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Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008, 7:00 PM CST
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The Big 3... not how I imagined it

by grungedave on Nov 18, 2008 5:16 PM CST in Whimsical Posts

I can say this only after they all seem to be okay...

May this never, ever happen again this season.

1 comment | 0 recs |

If Tracy can't go, who starts?

by UofTOrange on Nov 18, 2008 12:49 PM CST in Random Commentary

Much was made about the Artest trade because it was supposed to give us depth at SF and SG. Unfortunately we didn't know that both McGrady, and a usually rugged Battier would both possibly be out. So I'm going to toss my opinion out there. The starter should be Von Wafer if Shane Battier doesn't find a way to ride in on a white horse by Wednesday.

I like Brent Barry, I like what he brings to the team, but I think he's more needed in the second wave at SG. I also don't think he's available for starter's minutes at this point in his career.

Luther Head is NOT an option. He is a terrible ball handler and cannot create his own shot. Right now every time he sees the court he tries to do too much because he knows it may be his last. If all he did was find the corner and try to get open it wouldn't be so bad. But in Adelman's offense he has to handle the ball just about every possession and that is asking for disaster.

Wafer is athletic and quick. His shooting touch seems to be solid and while he makes young player decision with the ball, he seems to have a feel for the offense and how to throw an entry pass to Yao. He also can get out of the way after the pass and how to get open. I actually think he's been missed a lot when he was open for three. I'm hoping he gets the chance to start so that they can really see what the kid can do. It could be very enlightening.

There is obviously the chance that Shane Battier comes back. During the telecast last night they said he would be practicing with the team today or tomorrow. Now that could just be a test, but maybe? I don't want him rushing back. Frankly SG is the worst position on the court for the Mavericks and even a Wafer/Barry combo is better than a Green/Wright combo. So in theory the Rockets should be okay without him. But if you are ready Shane, let's get that defense back on the court!

Poll

Who should start?

13 comments | 0 recs |

Scola > Collison

by grungedave on Nov 17, 2008 9:36 PM CST in Random Commentary

I heard a rumor that the announcer for the Durants said something to the effect of "Nick Collison is a better player than Luis Scola"... and if so, I'd like to present Exhibits A and B for the jury:

Exhibit A:

10-20 FG, 3-3 FT, 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

Exhibit B:

2-4 FG, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals and 0 blocks.

Surprise, surprise, but Exhibit A is actually the stat line for this guy:

(and by "this guy" I mean the guy NOT fouling the hell out of the guy with the ball.)

Luis Scola is a badass. Live it, learn it, and love to accept it.
I just hope he doesn't have to be a super-badass and be the Big One while Yao, T-Mac and Crazy Pills all play with pain/injuries. Seriously, how can all 3 of those guys get hurt in the same game!?!?

11 comments | 0 recs |

Game 11 - Houston Rockets vs. OKC Thunder Monday 7:00PM CST

by UofTOrange on Nov 17, 2008 4:17 PM CST in Game Previews

Game_11_-_thunder__header_medium

This game should end with a 20 point blowout. However, since the Rockets haven't blown anyone out this year, and have actually lost a game against a Ginobli/Parker-less Spurs team, anything is possible.

And I don't care what ESPN says, we have only played the Thunder once, very much like the Texans have never played the Oilers (I hate you so much Bud Adams, now go EABOD AND DIAF). We are 1-0 against them, and that's all that ever happened. The Sonics are sadly dead, long live the Reign Man and The Glove, as much as I hated that team, they were damn good.

The Matchups:

Alston vs. Watson: Neither of these guys will kill you. Both of them could come up big for you out of the blue.
Edge: Rockets: Rafer sucks less than Earl sucks

McGrady vs. Durant: KD has won me a lot of bets. I still can't believe someone thought he wouldn't average more than 18 a game last year. That was easy money. He has a special place in my heart, even if I do wish he stayed one more years for an NC with Texas. Tracy has been fantastic at times this year. He was also one of the worst players I've ever seen in the 4th quarter against San Antonio.
Edge: Rockets: While I think KD is fantastic, TMac always shows up for meetings against the young guns to show them up.

Artest vs. Green: Green has a lot of potential. I really think the Thunder are going to be happier and happier with him as time goes on. This year, he's just not as good as Artest. He's a better scorer right now, but that's on a team that needs his points badly. Crazy Pills has been good, but not quite what I hoped he would be so far this year. I expected him to be great. Still about another month from that happening in my opinion.
Edge: Rockets: Artest has to break out of his shooting slump. Is tonight the night? I feel like I've typed that before.

Scola vs. Collison: I hated Collison at Kansas, just hated him. He was a dominant player there, and you just knew he was going to get drafted high and be an NBA bust. I think what angers me most is how much richer he is than me.
Edge: Rockets: Scola is a lot better player at every facet of the game.

Yao vs. Swift: Yao finally had a very good game again. He's miles better than his competition tonight and it will show. Robert Swift has Joe Klein potential, and I don't knock that. Klein had a long, profitable career, I expect the same for Swift.
Edge: Rockets: Come on now, it's Robert Swift, THIS guy:

via www.yardbarker.com

Though, I am a big tattoo guy, and he has some sweet ones

108 comments | 0 recs |

Blogger Power Rankings (Nov. 17th)

by grungedave on Nov 17, 2008 8:22 AM CST in Blogging stuff

Okay, so Lee and I are part of this massive effort by bloggers to have our own Power Rankings to compare/contrast with the likes of ESPN and SI and NBA.com...

Here are this week's blogger power rankings.
(Yes, it may be the only time we ever link to a Jazz site!)

Not to spoil any surprises, but the bloggers are ambivalent about our Rockets right now... not sure if the real Rockets are the team that beat Phoenix and New Orleans easily... or if the real team is the one that lost to LA by 29 and then later to a short-handed Spurs team. Worst of all, we're ranked behind Utah. Boooooo!!

4 comments | 0 recs |

CP3 is good at impersonations

by grungedave on Nov 16, 2008 11:17 AM CST in Random Commentary

Chris Paul's box score line from last night:

35 minutes,
2-10 FG
8-8 FT
3 rebounds
12 assists
3 turnovers

A stat line only Tracy McGrady could appreciate. I was right there watching the whole thing. I cannot believe that ABZ was able to neutralize CP3. Nicely done, Aaron! A game I thought would be closely contested the whole way ended up being mostly "over" by the 2nd quarter.

Rockets now 6-4, but could ever-so-easily be 9-1... and that's with no Battier, Artest being rather invisible and T-Mac shooting like Rafer.

(And our first matchup with Utah is still over a month away.)

9 comments | 0 recs |

Game 10 - Rockets vs. Hornets - Rockets return to Toyota Center at 7:30pm CST!

by grungedave on Nov 15, 2008 11:57 AM CST in Game Previews

Rockets return home tonight to host CP3 and the New Orleans Hornets. Here's your matchups.


ABZ	PG	CP3
T-Mac	SG	Mo Peterson (??)
Crazy Pills	SF	Peja Stojakovic
Luis Landry	PF	David West
Yao	C	Tyson Chandler

ABZ vs. CP3 - Aaron Brooks is great off the bench. He's probably been the most consistent offensive player on the Rockets team. He shouldn't be starting though. Thanks, Rafer. Worst of all, Rafer doesn't get the opportunity tonight to prove that CP3 still isn't half the player he is. (Huge!) Advantage: CP3. Like... obviously.

T-Mac vs. Mo Peterson - Peterson is listed as day-to-day so I am not 100% sure he's playing tonight. Then again, I'm not 100% sure T-Mac is playing either. I mean the real T-Mac, not the guy who goes 2-12 against San Antonio. Still -- T-Mac has to be the one favored in this matchup - no matter who is the SG for the Hornets. Advantage: McGrady.

Crazy Pills vs. Peja Stojakovic - the guys who were traded for each other a few years ago post-Malice. Peja is a shell of what he was back in 2002... but he's still capable of going crazy if you leave him open. Fortunately, RonRon likes these kinds of challenges. At least, I hope so - he's been kinda quiet on both offense and defense lately. Hmmmm... I still give him the advantage.

Luis Landry vs. David West - good thing Lee isn't doing this preview. He might actually go catatonic after having to choose a favorite here. West is his favorite non-Rocket I do believe... but how do you pick against Luis Landry. And yes, I am including both because Adelman still doesn't let Scola play enough. That said, David West is an all-star. Slight advantage to David West. (I hope to be proven wrong here.)

Yao vs. Chandler - uhhh, yeah, I really do like you Tyson Chandler. I pissed off a bunch of Lakers fans by saying you're better than Andrew Bynum. But you aren't Yao. Even if Yao can't jump these days, he's still better than you. Big, big advantage (and likely key to the game) - Yao Ming.

I'll be attending the game tonight. So if anyone sees me in my Luis Scola #4 jersey over in the Jack Daniels bar at the Toyota Center... feel free to say 'hi'. If the Rockets perform like they did last night in San Antonio, you'll be able to recognize me as the tall, skinny guy in a Luis Scola #4 jersey that is crying like a little girl.

Prediction? Rockets wake up, Crazy Pills dominates, Yao re-learns how to jump and the Rockets win by 5 in their homecoming.

91 comments | 0 recs |

Rockets/Spurs - I don't even wanna talk about it

by grungedave on Nov 15, 2008 11:25 AM CST in Random Commentary

Not much I can or want to say about last night's Rockets game.

We lost to the Spurs. Blowing a double digit lead in the 4th Q. Scoring a grand total of 75 freakin' points. Ugh. I don't even want to go into details.

I would like to thank Rafer again for being an idiot and getting himself suspended. It allowed me to refresh my recollection as to why Von Wafer doesn't get much playing time and why Aaron Broooks shouldn't be shooting it 17 times. I see T-Mac is back to his old self already though... 2-12? Nice.

2 comments | 0 recs |

Rafer Alston Suspended

by UofTOrange on Nov 14, 2008 1:17 PM CST in Random Commentary

Considering he didn't throw a punch, 2 games is asinine, but that's what he gets. Matt Barnes received two games as well. Oddly enough, they even suspended Steve Nash for one game. It looked that, although he escalated the situation, that he get the brunt of the pushing done to him.

Chronicle story by Feigen here

Breakdown:

Rafer Alston - 2 Games
Matt Barnes - 2 Games
Steve Nash - 1 Game

Shaquille O'Neal - $35,000
Tracy McGrady - $25,000

I actually liked this quote from McGrady, shows a little heart:

Asked about Barnes retaliating by running through an Alston screen, rather than on McGrady directly, McGrady said, "He chose wisely."

Rafer being out won't hurt the Rockets as much tonight, but tomorrow he won't get to try and trash talk Chris Paul. I honestly think it works a little on CP3, he tends to score more than pass against us. Oh, what's that? He puts up double digit assists anyway? Well alrighty then...

Aaron Brooks will start tonight, some of you will get your wish. Brent Barry is potentially out with a sprained thumb.

11 comments | 0 recs |

Oh, no, not Javie!!!

by grungedave on Nov 14, 2008 12:49 PM CST in Game Previews

Tonight's referees:

S. Javie

K. Fehr

S. Wright

Oh, no. He's back.

Next to Violet Palmer, who just sucks, Steve Javie is the worst referee in the NBA. And that's because he lets his ego get in the way. All the time.

Now that Crazy Pills is a Rocket... and the team is coming off a little "scuffle" with the Phoenix Suns -- expect a series of technical fouls tonight. Just for Javie to show them who is boss. Or, to quote/paraphrase Kumar Patel:

Let me guess. You were probably the big asshole in your high school, right? You'd pick on guys like us every day. But then graduation came, and we went to college and you went nowhere, so you thought, "How can I still give them shit? I know! I'll become a [referee]!" Well, congratulations. Your dream's come true.

Please, please, please don't let Steve Javie screw us over tonight!!

4 comments | 0 recs |

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