T-Mac needs to attack the basket, score and not settle for just outside shots. Both Skip and he will have to penetrate to break down the double and triple teams and put Yao in position to score. Our poor outside shooting bothers me a lot. We have to do a better job and defend and rebound as well. It's the biggest game of the season so far. I feel that the Suns will win but they aren't unbeatable.
Whew ... bold prediction. Last time we scored that many points in a regular season home game in regulation was 1994. Hakeem, Otis and Horry combined for 68 while Vernon, Kenny and Sam combined for 37 more. http://www.clutchfans.net/game_boxscore.cfm?GameID=2418
Rox 99 Suns 82 Ming crushes nash with a pick in the first quarter-Marion's inability to create his own shot is exposed by T-Mac.
i believe the rockets can beat these guys but they must keep an eye on there defensive assignments. the suns score most of there points because the defenders turns his head and his man slips by him. they will have to play one on one to beat these guys. and they need to beware the fast breaks.
Any word on Stromile's ankle and when he will be back? We have to crash the boards for some offensive rebounds!
Got to bring energy, they will be playing small ball big time, Yao can dominate the paing if he wants to. 3 games back of the 8th seed, every game is important now. DD
I expect the Suns to burst out to a lead; guaranteed. If we win this game, it will be similar to last year. In the 2nd and 3rd periods our defense finds it rhythm and we make our move. Like someone else said in another thread, we need to hit our outside shots and punish them on offense. Their defense isn't as terrible as last year, but it still ain't good. Both Yao and Tracy need to exploit their mismatches. After 29/11, can Yao do it again on a back to back? Our defense is the key. If we hustle back, make them pass the ball a lot, guard Nash's passing lanes and PLEASE!!! get a hand in their faces on 3 pointers, we can win this game.
Last time, they man handled the tempo and won, and they were playing the end game of a back to back. This time, we'll man handle the tempo and win because we're playing the end game of a back to back. We'll win this one by 3.
WE know we cant stop that team. nobody can stop that team. the only way to beat them is to play their game and hit a high percentage like SA did in the playoffs. I think we will be close b/c of our embarrassed the players are from the last meeting with PHX, but i think we come out focused and on top in this one.
Getting a hand in their faces on their many 3p's - what do you think of a game plan where we use Yao on the perimeter to challenge Marion, alter his shots - maybe not every play but enough to mess with their game plan and tempo? Maybe use Yao and Deke together for 10-15 min? JVG needs to try something different than giving up on offensive rebounds and trying to protect the paint against a team that penetrates and shoots 3p's massively well. Take away one or the other - I think it is easier to alter the 3's and avoid fouls more so than trying to defend Nash driving - Yao will just end up in foul trouble. Maybe let Bogans wait inside to foul Nash hard a few times, let Yao chase Marion and alter some shots. I know, I know, real out of the box thinking - but they need to try something different to get into the Sun's heads. Just finished watching braveheart and seeing Wallace defeat the English with off the wall thinking.
Its a tossup if you ask me but I think Houston has come along way since the allstar break and will stepup huge and get another huge victory.
I am hoping that the Rockets will step up and start to lay to rest all the doubts about beating 'elite' teams (and what better team to start with than the Suns, seeing how they manhandled us last time). Here's to Rockets winning 101-91.
