ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 4/3/2008

although people criticized tmac in that spurs game, i thought he played the "right way" though he struggled mightily. he was looking to attack and dunk to start the game. too bad his jumper just wasn't there. nothing you can do about that. i just hope tmac can do something to get his rhythm faster b/c of his shoulder.

the last 2 games, his jumper is fallen and thus he's scoring 30+ again.

i have no doubt he'll avg 30 points in the playoffs.

 

Rockets are better without Rafer!

Haha, no but I wonder what the outcome would of been like if he played.

 

Did you guys not think this T-Mac was going to show up for the playoffs?

I hope he does show up because otherwise that will sound stupid.

 

Rockets did a nice job stepping up to finish this game.
Good game. Good D. And TMac carried us for quite a bit.
BJax had a great stretch as well.

 

There's a couple of really worrying things about tonight's game, even if it was a win. The ball movement has stalled again and there were some offensive droughts that are going to be fatal against tougher opposition than the Blazers.

Also, Landry's not looking 100%. It looks to me like that knee is still bothering him.

Finally, size is giving the Rockets problems.

 

scola was in foul trouble. outside of jackson, nobody else was hitting on a consistent basis.

tmac only took 10 shots in the first half so he was not dominating the offense. but he had to in the 2nd half. but it wasn't all tmac who triggered it, it was jackson also. but tmac had to be that star tonight. only a star would take us out of that struggle we were in in that 3rd quarter. and we finally play defense.

if you look at it, we still had 5 guys in double figures. but teams are figuring us out. our shots from the role players aren't falling with regularity anymore. landry is not the same landry we had that can be the guy who gives us 12-13 pts right now. alston isn't the same shooter or finisher.

for us to really have a chance, tmac might have to play like this every game i nthe playoffs, and pray that we have 4-5 guys that can chip in and play tremendous defense. if we had the old landry, we would run more tmac-landry pick and rolls and get him more involved.

 

Don't forget that they were also playing without Webster (their top 3pt shtr) and Roy. We had to win this game. They will be a good team once they have Oden in the middle.

 

McMillan's done a great job with this team, too. They have really bought into his system. Players know their roles and execute well. The entire organization has really shifted things in the right direction after the Jailblazers years.

 

Blazers are good half-court defense team too. I think that is a reason why the rockets played better when Brooks pushed tempo. In fact, at the end of the 3rd quarter, Jackson also pushed tempo and the rockets got a big lead.

 

I'm not going to complain after a win, but in december I talked about the lack of size and the overreliance on rookies as a concern. Of course I was told how great scola and landry were and the rox didn't need any more bigger players. After the trade I also expressed my concern over the lack of size behind tracy and shane. I'm all for winning, but scola can't handle long atheletic types, landry without his hops is useless, tracy has to play 40 mins because his backup is in N.O. I'm going to ride this out and if they go down tracy will get blamed again, but this team isn't built for the playoffs even with yao. No size and lack of quickness and versitility will do u in every time. They have specialist that really done one thing and that limits lineup flexibility.

 

I think that was one of the more risky things that the Rockets did to win this game. It required good shooters, and Jackson and McGrady just happened to be hot at the time, but I hate to think if those two players had missed those shots, then we may be looking at a loss. It's a good thing that the Rockets were making their shots today, but it can't be counted on every game, especially towards the playoffs.

 

I think, actually, fast pace ball is the only chance for the rockets to win the games without Yao in playoffs. Maybe it is risky, but it is the only way!

 

This is what I am worried about too. We don't have good backups for Tmac and Shane, which is why they have to play heavy minutes almost every single game.

 

Wonderful watching T-Mac actually making his jumpers. He even hit all 3 free throws. Woohoo!

 

do we know how serious rafer's injury is considered to be?

 

if its serious enough to make him miss a nationally televised game.. then it must be pretty bad. Rafer's always been a tough guy and i dont think he'd miss a game jsut because of some pain. It must hurt a lot.

 

I wait to win for a long time...

 

T-Mac Pummels Portland

Tracy McGrady went off for a game-high 35 points, 26 of which came in a monster second half as the Rockets topped the Blazers.

http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=video&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nba/nbacom/news/mcgrady_blastsoff_080403.asx&video=blank&nbasite=nba

From NBA.com ...

Goooooo T-Mac!

 

hell, i guess the shoulder must be coming along just fine they way
Tmac was going at the rim and finishing strong.

big time MUST that we win these next 3 - 2 against Seattle and one against Clippers.

that will give us 53 wins - assure us of a playoff spot - and allow us to be able to have a bash at a reasonably tough last stretch to try and get as higher seed as possible.

 

Nice win for us.
Great effort by T-Mac.
Tonight, Scola will have to step up. For the playoffs, we need that old Landry. He was so important.