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

It is unfortunate that the Pacers got schooled last night in Dallas. Good teams usually get tough after that.

Regardless, should be fun game tonight.



Sage,

I don't think Clutch is ready to change the name of the board yet, but maybe he'll re-consider when you hit 250 posts.

 

You must be from California, and a Dale Carnegie graduate to boot. Impressive.

 

I agree with Sane's numbers, except if you saw the last time Griffin go against O'Neal, it wasn't pretty. And given how Yao was manhandled last time by these guys (and plagued by weakside turnovers), you have to wonder if he'll be able to put up a double-double again.

O'Neal will go off for 30, The Griffin for maybe 7 (much as I root for the guy, he just isn't playing mean enough yet, and Indiana's frontline is not only mean but more athletic).

Therefore, the optimist in me will say

Rockets 90
Pacers 86

Nothing would please me more than for Griffin to be able to match O'Neal's production tonight.

And by the way folks, I don't see how playing Rice keeps Artest off the court. Couldn't they just put Artest (a steals master) on the slower Rice to strip the ball? Remember, while Rice has been shooting well of late, he has been having it stolen on his drives. If Rice plays, he should focus on getting open 3's because at his age these guys are too good to try to drive against.

 

Does anybody know why can't I find a tickets in Ticket master?

 

Rice is not exactly a player you can defend. He'll get his points off of 3's and jumpers, not drives. Artest is more of an off-the-ball scorer, so no matter who's on him, he'll get his.

What's important is to force a mismatch. If Artest isn't on Mobley, then Mobley will light it up. If he is on Mobley, then Rice may can go above his average easily against Bender or Harrington.

Their most effective line-up is this:

Miller
O'Neal
Artest
Miller
Tinsley

We have to NOT let them use that as much as possible.

O'Neal won't get 30. Griffin will get more than 10.

Here's another important note: Griffin or MoT can play SF if bender or Harrington get significant minutes there.

 

My fantasy league prediction -

Rockets 201 Pacers 199 8 OT

Yao - 77 points, 42 rebounds, 13 blocks, 10 assists, 10 steals
Francis - 53 points, 16 assists, 10 rebounds


My real prediction

Rockets 108 Pacers 103 OT

 

whats up with NBA.com doing their predictions with games now?
welll...I like their prediction...but from a game?

Rockets Blast Pacers in 989 Sports Simulation

The Pacers are the surprise -- and best -- team in the East. The Rockets, with super-rookie Yao Ming, are very much in the playoff hunt in the West . On Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, the Pacers and the Rockets will meet in Houston. We put the Pacers and the Houston to the test in 989 Sports' "NBA ShootOut" to simulate this highly anticipated matchup!
In our 989 Sports' "NBA ShootOut" simulation, we were going to feature the Indiana Pacers at the Houston Rockets.

Instead, a block party broke out.

It wasn't festive early, unless you liked defense. The Pacers blocked 10 shots in the first quarter. Unfortunately for Indiana, the Rockets found their way to the hoop often enough to notch a 117-107 win.

The two teams go at it for real when the Rockets will host the Pacers in Houston on Dec. 17 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Led by Steve Francis' 32 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, the Rockets fought back after falling behind early thanks to the Pacers' seemingly impenetrable defense.

Jamaal Tinsley heated things up on the offensive end for the Pacers, as he scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

But it was Jermaine O'Neal who provided the offensive spark throughout the game. O'Neal scored at will despite being guarded by Rockets rookie Yao Ming. O'Neal finished with 38 points and 17 boards.

Still, the Rockets were able to weather O'Neal's onslaught. Cuttino Mobley added 27 points, including 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range. And Yao, who is quickly becoming accustomed to the NBA, added 19 points and 12 boards. Yao also brought something to the block party rejecting four Pacer shots.

The Pacers, meanwhile, kept it close, cutting their fourth-quarter deficit to two at 100-98, but that's as close as they would get. The normally cold-blooded Reggie Miller misfired on two three-pointers late. Ron Artest added 21 for the Pacers.

 

I like the fact that the Rockets are going tto be on national TV tonight, but now we have to listen to Tim Hardaway try and talk which seems very difficult for him.

 

Anyone play NBA Triple Double fantasy game.

All of todays's questions are about the Rockets - Pacers game.

Here are the questions:
1. Who will score more points Steve Francis or Ron Artest and Ron Mercer together?
2. Who will have more rebounds Yao or Jermaine O'Neal?
3. Who will have more assists Cat and Mooch combined or Jamal Tinsely
4. Will Reggie Miller and Francis combine for 6 three pointers made?
5. Will six or more Pacers score in double figures?

I answered 1. Artest and Mercer 2. O'Neal 3. Tinsely 4. yes 5. no

what do y'all think?

 

We will win this game! Well at least thats what Nba 2003 shoot out says...

There are highlights on the webpage as well.
http://www.nba.com/videogames/989_pacers_rockets.html

Rockets Blast Pacers in 989 Sports Simulation

The Pacers are the surprise -- and best -- team in the East. The Rockets, with super-rookie Yao Ming, are very much in the playoff hunt in the West . On Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, the Pacers and the Rockets will meet in Houston. We put the Pacers and the Houston to the test in 989 Sports' "NBA ShootOut" to simulate this highly anticipated matchup!
In our 989 Sports' "NBA ShootOut" simulation, we were going to feature the Indiana Pacers at the Houston Rockets.

989 Sports highlights from
Pacers-Rockets simulation: 56k | 300k



E-mail photo | Buy photos


Instead, a block party broke out.

It wasn't festive early, unless you liked defense. The Pacers blocked 10 shots in the first quarter. Unfortunately for Indiana, the Rockets found their way to the hoop often enough to notch a 117-107 win.

The two teams go at it for real when the Rockets will host the Pacers in Houston on Dec. 17 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Led by Steve Francis' 32 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds, the Rockets fought back after falling behind early thanks to the Pacers' seemingly impenetrable defense.

Jamaal Tinsley heated things up on the offensive end for the Pacers, as he scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

But it was Jermaine O'Neal who provided the offensive spark throughout the game. O'Neal scored at will despite being guarded by Rockets rookie Yao Ming. O'Neal finished with 38 points and 17 boards.

Still, the Rockets were able to weather O'Neal's onslaught. Cuttino Mobley added 27 points, including 5-for-6 shooting from three-point range. And Yao, who is quickly becoming accustomed to the NBA, added 19 points and 12 boards. Yao also brought something to the block party rejecting four Pacer shots.

The Pacers, meanwhile, kept it close, cutting their fourth-quarter deficit to two at 100-98, but that's as close as they would get. The normally cold-blooded Reggie Miller misfired on two three-pointers late. Ron Artest added 21 for the Pacers.

 

I'll be at this game tonight! Hopefully the Rox will play total team ball. If we do that, the Pacers will go down.


Just so you know, I'll be sure to Noonan every shot the Pacers take. "NOONAN!!"

 

Hey Sane, great points.

Given all that we know, do you think RudyT has any surprises with our rotation?. RudyT's known to give MoT the start from time to time, albeit against weaker teams. But given Harrington and Co., would it make sense to start MoT and/or EG? And speaking of strenghts... relative to the Pacers, is our relative strength size or speed?. I see why you say that a 3 guard set might work to our disadvantage, but if that's the case, and having checked out bits of the Mavs game, what cripples the Pacer D?. Thus far, I HAD thought it was speed, but after reading Sane's post, I'm thinking maybe SIZE is a better way to go.



theSAGE

 

Im going to the game tonight as well.. I really want one of the Rockets Power Dancers Calendar

 

hey...scroll up two posts...and i have this posted already...
beat ya

 

hey...check out rudy's interview on rockets.com
its reallly really good. Rudy sounds so smart...I almost didnt recognize his voice. i didnt know he knew french...:
http://www.rockets.com

 

Tonaaaaaayyyy

If you get an EXTRA complimentary "Power Rockets Calendar", can you mail it to me?



smilinSAGE

 

Better yet...ill send you a Power Dancer!!! jk

 

They're hurt!? When'd that happen???

 

If you slow the game down, Brad Miller, O'Neal, and Aretst can REALLY slow you down. They will put the LOCK on you, and if that happens, we're doomed.

From what I've seen, we pass the ball around GREAT when both Rice and Ming are on the floor. KT's style of play may be a disadvantage this time. Although he may get "his", it may hurt our team as a whole.

This is one of few games where the opposing team has a better team, but we're at home. Yao Ming is going to attract LOTS of attention from the Pacers, and we won't win through size or speed:

Crisp, smart passing and 3-pointers must fall

If we achieve that, Pacers have 0 chance.

 

***Correction: where the opposing team has a better bench.