ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Raptors 3/5/2003

First

We'll win by 7. 92-85.

 

1st time first. We will win, and we must win.

 

damn it Hrock

 

rockets - 105
raptors - 90

rockets begin eight game win streak tonight.

 

Despite all the aggravations lately, I think the Rox should be able to pull this one off.

If not... I should probably tune off until next season or risk increasing my blood pressure and spouting off random curses.

 

We're going to get destroyed. Plain and simple.


Raptors..............................102

Rox......................................85



I chose not to watch last nights game, because I'm getting too frustrated. I think I'll sit this one out as well. I hope they win, but don't expect them too. The Raptors are one of the worst teams in the league. But, that's still better than the Rockets are right now.

 

Sorry dude. I'll split it with ya... we tied.

lmfao

 

Rox will win 92-86 playing ISO ball. Mobley usually goes off against the Raptors. Yao will get 18 points with only 8-9 shot attempts.

Look for them to lose the next 3-4 games tho.

 

Lose.

As usual.

Carter dunks on Ming.

Raptors 103
Rockets 94

 

We'll win.

Yao will get 20+/10+/3. And, more importantly, SF will turn his game around.

 

Raptors - 5,483,229
Rockets - 0

first shutout in NBA history

 

Don't underestimate Toronto. The reason the Raps are so low in the standings largely has to do with the fact that most of the players were injured this season. However, many players are back in uniform and healthy.

Mobley usually has strong games against Toronto and the advantage goes to Yao concerning big men since all Toronto has is a slow and aging Antonio Davis, JYD, and Michael Bradley.


Raps 98
Rockets 94

 

It should be noted that the Raptors, who prior to Carter's return had the 2nd worst record in the league, are 9-4 since, mainly against quality teams. This is not gonna be the cake-walk some are imagining due to their record...

Also, they had as many games missed to injury at the All Star break as anyone had all last year, and are probably going to set the record for games missed to injury this year.

 

Can we please freaking win?!?

I'd like to see us jump ahead early, and give Stevie some well deserved rest.

 

This game on paper looks easy for the Rockets to win, and they do tend to play better in the second game of back to backs. But their confidence level has got to be shattered right now with the uninspired play during the first three quarters of the last few games only to play catch-up ball and lose in the fourth. Eddie Griffin should either been benched when he's not doing well or playing hard (that's asking for it with Rudy at the helm) or he should practice 3 with an ARC to it. Rarely do people shoot straight-forward threes and have great success with them.

I think the "Franchise" is just in a slump right now and that he will be a great player in a few years. Unlike many, I applaud him for being like a warrior and playing with the pain, as we might've loss a few more games without him. Only thing I don't like is him tryin' to be fancy at least part of every game trying to do a "MJ" impression and do a reverse layup drive-by through three defenders. It just won't work with the Rockets predictable offense and the defense knowing EXACTLY where to go. This is why his assist-to-turnover ratio is one of the worse in the league.

Overall, I think the Rockets need to just try to improve their game plan little by little which starts when Yao Ming has the ball, players should be looking to cut through the lane or move without the ball rather than just standing at the three-point line because their offense stagnates and they can't hit an open-three point (much less a jump-shot) anyway. Another simple thing they tend to just walk the ball up the court and not really pressuring the defense to sort of "hurry up and guard them" making it even more easier for the opponent to predict and eliminate the Rockets un-impressive ISOs and unorganized offense. With the Raptors suddenly gelling with Vince Carter back, if the Rockets don't bring their best game or takes them likely (as it did happen a lot this year) then it could be another long night.

Oh, and next year, get some decent shooters. This team couldn't hit the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston last night.

 

If Rudy gets 2 T's early in the game and Steve will not play due to a bad back, will have a chance to win. Rockets 101 Raptors 100

 

Im betting all my predictions on this game....

If the Rockets beat the Raptors today, then we will make the playoffs.. If not then.. we won't be a contender!

 

Cavs, Heat, Clips, Bulls, Knicks, etc.

Will it be another loss to a bad team?

 

Rockets win only if all of the following occurs:

(1) The Rockets realize that Yao likes to pass the ball out of the post and they actually catch some of Yao's passes

(2) Eddie Griffin learns how to shoot before tonights game (man that guy has one ugly outside shot - he is definately regressing)

(3) Someone on the Rockets can consistenly bury the open 3-pointer. (Rice where are you? You should be thrown in jail for stealing the Rockets money.)

The above doesn't happen and the Rockets lose again. I agree with the previous post, if the Rockets don't win tonight then they won't make the playoffs and its a death spiral for the rest of the season. Nothing like being optimistic . . .