Game 63 Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers
by ak2themax on Mar 2, 2011 9:00 AM CST
in Game Previews
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PrintBLAKE GRIFFIN 2nd Dunk 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest Champion (via NextLevelClips)
One judge gave this a ten. I hope it wasn't Clyde Drexler. Even Reggie Miller sounds incredulous.
As if that wasn't bad enough, the league busts out a car and a choir to help Blake with his second dunk? Not rehearsed at all, I'm sure. And if one more person tries to tell me that dunking over a car is an original concept, I'm going (to borrow BD's phrase) put my head through the computer monitor. I mean, he jumped over the hood! Grow a pair and dunk over the body, son!
Well, at least he's on my fantasy team, doing work. I hope he sucks tonight, though.
And if any Clippers fans come here and get upset, I'm sorry, and I just had to vent. Let's get on with the matchups.
Matchups...
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Mo Williams:
Williams turned his ankle in LA's last game, but he's listed as probable so he gets the start. He's still got to be adjusting to the offense in LA, so I don't know if he'll really have the full arsenal on display. He can shoot really well when the mood strikes him. If he can't go, Eric Bledsoe will get the start.
Lowry. Damn. That is all.
Advantage: Rockets
SG: Kevin Martin vs.Randy Foye:
Foye was always considered a point guard, but now with Eric Gordon questionable (wrist injury), he may once again start at the shooting guard. What does this mean? Bad news for the Clippers.
Do you expect anything else at this point?
Advantage: Rockets
SF: Chase Budinger vs. Ryan Gomes:
Gomes has scored 19 points in his last four games.
Bud has 79 over the same number of games.
And I absolutely love the "Yeah, boy!" he gives Chuck after the sweet behind-the-back pass that led to the dunk. Easily more important to me than the pass itself, which was beautiful. Budinger showing emotion is interesting, and I like it. He and Courtney Lee have great "focused and pumped" faces. I look forward to seeing them tonight.
Advantage: Rockets
PF: Luis Scola vs. Blake Griffin:
Like last time, don't expect these two to guard each other. Griffin may get time on Scola, but Chuck will have to try and contain Griffin. He succeeded last time, but remember that Chuck just shut down the hottest forward in the league last night and that the team is probably tired from helping on defense. If the Rockets can slow the Clippers down and prevent fast breaks where Blake can dunk and fire up the crowd, this game is eminently winnable.
Scola started the game hot last night, and finished that way, too. 10 for 11 is astounding, especially on a bad knee. I hope he gets his confidence back too because we need him to step up and stop playing like a role player. He's too good for that.
Advantage: Even
C: Chuck Hayes vs. DeAndre Jordan:
Chuck will be guarding Griffin, so DeAndre Jordan should have a field day with Scola. If he can take the ball to the cup and force fouls or help, the Rockets will be in trouble. He's a strong player that is really playing well right now. This could be bad.
I'm calling this even, because these two guys are probably the most important players tonight and either could help his team win. Chuck with his defense or DeAndre with his offense.
Advantage: Even
---
Bench:
Clippers: Eric Bledsoe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Craig Smith, Jamario Moon
Rockets: Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Terrence Williams, Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill
Advantage: Rockets
Injuries:
Clippers: Eric Gordon questionable, Mo Williams probable
Rockets: Yao out
Prediction: Rockets need to win this
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I saw the entire game for the firsttime in a loooong time!!
Great game, we won every quarter!! If they continue to play like they have been, then they will win this one! I have to admit that I did not agree with the trade but now I agree with Kevin Martin, ""I think over on the Portland bench they’re going through what we went through all year—just too many quality wings. Now we can just do our three-guard rotation and find a rhythm out there."
I guess it helped!!! They look good and I hope they stay under the radar because that also seems to help them as well.
Same here. Good memories.
"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous? " ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
by TheChuckwagonisrolling on Mar 2, 2011 10:23 AM CST up reply actions
lol huh?
that dunk was sick..my sarcastameter might be broke :(
I found 83 cents in my backyard after last night's party..I'm not returning it until the owner describes what coins were lost in EXACT change. -Willie White's status
by chuckhayesALLSTAR2010 on Mar 2, 2011 9:38 AM CST reply actions
the dunk he was gonna do was probablly real sick
if B.Diddy threw the pass well
that was a plan Dunk and it was boring
by NVP on Mar 2, 2011 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
I thought so too
and when DeRozan tweeted after the game that he would never do a dunk contest unless it was in Toronto, it really drove the point home. And I was upset that if he means it we won’t see what else he had.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
It's all politics
The NBA is trying to push Griffin’s stardom like Vince McMahon pushed John Cena’s in the WWE. ( yea I watch wrestling also, n shame in it man lol)
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
Is everyone ready to celebrate Black History Month
in March? Who’d though Donald Sterling is so progressive that he’s making black history month a full 30 days
that was pretty funny, u got to say.
but where are their brain’s of his associates, that’s beyond me…. that’s just fucking stupid.
don't bully me, i am from the D(etroit)!!!
A man can change!
Though the evidence that Donald Sterling is a man, or even a human, is pretty slim.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Also
not sure if anyone else’s computer is showing no spaces between paragraphs in the matchups section. Sorry about that. I’m trying to fix it. Don’t know what happened.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Let's be realistic,
Blake Griffin is on another playing level compared to Scola.
They aren’t even. It’s not even close.
Blake>>>>>Scola
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
Athletic-wise
Yes.
Complete offensive game? Scola’s got the edge. I don’t think that’s up for discussion. Also note that Blake’s style opens him up for injury while Scola hasn’t missed a game in his NBA career, and he plays for Argentina in the offseason.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Anyone plays better defense than Scola.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Mar 2, 2011 4:11 PM CST up reply actions
Better not be talking about the
Scooper Intendant like that
LOL
Your obsession with defense has really gotten funny. Scola is bad on defense though.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
After watching the
Texans season, it’s a surprise that everyone in Houston isn’t obsessed with defense.
by Bobbythegreat on Mar 2, 2011 6:52 PM CST up reply actions
LOL
Defense only wins championships. If offense was more important, GSW would have won every title this decade.
You keep on responding to my evaluations on players by saying “But he can’t play defense” or “Isn’t he bad at defense?”. Why do you keep saying the same things over and over?
Stop acting like a child.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
by bone31crusher on Mar 2, 2011 8:47 PM CST up reply actions
Ok
And so?
I’ve watched Scola win a lot of matchups against “superior” players. Blake Griffin is so spectacularly athletic that no one is noticing the very large holes in his game. Holes that will probably be filled as he spends more time in the league (which is scary).
We can nitpick a maestro like Scola, but not Griffin? Watch Griffin doing something besides attempting to dunk tonight and you’ll see what I mean. Erratic is the kindest word for it.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Agreed.
Griffin is some sort of superhuman, and is very likely to become a superstar in future. But Scola is crafty and seasoned. Calling it even is completely reasonable.
summary of dunk contest
It was fixed.
DeRozan got HOSED.
by grungedave on Mar 2, 2011 11:39 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
They'll fix a WCF, I can't imagine the decision to fix a dunk contest took two seconds.
It’s kind of a shame that we didn’t see Griffin land on the hood of the car (not injure himself though) and roll off, not dunk, and still win.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Mo Williams and Eric Gordon WILL play tonight.
Clips will have a fully healthy roster for the first time all season.
Interesting.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Hmmm
He must be sucking because I have heard nothing about him.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
Yea
I like Al Forouq Aminu. Watched him in at Wake Forest and I feel like he should be freed. He’s not a superstar but they have been looking for a SF but they have and Del Negro is pullung an Adelman on him.
Me against the world is a mismatch in my favor.
I seen Aminu too
Thought not impressed, I see a lot of Travis Outlaw in him
to be fair, Kamen has played better than Jordan since his return
by NVP on Mar 2, 2011 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
I really like Aminu
I think he’s more Josh Smith than Travis Outlaw, and I think he can be an above-average starter in the league with time.
by Patrick Harrel on Mar 2, 2011 5:47 PM CST up reply actions
Josh Smith was a 3 year project essentially
Without the coaching he’s got, He’d be Travis Outlaw
but Woodson was smart enough to convince him to play like a PF rather than a SG, it did wonders for the guy
by NVP on Mar 2, 2011 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
Rockets need to finish this road trip strong
can only have a hand full of losses if they want to make the playoffs.
by twinkilling0303 on Mar 2, 2011 11:46 AM CST reply actions
Over under 15 dunks by Griffin and DeAndre combined
I swear to got they got that many last time
When the Clippers were in Houston?
No way it was that many, not even close. I think me and my brother had an over/under for how many dunks Griffin would have…and he got like 2 or 3. Now in LA they will probably run more, but not 15 dunks
by twinkilling0303 on Mar 2, 2011 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
So for matfchups
They have Blake Griffin making 2-3 HUGE dunks and getting people pumped and we have an unassuming Argentinian who shoots 8-10 18 footers a game. I like Scola here.
For the record
Blake Griffin is a quality player and seemingly a nice guy. The nba and media have a way of hyping players to the level that you start hating them. Same thing happened with Dwight Howard. You got to separate the player for his media perception.
easier said than done
a couple nights ago ESPN interrupted their telecast with a “BLAKE GRIFFIN UPDATE” which was him doing a dunk on a fast break, and the dunk wasn’t even good. I’ve seen Courtney Lee and Chase throw down better dunks, but because it was Blake they oohed and ahhed.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
I'm glad someone else is finally sick of this bullshit
Griffin is a wonderful dunker and super-athletic player but the dickriding is impossible. I’ve said it in other LAC previews that I pray to God the kid works out a jumpshot in his game or something to reduce the stress of having to rely on athleticism like that because it’s begging for his knees to blow out. It’s fun, it’s flashy, and yay, he dunks, it’s the reason people hop all over D.Howard’s dong (That and marvelous defense) but at the end of the day, I need to see more before I go out and name my first born Blake Griffin II and accuse Blake of raping me in Colorado.
In the garage, I feel safe.
No one cares about my ways.
In the garage where I belong.
No one hears me sing this song.
In the garage.
-Weezer-
Wait till he learns how to play
His defense and shooting will be much improved, but along with that will come even more cock sucking by espn. Maybe he will be a rocket in 3 years
by AllenOU on Mar 2, 2011 6:52 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
good news for us is that NOH and PHO have already lost today
just need POR to play like shit against SAC and a win here will tighten up the race even more
DEN looks like they’ll walk over CHA, though.
btw, Bravo scored 17pts tonite going 6-7 from the field....
by inquisitiveman on Mar 2, 2011 9:18 PM CST up reply actions
yeah i already have a fanpost up about it
on which bone31crusher has already shed his tears
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