<div align="center"> @ <font color="Red">Houston Rockets</font> (3-4) @ <font color="Navy">New Jersey Nets</font>(2-4) Time: November. 15,2004; 7:30pm Arena: <font color="Navy">Continential Airlines Arena</font></div> Preview: The Rockets got off to a slow start to 04-05, as they looked to adjust all the new faces to the Jeff Van Gundy system. But they did manage a three game winning streak, already this year. The streak was snapped on Wednesday at home against the the Timberwolves. And over the weekend the Rockets also lost to the Lakers 84-79. The Rockets enter the game with a 3-4 record. And look to end their 2 game losing streak. The Nets enter the game as a beat up team. With Zoran Planinic, Rodney Buford, Alonzo Mourning, and Jason Collins, all trying to play thru injuries. The Nets are on a 2-game losing streal of their own, with recent losses to the 76ers & Mavs. The Nets look to put the injuries to the side. And pickup just their 2nd home win of the season. <u>Projected Starting 5 </u> <u><font color="Navy">Nets: </font></u> PG: <font color="Navy">Zoran Planinic</font> SG: <font color="Navy">Richard Jefferson </font> SF: <font color="Navy">Eric Williams </font> PF: <font color="Navy">Jason Collins</font> C: <font color="Navy">Alonzo Mourning</font> <u><font color="Red">Rockets: </font></u> PG: <font color="Red">Charlie Ward</font> SG: <font color="Red">Jim Jackson </font> SF: <font color="Red">Tracy Mcgrady</font>* PF: <font color="Red">Mo Taylor</font> C: <font color="Red">Yao Ming</font> <font size="1">*Mcgrady questionable with strain right hip; Bostjan Nacbar the replacement</font> ---------------------------- <div align="center"><u>Key Matchup To Watch</u> <font color="Red">Yao Ming (Rockets)</font> vs. <font color="Navy">Alonzo Mourning (New Jersey)</font></div> Centers of Attraction: Yao Ming(along with Shaq of course) i9s sitting at the top of the pyramid when it comes to the leagues best Centers. Alonzo Mourning knows how Yao feels, seeing as he is a hall a fame caliber Center. But a battle against Kidney failure, has made Zo,over the past few seasons, only a shell of him former self. And new guys like Ming have stepped up. And replaced Zo as the league's best in the middle. So some may view tonight's matchup as the past vs the present. But dont think Zo doesnt have a few things to prove himself. Alonzo Mourning as been the stable rock in the middle for the Nets at the start of the 04-05 season. And Iam pretty sure when seen the Rockets on the schedule, he was looking forward to a matchup against the Rockets' All-star Center. Zo will definately have his hands full trying to contain Yao, who seems to get more & more comfortable in the post as his career goes along. Ming can also step away from the basket. And knock down the 15 foot mid-range jumper as well. Zo will spend alot of time matchup against Ming. But containing Ming will really come down to the strenght of the Nets team defensive concept. Also Zo's best defense maybe a strong game on the offensive side of the basketball. If Zo can be physical in the post with Yao Ming, Ming has a tendency to pick up silly fouls. So the Nets need to look to establish Zo early. And allow him to use his veteran Savy & Craftiness, to force Ming to make silly mistakes. ------------------ <div align="center"><u><font color="Navy">Keys to the Game for New Jersey</font> </u></div> <font color="Navy">Team Defense On Yao </font>. While Zo will be matched up against Ming for the most part, Alonzo will still need alot of help from guys coming over from the weakside to double. Alonzo Mourining's lateral quickness isnt what it once was, that means when Ming puts the ball on the floor away from the basket, the guards most come over quickly to give Zo the proper help, at cutting off the lane. Also I think a smart move for Coach frank would be to start Jason Collins on Ming. And use Alonzo Mourining as a help defender early. That will allow Zo to have a chance at a few weakside blocks, as well as stay out of early foul trouble. <font color="Navy"> Force Houston's Point Guards to make plays</font> Ward and Lue are not the type of point guards, who like to make plays. And put the ball on the floor consistently in the half-court. They are more of spot up shooters, so the Nets have to force Lue & Ward out of thier comfort zone. Make the Rockets guards beat you by putting the ball on the floor and making plays. If you force them to do things they are not use to doing or are not comfortable doing you will see an increase in the Rockets turnover rate. <font color="Navy">Bench Production.</font> In the game vs the Mavs the Nets only managed 12 bench points, mainly due to the thinness of the bench due to injury. But they need more bench production tonight. They need a strong game from guys like Brain Scalabrine & Travis Best. As well as Rodney Buford bouncing back from a horrible 3-16 performance against the Mavs. Aaron Williams getting into the game and contributing some solid minutes matched up against Ming will be key as well. <div align="center"><u><font color="Red">Keys For the Rockets </font> </u> </div> <font color="Red">Keeping Ming invloved in the action. </font> With Mcgrady questionable for play, its key that the Rockets get a strong performance out of Ming. The Rockets need to establish him early in the low block. And use him often down there. Just about everything the Rockets do on offense should run thru Yao in the post. He will create the opportunities for others. <font color="Red">Shot Making</font>. With the Nets expected to focus much of their team defense around helping deal with Ming, that should open up alot of opportunities for the perimeter guys. Lue, Ward, Jackson etc. should have alot of good looks at the basket from the perimeter. It is important that they make the Nets Defense pay for overplaying on Ming. <font color="Red">Team Rebounding </font> The Rockets are really going to have to be effective on the boards. The Nets are a team that lives off 2nd chance points off of offensive rebounds. It is key the Rockets limit the Nets to one shot and done, by cleaning up the defensive boards. <u>Closing Statement</u> This is a winnable game for Jersey. But they cant let a bunch of Rockets get it going with Mcgrady out. The only way the Rockets are going to be able to make up for his production if he doesnt play, is by 2 or 3 players having above average games. So I think the Nets really need to focus on making Ming a one man team. if Mcgrady doesnt play. Jersey must work the boards for plenty of 2nd chance points. And keep the game from becoming a high scoring game. The Nets are a grind it out team, if the game is played in the 80's range the Nets will be right there with a chance to win in the final minutes.
Nice preview. Although McGrady has been out the last two games for the Rockets, the Rockets were still able to stay close against playoff-caliber teams. Against the Nets, especially behind a strong performance by Yao, Houston should have no problem taking this one. Zo can be a good defender, but I doubt that his current physical stature would allow him to match up against Yao effectively. Rockets by 9.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview. Although McGrady has been out the last two games for the Rockets, the Rockets were still able to stay close against playoff-caliber teams. Against the Nets, especially behind a strong performance by Yao, Houston should have no problem taking this one. Zo can be a good defender, but I doubt that his current physical stature would allow him to match up against Yao effectively. Rockets by 9.</div> Yeah I know, I watched the T-wolves game and the Rockets were competive without T-Mac. But I think the Nets can keep it close cause the Rockets dont put that many points on the board. They have to grind out games for the most part, so both teams play a similiar style from that standpoint. I dont expect much scoring. And Zo has been alot better defensively then many expected. But contain Yao will be more of a team defensive concept then a Zo stopping Ming type of deal. I think this will be a close game ,honestly.
Rockets 80- Nets 69 Once again New Jersey's lack of offense dictates another loss. Watching the Nets on offense is like getting teeth pulled at the dentist. It is painful to watch the Nets continously turn the ball over almost every trip. I like what Zoran Planinic is trying to do but he clearly isnt mean to be a lead guard on this level. He turns the ball over way to much, doesnt really know how to execute post entry passes down low to Alonzo on the low block. And looks for his shot to much. I dont think he ever feally naturally fit as just a Point Guard on this level, he is going to have to be a combo guard inorder to have success in the NBA. He plays both backcourt positions depending on matchups & the opposing teams defense. I think or offense looks most productive when Travis Best is playing lead guard. He sets a nice tempo of getting the ball up the floor Coach Frank has got to find away to use him more consistently. The thing that really hurt us was the battle of the starting forwards. The Rockets got 30pts combing from their starting forwards Mo Taylor and Jim Jackson, while we could only muster up 6pts combined from Jason Collins and Eric Williams. I think Coach Frank has got to make the decision to limit JC minutes cause he is really struggling out there. I dont understand what Aaron Williams did to fall out of the rotation. But his 8ppg would look good for a team, who struggles to score 70pts in a game. And is only averaging 85ppg, especially when JC is struggling thru injury. Anyway this team has to find away to produce more offense, guys like Buford, Eric Williams, & Scalabrine have to step it up. Those guys should be able to produce 27pts combine per game to help out Zo & RJ, cause teams are pretty much defending the Nets the same way. Double RJ almost every time he touches the ball force him to be a passer. But cut off the post entry pass down low to Zo. They are forcing guys like Scalabrine, Eric Williams etc to make plays. And all the pump faking and hesistating this guys are doing is putting the Nets offense at a stand still. The Nets role players have to step up play with some confience. And make teams pay for over playing our two main guys.
That 11-0 run in the begining was great but, everything went downhill for them from there. Preserving leads is what the Nets need to start doing more. It showed in Philadelphia, and now vs. the Rockets. If the Rockets were to beat the Nets it wouldn't have been so bad but, just the fact that they had an early double-digit run makes it even worse. One of the other big losses for the Nets is their staple fast breaks. They were held to only 7 fastbreak points. Jason Kidd really needs to come back if the Nets continue to play this dismal style of play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting mrj18:</div><div class="quote_post">That 11-0 run in the begining was great but, everything went downhill for them from there. Preserving leads is what the Nets need to start doing more. It showed in Philadelphia, and now vs. the Rockets. If the Rockets were to beat the Nets it wouldn't have been so bad but, just the fact that they had an early double-digit run makes it even worse. One of the other big losses for the Nets is their staple fast breaks. They were held to only 7 fastbreak points. Jason Kidd really needs to come back if the Nets continue to play this dismal style of play.</div> Thats because Zoran really isnt a pg, so he doesnt know how to push the ball in fastbreak situation. I think in the Bulls game. And this game vs Houston the Nets look alot better in the open court when Travis Best is leading the Break.
Travis Best and Alonzo Mourning looked very good. Planinic did not impress me with his decision-making. He is not made out to be a point guard and lacks the passing skills to be an efficient one. I think he would make a better slasher/shooter. Why not move him to shooting guard, start Best and bring Buford off the bench?
^Yeah Zoran doesnt have the decsion making of a point guard. But I like the big lineup of him & RJ in the backcourt to start games, so Eric Williams, JC, Zo can from a big frontline. But once the game gets going in the 2nd quarter, i defitnately think Coack Frank needs to use Travis Best more at the point and move Zoran over to the two guard,our offense flows much smoother that way.
