the key to their Rockets success. In their 78-74 victory against the Pacers, Steve Francis led all scorers with 19 points. Yao Ming had a double double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Rockets don't have a very deep bench, but all of their starters can hurt the Magic. Keys to the Game <u> Orlando</u> <ul>Rebound the basketball.[/list]<ul>Contain Yao Ming. The Magic obviously don't have a player to match his size, but they need to try their best to keep him out of the paint.[/list]<ul>Play solid defense. The Magic need to use up as much of the shot clock as possible.[/list]<ul>Come out and set the tempo. Although the Magic haven't played with a consistent game style, they need to run to win this game. Houston is an average team when playing the transitional game.[/list] [quoteright] "A center like Yao Ming anchors you both defensively and offensively. He makes all his teammates better. He makes it easier for everyone." -Magic Coach Johnny Davis [/QUOTERIGHT] <u>Houston</u> <ul>Pound the ball inside to Yao.[/list] <ul>Set the tempo of the game; force the Magic to play a halfcourt game.[/list] <ul>Reduce the turnovers.[/list] <ul>Control the glass; this shouldn't be too hard since the Magic struggle with rebound, but they rebound the basketball with team effort.[/list] <ul>Stay out of foul truble.[/list] Current Team Leaders <u> Orlando</u> <ul>Points: Tracy McGrady (26.5) Rebounds: Juwan Howard (7.1) Assists: Tracy McGrady (5.8) Steals: Tracy McGrady (1.4)[/list] <u>Houston</u> <ul>Points: Steve Francis (17.0) Rebounds: Yao Ming (9.3) Assists: Steve Francis (5.8) Steals: Steve Francis (1.48)[/list] Key Bench Players <u> Orlando</u> Drew Gooden<ul>12.3 Points Per Game, 7.0 Rebounds Per Game, 1.3 Assists Per Game[/list] Rod Stickland<ul>6.0 Points Per Game, 2.2 Rebounds Per Game, 3.2 Assists Per Game[/list] Zaza Pachulia<ul>3.2 Points Per Game, 2.8 Rebounds Per Game, .2 Assists Per Game[/list] <u>Houston </u> Maurice Taylor<ul>11.8 Points Per Game, 5.5 Rebounds Per Game, 1.3 Assists Per Game[/list] Scott Padgett<ul>3.2 Points Per Game, 2.5 Rebounds Per Game, .4 Assists Per Game[/list] Mark Jackson<ul>1.0 Points Per Game, 1.5 Rebounds Per Game, 2.0 Assists Per Game[/list] Key Matchup The PG's The 'X' Factor Yao Ming Ice's Take Rockets by a dime <font size="1">Go to NBA.com for the official preview</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jump:</div><div class="quote_post">Rockets will beat us. Yao Ming is way too much for us to handle.</div> I believe that to be so, also Rockets are one of the better defensive teams, they'll surely lockdown Magic offense. I still have no idea why you guys use Declerq, he should be sued. If the Magic hope for any chances, Lue has to step up and be a big scoring threat. TMac of course as always. Rockets have game entirerity advantage, offense and defense. On defense, Yao, Cato and Mobley and of course Francis and Jackson on the offensive end. Sadly, this'll be a cleanup, as bad as the Timberwolves loss, even. Rockets by at least double digits.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">I still have no idea why you guys use Declerq, he should be sued.</div>Sportsrock will like that!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting jump:</div><div class="quote_post">Sportsrock will like that!</div> Even I would, maybe Zaza would do well. Not that I'm being, afterall Sportsrock was probably being bias alot of the time. Declerq just doesn't seem to grasp any form of game. Even Gooden would probably play center better then he does, and he doesn't even play the position, heck even Lue.
Theres no one to guard Yao, despite him being big on defense, he probably will have a big offensive game.... This is not going to be pretty what so ever...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">Even Gooden would probably play center better then he does, and he doesn't even play the position, heck even Lue.</div>Now thats harsh!
heh Itll all depend on how the other rockets are feeling tonight Yao should have a big game...only way to reduce his points is fouling him..having all the "Centers" with have with at least 4 fouls..yeah ALL that means Steven Hunter he did a great job on Duncan once..anyways Im going with the Magic by 5 in a Big Offensive Night for all.
I went to the game, it wasn't pretty. Yao had 37 pts. Tmac had 31, but didn't score in the 4th. He hit like 5 3's. We have activated Gaines again. He played 3 mins when it was garbage time and got a nice steal, assist and rebound. Zpac(zaza pachilia) had 6 pts, but struggled against the 7'6 chinese man. Declerq played defense on Yao the whole game. He sure shut him down, lol. I agree with you about Declerq, Magic.
lol I did see Hunter play good at the end against yao..newayz im not surprised..yao reached a career high in the 3rd quater.
One of they keys to the game for the Rockets was to get the ball to Yao and that is what they did and Yao reached a career hig 37 points.
Great game by Yao...he should be doing this more consistently...however, I think Mark Jackson played a huge role...10 assists in 20 minutes???? Thats a point guard, he definitely deserves more minutes...
Bad game for the Magic. We had them for a while and then they went on a run and kept the lead. Yao killed us too. McGrady played good along with Lue and Gordan IMO.
