ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/21/2002

what do ya'll think about this, i'll take the Rockets (& over)


http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/sports/spnet/bk/index.html

Las Vegas National Basketball Association Line
As of November 21, 2002, at 12:54 PM ET
Offshore/Costa Rica Odds Courtesy of www.donbest.com


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST (11/21/2002) - CURRENT LINE AS OF 1:00 P.M.
Stardust
Start Game Team Open Current WSEX Canbet Cris CR BoDog
7:35 001 HOU
002 DAL -9.5 -9.5 -9.5 -9.5 -9.5 -9.5
Over/Under: 189 189 190.5 190 190 190

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10:05 003 POR
004 SEA -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5
Over/Under: 182 179 179 178.5 178 179

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They must be thinking Dallas 99 Houston 89.5. That's pretty realistic to me. Hopefully we will get hot and switch that around.

I think we will have to score mid to high 90's to win, and that's going to take several players in double figures.

 

vtkp99,

I'll take the Rockets and the under

Rockets 96 Dallas 90

 

I think we should start the game off my trying to get the ball to EG....this will make Dirk work on defense and hopefully wear down his legs so his shot is off or maybe even get him in foul trouble. I say 3 of the first five possesions should go through EG.

 

If you're betting against the spread or on the over/under for a Mavs/Rockets game in November, then you definitely have a gambling problem...

 

GOOD LUCK ROCKETS!!!!! man, i hope they win. They have a good chance. Which team do you think has the most pressure? It's gotta be Dallas. Protecting an unbeaten record is very tough, especially against a young team that has the confidence to beat em. The only pressure I feel in this game is for Yao. He has to play alot better than Bradley to end the media's comparison of the two. The game is also nationally televised. If Rockets win and Yao does well, what a boost for us. Hopefully, we get to see both, or one of the two. But please....don't let the Rockets lose and Yao does bad. That would be so depressing.! C'mon Rockets make us proud!

 

Good job Franz.

 

Nash is injured a bit? I didn't read anything about that. If so that could help us tremendously. SF containing Nash should be the difference in a W or an L.

 

This will be the first game of the season I get to watch. Not a better first game to see, dont you agree.

I think that the Rockets have a good chance to win. I woulnt be suprised at all. The Rockets have a lot they want to prove.

And they havent really beat good solid team this year yet. Heres to Mr. Gattis.

 

Does anyone know the line from Vegas?

 

Well, in my opinion, the Rockets have more talent, but the Mavs have a better sense of playing as a team. I think you all know that playing as a team will get you further than having talent.

That being said, these guys [rockets] have been playing together for a while, and are really just now poised to start reaping the benefits of playing together with a relatively consistent lineup. Will we actually see this team play to it's potential? I hope so...I don't think we have on any kind of a consistent basis yet, but so far this year there have been many positives.

I expect to see the rockets really show the fans what they are made of this year, and to be successful, they will have to learn that team chemistry that made our championship teams look like they were more than just "hakeem". Those teams had it, this one might, but no one has seen it yet. Not for an entire game. I do think that they have show that they CAN do it. Now let's see it really happen. Tonight is a great measuring stick of our ability to play as a team and to play some Defense. That's the only way it will happen.

I think they'll pull it off, and surprise some people tonight about the character that these guys have, but haven't always shown. Steve has control, and I think now he knows what to do...let's hope the team listens...

Rockets 95 Mavs 88

 

hey bookit, i saw them play the celtics, and the whole time they ran a 2-3 zone. And they never changed it up. I know what the hell i'm talkin about, i play the game, do you?

 

Thought y'all would like a little Mav perspective. I'll visit after the game so I can eat crow, or just ... crow.

Nash fell running by Chucky Atkins on the 9th. He was noticeably slow and deliberate against Portland and on the Cle/Bos/NJ roadtrip - he gutted out the 4th Q in NJ to beat Kidd. He said that the Chiropractor would help him out once he got back to Dallas. He looked better against the Lakers until Fisher clumsily obliterated him to end the 1st quarter. He would feel better vs the Rox had Fisher not levelled him - thank HIM if Nash is a bit deliberate tonight.

From what I've read around here, Bookit doesn't need my help, but I'll give my 2-cents on the Mavs' zone: Injuries have forced the Mavs to rely on the zone early in the season. When Raef and Popeye get healthy, we'll probably see them work on their M2M a lot more. Against Boston, I agree they ran a lot of 2-3 zone. Boston sets Pierce, Walker, Delk, McCarty and Williams around the arc - don't they lead the league in team 3-pt FGA's? The Mavs' active defensive wings worked well in the 2-3 zone at running these guys off their 3-point nests, luring them into driving into Bradley's waiting arms time after time. But, the Mavs throw several different looks at most opponents. They go 1-1-3, 1-3-1 (Najera or Dirk will run the length of the baseline), 2-3. They will switch in the middle of a set from zone to man, or vice-versa. They will give a man look on an OOB's play, then fall back into zone. They'll set up looking like the 5 spots on a dice, then match-up M2M when the offense melds into them. The Mavs' core consists of clever coachable players who run the offensive playbook with Lipizzaner Stallion-like precision and timing. These same useful traits are starting to show in their zone defense. This same versatility and coachability means a more complex defensive zone package can be utilized by the coaches. When Kobe got all selfish, the Mavs just let Adrian Griffin hound him while the rest of the defense had easy M2M assignments guarding Kobe's spectator-like teammates. (Can't blame them, why bother if he's not going to pass to you?) If Francis or Mobley get selfish, the Mavs might try something similar tonight, however Raja Bell got dinged in practice Tuesday which would hamper that scheme. I think the Mavs have more defensive looks than you give them credit for, but I can see how relying on the Boston game for your judgement might mold your particular viewpoint.

 

I will be cheering for the Rockets to win, but (dirty little secret) the Mavericks are the better team, at least at this stage of the season. Only hope of winning is that the Rockets play the best defense of the year and Ming has another career game. If the Mavericks get rolling, get a big lead, well, it could get embarassing. They play like a well-oiled machine. We are a high-octane engine running on regular. I am not conceding defeat, but I am not high on our chances of beating them tonight. BUT, what an opportunity to make a statement. I think Ming likes primetime and will show up big. (hey, he will show up big no matter how he plays!)

 

Don't forget it is a t 6:30 pm. I can't pin point the year, ;but this is looking like "deja vu all over to me". I remember when the Rockets won a game like this early in the year they weren't supposed to win (I just can't remember when. It might have even been against the Mavericks) and it was the beginning of a long and surprising win streak.

I think it will be close. Only a blow out will temporarily derail the Rockets as they improve game to game.

 

Oh please let the Rockets win!

I live in Dallas and am so tired of hearing this guy that calls himself Fish on Fox Sports 1190 talk about how GREAT the Mavericks. I would much rather hear him complain how bad the Cowboys are that is more fun.

 

Franz Kafka
#6 sounds like excuses for a loss....

 

Rockets 101
Mavs 100

It's the clash of the titans tonite, along with The Kiss ...

Even though I hope Nash will do well (since I am a Canadian), however I want Yao Ming to get an edge over Bradley (I am a Chinese as well)...

This will be one of the most entertaining games of the entire NBA season!!

 

OK, national game. Lots of attention. Just a 'W', please.

And, let's give a push for Steve Francis, for Team USA!

 

Obvious hopes:
Nash will have a good game no matter what, just hope he doesnt have a great one. Foul trouble and bad shooting night for Dirk would help rocks bigtime. and same for Finely...
NOW that i have made a pointless post...i am going to grab some dinner.
GO ROCKS, dont get embarrassed on national tv, hope ming rules!