Game 5 - Houston Rockets at Portland Trailblazers Thursday 9:30PM CST

Portland Trailblazers 1-3 (1-0 at home), 1-3 in their last 10
All Time , 1630- 1458, 71-87 vs. Houston
Houston Rockets 3-1 (1-0 on the road), 3-1 in their last 10
All Time1687-1647, 87-71 vs Portland
The Match-ups:
Alston vs. Blake – Considering Dave and I both want Steve Blake on the Rockets as our starter you’d think I’d be all over this match-up. If you wanted to win a street ball game, Rafer all the way, if you want a guy that runs an offense and doesn’t kill you shooting, then Steve Blake is the perfect fit for your team. The guy is shooting 46% from the field and 53% from the three point line. He doesn’t get the high assist numbers because of the offense they run and Brandon Roy having the ball in his hands a lot.
Edge – Trailblazers – Blake to this point is really outplaying Mr. Alston. That’s not to say that Rafer hasn’t been a solid ball handler and hasn’t taken a ton of bad shots. It’s just that I would prefer Blake running the point for the Rockets. I’m happy with Rafer right now though, and there aren’t a lot of players I’d take (non-superstar) over him right now for this team. However, he has to figure out how to hit some shots though.
McGrady vs.
Edge – Tossup -
Artest vs. Batum – The guy I wanted for the Rockets more than any other player (but CP3) in the league vs. the guy I didn’t want, at all, for any reason. I hope Batum turns into a fine player, but I simply do not like the hit rate for guys like him. Too much risk and not enough reward. In essence we got Artest by trading Batum, that’s a HUGE win for the Rockets
Edge – Rockets - it’s not close.
Scola vs. Aldridge – Both players are very, very good. Both are favorites in the league of mine. I have ties to LaMarcus at
Edge – Tossup – This was the toughest call to make. I think Aldridge is fantastic, but so is Scola. The edge would go to the Rockets if you include all of Luis Landry, but one on one, I’m calling it a tossup.
Edge – Rockets - while the big stiff white guy (personally I always root for them) is much improved, even non-explosive
I said before the season that I thought the Rockets would lose this game. I think they are playing better than Portland right now, however and pull it out.
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Comments
I'll be watching the game at Buffalo Wild Wings.
I’ll be the guy still ranting about the loss to the celtics while everyone else will be trying to concentrate on the game and getting on with their lives in general.
Your a ten, but I'm on eleven!
by JakedaSnake on Nov 6, 2008 11:28 AM CST 0 recs
BW3s ya say?
Watching a basketball game at BW3s is wayyyyy too distracting to me!
by grungedave on
Nov 6, 2008 12:21 PM CST
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I felt the Rockets bullied Portland in their matchups last season. Hurt them in the paint and on the glass.
Rockets should win tonight. Not the best of first quarters though.
by NBR on Nov 6, 2008 10:17 PM CST 0 recs
Scola started strongly….
VAMOS ARGENTINA!!! Please visit my blog @ http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com
by sivanjohn on Nov 6, 2008 10:18 PM CST 0 recs
Scola is a badass, he's going to get a lot of recognition this year
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:24 PM CST
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Thanks buddy, glad to be here…
VAMOS ARGENTINA!!! Please visit my blog @ http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com
by sivanjohn on
Nov 6, 2008 10:26 PM CST
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I could not be happier with his play this season, or last for that matter
But the refs are going to see that he’s in control of his body even if his hair is all over the place.
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:33 PM CST
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Bring back T-Mac & Scola in….
VAMOS ARGENTINA!!! Please visit my blog @ http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com
by sivanjohn on Nov 6, 2008 10:24 PM CST 0 recs
Stop that Rudy Fernandez!
VAMOS ARGENTINA!!! Please visit my blog @ http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com
by sivanjohn on Nov 6, 2008 10:27 PM CST 0 recs
Dude. Brooks is about to make me stalk him.
Man, he’s coming along.
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 10:27 PM CST 0 recs
It looks like Yao is trying to find his confidence. A bit hesitant early on tonight. He needs a couple of baskets to get going.
by NBR on Nov 6, 2008 10:28 PM CST 0 recs
He's obviously still hurt, but I love that he wants to play hard anyway
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:29 PM CST
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Marv Albert talking about Spanish magic
…just kind of makes me squirm.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:30 PM CST
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Don't strain yourself, Yao
Dude looks so, so beat… and I’m not even down on him. He’s just had the one bad game… but man, he just isn’t right.
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 10:34 PM CST 0 recs
He's not anywhere near game shape yet. But, the only way to get there is to play
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:36 PM CST
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Agreed... just please not 40 minutes every night.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:37 PM CST
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As long as he's taking his practice time easier, I think 40 is okay. Obviously 32 is ideal, but you can't really play Chuck at the 5 for that many minutes
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:38 PM CST
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I dunno, man
A guy who goes as hard as Yao, who has as much physical awkwardness as he still does – I’d love to see them never ever put him in there past 35 minutes – unless he’s just unconsciously hot.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:43 PM CST
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There are definitely times he's in that he shouldn't be. Like at the end of last night's game.
I have no idea what he was doing in a game we needed a 3 in
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:44 PM CST
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Yep.
And I LOVE the guy. I’ve always been a huge, huge fan. But I’ve also always known what we’ve got in him – an incredible offensive weapon who is more often than not a defensive liability.
He’s just got so, so much heart. I would never trade him.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:46 PM CST
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I think his D is woefully underrated. He's not going to be switching on guys with ease, but you can't really score on him one on one.
But I know what you mean. I love the guy
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:47 PM CST
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I think his presence is is best defensive asset
…just his immense size… but I don’t know if I’d call his D underrated.
I smell a future blog post for you.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:50 PM CST
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And people (Oregon Live I'm looking to you) for saying that the Scola/LA matchup was a tossup
They have almost identical box scores right now
by UofTOrange on Nov 6, 2008 10:42 PM CST 0 recs
Well, apparently we don't need him according to ESPN
They had us listed as “No significant injuries” today
And what I heard last was another week or two. More like two. He has to be cleared by the team doctor first and they don’t think he’s ready.
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:46 PM CST
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Rockets taken the lead 51-50. Surprising that they’re ahead. Not the best of halves, but they’ve hung tough and battled away.
by NBR on Nov 6, 2008 10:49 PM CST 0 recs
Good game so far, even if we aren't (apologies to Luis Scola) playing that well right now.
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 10:50 PM CST
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Good rhythm to the game, lots of back and forth. Not too many breaks …. not many FTs.
by NBR on
Nov 6, 2008 10:53 PM CST
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Chuck is cracking me up
Him saying someone isn’t playing defense is awesome since he played about 5 minutes of it in his career
by UofTOrange on Nov 6, 2008 10:56 PM CST 0 recs
No shit - come on, Chuck
A barnbarner indeed.
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 10:58 PM CST
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Also uh...
Is he really going to run for office in Alabama? Oy. He’s going to regret throwing that dude through a window… and the gambling problems… and and and….
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 10:58 PM CST 0 recs
Actually I think since he's such a public figure and everyone already knows this stuff, it might not hurt him
The fact that he’s a self professed “Smart because I’m rich” man will. He’s admitted that there is no way he would have passed classes at Auburn if he wasn’t a basketball player repeatedly. That said, he is hella street smart which might be what Alabama really needs.
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 11:03 PM CST
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It hasn't really reared it's head yet, but great googly moogly this is an awful referee crew
Salvatore AND Palmer on the same court? And that doesn’t even include Goble who is horrific
by UofTOrange on Nov 6, 2008 11:17 PM CST 0 recs
Sigh.
How many fouls does Yao have? He’s playing like he has five.
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 11:18 PM CST 0 recs
That's twice in this quarter he hasn't even bothered to challenge
On wide open dunks/layups. :(
You’ve gotta at least make them work for it!
by HoustonDiehards on
Nov 6, 2008 11:22 PM CST
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If David Robinson isn't fast enough to guard you, no one is
That is actually very true
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 11:27 PM CST
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Seems like a theme this season so far
Turn up the heat when it gets close to the 4th quarter. Our D is starting to cause some problems for them.
…and I love that on some nights T-Mac can just keep in the rhythm of the game, but still not be the first or second scoring option – then he can strike for a five minute stretch like he is right now.
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 11:28 PM CST 0 recs
Agreed, in theory that's the best part of the Artest trade
And Chuck Hayes needs to never shoot, seriously
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 11:30 PM CST
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I agree, I think the team needs Deke. They need his defensive presence in the paint.
I like Hayes but I’m bewildered as to why he’s playing when the team has such a great combination at power forward with Scola and Landry. Even with the backup five, most of those minutes should be heading their way.
by NBR on Nov 6, 2008 11:37 PM CST 0 recs
I like him a lot too, but we have two strong options at the 4, he’s only still here because we inexplicably gave him a long contract
by UofTOrange on
Nov 6, 2008 11:39 PM CST
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Violet Palmer, if you are dribbling the ball you can't travel
You are a waste of space as an NBA ref
by UofTOrange on Nov 6, 2008 11:40 PM CST 0 recs
Shit
Not starting well. We need this game. Tough road trip.
I can feel that any minute now we’re going to start reverting to hoisting up 3s.
by HoustonDiehards on Nov 6, 2008 11:41 PM CST 0 recs
What in the fudge is Chuck Hayes still doing in the game? Luis Scola is 7/10 in the damn game
by UofTOrange on Nov 6, 2008 11:48 PM CST 0 recs


