ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/13/2003

i just hope our shooting touch is on tom night

if not please let our D prove itself

 

WTH ZRB???!!!
Have we ever won when u call it a win, is this a rare occassion that needs extra luck or are you cursing the team???!!!

 

Last year's games against Dallas flashed back in my head. I hate that nehara(sp?) guy. He's going to front and flop all night along against Yao. This is a real test for our defence. We sucked badly last year against them at the preimeter. Now they even got more shooters. I hope our guards dont get hotheaded and deciside to take it all by themselves. I still dont think Cat is as good as Michael Finley. So go inside, go at the post early, let them double team or tripple team Yao. The way we play against Maimi wont work against Dallas. I hope JVG and guards know it already.

 

I hope we win this one. We need a good win against a good Western Conf. team.

I hope mobes still has the hot hand, and that Yao has a resurgence of energy to take to the Maverick's tree.

Beat them no D mavs.

 

http://www.nba.com/mavericks/matchup/2001-02season_preview.html

Mavs vs. Rockets, Nov. 13
An early season measuring stick. That’s what Thursday’s (November 13 at 6:30pm CT) clash between the 5-3 Mavericks and the improved 5-1 Houston Rockets amounts to, for both teams. While Dallas has been a bit vulnerable on the road this season (posting a 2-3 record), it’s been utterly dominant at home with a 3-0 record and double-digit thrashings of Utah, Miami and New Orleans. The young Rockets, under the guidance of new head coach Jeff Van Gundy, are defending very well (allowing just 34% shooting to opponents) en route to their best start since the ‘96-‘97 campaign. While it’s hard to imagine Houston hanging with the Mavs and Spurs atop the Midwest Division throughout the season, this game will serve as an early gage as to just how viable that proposition might be.

Yao Ming
The Rockets feature explosive offensive parts in Yao Ming inside, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley outside. Yao is becoming more the centerpiece of Houston’s half court attack under the direction of Van Gundy. He’s averaging 15ppg and has taken nearly as many shots as Mobley. At 7-6, 310 he will present major headaches to the under-sized Mavericks in the low post. Steve Francis is still the guy who will tend to dominate the ball and make certain that it’s in his hands to create something deep in the shot clock. He’s leading the team in scoring at 20ppg, but isn’t shooting as many three pointers as he has in the past. He hasn’t shaken his propensity to turn the ball over, averaging 4.4 per game. So it’ll be important that Dallas provide him with changing defensive looks to dislodge the ball to generate its fast break. As for Mobley, he was reportedly shopped during the off-season without any takers. He’s coming off of a huge 30 point effort against Miami (in a 90-70 rout Tuesday night) and is still lethal spotting up for penetration pitches from Francis or attacking the rim in the open court. Houston now possesses a big three of its own that will be mighty tough to defend in this game.

The Mavericks have been a different team at home than on the road thus far this season. They’ve been able to get off to great starts with the encouragement of the sixth man at American Airlines Center and clearly have the firepower to bury foes when that happens. Tuesday’s dismantling of Eastern power New Orleans was beautiful to watch as the Mavs collected 40 assists and shot 58% from the field for the 125-97 triumph. In this game, against the swarming, much improved Rockets defense, crisp ball and player movement will be essential in the half court. But of more importance will be generating an open court running game to create easy scoring opportunities. With Yao contesting shots around the rim, scoring in bunches in half court sets won’t be easy.

Kelvin Cato
The Mavericks catch a bit of a break in this game in that the Rockets will be without key reserve power forwards Maurice Taylor and Eddie Griffin, who are both serving suspensions. In their absence, Kelvin Cato’s getting more minutes along with Yao up front and he’s playing reasonably well averaging nearly 9rpg and more than 2 blocked shots. Jim Jackson is the other Rockets starter. He played very well against Dallas in the Western semi-finals as a member of the Kings last year and is still a solid scorer who can create problems if he gets into quick rhythm shooting. Off the bench, Houston comes with Moochie Norris at the point, Bostjan Nachbar at the swing positions as Adrian Griffin and Eric Piatkowski are injured and unavailable, 6-8 Torraye Braggs and 6-10 John Amaechi up front.

Steve Nash
Steve Francis
The Steve Nash-Steve Francis match-up will be a blast to watch. Both are so creative off the dribble and both are true warriors committed to winning. Francis has been far too turnover prone for Jeff Van Gundy, but he is making an effort to integrate Yao more inside which pleases the coach. The Michael Finley- Cuttino Mobley duel will be critical to the outcome of this game. While Nash and Francis may offset one another offensively, Finley will need to hold his own against the explosive Mobley. Michael’s coming off of his best offensive output of the season (20 points vs. New Orleans Tuesday), and should be able to carry momentum from that effort into this one.

Danny Fortson
Up front, the Mavs have done an excellent job on the boards this season as they’ve out-rebounded 5 of their 8 opponents. Dirk Nowitzki, Antoine Walker, Danny Fortson, Antawn Jamison and Eduardo Najera must come with hard hats on in this one to combat Jackson, Cato and Yao on the glass. Walker, Nowitzki and Jamison will present major match-up dilemmas for Van Gundy in this game. Cato can’t hang with any of the three out on the floor, while Jackson will struggle to contain them in the post. The trio of Antoine, Dirk and Antawn should determine the outcome of this game and tilt it in favor of the Mavericks. That is, as long as Yao Ming doesn’t offset their presence with a huge night inside for Houston. I suspect that Don Nelson will start Danny Fortson on him at center in hopes of Fortson’s physicality getting to Yao and throwing him off his game.

Should be interesting and should give us an early read on how formidable this new look Houston outfit might be this season. In round one, expect more of what we saw last season when the Mavericks swept the Rockets 4-0. That is a hard-earned Dallas home court triumph.

 

Interesting preview. It seems they will try to put Danny "the potato" Fortson against Yao. I think Nash will have a slight edge against Francis because Nash passes better and is less turnover-prone than Francis, while Francis is the better scorer and rebounder.
I think the key factor for the Mavs will be Antoine Walker. It appears he has gelled seamlessly into the Dallas offense so far this season. He is averaging nearly 5 assists and 16 ppg on 46% shooting. He looks like a different Walker than the one we are so used to in Boston. The one who constantly jacks up threes and makes bad decisions during crunch time.
I look forward to this match. It will deinitely be a measuring stick for both teams.

 

theSAGE's Five Keys to winning to this game
1. Get Yao going EARLY, offensively!
2. Keep the defensive pressure STRONG and the game w/in 90 points for the opposition.
3. Control the tempo by favoring the HALF-COURT game.
4. Cut down on the turnovers (Dallas will roast us with points off turnovers in the open court if we are not careful!)
5. Control the battle of the boards.

Other Things Worth Remembering...
1. JVG was formerly an assistant coach to Don Nelson in his NY days.
2. Dallas does not play defense.
3.Dallas, to date, has yet to face a team as defensive minded as the Rockets.

Go ROX!!!



theSAGE

 

I'm so excited I can barely stand myself. I haven't been to a game in 2+ years, and I couldn't help myself. I have my airline tickets and leave Salt Lake tomorrow. This could be the first really IMPRESSIVE win against a "top" team, and I can't wait to see the Rocks in person again.

My pick: Rockets 88-82.

 

Rockets 104
Mavericks 101

Yao score 31/12/3

 

Hate to say it, but I see the Mavs rising to the ocassion (desperate to keep I-45 rivals in check) for this one and serving the Rockets a near miss loss - possibly OT? Good chance this one will come down to those like JJ and Moochie, me thinks. Sorry, that's how I see it.

 

what do you think will be starting 5 for each team?
post responses
my guess:
rox: obviously stevie, cuttino, jackson, cato, and yao
mavs: nash, finley, jamison, antoine, and dirk

first off nash and franchise cancel out
cuttino and finley also cancel out IMO
i think jackson can handle jamison
cato and toine? hopefully he shoots poorly as usual
dirk and yao should both be able to score easily due to obvious strengths

 

I think Jamison is the one to burn rockets.
And if rox really play zone, it's time for Yao to show his rebound ability.

 

One thing that could be a huge factor is fouls. With Taylor, EG, Pike and AG out, we don't have the depth on the bench to easily hold our own against the Mavs if they can get inside and draw a number of fouls early on. I'm worried about Cato specifically. We'll just have to see.

This will be the biggest test of our NBA-leading defense this season to date. If we can get a good offense going, that may help our energy on defense a lot.

 

Mavs are overated. The game will be close just because it's at Mavs home. Rockets take it 96-86. Yao Ming will block 8 this time!

 

Mavericks dont think the Rockets are good enough to be at the top of the division for long?

 

If its a high scoring game for both teams, then it favors the mavs... if its a low scoring game.. then its the rox to take. just gotta see if the mavs O shows up or the rox D
D always wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go rox!

 

Let's see how good our defence is.
I predict a win.
Rox 95
Mavs 92
Yao goes home with 24pt, 14rbs, and 4bs
Walker will shoot 20 times, but only make 4.

 

It was so much publicised last season with Yao v. Bradley in the first Dallas game. And of course, Yao proved that he was no where near Bradley.

Could someone check the stat? I barely remember Yao shut down Bradley completely in that game. The same will repeat in this game. And of course, Bradley will play only 4 minutes.

Look at Dallas go doubling Yao with rough stuff; and chase Francis the full court. The key for the game is actually the point guard. If Francis can shut down Steve Nash, Dallas will be teethless. Simply check the Toronto v. Dallas game, their offensive flow was so bad without Nash that resembled last year Rocket. It is going to be a big test of our defence system though. But we shall prevail:

Rocket 86
Dallas 81

 

Last year I scored 30 in a game against Dallas.

This year Raef LaFrentz has gone. Basically Dallas' only inside presence is Shawn Bradley and undersized Danny Fortson. And more importantly, Yao is no longer a rookie.

YAO score 40/20 plus 6 assists, 6 blocks. NO EXCUSE!!!
Steve and Cat should also show their gunpowders that we can make more 3s than they do!!!

 

93 - 87 rox win!