The Rockets played an ugly game last night. It's hard to have that in my mind when I predict matchups and whatnot. Lowry is still a good point guard, Scola was due for a bad game (like, 4 years due), and K-Mart is making my ball-handling and court awareness look decent.
Of course, this is a back-to-back for the Rockets, as they travel to San Antonio to take on the Spurs, who have probably had three days off to get in extra practice and preparation in advance of the Rockets trip.
Wait.
The Spurs played last night!? Are you serious? And when we played Charlotte they were on a back-to-back too??? This has got to be the first time this has happened ever. Does David Stern know about this? Because if he doesn't don't be surprised to wake up tomorrow and find out that this schedule has been vetoed and the Rockets will have to face the Heat and Thunder every game with no breaks ever. So, mum's the word, okay?
Oh yeah, the Spurs lost Manu for a while. He's out again tonight. And no "Serves him right for what he did to AB last year" crap. Seriously, you guys. It's stupid. Manu is one of the most entertaining players in the league and I'm glad he's not playing because he can absolutely torch us, but not because he's getting some kind of karmic retribution. /endofrant
Onto the matchups!
Matchups:
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Tony Parker:
Tony Parker is good, and stuff.
Kyle Lowry is also good, and stuff. And after that performance last night he doesn't get the advantage, though he's the better player right now overall.
Oh, and Lowry and Parker must dominate Fisher. Pounding The Rock fans will get this one.
Advantage: Even
SG: Kevin Martin vs. Gary Neal:
I'm getting tired of this, K-Mart. That game was awful last night. Sure, you've had clunkers in the past. We've all seen them. Normally, it's no thang, but right now it is certainly a thang. Though the flu is a valid excuse I guess.
Neal went 5-9 from the field last night. That's enough to make this even, despite Martin's ability advantage.
Ugh.
Kawhi Leonard gets a mention here because he's going to play a lot either in this slot or the three.
Advantage: Even
SF: Chandler Parsons vs. Richard Jefferson:
After the draft, Tom mentioned that Parsons would have to convince people that he wasn't Chase Budinger 2.0. Well, so far he's failing. Miserably. And I couldn't be happier, since Chase Budinger is trying to convince me that he's Brian Cook 0.5.
Jefferson was terrible against the Rockets in Houston. I expect him to play a lot better tonight. Sorry rookie, but you have to earn these advantages.
Advantage: Spurs
PF: Luis Scola vs. Tim Duncan:
Duncan went 20/8/7/3 last night on 9-12 shooting. Yeah, I head somewhere that he's good. Can't remember where, though.
Scola, you get one. That's it. I expect a bounceback game from you. Or else.
You know it's bad when I start talking directly to players instead of talking about them. Only K-Mart used to get that treatment due to favoritism. Now he's getting it out of disgust. Don't join him Luis. Don't you dare.
Advantage: Even
C: Jordan Hill vs. DeJuan Blair:
Do I expect Blair to dominate inside like he always does against us? Yes, I do.
Do I expect Jordan Hill to give us the same performance he gave he gave us last night? No, I do not. But it's progress. Real progress. I'm impressed, even though Dalembert is starting, he was the real center for the Rockets last night.
Advantage: Spurs
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Bench:
Spurs: Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, Matt Bonner, James Anderson, T.J. Ford, Daniel Green
Rockets: Goran Dragic, Chase Budinger, Terrence Williams, Samuel Dalembert, Patrick Patterson
Advantage: Rockets, but it's really close
Injuries:
Spurs: Manu Ginobili
Rockets:Courtney Lee
Prediction: Spurs 105-98
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