ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 1/17/2003

Yao Ming has hit the rookie wall, his knee is hurt, he is coming off of a bad game and is playing against the most dominating big man of the last decade. Of course I think Yao Ming will have a very big game! He has stepped up to the plate every time he has been given a new challenge. His adrenaline will be high and I think his energy level will also be high tonight.

The Rockets win:
Houston 98
L.A. 91

 

I think Yao will have problems staying out of foul trouble given Shaq's propensity to be a fat b****.

 

Too much coverage on yao v shaq, i've seen about 5 different articles from different sites just on that issue.. i'm thinking kobe will hit 35-40 points but houston will still win.. if shaq does start dominating ming.. rudy might think about using cato and ming.. oh hopefully francis keeps improving his assist count..

 

Am I allowed to say b****? If not, whoops. Kobe will hopefully get stuck in traffic and not be able to make it to the game, because he's playing really good right now.

 

Drain the lakes, shut down shark, close up Coby. Let our rocket launch! It is going to be a tough game, but we will win! 108 vs. 95. Let's rocket!

 

It's impressive to see the excitement this game is generating...given that it's a middle of the year game with one team that would not even make the playoffs if they had started today...

I can't remember that much excitement at Compaq within the last 5 years...

 

we WILL LOSE...we only won by 4 or was it 6? points without Shaq the last time in LA......i hate to admit it..but i know it's the truth..BUT there's always the "expect the unexpected" haha ha ha..go rockets !!!

 

GAME TIME! I AM *SSSSOOOOO* READY!

 

you guys really think we can win this match. NO WAY!!!! Laker is rising now!!! Very hard for me to imagine we can win it. I will be happy if i watch a good match even in the end we lost.

ONE THING, NO MATTER WHAT, DON'T LET THME DESTROY US!!!

 

Posey and Cato are key in this game, imo. Cato has been a different player this year and he needs to play more minutes tonight and bring it to Shaq... body him up and use his fouls wisely. Spell Yao, who I hope can rise above the "wall" he's hit recently.

Rudy should put Posey on Kobe and let him shine with what he does best... D. If Mobes and Steve have good games, I think we win. Definitely the biggest game of the year. And a big test for Rudy.

Rockets by 3.

 

Rocket will mostl like win this game. Francies and Mobley has been playing extemely well for last a few games, and Ming's number has been down. As long as Ming hold 10 point, 8 rebound, 4 blocks, 2 assists, and Francies, Mobley hold their number, Lake wil lose.

 

Put Shaq to FT line is the best choice, we need to fully utilize Cato in this game, see Lakers doesn't have a decent back-up center. Plus force Shaq into foul trouble, and it is time for Yao to teach Shaq how to shoot FT.

While I think the Franchise and Kobe will be the key factors to this game, not Shaq and Yao, who scores and dishes more will decide the game.

Go Rockets! 95-92!

 

yeah...lets hope Yao can hit his free throws tonight...and the boards...
I hope the wall breaks tonight...or....it's CATO TIME...

 

Yao will show up his A+ game like he did against the Spurs. Shaq will hesitate his inside game against Yao, he is not as quick as Studemire. Rockets win 104=Lakers 97

 

I love Yao, but I will be surprised if he scores over five points, and Shaq scores under 35.


Boy, I wish Vegas gave out spreads like this. I'll BET anything neither of your predictions happen. Shaq will win, but not by more than 40 points.

 

The first sentence was by a different poster, I might add.

 

Yao must play smart offensively.

Steve and Cat need to bring their brains to the game and play their A games.

Cato should spend some time on the chump.

Hawkins, Posey and Cat should all spend time guarding kobe.

Griff needs to hit open shots and help from the weakside.

Come on Rocks let's win this one! This is the best prep for the playoffs we can get. Steve should step it up.

 

I'm a little surprised by the bettting activity so far on this game. The Lakers opened up as a 3 to 3.5 point favorite, now the line has moved to Lakers as a 4.5 point favorite on most books. The Rockets have historically played the Lakers very well and the Rockets have been very strong at home this season (while the Lakers have been atrocious on the road). I'm thinking about putting some serious cash on the Rox tonight.

 

EVERYBODY here in Manila (a few thousand miles below China) is psyched for this game. ESPN tv ads of the game repeat on every ad break. SportsCenter Asia has been talking about the game everyday for the past week. This is it. Yao Ming's money game.

Sadly, I too am pessimistic. Yao is gonna get bowled. Shaq is NOT taking the All-Star vote results lightly, I'm sure of it. He'll probably score 40pts more or less, and Kobe will let him.

I'm not saying, though, that we will lose, because I'm thinking we won't. Home court advantage will definitely be great, and the fact that we play extra-well against good teams is a sign that we don't choke under pressure. (We only lose to bad teams because of over-confidence.)

I don't do score predictions.

Go ROX! Hundreds of millions will be rooting for you. Good luck!

 

Good thing the books here are closed already. I laid down some cash on the Rox (+3.5) too.