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Game 14 Recap: Lowry, Landry lead Rockets to 113-106 bounce-back victory over Kings
by Tom Martin on Nov 21, 2009 10:48 PM CST
in Game Recaps
10 comments
You had to watch this one to really get it. Highlight packages aren't going to do it any justice.
Too many NBA clubs mimic simple transcripts. You can check the game stats, read the recap, and there, you're immediately caught up with whatever it was that you missed. To do the same with the Houston Rockets is to sell yourself short.
You may not know who T.J. Simers is. He's the L.A. Times columnist who called out Phil Jackson after the Rockets wrecked Jackson's Lakers in Game 4 of the '09 playoffs, prompting The Zen Master's infamous response: "Give them some f-----g credit. I mean, for real."
Out of curiosity, I e-mailed Simers shortly after viewing the clip on ESPN. In the e-mail, I basically asked him what he thought the right approach to building a relationship with a coach was. Should a journalist ask easy questions to get on a coach's good side, or ask them the nitty, gritty annoying questions for the betterment of the story?
This is the response that I got from Simers in my inbox the next morning: "We are writers. We are not stenographers."
Of any team in the NBA, none makes it easier to write with expression and color and emotion than the Houston Rockets. It's a worn-out statement, and will continue to be exercised as long as Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola and Carl Landry are around.
It takes a special trust between a coach and his players for Rick Adelman to pull Aaron Brooks, his starting point guard and second-leading scorer, from the scorer's table with two minutes to play in favor of The Bulldog. Lowry delivered with back-to-back assists to Landry, who was dynamite around the rim. Hell, Landry was dynamite just about everywhere.
Shane Battier and Chase Budinger delivered in the effective absence of Brooks, who only scored eight points in 23 minutes. Battier had fourteen points, while Bud Light added twelve.
As we well know, the Kings aren't the same pushover that they have been in past years. This is an impressive win, whether or not anyone cares to notice, especially coming off of the Atlanta loss.
10 comments | 0 recs |
Game Thread and Non-Preview
by Xiane on Nov 21, 2009 6:58 PM CST
in Game Previews
20 comments
Here is your Rockets v Kings game thread. We need this one, and hopefully we'll play to our recent pattern.
Sacramento is a young team with a lot of talent, and they shredded us on the boards last time, which proved the difference in the game. They're playing much better than anyone expected, either their talent is meshing better, or they went out and hired an honest-to-God NBA coach.
Big athletic PF/C types have been giving us trouble this season, so we'll see if we can't control the Kings version of that guy in Jason Thompson, who had a big night against us in Sacramento. Tyreke Evans looks like the real deal, but also might be a bit banged up (it is evidently against his machismo to admit that). Also, if Beno Udrih plays against us like he did last time, I'll... I'll...do something extreme.
Last night in Atlanta was a heartbreaker, but I believe the Rockets will come out with energy and a desire to wash the bad taste of last night's amazing near-comeback out, and commit REGICIDE. DEATH TO THE KINGS! Or at least, defeat to the Kings!
20 comments | 0 recs
Rockets @ Hawks Game 13 Thread
by Xiane on Nov 20, 2009 7:19 PM CST
168 comments
Here it is: your official game thread, now with bonus post-game threading!
168 comments | 0 recs
Game 13 Preview - Rockets @ Hawks
by Xiane on Nov 20, 2009 5:58 PM CST
5 comments
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Game 13 |
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7-5 |
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10-2 |
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November 20, 2009 |
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6:30 PM CST |
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Phillips Arena |
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Atlanta, GA |
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SG |
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SF |
Marivin Williams |
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C |
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Key Reserve |
Jamal Crawford |
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Rockets Injury Report: Tracy McGrady (note may be in (gasp) uniform).
Hawks Injury Report: None.
The Loyal Opposition: www.peachtreehoops.com
Predicted Result: Hawks by 4. Atlanta has shown itself to be the best team in the NBA at present, and their once-moribund home court advantage might be the difference. That or their scary lineup.
Game Preview:
If Houston is one of the big surprises to some followers of the NBA (but not us), Atlanta is perhaps a bigger one. Long-known as a team that could beat anyone when motivated (see Hawks-Celtics playoff series), Atlanta appears to have jumped to an elite level this season.
The Hawks have the best record in the NBA, and it's not all lots of hot shooting nights from Joe Johnson (those help, though). The Hawks are playing tough D, and boast an NBA best adjusted point differentials/team strength rating (SRS), at a whopping +9.96. The Rockets, by contrast are at +4.06, good, but not special. Atlanta is allowing 98.8 points a game, and scoring 107. Houston is allowing 99.8 points, and averaging 103 per game.
The idea of the Weak East is dying a slow death with every Atlanta victory.
The numbers thus far favor the Hawks, but the Rockets can play anyone close, anywhere. Let's go through the player matchups to see where the story might unfold.
Player Matchups:
PG: Mike Bibby vs Aaron Brooks
Advantage: Rockets
It may be unfair, but I've never found Bibby a convincing player somehow. I don't think Bibby ever had the quickness to stay with Brooks, and he certainly doesn't have it now, 11 years into his career. No Atlanta PG would seem to have an answer for Kyle Lowry or Aaron Brooks.
SG: Joe Johnson vs Trevor Ariza
Advantage: Hawks
If PG goes to the Rockets, SG goes to the Hawks. Joe Johnson is lighting up the league, averaging 23.6 points, 4.7 assists and 5.3 boards a night. Ariza is big, and fast, and might be able to frustrate Johnson into the sort of poor shooting nights he sometimes has. Ariza had better, or Houston's chances take a significant hit. Atlanta can bring in Crawford to make the defenders job still more miserable.
SF: Marvin William vs Shane Battier
Advantage: Rockets
Marvin Williams is a BIG SF, and that might pose problems for some other defenders, but I think Shane will be able to handle him. He's averaging 9pts a game, and doesn't really shoot threes. It's possible that Shane can focus more on his offense, or offer help on Johnson. Williams, at this point, simply isn't frightening. I don't see a big edge here, but the one I do see goes to Houston.
PF: Josh Smith vs Luis Scola
Advantage: Hawks
Josh Smith is living up to his potential, scoring, grabbing boards and playing with effort in the flow of the offense and defense. His defense has gone from "somewhat indifferent" to "good". It's possible the one of our PF platoon can frustrate Smith, and put up points (they always do) but I still give this battle to the Hawks.
C: Al Horford vs Chuck Hayes
Advantage: Even
I think that Horford is exactly the sort of player The Chuckwagon can neutralize. He might have more problems with Pachulia, if Zaza sees big minutes. On the other hand, I don't see Chuck dominating the battle either. Thus the draw rating.
Conclusion: A good bench, and team playing very well together at home spells problems for Houston. Atlanta has beaten Boston, Portland (twice), Denver and Miami. They lost only to LA in LA, and to Charlotte, for some reason.
5 comments | 0 recs
Tmacology – Like Kremlinology, but without the furry hats, vodka and ominous knocking at the door at 3 am... Part 1
by Xiane on Nov 20, 2009 4:33 PM CST
in Random Commentary
41 comments
First read this:
Got that?
Now read this:
It’s a real "He Said/He Said" situation here. We are free to choose what we believe. The Chronicle piece is very much an "All is well. Nothing to see here. Go on home, folks. Nothing to see. Move along" Official Party Line sort of thing. Nothing the least bit disturbing there.
As far as the Wojnarowski Yahoo piece, well, at long last, the national media has the sort of story it likes about Houston. No more boring items about team basketball, deep rosters and non-star guys putting up efficient, if not huge numbers, as the seemingly interchangeable Rockets grind down another D. It makes a welcome respite from tedious advanced stats or Morey worship.
Tmac is back! (Now?) And there is yelling! (No, there isn’t!) There were some locker room dramatics! (Nothing dramatic happened.) There is also a real possibility that Tmac is directly feeding his position to the media! (Who knows?) A hurt guy suits up on his own, rather than management’s proposed date for return, despite not having final medical clearance. (He just wants to play!) He then badgers his coach into a confrontation before game time. (It was just a friendly chat.) Now that, my friends, that’s a STORY. (Or it isn’t.)
41 comments | 0 recs |
McGrady & Adelman Respond to Woj's Article
"Adelman said on Friday that when they met, the conversation did not get loud, but that McGrady did not want to wait for next week to make his season debut. McGrady could not have played at the time he put on the uniform on Wednesday because that night's inactive list had already been turned in."
1 day ago
Only_A_Lad
2 comments
0 recs
McGrady unsure whether Rockets want him
Tracy McGrady and coach Rick Adelman engaged in an emotional and sometimes loud closed-door confrontation about the star’s uncertain status on Wednesday night, sources told Yahoo! Sports.
1 day ago
ak2themax
16 comments
0 recs
GameThread for Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves, Nov 18, 2009 7:00 PM CST
by UofTOrange on Nov 18, 2009 6:16 PM CST
in Game Thread
73 comments
My internet connection has been infuriating. Hopefully I'll have full access during the blood bath that is this game
73 comments | 0 recs |
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Southwest Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Dallas
|
10 | 3 | .769 | 0 | Won 5 |
|
Houston
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8 | 6 | .571 | 2.5 | Won 1 |
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New Orleans
|
6 | 8 | .428 | 4.5 | Won 3 |
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San Antonio
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5 | 6 | .454 | 4 | Won 1 |
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Memphis
|
4 | 9 | .307 | 6 | Lost 1 |
(updated 11.22.2009 at 4:01 AM CST)
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
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GameThread for Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves, Nov 18, 2009 7:00 PM CST
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Tmacology – Like Kremlinology, but without the furry hats, vodka and ominous knocking at the door at 3 am... Part 1
by Xiane 1 day ago
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