ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Kings 3/23/2003

I think the best way the Rockets can be in the game is that they have good perimeter defense on the 3-pt line. In the losses the Rockets had vs. the Kings, they shot an amazing percentage from the 3 pt-line. This has been the problem with them vs. other teams as well. We would need Yao to contain Divac from getting into the lane and make Webber beat us from the outside. It would make them work much harder for them to earn points. We also need to drive to the basket and get to the foul line and shoot at least a solid 85 percent from the line. This would keep us in the game and get some big people for the Kings in foul trouble. Lastly, we need Francis just to play his matured game and not trying to get caught up in Bibby's no look, flashing passes because he'll try to do the same thing to and it'll end up in some costly turnovers.

It ain't looking good for an upset. We have beat the Kings 2 out of 3, but both of our wins were on our court and we have to show if we can beat a top 4 team in the west on the road like all the other playoff teams have. Of the six losses at home the Kings have, they've all been to playoff teams (SA twice, UTA, LAL, and POR). No borderline lottery team has won there. Plus, one of those wins were without Webber but I do think we match up with them better than in the last 2 years. That team our best chance in the first round. I think we'll lose tonight 106-94, but we won't lose ground since the Lakers loss today. Laker game midweek looking real big for us.

 

Kings are on back to back. Our chances are SLIGHTLY better than normal.

We've been going to Yao a LOT recently, and if the Kings try to take that away, I'm confident Steve can give us a big game.

If any of our F's have a surprisingly good game, we'll win.

 

Hard to predict the result, surely hope our team to beat king!

Yao seems to dominate Divac very well. Divac is a good center, but just the kind Yao feels confortable to combat. Peja is a big threat, last time he is the only weapon of King.

Actually in our two wins against King, it is not because they play without Webby or Bibby. It is simply because Rox play an excellent game, distributing ball well and shooting well.

This Rox is highly unpredictable. When they do well, they can beat any team. So just pray for good performance of tonight.

 

I sure do wish we had Rudy for this game. I am not a big fan of larry's lineup of moochie steve cuttino rice(at pf) ming he goes with at the end of games. We connot stop this team on Offense. When they are at home they are capable of putting up points quickly. We just gotta hope that cuttino and ming can score consistantly and rice and MO muct play well off the bench which i know they will. FEED YAO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, the ball should run through him tonight everytime.

 

If everyone does as well (or better) in tonight's game (including the bench), the Rockets won't have a big trouble. I think Steve Francis has been doing a lot of teamwork recently. He didn't get as many points but his assists were a tremendous help. But I don't think mr. Mean should rest Yao the whole quarter, no matter which. As a matter of fact, you don't rest a player when he's doing so well. It's a sign of saying "hey, I can play, I'm not tired!"

Just my $.02

 

yeah but wasnt chris webber sitting out of both the games the rockets won? i know one for sure.

 

Yeah, I can't stand the Kings' fans w/their arrogant asses...


GO ROX -- Silent the cow-bells!

 

Rox will win. I feel an upset blowout of the Kings coming on!

 

Webber sat out our second win against them. The blowout.

 

I'm not really worried about the PG and C matchups in this game. Yao and Stevie are really playing the best of the starters on the team and I expect them to have good-great games tonight.

With that said, I am worried, as usual, about the PF-matchup. Webber is a stud foward in the West obviously, and our PF are...well, not. We get butchered by decent PFs let alone great ones. So it will be a Posey-Griffin-Taylo-Rice (I guess) effort to contain C-Webb as much as possible.

I just want to see a great effort out there from all the guys; give the team a chance to win in the fourth. If I see this, I would be happy if Rox win or lose -- of course I would much rather a win, though!

 

I just hope winning against Sacramento dosen't give this board a sense of false security that we will be able to beat them in the playoffs.
I for one still like our chances against Dallas then either Sacramento or San Antonio

 

I sure hope you're kidding man. Have you been watching the Rockets vs. Mavs games? What was their average margin of victory in the 4 wins against us this season? I know it's probably more than 15 points...I'm not sure. The point is, we got blown out every game. They handed the city of houston the rockets players' asses.

 

This season, Rockets are Mavs' b****es. Just like Lakers are Spurs'.

 

Actually! W/ the Rockets u neva know how it's gonna go! I hope they do WIN though! They have to get scoring from their Fowards! AND Eddie & Maurice HAVE to TRY to contain C-Webb! cuz u cain't really stop him since he's so strong! I hate to say it but Eddie is to thin and is no match to C-Webb!

 

I disagree. Rockets were doing pretty well against the Mavs, except for one lousy quarter in just about every single game. All four games, the Rockets took the Mavs lightly by their comments to the press about how the Mavs are weak, etc. If the Rockets were to go in against the Mavs with the right mentality, I'd feel more comfortable matching up against them, then the Kings. Also Bradley seems to have Yao's number. I get the feeling Yao gets used to being so tall and feeling comfortable thinking he can shoot over anyone he wants, but with Bradley being equal or slightly taller in his height, Yao loses his composure and gets frustrated causing Bradley to win out in the mental battle. Almost the same way, Hakeem used to get rocked by Eaton because Eaton would simply keep his hands up, and wouldn't fall for any of Hakeems large number of fakes.

 

HOPE HE HAS AN OFF NIGHT! But u know he LOVES killin the Rockets since they didnt make a push for him!

 

I agree wit u! ONE LOUSY QUARTER!

 

Why do you think anything will change in the playoffs? Why would we just suddenly stop having those "one lousy quarters"? Did you think the Rockets can just suddenly turn it on and start being consistent? I don't even think the Lakers can do that this year.

 

The Mavericks had beat the Kings 3 out of 4 last year, and then the Kings dismissed them quickly in 5 games in the second round of the playoffs' last year, so don't assume what you see how team vs. team does in the regular season because it's usually reversed come playoff time. I think if the Rockets can just play baskeball and stop running their mouths on how "bad" or "lucky" their offense is, they could win a game or two against them in the playoffs. Before this year, we pretty much owned the Mavs.

 

I won't be watching the game(and have only seen a handful since I moved on Feb. 15th), so we just might win this one.