ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Pacers @ Rockets 12/18/2002

Ming will have his revenge with O'Neal in this game. Remember how he clearly play better against the same player the 2nd time around?

 

rox win no doubt

102
95

yao= 26 points 15 rebounds 2 blocks
steve= 23 points 5 rebounds 8assists
cat=17 points 4 rebounds 3 assists
eddie= 10 points 6 rebounds 4 blocks

 

ive got it! trade mo taylor and kenny for artest and a pick!

 

Artest really got shut down tonite. I think he was flustered by the offensive productivity of the Dallas guards. Nash, Van Exel, those two run around like Energizer Bunnies. I agree with you, Woofer, that matchups will be key. I noticed that Indiana has quite a number of 7 footers to throw at Yao. But that being said. Which matchups do YOU see as mismatches in our favor???

My thoughts are:

Matchups In Our Favor
Yao vs. Bender
Yao vs. B. Miller
Francis vs. Tinsley
Cuttino vs. Artest

Matchups Not in Our Favor
O'Neal vs. EG/KT
Harrington vs. EG/KT
Artest vs. Rice
Artest vs. Moochie
Miller vs. Cuttino
O'Neal vs. Rice

Neutral Matchups
Yao vs. O'Neal

I give the coaching edge to: Rox and RudyT



profSAGE

 

I meant Artest would eat up Rice when we're on offense.

As much as Woofer doesn't like it, I think the 3 guard offense is our best bet against the Pacers. Our previous game against them is not a good predicator of this game since that was the 1st game of the season and they didn't have RMiller or Tinsley. IMO, we win a Moochie-Francis-Mobley matchup over RMiller-Tinsley-Artest.

 

This game should be a little payback for Yao. Jermaine O'Neal abused him a little bit the last time we played. Rocks by five.

 

derrock, I'm totally FOR the three guard set... but here's the other question. Who other than Yao do you want as our rebounding FORWARD?[/B]. I'm not clear as to who our best rebounding forward is, but that's who we would need with the three guard set.

Any ideas?

theSAGE

 

I think both O'Neal and Artest will have big game tomorrow night.

That being said, the Pacers don't have anyone physical enough to push Yao out of post, so I'd like to see the Rockets start the game by going to Yao early and often, hopefully, that will put O'Neal and their front line into foul trouble quickly, and open up the lane & outside shooters, e.g., Rice & Cat.

The big problem will be the defense on O'Neal and Artest. O'Neal will go around Yao & Cato like Indy 500 blows by you, and back down anyone else the Rockets have. Artest will eat Rice for lunch with easy. Let's hope Rudy can pull out something we don't know.

--dao shi

 

Let me add some simple stuff:
1. Play good D. Keep O'Neal from getting crazy.
2. Pass the ball
3. If Steve ,Cat or anybody tries to get into the lane, either
go strong forcing Ref to make the call or finish strong making
layups.

 

See, by my observation, O'Neal plays as a CENTER. He reminds me a lot of this other dude, Cliff Robinson. Active, lanky yet strong, tall yet quick. So the question is, can a taller dude with a longer reach, but slower feet defend against O'Neal? If you watch O'Neal, statistically, a lot of his shots come, literally w/in the paint. Does Yao float farther out of the paint? Does he give up the J? Will there be other Rox to help on the cutters?

As far as Artest goes... here's a dude who, one night, looks like Air Jordan on ESPN, and then on other nights, like tonite against the Mavs, comes up WAY SHORT. This guy is incorrigible!!! The one thing I DO find about this Artest, and it was mentioned by an earlier poster, is that Artest seems to have trouble defending folks "faster" than he is. While this may sound intuitively obvious, perhaps it takes a high scoring guard making Artest work on the defensive end that will coincidentally slow/tire Artest on the Indy offensive end.

If Cuttino and Francis both have an offensively productive night, I don't see why we can't win this one.



profSAGE

 

SageHare6

The second best rebounder on the Rockets is Francis or Cato but neither of them are PFs (and I think Cato should stick as our backup C). We need Eddie tomorrow but more for his D than his rebounding. He's the only guy on this team who can give O'Neal fits. Problem is, last time he faced an agile 7-footer (Gasol), he got absolutely roasted. His off the ball defense is awesome, his on the ball defense is not. If Eddie doesn't have it, Rockets better hope they can win a shootout.

 

Thx Derrock... but if that's the case, I'd rather take my chances with KT. I'm sure you've seen Jermaine O'Neal play... and you know that he definitely likes to take his one or two power dribbles before going up for the shot. Jermaine O'Neal is also a very good offensive player while "facing up" to the hoop... in addition to being a very good "back to the hoop" player. I imagine you're referencing our first game with Indy in saying that EG:

I sincerely hope we have MORE guys who can give him fits. The faster we get him in foul trouble the better... and just out of curiousity, have we, at any point in this season ever seen Cato AND Yao on the court, simultaneously??? Would this NOT be a good tandem???



profSAGE

 

Bottom line:

1. I'm convinced our starting guards are better than Indy's.
2. I think Jermaine O'Neal WILL get his 20 ppg regardless of what we do; I hope EG or whoever can contain him... but right now who can say?
3. If Yao starts heating up, I think Indy will throw an ARRAY of 7 footers to counter him and simply maximize their fouls.
4. If Mooch comes in, he will be at a disadvantage by giving up a few inches to the opposing guards.
5. Harrington may BULLY our PF and neutralize our rebounding edge.



profSAGE

 

Haha...nah, he didn't do it in the first game either. Mr. Jermaine was as smooth as silk that game. I should've used the word "potentially." I'm starting to come around and think that Cato and Yao should be used at the same time, most likely at the end of the game. Go with a 3-guard lineup with Cato and Yao?? Sure...why not??? Like the Houston Chronicle is gonna get on my back

 

You know derrock, this board is fast becoming "theSAGE and derrock show..

Where are all the posters?
We're two nites away from one of the biggest games this season, on NATIONAL TV, and all is quiet on the cc.net board!!! Oh well. I kinda like the idea of the "theSAGE and derrock show.. Like Siskel and Ebert, we could probably start a own thread and run it back and forth to 1000 replies.

heh heh heh



theSAGE

 

SLEEPING !!!

I'm a west coast guy and I'm assuming you are too!

BTW...I like "The Derrock and Sage Show" better

 

Finally,I get to watch Yao on TV tomorrow morning. I am in Taiwan and I don't get to see Yao in action as much as you think we do. I hope he can dominate like he did in DALLAS. He just needs the ball more. I think he needs to step up and just ask for the ball since Steve named him the *DYnasty*.

 

Artest is a great defender but he's also big so he can't keep up with quick guys like Finley. More of the three-guard lineup tomorrow?? All I know is...Artest will eat up Rice for dinner.

I hope Glen shuts you all up tonite. He's been playing real well for this team the past few games and he still gets nothing but disrespect from you insolent little Texans. How about, instead of foretelling the worst, you hope for his touch to remain and for him to have a big game for this team? He's been on lately, and there is no reason to think that anyone but himself will stop that. Maybe you haven't realized, but GLen can shoot over anyone...Caron Butler, who is taller than Artest, was no obstacle, and though Artest is a better defender, he's not longer, and if Glen is dropping shots, it will be with or without Artest's mug in his face. There is nothing I'd like to see more than an old-fashioned GLen RIce, Reggie Miller shoot out. OH, and for goodness' sake get Yao some more shots.

 

Playing a 3-guard line up would be playing right into their hands. Indiana can't wait for teams top go with 3 guards so that they can upt Artest and Miller out there. I suggest we play Rice at the 3, and I'm sure he can get 12-15 points against bender or Harrington. This way, they'll be forced to play EITHER Artest OR Miller, which is good for us.

The only PG on their roster is Tinsley, and he's played mroe than anyone. Even last night, he played most (33 minutes) against the Mavs. I think Francis will TCB.

Brad Miller is a tough matchup for anyone. He frustrated Shaq with his elbowing. This will be a nice challenge for Ming.

They key to this game is to see if any of our PF's can stand up to O'Neal. I think Griffin will come up big again. With his wingspan, he can really bother O'Neal, unless he continually gets backed in. Still, an early block and jumper can do WONDERS for him. It could be the difference in winning this game.

Look for Mobley to get decent numbers on a nice percentage, and for Francis to score a bunch. Tinsley always plays better against better players so we can expect a surprise there. Rice will get his 15, and Ming will get his 15.

KT or Griffin's play vs O'Neal is the difference. If they can hold him to his average, the game is ours.

My prediction:

Eddie Griffin 22pts, 14reb, 4blk
Francis 28, 5, 5
Mobley, Ming, Rice 15 each
Bench don't play much, score 10

I expect it to be a block party though. Ming with 3, Griff with 4, Cato with 2, the rest combine for 3.

Rockets 105
Pacers 95

"Pacers Rejected"

 

I have a sick gameplan. let Norris fight with Artest and both get ejected I'm pretty sure that was the gameplan Nellie did last nite