ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Suns @ Rockets 1/15/2003

If the Rockets can stop Marbury from getting into the lane constantly, then they will have a good chance to win this one.

The Suns entire offense was based on Marbury, and he is a PG with a shooting mentality. He is very much like Francis with much better passing in the traffic. If Francis can slow him down a little, and Yao can knock him down hard a couple times when he does get pass Francis, then he will stay outside shooting for the rest of the game.

The Rockets also need to do better on defensive rebounding since Marion and Amare are big offensive rebounders. However, most of their offensive rebounds came from the havoc caused by Marbury's drive. So stop Marbury is the first priority.

On offense, the Rockets have to be flexible. If Yao is single covered, then 90%+ offense should go through him; but if he is constantly fronted like the Celtics did, then the other players need to move the ball quick, hit the open shot.

 

Good analysis, daoshi.

 

Rockets use a lot of set plays and get easy scores in first quarter, surging to a lead. Cat and SF forget what got them there again and Phoenix collapses on Yao and we die by outside shot in second quarter. Lose lead, and struggle back in fourth. If we shoot lights out and make crazy circus shots like we did versus Boston we win, if we don't we lose.

Versus Boston we did pass it around a bit in the second and then it seemed like either Rudy or the players got tired of passing it around the three point line and we started doing a lot more ISO's.

 

We need to really pass the ball around. iso's?...nope....not goona do it... they're not right for the economy, not right for the young people, and they wouldnt be prudent.

 

That's right daoshi. Beat the crap out of Starbury. He doesn't handle it well. If he leaves his feet in a crowd, facial. Get him a little banged up and he'll sulk on the perimeter, jacking. Good job for Cato, Tmo. Just whack away at him off the dribble penetration, and toss in an elbow.

 

Rockets will pull this one out in overtime... Gonna be close... Big game for us so we can carry some momentum into Friday's battle w/ LA!!

 

Rockets 98 - Suns 90

Players to Watch
Yao Ming - 24 pts 15rbs 4ast 4blks
Steve Franchise - 22pts 9rbs 8ast 3stls
Eddie Griffan - 16pts 10rbs 5blks


Suns
Stephon Marbury - 28pts 10ast 2stls
Amare Stoudmire - 10pts 12rbs
Shawn Marion - 22pts 8rbs 5ast

We'll see after the game

 

If Phoenix's Big Three all go off like they did against San Antonio yesterday, then we won't come away with a W like the spurs did. Amare was fearless against Duncan, who is an excellent one-on-one and team defender. Griff can still manage Stoudemire, but I am anticipating at least one posterized dunk by Amare.

 

SUN IS TOUGH. IT WILL BE CLOSE MATCH.
BUT I DOUBT WE CAN WIN IT.

SUN 98
ROCKET 95

 

Has anyone noticed that the Rockets win 2 and then lose 1.
We just won against the Celtics and Nuggets. I hope that this pattern is incorrect.

Check it out for yourselves:

Oct 30 Wed @ Indiana L 91-82 0-1

Nov 1 Fri @ Denver W 83-74 1-1
Nov 2 Sat Toronto W 88-76 2-1

Nov 5 Tue Seattle L 104-97 2-2

Nov 9 Sat Golden State W 111-104 3-2
Nov 12 Tue Portland W 86-83 4-2

Nov 15 Fri @ Phoenix L 88-87 4-3

Nov 17 Sun @ L.A. Lakers W 93-89 5-3
Nov 19 Tue Cleveland W 97-80 6-3

Nov 21 Thu @ Dallas L 103-90 6-4

Nov 22 Fri Washington W 93-86 7-4

Nov 24 Sun @ L.A. Clippers L 90-89 7-5 (we were gonna win)
Nov 26 Tue @ Portland L 77-71 7-6

Nov 27 Wed @ Golden State W 91-84 8-6
Nov 29 Fri @ Seattle W 83-72 9-6

Dec 1 Sun @ Sacramento L 103-84 9-7

Dec 3 Tue San Antonio W 89-75 10-7

Dec 6 Fri @ New Orleans L 98-96(OT) 10-8 (should have won)

Dec 7 Sat Philadelphia W 97-72 11-8
Dec 10 Tue Sacramento W 103-96 12-8

Dec 13 Fri @ Memphis L 114-109(OT) 12-9 (should have won)
Dec 14 Sat L.A. Clippers L 94-83 12-10

Dec 16 Mon @ Miami W 105-100(OT) 13-10
Dec 18 Wed Indiana W 95-83 14-10
Dec 20 Fri Atlanta W 101-82 15-10

Dec 21 Sat @ Minnesota L 98-86 15-11
Dec 23 Mon Utah L 96-91 15-12
Dec 27 Fri New York L 99-83 15-13

Dec 29 Sun New Orleans W 97-85 16-13
Dec 31 Tue Milwaukee W 103-80 17-13

Jan 4 Sat Golden State L 86-84 17-14

Jan 7 Tue Minnesota W 94-86 18-14
Jan 8 Wed @ Orlando W 91-81 19-14

Jan 10 Fri @ Atlanta L 84-75 19-15

Jan 11 Sat Denver W 87-85 20-15
Jan 13 Mon Boston W 101-92 21-15

 

LOL

Texas Stoke with his George Sr impression.

 

There is no way the rockets will lose to suns tonight, the cat and Mr. franchise take this game personally. rockets 102= suns 91

 

Rockets have not won more that 3 in a row. Winning today, we'll have a 3 game win streak. Rather I have them lose tonight and win on friday.

2-1, 2-1, 2-1,.......thats how it goes

 

Alright...here's my predictions for the game. Stephon and Steve will pretty much cancel each other out, but I think Stephon will have the better overall game. Cat will do well since he doesn't have a good defender (Hardaway) on him. Posey will have a double double and cause Marion to have a high-scoring, but low shooting % kind of night. EG and Mo (if he even plays) can only hope Stoudemire stops himself, because Eddie isn't strong enough, and Mo just can't play D period. If Mo isn't playing, and they play Morris at PF, forget it. Big statement for ROY for Amare. And I don't think Yao is going to have the huge game everyone expects. My reasoning is, when a team has a crappy frontcourt, they double Yao before he gets the ball, and he doesn't score much. BUT, that double team leaves other players open. If Eddie can knock down the midrange to long shots, we'll be set without a big game from Yao. If you haven't noticed, Yao seems to have his best games against the better big men in the league, because they seem to think they don't have to double team him.

And my response to the people who scream "GET YAO THE FREAKIN' BALL!"....Yao doesn't have to score. He impacts the game and gives a huge lift to the Rockets just being out there. The double team leaves a man open, so if the Rockets move the ball like I know they're capable of doing, we can get wide open, easy shots. And that's the game.

 

thanks for laughing cause I was like dammit, I should of put in there where George better ask Barbara if Isos would be prudent, so somebody would get it : D

 

Is the chatroom working today?

I tried to go there to no avail.

 

The chat server may be down.

Guys, please talk out the game aloud here. This is my only access to the real time game. Thanks a lot in advance.

 

No, Clutch says to use chat room. Look message below from Clutch.

Please use the chat room for "play-by-play" rather than the game thread.

Example: If you want to discuss in detail a play or how they're playing at the moment, that is fine with me. But I think the game thread is being way too cluttered with "Mobley scores!", "Yao turned it over!" and "yeah!!!" type posts, and that's not really what it is intended for. That's what we're doing in the game chat.

 

Cut Tino

 

Ming - Be aggressive!