First off, thanks to Hunter for setting up this forum. The main purpose of this forum is to have the schedule posted where only the preview makers can access to it, and also to post previews that might need editing. Also, for the collabs that we will be doing, please post them here and I will put them together and post it as a whole. Another purpose of this forum will be for notices if one of you guys will not be able to write the preview on a certain date. Please remember to give us a heads-up 48 hours in advance. As for the collab that we will be doing for the season opener against Detroit on November 2nd, we will need to divide up the parts for it. In addition to the game predictions that we will each be doing, there will be parts that will require dividing. Here they are: Matchups By Position- Center to Small Forward Matchups By Position- Shooting Guard to 6th Man Top 3 Keys To The Game- Rockets Top 3 Keys To The Game- Pistons Please pick a part and post it in this thread. Also remember to have the previews to me at least 24 hours from the game. Thank you for your dedication to our Rockets forum, and let's all hope that our in-depth previews will propel our forum to the levels of the best forums on JBB!
I'll take keys to the game for the Pistons. Their strategy hasn't changed since last year - Good pressure defense w/ Wallace owning the paint and Rip running off of screens draining everything he puts up.
I will likely do my own preview for the Pistons/Rockets game, so If you want to join up you are more than welcome to do so.
A little part to add on. Please include with your part a predicted score and a reason why. Please limit it to less than 5 lines.
Center vs <font color="red">Yao Ming</font> VS <font color="blue">Ben Wallace</font> In Yao Ming and Ben Wallace, we have arguably the most dynamic matchup of the game. Yao Ming is a 7-6 soft-shooting center, while Wallace is a power forward-transformed-center who looks very small next to Yao. However, don't let Wallace's lack in height fool you. Big Ben is one of the best post defenders in the NBA and won't settle with less than 3 blocked shots and 15 rebounds each game. The big question here remains the fact whether Yao can overcome Wallace's stifling defense. In his last game against Detroit, Yao Ming exploded for the first 20-20 game of his career with 22 points and 20 rebounds. If he can carry that performance out again, there will be no doubt that the Rockets would leave the Palace of Auburn Hills victors. Power Forwards vs <font color="red">Yao Ming</font> VS <font color="blue">Ben Wallace</font> This position is one of the strongest ones for both teams. The starters for these teams, though, have a gap in skill between them. Rasheed Wallace had one of his best seasons last year after winning a championship, and got paid well for it with a big extension. Howard, meanwhile, despite a good albeit quiet 2003-2004 season, is not as good as Sheed. Wallace has more range than Howard, and expect him to take advantage of it, drawing Howard away from the hoop to free up space for the Pistons guards to drive. Howard has to be smart on defense as Wallace is not afraid to jack up one three after another. The Pistons will have an advantage on hand if Wallace goes for his usual 18 and 9. Small Forwards vs <font color="red">Jim Jackson</font> VS <font color="blue">Tayshaun Prince</font> Jim Jackson and Tayshaun even each other out in a matchup situation; they are both excellent outside shooters and good defenders. The only difference between them is that Prince relies more on his long arms and god-given athleticism to excel on defense, while Jackson is more physical and with a 35-year old body, has to rely more on his veteran smarts to hold his opponent to a below-average performance. If both play their games and do well on team defense, there will not be a true advantage for either teams at the small forward spot. Trip's Prediction Defense meets defense in this matchup. While the Rockets' big duo McGrady and Yao aren't really cohesive yet as new partners, they will have to step up tonight if the Rockets are to win. McGrady has to be willing to defend and fight off the many picks that Hamilton will get, and Yao has to be strong against Ben Wallace's strong, physical defense. If both of these players do well and their supporting cast show up offensively and defensively, I can see the Rockets taking this game over the defending champions in an ugly defensive showdown. Predicted Score Rockets over Pistons, 88-81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, there's my part. I would really appreciate it if all of you will be able to submit yours by 3pm EST tomorrow. This will be our first preview and I want to start it off with a bang. Thank you. PS: Shooter, be aware of your game on Wednesday night against Toronto. You'll be solely responsible. Blow us away. :thumbsup:
Shooting Guard: Welcome to the new era of shooting guard for the Houston Rockets. Rockets fans and employees have been waiting for the debut of newly-acquired Tracy McGrady, and that day has arrived. Not since the days of Clyde ?The Glide? Drexler have the Rockets had such a powerhouse at the 2-guard spot. McGrady is the perfect complement to center Yao Ming, as his scoring, passing and defense will fit in to the Rockets system. McGrady will have a tough time finding seams through the vaunted Pistons defense; however his length and height will enable him to find passing angles and scoring routes that the Rockets haven?t had at a backcourt spot in some time. Pistons? guard Rip Hamilton enjoyed a breakout season last season. Hamilton averaged a steady 17 points/game last season, along with four assists a game. You can expect that his constant movement on offense will tire McGrady out at some point, but Hamilton will also have to deal with Tracy?s length and athleticism as well. The matchup should be very entertaining as two superior athletes go at it head-to-head. Although both are evenly talented, I give the edge to Houston due to Tracy?s versatility and height on both ends as Hamilton is not a noted defender. Advantage: Rockets Point Guard The Rockets? will likely go with Van Gundy disciple Charlie Ward as a starter. Ward is a steady, veteran ballhandler who plays aggressive defense and was among the league leaders with a 40% clip from 3-point range. He will never try to do more than he can and he knows how to run a basketball team. His job will be simple: try and stop last season?s Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, who unanimously won the matchup against the Lakers? Gary Payton in last years Championship series. Billups is the man who makes the Pistons? motor run. He is a very physical, bulldog-type point guard who has a knack for scoring in clutch moments of the game. He plays very tight defense, using his size and strength to bully opponents, and he also can hit the 3-pointer efficiently. However, he tends to get too shot happy from 3-point range so it is possible he can shoot the Pistons out of a game, but it is highly unlikely. Advantage: Pistons Sixth Man The Rockets? claim one of the best sixth men in the NBA in power forward Maurice Taylor. Taylor averaged 11.5 points/game and 5 boards/game in only 27 minutes off the pine last season. While his detriments as a rebounder and defender have been noted, there is no questioning his offensive ability and his knack for sparking an offense that seems to hit the wall one too many times during a game. His job fits that as a sixth man: to come in and change the pace of the game and that?s what he does. The Pistons will likely go with newly acquired forward Antonio McDyess as their sixth man. He appears to be healthy and played well during the preseason. When healthy, he is a strong scorer and rebounder, capable of 10-12 points and 4-6 boards off the bench in consistent time. He will have trouble guarding the more quicker Taylor due to his many knee surgeries. Advantage: Rockets Predicted score: Rockets 84 Pistons 79 I think the Pistons will have difficulty guarding both Yao and Tracy this time. The Rockets have more options offensively and better shooters among their rotation. Also, with the addition of Mutombo and Howard, as well as a stronger Yao, the Pistons will not be able to get as many easy baskets outside. That means they will have to beat the Rockets from the outside, which I don?t see happening since Larry Brown loathes the 3-point shot. They are both strong teams defensively but the difference will be the Rockets? versatility on offense.
KEYS TO THE GAME Rockets 1. First to 80 wins. In a showdown between two defensive oriented teams, don't expect buckets to come easy and the Rockets better come out gunning and making those shots early because as the game gets drawn up, the superior defensive team will win and, sadly to say, the Rockets are a notch under Detroit in terms of defense. 2. Tmac must produce. Not only will he be guarded by defensive specialist Tayshaun Prince, but the Pistons' interior defense is stingier than Bill Gates. Tmac must get going in the game and score at least 20 points. If Tmac does well, it will help him build momentum as the season starts and accelerate his playing adjustment with his new teammates. 3. Execute plays. Playing Detroit as the season opener may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. The Pistons play excellent half court defense and the Rockets need to "gel" together as a team early on in the season. Playing against a tough defense like this will help the Rockets toughen up for games to come. Prediction: 74 - 68 Detroit. Detroit is just the better team right now. They've been playing together for a year, won a championship, and plays suffocating defense. To be honest, if we can score more than 70 points with our relatively new lineup, I'd be quite happy. Especially since it's against the reigning NBA champions.
Keys to the Game - Pistons 1. Control the tempo. They were successful last year with good defense and patience on offense. THis game should be no exception and why change something that works. They need to run their offense and look for their shots(Hamilton off screens, etc.) The pistons do not want a full court game, SLOW and in control with good defense is how they are successful. 2. Control the paint early. Look for the Rockets to feed Yao early to eastablish his presence and pick apart the defense inside out. They cannot let Yao establish himself down low early. Wallace needs to control the paint early to get them off to a good start. If they can control the paint early, look for them to establish a lead and control the game. 3. Play the Rockets like they played the Lakers last year. It took 82 games and 3 playoff series before someone finely figured out how to stop the Lakers. The Pistons need to play the Rockets like they did the Lakers. Play tight defense on T-MAC and get in his bubble. If they can force other players to make shots and to take over the game then they have a great shot of winning the game. Score - 72-68 Pistons The Pistons are simply too good for us to beat. Yao hasn't had the best preseason and if the Pistons can control the tempo and keep TMAC from exploding, look for them to win the season opener.
Thanks for submitting them, Hunter. I was already asking SupraJames to do because it was presumed you wouldn't show up. Voodoo Child had told me that you won't be able to submit it because you'd be too busy following the election, but it seemed you were wrong. Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this; I know you're really busy. To the rest of us, cheers for a first preview well done! :thumbsup:
