every team has those so we can't complain. jazz fans can say what about losses to the sixers? spurs fan can say what about losses to the celts? it's how hot u are going into the playoffs. if we continue this pace but w/ tmac and yao increasing their level of greatness, we're fine.
I know this sounds weird, but I rather the Jazz get the home field. I think we would actually play better if we don't have home-field to start. I think in some games the Rockets play better away from home. At the same time, we could still momentum from the Home team if win games 1 and/or 2, like we did against Dallas. I think we might get too comfortable with a home-court advantage scenario.
I understand what you are saying and it makes some sense, but just look at record: 25-7 and 18-16 <-- Jazz 23-10 and 19-15 <-- Rockets Its obv both these teams are dominant on their home floor. It makes sense what you are saying but if it all comes down to it, I would like game 7 in houston over utah.
Um just so you know Dirk and Boozer.... yea not exactly the same thing. Dirk is a jumpshooter and is a scrawny guy. Boozer is big, physical bumper.... I would say stick Yao on Boozer, Tmac on AK, Battier on Okur, that would work best, cuz Yao has size/weight to match up with Boozer.
minor point We have played Utah twice, the only loss coming when Juwan was inactive and it was Battier and Hayes playing PF. I do agree that Chuck will be effective keeping Boozer from bulling his way into the paint, but he will need help if Boozer starts facing up since he has such a good short-mid jumper I have full faith in Shane's ability to stay on Okur outside the paint. Let Tmac stay on AK and pray Rafer brings his A game on defense....he isnt always good at defending quick points, but he *has* been known to do it sometimes.
Yeah but don't the Jazz always play good at home? But winning 2 at their place would be a nice start. You never know though... Thats what i said 2 years ago and look what happened.
should have been more precise in what I was referring to Primary responsibility for Boozer does go to Yao as long as Boozer is staying down low, the rotations must be modified for the times when both Boozer and Okur are tryin to draw Yao out of the paint. I was only saying the matchups listed would be most effective in that situation....I was being lazy by not being more specific.
That is my main concern with regards to our matchup with the Jazz. Rafer checking Deron Williams. Deron is very strong as well as quick and I don't think Rafer can check him. I believe we will be fine at the other positions of concern (the forwards), but not at the point. Not with Rafer and Luther. I do hope I am wrong though. Completely and utterly wrong .
the main place his strength will help him (Deron) is if he posts them. and then the defensive rotations must be sharp to stop that mismatch. As for penetrating, our paint defense is very very good....when we are playing ROCKETS defense....if our team defense is weak, we got more problems than stopping deron williams. Rafer and Luther are in fact capable of slowing penetrating guards, but unless the help D is effective, they cant fully stop it.
If there's anything Rafer has been consistent with this year, it is with his defense. I'm certainly not worried. I think Deron is an allstar-caliber point guard and he's no doubt going to get his -- especially with that jumpshot of his. But Rafer did a good job on him the last time we played them -- stayed in front of him, denied penetration, and what happened was that Deron was forced to take jumpshots all day. He made a handful of them, but in the end they weren't able to get going offensively and he just kept jacking up shots and shooting them right of the game. Really, Rafer is very underrated defensively. His improvement on that side of the ball has been tremendous this year. He has successfully contained the likes of Tony Parker (repeatedly) and Jason Terry. He isn't perfect -- there are still nights when he leaves his game at home (like that forgettable Raps game at home when TJ Ford lit him up like a Christmas tree), but for the most part, he has played like a top-tier defensive point guard, even if he gives us fits with his field goal percentage.
just don't make those stupid mistakes like fouling a jumpshooter that has caused us a few games. he's a good defender b/c he has the lateral quickness to stay in front of his man. but sometimes he tries to block a shot or fall for the pump fake. besides that, he is a good defender. plus, if rafer can shoot like this, man, he's one of the best PGs in fact, but it's hot now, it might suck in the playoffs b/c eventually he's going to hit his % of 37. high now, low later (hope i'm wrong)
i think we can get away with a few possessions with Battier on Boozer and put Yao on AK. I'm not saying do this the whole game, but just on a few posessions in the end of quarters. Yao can let AK jack away from 3pt range and Battier is stronger than t-mac and can handle booser for a few possessions. The key is to pressure them when they have the ball because outside of Deron, they have no good ball handlers. I think Luther in the last game is getting some good experience doing that and Alston is always good at stealing the ball. Hopefully Yao can get Okur into foul trouble because their backups at the 5 are just absolute crap. Infact every one of their backups suck besides Harpring.
again, u never know. just don't put yourself in that position. play basic D and put your hands up. it's hard to block anyone's shot and the benefit of the doubt will be to the offense.
I am not sure of their starting rotation but fisher is a good guardi believe he is deron's backup. harpring like you mentioned. i like their rookie milsap a lot. cj miles tore the rockets up opening night, was like 5-5 14pts in the first quarter but i havent heard about him since not sure if he got into the dog house. gordon girichek is also a decent bench player. i havent seen too many jazz games to see who they play regularly they may have changed rotations due to injuries as well, it'll be interesting to see.
Catching up to Utah Jazz for homecourt... I was looking over the current conference standings and the schedule for tonight. I noticed we are only 1-1/2 games back from Utah prior to tonights games. We play the Pacers and Utah host Golden State. If the stars align with a win for the Rockets and a loss for the Jazz we could be only 1/2 game back by nights end. WOOHOO! GO ROCKETS! THE JAZZ SUCK!
