ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Hawks @ Rockets 12/20/2002

Very important game, the kind of game that the Rocks have had trouble with all year (right after a big win, on paper the matchups are in their favor across the board).

Very important to get out to a good start, and maintain the momentum (i.e. don't start dribbling the air out of the ball when the inside game is clicking, keep pounding away).

The Hawks are a good team, but the Rocks are better. They should win by 10-12, which means they'll probably win by 2 in OT.

 

It's funny because i believe that at the beginning of the season people were saying exactly the opposite...our record wasn't too bad but all we heard was that we beat crappy teams and had not played any of the good ones yet....

 

Rox will win it. Neither Rahim nor Robinson is a good defender.
We need to have MoT and Rice to step up attacking them, which
will slow down their offensive game.

 

I agree Dave that Dion's defense is awful. But didn't Kruger often sub in Glover on defense for Terry in late game situations. I guess that says something about Terry's D. He was such a good defender at AU, a Juan Dixon type. A very strange turnaround.

 

Here again, rockets has wining streak 2 and faces a crappy team. Rockets really need to get this one break the winning streak wall, and run wild from then on like 7-0 or some thing. This young rockets team needs to be well above the .500 mark before the last 10 or 15 games of the regular season. The rockets is not utah, it is not safe to just hang around .500 for them. So they cant afford to win a couple then lose a couple all season long.

Rox 98
Hawk 81

 

OK, I'm changing my original prediction from "The Rockets won't beat a good team all season" to "The Rockets won't win three games in a row all season"...

Hawks 120
Rockets 72

 

On page One there was a suggestion of that Glen Rice would be guarding Big Dog Robinson. Rice doesn't stand a chance of even containing him.Rice should play limited time and be used for his offence.

 

Terry is overworked and I fear, used for things that don't make him a better player. I think he'd have been better off not being turned into a scoring machine but the lack of talent on the Hawks forced his hand.

If the Hawks get more talent and have a chance to rest Terry, maybe the all-round game will reemerge. Hopefully, *after* the Rocks play them.

Dave.

 

Hawks 118
Rockets 102

I worry about this game because Hakeem always has trouble against Jon Konkac. Thorpe vs. Willis will be a wash, but Wilkins will light us up for 40+......what? It isn't 1990? Rockets in a blowout 108-89.

 

This is just reverse psychology, right? I think we could suffer a let down like we have in the past. But this time I think Yao puts us over the hump and we win 98-90, as long as Rudy T doesn't forget about him. Also, Posey plays ten minutes, and Cat isn't cold like last game.

I think some of us fans won't be happy until the Rocks repeat that 15-0 start of that championship season, and then we'll be saying, we barely beat that lousy team the whatevers, Hakeem and Horry and Smith and Maxwell would have walked all over them...

 

Don't forget OT!!!!

 

The Hawk and Posey must take turns on Glen Robinson. If they can hold him to about 15 and Eddie can keep pace with Raheef (or whatever his name is), then we stand a chance. Jason Terry will light up the night sky on Steve, but we can stand that as long as their other two scorers are bolted to the floor. Ratliff doesn't (or shouldn't) stand a chance against Yao Ming. Rockets by 5.

 

Atlanta has no defesne so scoring shouldn't be a problem. Dump the ball to Ming he'll definitely destroy Atlanta, even with Theo Ratliff. All streaks come to an end, and the Rockets will finally win their 3rd game in a row. And they should do it convincingly.

Rockets: 95
Hawks: 82

 

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Rockets have a 20 point lead at some point in the game, but they'll let up a bit and then put the Hawks away.

 

rox 101
hawks 88


yao 22points 13 rebounds 4 blocks
steve 25 points 6 assists 6 rebounds

 

Well I sure hope they show up and play well, cause I am going to the game. It is very rare to get tickets from work (The three Directors love the Rockets) but low and behold today is my lucky day, along with three co-workers. The seats are great Row106 seat 5,6,7,8. I will be screaming my head off.

I am not even going to make a prediction.

Lets just play well and the rest will take care of its self.

 

If the Rockets play ANY sort of defense AT ALL, they'll win this.

Scoring is not a problem when you have Francis, Ming, and Mobley.

Don't get into a scoring duel. Resist the temptation. Atlanta can score with ANYONE. The key, is to keep them grounded with some PRESSURE defense.

I know we can do it. Please Rockets, let's see a real winning streak.

 

I haven't had a chance to see much of Posey play but I here he's pretty good defensively and likes to get up and down the court, but does anyone no how good of a shooter he is?

 

As long as we defend the perimeter against Terry and Robinson and rebound as a team, we will be fine.

I can't wait to see Posey go up againt Abdur-Rahim.

 

OT was the man. Too bad we had to trade him.

Yet another cutesy title for a news story (not repeated in total below):

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/sports/hawks/1202/20hawks.html


For Rockets, future is Yao

By JEFFREY DENBERG
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

Houston -- Yao, as in wow.