Game 74 Preview: Houston Rockets vs. New Jersey Nets
by ak2themax on Mar 29, 2011 9:00 AM CDT
in Game Previews
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PrintWell, that hurt. There was a time in the fourth quarter of the Miami game where we were just down a couple and San Antonio was up six or so over Memphis. Being down a measly half a game was within reach, and if we had gotten that with nine games to go and our momentum carrying us, I would have started heading down I-10 to San Antonio for game 1 in my head.
But it never goes as planned, does it? Obviously, the Rockets lost and the Grizzlies came back and won. The Spurs don't care about us, and it shows. Now, 2.5 games back and gasping for air, we have to go 8-1 or maybe 7-2 to get in. That's a tall order.
We'll have two types of people converging today. One group will say, "I still believe in this team. These guys are great and have so much heart that they'll never give up." And they're right, the Rockets will keep playing until they're eliminated. Only then will we probably see the end of the bench get legitimate time.
The others will say, "It's over now. Pack it up. Let's see what we've got, and regroup for next season." Mike sums up that opinion pretty well here.
I'm still leaning towards the former, but not as much as I was before the Miami game. Memphis schedule suddenly looks like a cakewalk and the Hornets refuse to go away and die like I thought they would at the beginning of the season, and that's a credit to both clubs getting through rough times and still playing like teams that deserve to be in the playoffs.
Now, all the Rockets can do, as the adage goes, is take each game one at a time. Today, we're alive. Tomorrow, we might not be.
Tonight, the Rockets take on Drazen Petrovic's old team. Seriously, just watch "Once Brothers" already!
Game starts at 6:00 CST.
Matchups...
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Jordan Farmar:
No Deron Williams so the Rockets get a break. I've always like Farmar, but is there a point guard besides Derrick Rose playing better than Kyle Lowry right now? I'm trying to be impartial, but any way you look at it, dude has been amazing recently.
Advantage: Rockets
SG: Kevin Martin vs. Anthony Morrow:
Morrow is shooting 42% from downtown. Other than that, he's not much of a threat to the Rockets tonight.
Kevin has to find his inner Calvin again. He's been missing too many shots. He's gotta learn a new skill, like cursive.
Advantage: Rockets
SF: Chase Budinger vs. Sasha Vujacic:
White boy vs. Eastern European white boy whom Goran Dragic despises.
I'll take Chase and Goran every time over that tool.
Advantage: Rockets
PF: Luis Scola vs. Kris Humphries:
There are only 8 players in the NBA who average a double-double with points and rebounds. Kris Humphries is one of them. Seriously.
He's been a beast recently, and went for 18/23 against the Cavs on Wednesday. I know it's the Cavs, but it's not like any Rockets grabbed 12 rebounds against the Cavs this season.
Wait, Chuck did? In the first quarter?
Advantage: Even
C: Chuck Hayes vs. Brook Lopez:
Lopez doesn't rebound, a painful fact that my fantasy team has had to endure all season.
For instance, the Nets played Atlanta on Saturday. Lopez played 31 minutes, and registered 6 points, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers. Look, NBA players have off nights. I get that. It's fine, as long as the player is still giving effort on the defensive side of the ball to help the team.
But in those same 31 minutes, Lopez finished with 0 (ZERO!) rebounds and 0 blocks. He didn't register a foul either, so foul trouble is out of the question. I'm baffled. We think a 7-footer like Thabeet is just going to get rebounds and blocks because he's tall and long, but so is Lopez. He's one of the best offensive centers in the league (not saying much, I know) but he may be more of a liability on the defensive end than Luis Scola.
Height does not equal desire. That's all I'm saying. And generally rebounds come down to desire.
Advantage: Rockets
---
Bench:
Nets: Travis Outlaw, Johan Petro, Ben Uzoh, Dan Gadzuric, Stephen Graham, Brandan Wright
Rockets: Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill
Advantage: Rockets
Injuries:
Heat: Deron Williams out, Damion James out, Quinton Ross out, Brandan Wright questionable
Rockets: Yao out, Terrence Williams probably out
Prediction: This gets ugly in the second quarter, hopefully. Rockets win by 17.
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Two notes
Note 1: the rockets better keep trying their best, but I don’t think they’ll make it, but I’m willing to hope for a miracle than having more ping pong balls.
Note 2: is the shooting guard supposed to say Dwayne wade or am I missing a joke..
by OJ ATM on Mar 29, 2011 9:10 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
likely cut and paste error
Unless the Heat traded D-Wade and I completely missed it. Man, I would have thought that would have been bigger news. I’m gonna stick with typo.
That's how good Anthony Morrow is.
You can interchange the two
"You know how Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are
even worse! " ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
by TheChuckwagonisrolling on Mar 29, 2011 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions
It's odd to see Lopez struggle
He carried my fantasy team last year as a late sleeper
good preview
I guess I’m in the first fan category. There’s still a chance and I think we should be playing for it. But I have to give Memphis and New Orleans some credit, they are playing good ball despite injuries and are proving tougher to catch than I had expected.
Rockets margin for error is getting very slim now.
New Orleans or Bust
I stiil see hope. I do not think we can catch Memphis given their weak schedual and the way they are playing. New Orleans is our best chance. For all of you that still want to tank the rest of the season think about this: The rockets need a free agent center to WANT to come to the rockets this off-season. If they keep playing as they have, maybe one of them will see themselves as a rocket. This will make Morey’s job a little easier and let him focus more on other upgrades.
Several things wrong here.
1.) Who on this board has ever said they want to tank the season? No one.
2.) You still think a Free Agent Center is going to solve all of our problems or some team is going to give one away? Come back to reality please.
2a.) It’s been leaked already that agents help to steer free agents away from the Rockets because we’re a great organization that likes to dick around with contracts rather than pay a guy.
3.) New Orleans might be winning sloppy but they’re winning.
4.) You think Free Agents didn’t take notice of our ability to be terrible in the first half of the season? I wish more people in the NBA were that shortsighted.
5.) We have a guy on contract that we’re working on building up, a couple of them actually. Jordan Hill and Hasheem Thabeet.
5a.) You seriously think a free agent center will poise us to be title contenders or something? I’d like to borrow your rose colored glasses.
TDS's resident dickhead.
That wasn't ever raised once and it's a world of what ifs in which anything can be proven.
If you’re insinuating that a 20 and 10 center will be attainable/want to come to Houston I think you’re downright insane. You also factor out the possibility that Yao’s presence could have hindered the emergence of guys like Patrick Patterson (Hayes would have gotten his minutes) or Kyle Lowry (Brooks paired better with Yao as a floor spacer).
TDS's resident dickhead.
After the year Lowry is
having you still mention AB. It wan’t just AB playing bad and complaining, but how good Lowry played then, and is still playing. Lowry can also see the floor better,more assists,fewer turnovers and with his jumpshot,and drive ability he can get good spacing with Yao. If some how he can finally play next year and stay healthy it would really help.I would still try to get a center in the offseason, but thats unlikely so it will be in a trade. I think we also need a proven player with d at the three, since they are not going to play Twill, we need a Batum, G Wallace, or an Iggy type player then we will be ready to make a run in the playoffs, let Bud come off the bench. With Pat it will come down too Scola’s new contract, and Pats youth and great defense that will most likely get Scola moved at some point in the future.
by since86rocketsfan on Mar 29, 2011 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions
REPLY
1. Several post talked of tanking to get chance at higher draft pick. I think you ALWAYS try to win.
2. I do not think a free agent center will solve ALL our problems. In a trade you must give up something to get something of value. Free Agent is a way to get something without giving up something. Even in a sign and trade you do not usually have to give up as much.
3. I realize catching New Orleans is a long shot but is still our BEST chance.
4. We can not change the play at the start of season, we can only take care of the now.
5. I agree that we need to keep working on Hill and Thabeet with hope at least one of them will help us.
To add to this:
We have a core of 8 players that have been playing well. Hope we can improve without having to give up too many of them. We are about 3 players away. {1}If we can sign a free agent. {2} we can get a good trade {3} hopefully at least one of Hill, Thabeet or Williams will work hard and show major improvement in the off-season. Of couse we still need to see development in the young players that are part of the core which is a already happening.
Proper Reply.
1.) Several posts talked of playing youth, not tanking. There is a difference. The fact that people don’t acknowledge that difference is no fault of the advocates of playing the youth.
2.) Free agency won’t solve our problems heading in to a potential lockout with a new CBA up and the few bigs that would be on the market will likely be snatched up or retained by the teams with them (The good ones worth getting at least).
3.) Our BEST chance died with our first half flare out. Basketball is 82 games, not 41.
4.) True, and there comes a point where the punch has landed square in the gut when we should react. That was months ago. The best you can do now is remember the pain and avoid it next year rather than patting yourself on the back for being a day late and a dollar short.
5.) I’m glad we can agree on this one.
Your three steps away strategy depends an awful lot on some charity towards the Rockets, I cannot agree with this approach. I think the intelligent course of action is rebuild sensibly, see what you can do to end the season, then quietly go about the rebuild in the offseason.
TDS's resident dickhead.
I agree with most BD34
Several had talked of tanking earlier and others of playing young players. I think we have been playing young players though some disagree with the amount. I have not agreed with Rick on all of yes choices of playing time either. But the fact remains he is a great coach with a proven record and sees the players more than we do. He has earned our respect. Facts are for whatever reason that got them the time Landry, Brooks, Bud and Patrick where all draft picks that have developed fairly well. I have high hopes that Thabeet will develop into a support player but not a starter.The T-Will saga is another issue. I think their is more to the story than we are being told. He shows lots of talent but has not made the most of his limited playing time. I am a TEAM BALL guy and he has not shown me and interest in that as Patrick did when he 1st only got the limited time. I have given up hope on him and wonder if their is more to this abdomen problem.
I have NOT given up Hope on T-WILL
Sorry I meant I have NOT given up on T-Will. I just think he needs to make the most of the off-season. He is young and talented so that always leaves hope. But ATTITUDE is very important. See Hayes, Bud, Lee, Lowry, Patrick and even Scola.
Info on 2a???
I honestly hadn’t heard that.
by twinkilling0303 on Mar 29, 2011 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions
i was just reading the new orleans blog
they’re desperate for a backup big too. There’s even one loon who thinks Aaron Gray is an answer to something besides a hot-dog eating contest.
Port Arthur, TX
by Screamin' Demons on Mar 29, 2011 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
a loss here and i'll officially jump ship from playoff push to full-on rebuilding
i’d rate the rockets chances at a playoff berth at about 10% now. barring any injuries, i think memphis will grab 7th and hornets will scrape through to grab 8th by a game or two.
click here for: rockets playoff watch!
hahaha
“I know it’s the Cavs, but it’s not like any Rockets grabbed 12 rebounds against the Cavs this season.
Wait, Chuck did? In the first quarter?”
Be optomistic we can still make the play-offs, and we are a rebuilding team already. we traded best defender/leader and last seasons top scorer/PG. We has a new youngish leader at the point, young backup SG, young SF, pretty dam sexy PF in Pat, hill still has a chance if he either moves back to PF or becomes a center period, will take over a year for the second one to be solid. finally a project at center thatseems be to enjoying the commitment and effort put into his development who more than likely will make himself a solid player.
Thats all in my opinion and the Future looks bright
Agree Thrasher
I am a Rockets fan that sees a better future. We have been rebuiding and are still winning games. Rick does not get enough credit because doing both is not easy. We are in 14th place in the standings. We are in the strongest conference and the best division which means that we play a slighty stronger schedual than some. These are facts. Keep playing hard with team ball Rockets, this is a fan the appreciates it.
Ill say one thing
The organisation really knows how to develop players, credit to the training/coaching staff
by IrishThrasher on Mar 29, 2011 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
When West went down in NO and the general media was saying "Doom! Woe is THEM! Doom!"
I was thinking, Hell, his backup is CARL LANDRY. Haven’t you jackholes heard of Carl Landry? If they hadn’t made that trade that Cuban hated, (and I see why now) NO might in fact be doomed. But since Landry is just a couple of ticks worse than West (and might be equal given Paul as his fulltime PG rather than a giant SG like he had in Sac) I thought NO wouldn’t wilt and they haven’t.
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
I knew Carl was going to do well
but I didn’t think he would be able to fill in the role of David West as well as he is. Shame on me. I should have known better.
Not only did Cuban hate it because it was unbalanced. He hated it for the money, since NO had to send some cash to Sacramento. He thought the money would come out of his pocket, but he was wrong. It’s since been shown that the NBA actually set aside some money (from their own revenue) to help New Orleans make deals at the deadline. The owners did not pay the money that went to SAC.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Well, we need a lot of help to make the playoffs.
NO and Memphis have been miserably hot, and we just can’t make up ground. Asking us to win every game, especially @Miami is tough. I’m proud of the run the new look Rockets have made – it makes me really hopeful for next season. AS SOON AS WE GET A CENTER. (I bow to few in my love of Chuck Hayes, but a legit nasty 7ft is necessary.)
"Each in turn... volunteered his suggestions, his invaluable suggestions."
Twitter - xiane1
The Dreamshake
Great comment
I agree 100% we need a legit C or prospect very soon, someone better than Hill.
by Rockets4LIFE on Mar 29, 2011 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions
you guys better put in the love in the game thread.
I’ve got an exam at 6, so maybe my bad luck will be kept at bay.
"You know how Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are
even worse! " ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes
by TheChuckwagonisrolling on Mar 29, 2011 3:29 PM CDT reply actions
This is getting ridiculous.
Chuck is great and all, but Lopez is one of the top centers in the league.
Unnecessary bias, ak.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
No bias, DM
straight truth. Remember, how a player is playing at the moment is important too. It’s attitude like “Brook Lopez is one of the top centers” that leads to guys like Derek Jeter winning gold gloves and Shaq going to all-star games.
How many Biletnikoffs does he have? NOT TWO!
Lowry isn't supposed to get that many minutes tonight according to Friedman.
Rick will quickly ignore that statement and play him his usual 43 minutes.
"Hakeem couldn't kick your ass cuz you were too
close kissin his!"- Sir Charles to Kenny Smith.
I guess
we’re getting lazy at the end of the season
by fanoflosingteams on Mar 29, 2011 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions
its a lop sided game..obviously
lethargic nets… mybe we can use the bench this time..
So far so good
Hope the bench can keep it up and keep the minutes down for Lowery, Kevin, Hayes and Scola. Go Rockets we need the win
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