Whether Yao plays or not, I want to see if Rainman Grumpy is the vaunted "defensive genius" he's purported to be!! Specifically, the Suns favorite play is a weave starting with Nash or Johnson (or Marion) running off picks, then dishing to the guard who's coming off another pick, and the final dish is to Amare who's been trailing the play and because of the two picks defenders are out of position to stop him...Amare receives the ball at or below the FT line, two steps (maybe a dribble) and SLAM!!! Watch how many times today you see this little weave, pass, weave, and dish to Amare for a slam or foul!!! They run this against EVERYBODY and I have yet to anyone figure out that if you just man up against Amare as he's coming down the court then you effectively destroy his favorite play. If we can make Amare shoot from outside (like the last game) and if (I know big if on this one...) the refs don't wear Amare shirts today then we should be OK... With Yao... Without Yao, blowout..
One more quick comment on defense... when someone wants to shut down the Rox, they double T-Mac ON THE PERIMETER, and for some reason we seem unwilling to double Nash the moment he crosses the mid-court line. If we let Nash run loose guarded only by Sura or MJ it will be a long day whether Yao plays or not. Nash is their Bob Sura. Speaking of which, Bobby needs to play like Bobby.... If he's not worn out then we need him to get near a triple-double today. That will be another stat (along with rebounds of course) that will tell the tale of how we fare today!!
We're 6 games ahead with 9 left. It'd take one of the biggest meltdowns in sports history for us not to make the playoffs. Not to mention, a great run by Minnesota.
oh yeah you might take a look at my name and think i'm going for the suns.. but HELLL NO!! im for the rockets all the way... actually i dont even like the current suns team too much...
someone tell me is this game on NBA tv? preferably anyone in Toronto or canada. NBA tv schedule says it's on here but the cable channel previewer says not. i wonder if I should even bother watching it possible major blowout, could spend the time at my local bar getting fried the day before work. might be the better idea.
If yao sits out, we have little chance simply because we have no answer for Amare. If yao plays, we have 40% chance to beat suns. I am curious to see how we can fight a full force sun.
The Rockets "blew them out" on their home floor. Perhaps the biggest win of the year. However, the Rockets looked like the little sisters of the poor on Friday. Truly pathetic. If they play like that, Suns by 30+, if they play an excellent game then, I predict a win by less than 5. Either way, it could get ugly. A few scuffles and several technicals are a lock. I don't think they like each other.
As a Rockets fan, I hope you're wrong. Wesley, Barry, James, even sura brings out their guns and they'll all be red hot and just bury the Suns. I hate the Suns.
Unless Keith Jones in the interest of the team sits Yao's ass. I hope to see Yao too. Come on, Yao, drop 35/19/8 on the Suns and Amare.
No JH and Potentially no Yao = very bad loss. AS and Marion will own the boards. I hate the thought of the Rox losing, but this one could get ugly.
