Here is the preview curtoesy of Rockets.com http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/preview031101.html <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> <u>Rockets </u> The Rockets take the floor tonight against an improving Memphis Grizzlies squad. Houston took three of four games from Memphis last season, including a 97-86 triumph that closed the curtain on the Rockets former home, Compaq Center. Something about playing Memphis always brings out the best in Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, who combined to average 45.3 points against the Grizzlies last season. If the Rockets backcourt tandem can get hot again tonight, things would be much easier for Yao Ming to showcase his talent down low. The Rockets 7-6 center averaged 14.8 points and 9.6 rebounds when he faced Memphis last season. With Memphis not having the luxury of an established center, Yao may have even bigger numbers tonight. Houston hopes to receive another effort from Kelvin Cato similar to the one he turned in Thursday in the season-opening victory over Denver. Cato pulled down 13 rebounds and chipped in 10 points, and continues to provide the type of play the Rockets haven't seen from the power forward spot for what seems like an eternity. It doesn't seem like that much of a stretch to say Cato could lead the NBA in rebounding this season if he wanted to and all indications through the preseason and first game of the regular season are that he does. <u>Grizzlies</u> The Memphis Grizzlies enter Toyota Center tonight looking to make a dramatic improvement in the Midwest Division standings this season. The Grizzlies have only one player over 30 years of age on their roster, and their youth movement this season should provide for some exciting but sometimes erratic play. After joining the team in the middle of last season, Memphis Head Coach Hubie Brown is ready to help the Grizzlies take the next step this year. Brown?s knowledge and experience should help Grizzlies guards Jason Williams and Mike Miller make smart decisions in the backcourt. Williams finished second in the NBA in assists last season (8.3 per game), but the 6-1 guard often likes to look for his shot against Houston. Miller is a pure shooter who also has the ability to slash through the lane and create his own shot opportunities. In the frontcourt forward Pau Gasol, who led the Grizzlies in points, rebounds, and blocks last season, will be the key player in the Memphis attack. Gasol is one of the brightest talents in the league and the Rockets interior players will have their hands full trying to contain the Grizzlies star. Memphis will play a center by committee, including Jake Tsakalidis, Stromile Swift and Lorenzen Wright. Former Rocket James Posey will line up on the wing for Memphis and serve as the Grizzlies top defender. </div> I think this game should be closer than the Nuggets game for starters. The Grizzlies have a nice set of starters. I think the key for the Rockets on the defensive end will be to control Pau Gasol. Pau creates a match up problem as he is to tall for Jackson and he is too quick for Cato. I expect Pau to have a huge came non the less. The Rockets tonight will have a definite size advantage in the paint tonight. Yao and Cato should easily be able to control the paint. In the west, the one who control the paint usually will win. Add Francis, and the much improved Cuttino and I expect the Rockets to walk out tonight victorious. My prediction is that the Rockets win this game, 93-85.
The Rockets lost to the Grizzlies 79-71 after being up by 5 points going into the 4th quarter. The Grizzlies can credit the victory mostly to Lorenzen Wright. He scored 13 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter and scored all of the Grizzlies points on a 10-2 run that provided a 70-63 lead for the Grizzlies with 5:57 remaining. He later fouled out however the Grizzlies were able to maintain the lead. Yao led the Rockets scoring 19 points, grabbing 10 boards. The Rockets got slaughtered when it came to bench production. The Rockets bench scored a whooping total of 8 points, while the Grizzlies bench scored 44. The Rockets can contribute the loss to turnovers(22) and the lack of bench production.
