ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Sixers @ Rockets 12/7/2002

How much will Yao have left in the tank for tonights game?

Here is a breakdown of his back to back games this year:

V. Denver 13 mins 2 pts 7 rebs 0 blks 2 pfs
V. Toronto 24 mins 8 pts 4 rebs 1 blks 3 pfs

V. Dallas 33 mins 30 pts 16 rebs 2 blks 4 pfs
V. Washington 32 mins 18 pts 18 rebs 4 blks 1 pfs

V. Portland 18 mins 10 pts 2 rebs 1 blk 2 pfs
V. Golden State 16mins 14 pts 3 rebs 2 blks 5 pfs

V. New Orleans 35 mins 16 pts 13 rebs 3 blks 5 pfs
V. Philadelphia ?????????????

 

Rocket will win!!!!!!

 

The one thing that I have noticed about the Rockets is that they shoot much better at home. I don't know why but there is no question that they do.

Lucky for Yao that Rudy was able to rest him the entire 2nd quarter since he will need rest for a back to back.

I predict Yao Ming will have a very solid if not exceptional game and I predict that Cat will have a big night as well. I also look for TMo to see more action tonight and maybe even start (that’s probably just wishful thinking on my part) so he can pare up against Van Horn. TMo has been playing well and has been better and much more consistent than Rice IMO.

I am hopping for Mo to finally start doing well but I am not holding my breath. I remember that it took him a couple of months to get it going when we signed him away from LAC.

Rockets win tonight 89 to 81.


BTW, I predict that we will see a starting line up of:

Yao Ming
KT
TMo
Cat
Steve

What is significant about this starting line up is that I think this is the one that Rudy T will settle on for a while. I don't think we will continue to see the revolving starting line ups now that Cat is back and it is apparent that KT is currently the best option at the 4.

 

If you look at the statistics of the back to back games, Yao seems to do better on the second game of back to back.

 

I'd actually really like to see this line-up as well. For a while there after TMo came back I didn't see anything of him that caught my eye, ala the preseason. But then again, he wasn't sucking. I think he plays solid basketball, and, think his shot/confidence is slowly returning to preseason level. Plus, he is a much better defender/rebounder than Rice. I'd liek to see how this lineup works.

As for Ming, he may be tired, but Philly doesn't seem to have as physical or active bigmen as New Orleans did last night. Plus, Yao always seems to play big in big games - not that this is big, but I'm sure he is internally saying he should have shot better last night and the team would have win - technically true, but he played great if you ask me.

Anyway, I like the score prediction as well. I'll say 87-83 Rockets.

 

So Cat's coming back this game? Can anyone confirm this to be sure?

 

Cato also needs to step up tonight and get some points which might make things a little easier for Yao.

 

Philly won't like Texas after this road trip.

Houston 105
Philly 83

First BLOW-OUT of the year.

 

Iversen-Franchise matchup! Wow and yikes... hope Stevie doesn't get drawn into a highlight reel competition and use Cat and Yao effectively.

 

Since Ming dominate the paint defensively, I haven't seen too many teams drive to the basket against Ming. Iverson drives to the basket a lot. It will be interesting to see Ming come over to block his drive.

Ming's first 5 blocks game, on Iverson's drives

 

The return of Cuttino Mobley from an ankle injury should boost the Rockets' defensive efforts which should be to deny Iverson's penetration. Mobley has been very anxious to play of late and should have a little extra motivation facing his hometown team. However, if the 76ers guard can get into the lane and create easy baskets for himself and his teammates, it will be a very long night for "Cat" and the Rockets.


http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_vs_Sixers_Preview__D-60819-34.html

The Rocket's website are doing a new type of preview to each game now. I think it's a good read for anyone interested.

 

The Sixers are absolute trash. If Ming can patrol the lane to stop Iverson's penetration and Eric Snow from getting into the middle, Todd MacCulloch is useless; his poor hands, sorry turnaround jumper and bad habit (hanging in the lane for five seconds - which isn't even called) makes him one of the most overrated centers in the league. The only question mark is the Rockets' ability to rotate on defense, because you just can't play off of a one-dimensional Van Horn with all those other perimeter threats.

The Celtics were robbed of one game at Philadelphia and very nearly robbed at home against the Sixers by the refs. Please make this a 30-point blowout.

 

Philly has very good perimeter defenders.It will be a tough test for Francis and the rest of the guards.It will be interesting to see if they can reduce the number of turnovers in this game.Philly plays hard has good rebounders,and solid role players like Mckie and Snow,AI is a handful even if he isn't shooting well.He will drive hard at Ming and try to get him into foul trouble.
Van Horn gives them another scorer,and MacCulloch is a hard worker even though he isn't a physical player,even DC is playing well.
It's not going to be a pushover.If we can shoot better, get more scoring in the paint and continue to do the right things that we did against the Hornets we can win tonight.

 

Another thing to note is that as we already know, Yao has been slowly raising his stats each game.

Right now he is number 4 in points for rookies behind Giricek, and number 2 in reb for rookies, at only .2 reb behind Gooden.

If he keeps this up, the only other rookie that will have any chance at having stats close to Yao's will be Wagner, and it seems that he is a little injury prone.

 

The thing about this game is that the Rockets have a couple of favorable matchups, and the same amount of talent, however, the Sixers aren't 15-5 for nothing--they have the kind of chemistry and the tough, veteran mentality that can pull out close games like the Rox lost last night. Hope the Rocket's develop some of that soon.

Meanwhile, Todd MacCulloch is okay but VERY slow, there is a chance that Yao might be able to feast on him.

And this I didn't realize--Eric Snow averages almost two more assists a game than Steve Francis. Will Steve Francis develop into the Gary Payton type where he can average 20+ points AND 8+ assists? Or is that not within his style of play?

 

Philly and Rox are both comin off of tough loses with teams they thought they couldve beaten, so both teams will go all out. but the rockets have a fully refreshed mobley to take apart the Philly defense,. and we have Griff, and MOt(as bad as he's been doin) to play the 4, and we got Cato pretty fresh for tonites game

 

Never. This discussion goes on and on. He's not a very good point guard in the traditional sense of point guard who has court vision and gets lots of assists. He never will be. But we're better with him at the point than anyone else, and it's no point in worrying about it.

 

rox 96
sixers-88

yao-26p 14r 3b
steve-23p 4r 6a

 

so it seems that tonight is another 30+ game for Yao (points wise). SCORES MORE IN HIS sECOND GAMES!!!