Ok, we have all the normal inuries but we also were missing Cato and Willis leaving us, essentially, without a center for the bulk of the game. We were coming off a back-to-back travel game in which we got our asses handed to us. Minnesota was coming off of a huge win over Dallas without Garnett. What impressed me most about this game was: 1. Defense. I mean, that was ridiculous defense by the Rockets. 2. Adjustments. The Rockets made every adjustment they needed to on both ends of the floor, particularly knowing which offense to switch to when the T-Wolves set up in zone or man-to-man. 3. Transition. It appeared to me to be fairly obvious that this has been something they've been working on. I saw several fast breaks where they ran the ball right to the middle of the floor, which was something they hadn't done in the past. Other than that abyssmal free throw shooting (Francis 1-6???), that was a tremendous effort by the Rocks. Oh, and the bobbleheads didn't hurt!!! <img src="http://www.brilliantcostumejewels.com/auction/francis.jpg" width="200">
Steals: Rockets - 10 Timberwolves - 3 Turnovers: Rockets - 6 Timberwolves - 16 Blocks: Rockets - 11 Timberwolves - 5
The entire team deserve strong praise for their response tonight. Could this be a watershed game? I do not know but I am very proud of the team's performance tonight. I am pleased in particular about the defense, the uptempo game and the ball movement. KT continues to show that he is a special player.
I got to the game at 5:15 and waited, then it started to rain and get really cold, and then it started to hail and rain and more cold, it was terrible, my shoes and clothes were soaked by the time I got inside the summit at around 6:00!...but I got my bobblehead! If you go on a bobblehead night, don't show up THAT early, that is what I learned from this game.
I got to the game at 7:30 and still got a Steve Francis bobblehead. My secret? I took a Hakeem Olajawon bobblehead to exchange with someone else. Didn't take me long at all. Good thing I had 4 from last year. Anyway I think the key to this game was the Minnesota Wolves missing Terrell Brandon. He always kills us with that pick and roll and that mid-range jumpshot. Also he doesnt turn the ball over either. I think the Wolves had like 16 to's and we had only 6. Now don't get me wrong, our boys played well defensively but I think the Wolves miss Brandon more than they think. I dont see them getting out the first round again, even with the addition of Marc Jackson. Oh, we also won because I was wearing my lucky pin I used to wear in the good ole days of the championship run. It still works. Our season is about to turn around folks.
haha Now that you mention it, they made him look like Webster or something. BTW, Webster (Emmanuel Lewis) is on a new Denny's commercial. The "kid" is fat now.
Nice to see there aren't any heart problems on this team. A great response after a truly disappointing effort last night. I love seeing that ball hop around. This would have definitely been the wrong team to play the dribble offense against. Great adjustments by everyone. x34
as much as i like the win it pisses me off because they had to have a blowout loss to make it happen...what changed from last night to tonight that magically made them play the way they should of been playing all along...they will probably swagger into the next game and get killed... uhoh...who put zrb pills in my food...must be the seattle rain that causes this negativity...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
I think it has to do with the other end of the back-to-back... You don't ever want to play a team that is actually decent, and has just come from a humiliating loss. They've got something to prove...
I was thrilled to NOT see Kelvin Cato in the starting lineup. That made me fantasize about Cato being traded for a 6-pack. But then I came here and learned that no trade was made.
treeman, The Rockets have not won both games of consecutive days of games all season long. Not many back to backs for the Rockets.
