ClutchFans Game Thread: Timberwolves @ Rockets 1/17/2004

Victory for the Rockets!

103 Rockets
87 T-Wolves

 

forgot to add breakout game for boki.

 

Is Cato going to be fit for the game?

 

The TimberWolves are playing great and everybody expects them to run over us plus this is a nationally televised game. This has all the ingredients for an upset and Sam Cassell is on a campaign to get a spot on the All-Star team. So he'll try to show Steve up,everyone thought Marbury was going to roast Steve in his big MSG debut,and we all know what happened in that one.

 

We have no player whatsoever to match up with KG. He will definitely get unstoppable tomorrow. I hope we can show some good teamwork for the victory though.

Houston 95
Minny 92

 

is it possible for Yao to guard Kevin one-on-one?

 

If we want Yao to foul out the answer is yes. I watched KG outduel Duncan the other night he is just too fast, versatile and smart for Yao right now. Yao, Cato, Taylor and Padgett will definately need help with KG. On the plus side Ervin Johnson and Olawakandi aren't scoring threats like Rasho was so we could have two big men concentrate on KG.

One thing working in the Rox favor though is that they have split the season series with the T-Wolves the past three years with the home team winning. Also Taylor has had some phenomenal games against the T-wolves and the MN media have gone so far as to dub him a Wolves killer. Of course this isn't the same T-wolves team and having Sprewell and Cassell have made a huge difference.

I gotta be a pessimist on this one and say the Rox lose a close one.

Of course being stuck in this frigid hell hole I really really really hope the Rox win or else I'll be hearing for the next week:

Howabout dem Wolvies. Dey beat your Rockets pretty good. Yabetcha.

 

I am excited about this game.

Our offense is starting to show signs of life and now that the team is hot we have to wait about 4 days before the next game.

National TV coverage on ABC, it doesn't get better than this. (unless we win).

 

who's the chicaklette loser? go to hell. sell your crappie t shirts up where they need em to keep from having their pee pees fall off in the yellow snow. Rockets snuff out little tiny sammie and big goofus withg jvg disease and zero in the middle as yao dude goes off for plus 20 agen and mark jackson says yellow.. up yors tee shirt on abc.

go rockets!

 

I'd definitely like to see Padgett get some minutes this game. Garnett's quick; we need good spacing to keep him off of Yao. Padgett also has height and in my opinion would be no worse than Cato or Taylor at guarding Garnett.

 

Hopefully, it is not 2 steps forward (War+Bos) and 1 step backward

Rox is capable. They have high and pretty good shooters. Yao is capable of drawing ppl and scoring low post. No problem for KG to score but need to contain Cassell and Spreewell

 

I wish Sam could go easy on us

 

Rockets win this one 96 - 88.

Jim Jackson goes off for 30 points.

 

Key Matchup:

Stevie vs Sam I am -> Even
Mobley + JJ vs Spreewell + Hassell -> Even
Padgett + MoT vs Garnett -> Advantage Garnett
Yao vs whoever -> Advantage Yao
Benchplay -> Advanatage Wolves
Intangibles-> Rocket at home

Since its on ABC, it's a no brainer, Stevie will be pimping Sam, Yao will be raping the Wolves Center and get Garnett into Foul trouble. Seriously, I would go at Garnett and get him into foul trouble. Rockets by 10. Easy win.

 

i am going to the game, hopefully it will be a sell-out and the crowd will actually cheer for a change instead of waiting for the announcer to say "defense". Go Rockets, If the Rox hit their shots then I can see them winning 92-87. Peace.

 

Garnett is a defensive roamer. If Cato starts, go ahead and book Garnett being Yao's back pocket when he makes a move against Ervin Johnson. Flip Saunders would be crazy to let Yao start off well. If I were Flip, I'd make sure Cato were given the jumpshot every single time down the court. If he makes 4 out of 10, that's still a victory to me.

 

I think Padgett will get playing time this game just because the TWolves are an excellent jumpshooting team. Flip Saunders is going to make sure Cato is the one to beat the Rockets with his jumpshots. After a few bricks, Padgett will come in soon.

 

If the Rockets are to win today, they better make their jumpshots. Kevin Garnett is one of the best shotblockers in the game. Points in the paint will come hard.

 

Rox stand no chance agaist the midwest leading wolves. Sam always plays big agaist rox and nobody can contain KG. Rox will get toasted and humiliated in front of the nation.

Prediction.

107:89 Wolves