I'm going to predict a return to balanced scoring. Last night the Hornets didn't double either Yao or T-Mac. Scoring 130 against Denver is like scoring 130 against GS or Phoenix. They don't defend. This is a winnable game for the Rockets.
Bulls are below .500 but that doesn't mean its gonna be an easy win for us. Don't get too excited about beating the hornets. I'll hold back my celebration until we officially make the playoffs. Nevertheless, the rockets should be able to extend the streak to 12. Final score rockets 105 - 98 Bulls.
One thing I must point out is that Chicago has nobody that can stop Yao. We need to establish Yao early and often in this game and give a good education to Chicago's young bigs.
The most important thing for tomorrow night's game is to make sure that the team can continue to stay focused and there is no let down after a big win in NO.
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We're certainly not home free in the playoff race so this game is another must win. All the teams in the race with us have relatively easy schedules.
this game better be a sellout. fans better fill the seats when tip-off start. 11 game winning streak and empty seats in front of a national TV audience will look BAD.
- Chicago has no inside presence on defense. They'll start Noah on Yao, who weighs about as much as my jock. Yao has no excuse not to tear this guy a new one. Noah's quick and energetic, though, which means he'll get away with pulling on Yao's jersey and arms while fronting him with 600lbs of force. Noah will be hacking at Yao all day, we'll see if the refs call it. (Speaking of bulls big's and fouls...it amazing how much a change of scenery will change how the refs call you. Tyson Chandler used to be called for EVERYTHING in Chicago. I honestly felt bad for the guy. Now he hacks at everything and never gets in foul trouble. What gives?) - Gordon is just a miserable chucker, an athletic Peja without a conscience. If the rockets can do their thing he'll just shoot the bulls out of the game. Put Tmac on him, Battier, or even Alston, they can all get in his face. Denver let this b*stard score 37, but that's because their perimeter guys have no concept of defense. I can't believe this guy thought he was worth more than 55 million, what a joke. - Luis and Carl have to be scrappy. Chicago's Thomas and Gooden don't have a brain between them, but they can be impact players if we let them. Gooden will shoot every time he touches the ball. And Thomas will swat at everything on our fastbreaks. I still laugh that Chicago wasted their 2nd pick on Thomas, the Stromile Swift clone. Everyone's still talking about his "potential". - Tmac, I doubted you last game. Keep doing your thing.
He will cause mismatch problems because of his small size. Head is the only player we can put on him but I doubt if he can slow him down. Noah,Tyrus are tall PF's who could cause defensive problems for Scola/Landry/Hayes. Good ball movement and making open shots/free throws can disturb the Bulls on defense. The one-two punch of Yao/Tracy is going to be the deciding factor in the game IMO. It's a tricky game. Let's hope we can pull out another win. Edit: I should have mentioned T-Mac will have a size advantage at the 2 and can counter Ben Gordon forcing him out of the game at times, even if he has trouble defending him. Head will have to slow him down on other occasions.
A couple of months ago when Rockets played weak teams such as Heats, I always felt uncertain and bad feeling about losing. Not any more. 12 in A ROW. GO ROCKETS, GO!
Goddamnit, is this game going to be on that crappy My20 station? I'm getting really sick of missing weekend games. If it's not on ESPN, TNT, or FSNHOU, I can't watch it. Dear Houston Rockets: STOP PUTTING YOUR GAMES ON STUPID LOCAL CHANNELS BECAUSE IT MAKES ME SAD AND ANGRY
