ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 1/26/2007

2nd game in the Rockets next long winning streak.

They kill the blazzzzzzzzzzzzerssssss

105
82

Tracy scores 40
Shane finds his shooting touch again and goes for 20+

 

Rockets should win this easily...I hope

Rockets win 104-86

 

41st!

31-16, here we come...

 

Here is a nice biast Trailblazer piece from the Blazers website:

link

Trail Blazers on fire, expect to light up Rockets…

By Chris Helgeson

NBA experts usually predict a 3 to 4 year learning curve for rookies to make a serious impact for their respective teams. If that’s the case, then Portland can start making reservations for an NBA championship in the next 4 years.

Ricky Davis called the Trail Blazers “roaches,” and, after giving him the benefit of the doubt, one can assume he was referring to their refuse-to-die attitude. Against the Timberwolves, Portland found themselves down by 3 points in overtime before turning away from standard practice and putting the game in the hands of two rookies and a sophomore.

Jarrett Jack, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge put in a combined effort to lead the comeback charge against the Timberwolves, sinking big shots, and hitting clutch free-throws to lead the Trail Blazers to a 101 – 98 overtime win over Minnesota.

The victory not only gave the Trail Blazers back-to-back wins, but it also showed a glimpse of the exponential talent Portland fans can expect out of their young players.

Heading into Houston, Portland should continue to expect big things out of their youth movement. The first match-up between these two teams marked the return of Brandon Roy, who was activated after suffering a heel injury that cost him 20 games.

Roy finished with 9 points and 3 rebounds in limited action, but his jumper with 19 seconds left proved to be the difference, leading Portland to an 89 – 87 victory.

In the Rose Garden, Portland was able to build solid leads and control the tempo, but the Rockets kept themselves close by riding their All-Star center, Yao Ming.

Yao finished with 34 points and 9 rebounds.

The Rockets, who were an early favorite to go deep in the playoffs, have been plagued by injuries all season. When Houston traveled to Portland, they were without Superstar Tracy McGrady, and they will be without Yao Ming on Friday.

The explosive McGrady turned in 37 points against the San Antonio Spurs, leading the Rockets to a 90 – 85 victory in their most recent contest.

Without Yao, the Trail Blazers will be able to focus their defense on containing Tracy McGrady, a task that will be left to defensive specialist Ime Udoka and Rookie of the Year favorite Brandon Roy.

Offensively, the Trail Blazers should expect big things out of Zach Randolph, who scored 24 points and grabbed 13 points against the Rockets earlier this season.

It would also be great to see Martell Webster and Sergio Rodriguez continue to attack the basket and create opportunities like they did against the Timberwolves. Webster finished with 13 points, including two highlight reel lay-ins that drew “Ooohs” and “Aaahs” from the Rose Garden crowd.

Sergio Rodriguez sparked the Trail Blazers in regulation, scoring 18 points and dishing an assist in 21 minutes of play. Sergio led all Portland scorers up until Randolph turned in 8 overtime points.

Sergio, Martell and rookie LaMarcus Aldridge should provide the boost that Portland needs to extend their winning streak to 3 games. Their high energy play off the bench provides Portland with a different look that challenges opposing teams to defend two very distinct styles of play.

It’s a good, old fashioned shoot-out in Houston! It’s worth a road trip, but if you can’t make it to Texas, catch the game on KGW or broadcast via 750am KXL. Tip-off is at 5:30PM Rose Garden time. Don’t miss a minute!

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I am curious to see who Sergio Rodriguez plays as he looks to be an interseting rook.

Rockets.com preview

link

Records: Houston (26-16), Portland (18-25)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Toyota Center
TV/Radio: FSN Houston, SportsRadio 610 AM

Injury Update: C Yao Ming (fractured bone below right knee) and G Bob Sura (knee/back) are out and G Kirk Snyder (upper respiratory infection) is questionable for the Rockets; F Darius Miles (sore right knee) is out and F Travis Outlaw (sprained ankle) is questionable for the Blazers.

Blazers Update: Brandon Roy has emerged as the favorite for the NBA's Rookie of the Year Award. Despite missing nearly a quarter of the season with an ankle injury, the 6-foot-6 guard is among the rookie leaders in nearly every major category. He leads rookies in scoring with 14.7 points, ranks fifth in rebounding at 4.3 rebounds and sits third in assists (3.0) and steals (1.27).

Projected Starting Lineup:
ROCKETS

Pos Player PPG RPG
G Rafer Alston 14.0 3.5
G Tracy McGrady 23.2 5.5
F Shane Battier 10.8 4.4
F Juwan Howard 9.3 6.2
C Dikembe Mutombo 3.1 6.6

BLAZERS

Pos Player PPG RPG
G Jarrett Jack 12.5 2.4
G Brandon Roy 14.7 4.4
F Ime Udoka 8.3 3.6
F Zach Randolph 23.6 10.3
C Joel Pryzbilla 2.0 4.0

 

that Portland article looks like it was written by a seventh grader...

 

No kidding...I thought it was the preview on a fan site before I scrolled over the link...

The Trailblazers can expect a championship in the next 4 years?

The first couple paragraphs made me LOLOL.

 

"Defensive specialist" Ime Udoka will contain T-Mac?

It's going to be a "good old-fashioned shootout" at the Toyota Center?

Hilarious. That's just gold right there.

 

Heh heh, the Blazers plane was delayed 7 hours and they didn't arrive until 10 p.m. so they couldn't practice.

http://behindblazersbeat.blogs.oregonlive.com/default.asp?item=456475

Bad start to trip for Blazers

Posted by The Oregonian Sports Desk January 25, 2007 16:38

The Trail Blazers' three-game trip got off to a rocky start Thursday when their chartered flight out of Portland International was delayed twice because of a mechanical problem to the Delta airplane that was hired.

The team was scheduled to depart from Portland at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, but after the problem was discovered the departure time was changed to 1 p.m.. That time was again pushed back to 3:30 p.m. when the airline informed the team that a new plane would have to be flown in for the team. The team didn't end up leaving until after 3:30 p.m., meaning they wouldn't arrive in Houston until sometime around 10 p.m., Texas time.

The airplane snafu meant that coach Nate McMillan had to cancel practice, which was to be held at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston. You know that had to rankle "Sarge" - who has to rank among the top of NBA coaches who loves practice.

 

Hell yeah....

Rox: 99

Blazers: 90

 

That little jem got me too, he dropped 37 on Bruce Bowen does he really believe I'm-knee-deep-in-dookie has a chance of stopping him? Give me a break, they have a better chance of holding Yao with Randolph and Prizbila.

Rockets win in a laugher.

 

hey i know this is the wrong thread for it but can somebody start a new thread for me.
the Georgetown Hoya has done a feature article about deke with some CLASSIC deke quotes from an interview they did with him. id like to post it if someone starts a thread.

 

i dont know how good of a defender udoka is but he is in the same body mold as diawara on the nuggets. diawara has had good defensive success against mcgrady because of his strength size and quickness. he isnt as tall but he is strong enough for mcgrady's postups to push him out of his comfort zone and quick enough to stay with mcgrady's first step.

but the two things that i will say diawara had that help hugely in his favor was a)camby in the paint and b) diawara was allowed to mug tmac on his post up in denying him the ball and no foul was called. some physical contact is one thing but he basically was always holding on to tmac and grabbing him with no consequence from the refs.

if that sort of contact is allowed then mcgrady will have a rough offensive night

i dont tihnk it'll be a "laugher" i dont want to underestimate any team, remember we lost to the blazers on a night where yao was unstoppable. the rest of the team brought no energy whatsoever. granted the spirit of the team seems to be a whole lot better now, but i dont think any team in the nba can be taken lightly.

tmac has generally had great games against the blazers i expect the rockets to win this one, they need to break this home losing streak of theirs.
rockets 97 blazers 89

 

WE MUST. NOT. FORGET! how the blazers screwed us over on draft night!

We hate Portland!! Barandon Roy would be playing for US right now if not for those turdbirds.

SLAUGHTER THE BLAZERS!

 

If I had a choice between Brandon Roy and Shane Battier, I'd choose Shane. We can thank the Blazers. We can REALLY thank the Blazers if Roy continues to have injury problems.

 

That guy Chris Helgeson is absolutely ridiculous...I can't wait for the Rockets to smother the Blazers...our team (as in roles players outside of Yao and T-Mac) turned the corner after the first Spurs win. I bet you Helgeson is gonna play it off and not give the Rockets their props.

POR:88
HOU:97

We're gonna finally hold our opponents from scoring 90+ points (Last one was against CHI).

 

randolph and tmac could cancel each other out but i think jack and roy could edge it for them over rafer and battier. this will be a close one.

 

Billy should play tonight. So he can go head to head with Brandon Roy, so that Billy can really claim he is the real ROY

 

I hope he shoots 1000%

 

I'm usually no quite that dismissive of any team but I have not seen Udoku shut down any significant scorers. He may have the ability to dislodge him in the paint and give him some trouble recieving the ball in the paint (ala Diawara), but there is no way he can guard him on the perimeter. The guys analysis is more laughable than anything. But I'm sensing that we are gonna close this game out early, at home bad defensive team that goes into long spurts without scoring, and a power foward who cannot block shots or get boards, I like our chances. Provided we can keep their bench from going crazy on us.

 

Per the YOYO:

"i dont tihnk it'll be a "laugher" i dont want to underestimate any team, remember we lost to the blazers on a night where yao was unstoppable. the rest of the team brought no energy whatsoever. granted the spirit of the team seems to be a whole lot better now, but i dont think any team in the nba can be taken lightly."

I agree- we need the win and I do not want us sleepwalking thru this. Hopefully JVG will talk up being prepared.