ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Magic 1/8/2003

I really don't care how many McGrady scores as long as the stiffs like Garrity, Armstrong,Kemp and DeClerk don't get more than their avg. If McGrady gets 50 and noone esle gets their avg, the Rockets will win, but if McGrady gets 30,Miller gets 20 and a stiff like Garrity or Armstrong get close to 20, we'll get our ass whipped.

Ming should dominate, but he's been a little tired lately, so we don't know.

 

Did you notice that Ming played greatly reduced minutes against the T-Wolves? I think R.T. was getting Ming ready to have a field day against Orlando. Yao, if you read this, please give us a 40 point, 20 rebound, 5 assist, 2 block game. Thank you in advance. Thank you very much.

 

In my second consecutive attempt at reverse psychology ( got pretty close to exact last time), Orlando by 3.

 

Question for orateam:

Do you know any good Magic fan forum, like clutchcity.net? Just want to see what Magic fans think about this game. I used to visit Magic forum at fanhome.com, but now seems nobody post there any more.

BTW, thanks for the nice scouting report.

Dr Q

 

Rockets will win! If Rudy knows how to put 5 guys in the fourth quarter. Last night against Twolves, Francis was fouled out, didn't see Yao until last 3min. (4th quarter). Why can't he use other guys like Boki, Hawkins or Morris not Moochie(didn't do much but turned the ball over last night and still playing for longer minutes) Rudy, wake up man! you are a coach not a Fan of Moochie.

 

ROCKETS2K,

yes, TMac is a 2 guard. But while he can take most 2 guards off the dribble he has long arms, is 6'9 and can post up really well. Posey will not do much to him. I've seen him take apart better defenders like Pierce, and Kobe. Mcgrady is the soul of the magic.

I've not seen the magic lose when Tmac is posting up. Most teams have a big athletic guy they can throw at him to slow him good. The best at it (by Tmac's words) were Garnett (7'), Camby (7') and Turkgloglu (6'11)

He was able to drive by Novitzki, Duncan and other big men, but has trouble with guys like P.J. Brown, Rasheed, and Kenyon Martin.

Basically his kryptonite is 6-9 to 7' guy who is a leaper. Mcgrady jumps so high for his shot that big guys like novitski, duncan, and sabonis have no shot at stopping it. So Posey is unlikely to affect his shot. Hell if Kobe couldn't slow him down (scored 38 in 1 game and 23 in 21 mins before getting hurt in the other game), I doubt Posey will do anything.

No, to stop Tmac, you'll need a Griffin, or Taylor. I know it sucks to waste a power forward on a guard but at least your PF doesn't have to worry about defeding the magic PF's. I just think Griffin lacks the experience and the rep (for the refs) to guard Tmac.

 

The Magic forum i'm part of is on delphi:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/magicjam/start

it's called magicjam.

 

orateam .....you said that the best guy to put on T Mac is Mo Taylor? Best for which team?

He had a good game and all last night but if he is guarding T Mac, we can kiss the baby.

 

Thanks.

Dr Q

 

I believe we need to just TMac do his thing since he's going to get his no matter what and just contain the rest of the magic yahoos on the team. Since the race from 3rd to 8th seed is so tight, we need to win these games against good teams and especially the games against sub-par .500 teams. I just can't fathom why we have lost so many games to sub-par .500 teams. Hope it doesn't come back to haunt us in April!

 

fyi...Grant Hill has been ruled out of tonight's game

 

ok orateam,
I can accept that. I'm curious tho..most of his offense are jumpshots? If so, then more than likely RT will go ahead and play one of our defensive specialists...(Hawk,Posey) on him and let him get what he can..
If he depends on driving alot, I think you are undervalueing Poseys ablilty to stay in front of his man.

Either way, like lee said...we should just make sure that the role players don't go off on us..

Key to the game...
Since Hill is out of the mix, that means the Rox should just let Tmac get his and stop the others from exploding on us.
Keep up the good passing and field goal percentage from last night, and pray Yao snaps out of his slump..if he does and we stop the role-players...

Rox win..

 

Tonights game is one of those games that you need to have to start long winning streaks....home win...road back to back...then a succession of winnable home games again.

Hopefully Yao can start sticking those close range shots again and Taylor stays hot.

Rockets 96

Magic 90

 

The only two players I am worried about for tonights game is ...



Mike Miller and Pat Garrity


Im not worried about T-Mac cuz everyone should know he doesn't take no prisoners and he would rip you up night in and night out. Thats a given. But Mike Miller and Pat Garrity, if those two play they way they should and have a nice game going, then it can bring the Magics over the top and fill the puzzle in place.


As for the Rockets, im hoping we can have a good 3rd quarter on Orlandos Home Court. If we can play good defense inside then we should have a win!


Players that I have a good feeling about:::::


Kelvin Cato

 

is this the game where we wear our retro jerseys?!?

 

Well, we will just wait and see what happens tonight.
I live in Orlando and wouldn't miss this game for the world.
GO ROCKETS

 

Houston and Orlando have similar records but Orlando has had to battle through more serious injuries.

I think Orlando is a better team right now but think Houston will be a better team by the end of the season. I see good things for Taylor (who looks hungry), Griffin, Yao and Francis. I think Mobely will be a problem though. I think Mobely could change his game for the benefit of the team and become a strictly pass first shoot second kind of guy but doubt he will. Either way I expect Houston to be 4th or 5th in the final standings.

Depending on the frontcourts growth, this team could go far. Tonight is a big game becuase on paper Houston has the better frontcourt by far, and the backcourt is just slighty behind the magic's frontcourt of potential TMac/GHill. I think that if the frontcourt of Houston does not dominate Miller/Garrity/Kemp, then Houston truly has a chemistry problem that's needs fixing.

We are now nearly half way through the season, Houston can't afford to wait and 'gel' so that Mobely, Francis, and Rice learn to trust Yao. If they wait much longer, they'll end up with a spot on the playoff alright but it'll be against Dallas or Sacramento away.

I have a good feeling they will gel, i just hope it happens tomorrow.

Keep shooting stevie!

 

wow, just saw Hill a no go.

This makes this game even in my book.

The correct strategy then should be to just double Tmac everywhere. I don't believe in letting Tmac get all he wants. Magic don't lose once he get's hot. A bad game for him and he shoots for 28. What Houston needs to do is keep the LANE closed. If Tmac gets his points in the middle, he'll start kicking out. Garrity will burn Houston if Tmac drives to the hole, that is just clockwork.

If the lane is closed, Tmac will pop and make alot, possible get a big lead but then he will sit and every team so far has mauled the Magic when Tmac sits. You see, when Tmac is popping from outside, he's usually working hard to get inside (his 1st instinct) and not getting it. He'll keep working it and tire out. when the Magic bench tries to hold the lead, they fold. Garrity can't make his own shot and Miller has only carried the Magic once this season.

And no I don't give Posey a realistic shot at guarding him. Like I said, I've yet to see a guy under 6'9 stop Tmac. Tmac is real strong. But with Hill out, it's a moot point. Either guard the lane and against being posted up or probably lose. And for god's sake, guard Garrity only when he's standing around the 3pt line. He's always floating down low and I've yet to see him score down low. He usually just picks off other people's defender.

 

Message to Rudy T.

Please dont put Glenn Rice or Cuttino Mobley on the court together anymore, and dont put Rice on TMAC.

Please start:
Francis
Posey
Rice
Griffin
Yao

Lets see how good a defender Posey really is. I too think that Posey will be able to stay b/w TMAC and the goal. Not stop him, but slow him down a bit, at least contest his shots. That should be enought to win. We should win the matchup at every other position or at least hold even.

 

Nice article on the festivities tonight in Orlando. I have a skybox seat so I won't miss any of it!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...n08,0,2355957.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines