This series is now a 5 game series

by UHoustonFan on Apr 22, 2009 9:38 AM CDT

The Houston Rockets took game 1 convincingly in Portland to steal away the homecourt advantage from the Trailblazers but couldn't muster enough to steal game 2 as well, as the roar of the crowd in the Rose Garden and Brandon Roy's 42 points proved too much to overcome on Tuesday night.

The series is now tied 1-1 but it's essentially 0-0 with Houston now having the homecourt advantage. This is a 5 game series:

@ Houston, Friday April 24th *W

@ Houston, Sunday April 26th *W

@ Portland, Tuesday April 28th *L

@ Houston, Thursday April 30th *W / L*****

@ Portland, Saturday May 2nd L*****

*If both teams hold homecourt the rest of the way, the Rockets will win this series in game 6, like many originally predicted. In years past, the Rockets have lost key home playoff games and must find a way to win all three at the Toyota Center this year. Do that, and my friends, we get out of the first round for the first time in 98217565281596 years.

*****Do it not, lose one in Houston, and we will most likely be forced to play a game 7 in Portland. That loss to Dallas in 2005 by 40 points still looms in the back of my mind. We must win all of our home games. We've done it all year and there's no reason why we can't continue doing so. The Rockets need to tighten up their defense again and hold down their home court.

No cursing in title. No pirated material, such as links to online game streams. Do not cut/paste entire sections of content from other websites. Thanks.

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Comments

Nicely put

Even though the series is tied, Houston is winning because they’ve put themselves in a situation to take the series by winning at the Toyota Center, a place where we have struggled.

It’s going to take a lot of growing up in a small amount of time for the Blazers to take one in Houston in the next two games.

"Estos tíos están locos"- Rudy Fernandez

by cafe_civet on Apr 22, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

i do not mean to sound presumptious

but Portland NEEDS to win at least one of games 3 or 4 to stay in contention because as games 1+2 have shown, the Blazers have not convinced themselves nor anyone else than they can win decisively at the Rose Garden. If they go back home down 1-3, there is no guarantee they can hold out until a game 7 at home.

by hardgay on Apr 22, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions

We have to win out at home

anything less than going 3-0 at home will most likely result in another 1st round exit with Deke gone forever. Good news is I don’t see Portland standing a chance @ Houston. Vegas will probably place the spread under 5 points, making this incredibly easy money.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 22, 2009 11:10 AM CDT reply actions