Clutchfans Game Thread: Cavaliers @ Rockets 2/26/2009

Lets hope Landry plays

 

win, then we are not far from 3rd seed

 

Rockets better bring their "lock down" defense or they could get run over. Not sure they are ready for the Cavs, but Cavs used have trouble matching up.

 

I know for a Fact Artest is going to be geared up for this one and he can't wait till thursday, I remember last game when he guarded LEbron until the last seconds ticked away like it was two mins left and we were down by 1, and they even got in a scurmage so Lebron will be ready but Artest will be ready too

 

It's always tough when playing the laker$ or the cav$. the refs will be against us as usual. Something all rockets should keep in mind... they're going to call the foul anyways, so make the cavs feel those fouls.

 

I heard about that and Artest even got a technical. Would you recap what exactly happened in that game between Artest and Lebron?

 

in fact we matched up well against the cavs and lebron, last time we fell a little short on the road because of the refs, hope we can pull this one out , 98-89 go rockets!!

 

Last game it was obvious Lebron was flustered by Artests defense. He tried to score in the final seconds of the game, with a nine point lead, as a statement, but lost it out of bounds.

I think we played them very well last game, but were hurt by some VERY questionable calls and flopping.

So again, it all comes down to officiating.

 

ARTEST GOING GIVE LBJ HARD FOUL LIKE HE DID TO PIERCE. JUST TO REMIND HIM HEY IM NOT BACKING DOWN TO YOU. WE WILL WIN BECAUSE LBJ WONT BE ABLE TO DO HIS "CRAB DRIBBLE" AND THE ROX MATCH WELL WITH CAVS FOR SOME REASON. WE WILL SEE SHANE HAND IN LBJ FACE ALL GAME LONG LIKE HE DID TO KOBE ON OUR 22ND GAME WIN STREAK. SHANE DEFENSE IS GETTING BETTER.

 

I guess nobody read my previous post where I mentioned the Zydrunas drawing Yao out of the lane thing, and Scola compensating and fouling LeBron. It's okay though. We are all Rockets except this hater. Artest and Battier WILL hold Lebron under 35 and Mo Williams will have his 20, but they got nothing else. Artest is good for 18. Yao is good for 24. Aaron is good for 15. Scola is good for 12. Von is good for 10. Landry is good for 10 (barring he plays). We are deeper and we have DEFENSE! Delonte West is the X-Factor. Gotta put a body on him, and guard his 3-point shot.


Open to questions, suggestions, comments.

---Blizzle

 

See Jew in Houston.

Yao better deliver.

 

Lets see LeBron, flop team #2, and the refs. The Cavs are one of the hottest teams also. The Rockets will lose. Also it being on TNT with Kenny and Charles hahaha its a curse. When or If we lose it probably will be my fault

 

This is a huge game for us, especially because it's at home. It's probably one of the biggest games we'll have this season because of the playoff push now, we really need this one.

 

Agreed

PS: Nice name

 

Why doesn't Yao guard Ben Wallace? He has no range whereas Big Z can shoot from downtown if needed. Guarding Wallace allows Yao to camp the lane and meet Lebron if necessary. Scola would give up a little height down low, but he's no slouch defensively. Scola would definitely do a better job taking away Ilgauskas' jumper and a couple of flops would take him out completely.

 

That might bet true but that's become a part of the NBA game now (esp. if you're the Rockets). The Rockets need to overcome the refs (as onesided as they may be at times) regardless.

It's pointless to blame any loss on the refs. If Rockets are good enough (which I believe they are) they can and should win despite questionable calls.

 

How should we contain LBJ? Zone is not an option because West, Mo Will, Gibson and Wally World are all over 40% 3 shooters and they are also a good O reb team. Neither Ron nor Shane can guard LBJ 1 on 1 effectively. So, maybe we can just let him score but shut everybody else down?

 

Reasons contributing to our loss earlier this year:
- Battier was still limping, thus didn't play great D like he does now and his shooting was off
- Tracy was still on the team, played 30 mins and didn't shoot well nor play good defense (when has he ever in the last few years during reg season ?)
- Rafer was hot but Mo Williams killed him on the other end so it didn't do much for us
- Gibson outplayed AB because AB was in a slump
- Yao was taken out of the game by the refs
- Artest was not hitting his shots because he was still limping a bit and went a bit crazy because of the refs
- Wafer didn't play

Conclusion:
If the refs mess with us again I expect it will again affect Yao completely and also a part of Artest's game will suffer. However, Battier is playing good D, Artest is playing better, Wafer is in the rotation, we have Lowry to match up with Mo in case he kills AB, AB can play Gibson and most importantly: Tracy is not with the team. So we have to win this game and I expect a 93-89 win.