ClutchFans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 3/16/2008

let's make a 98-0 streak wins nect season, stay healthy rocket.hahahaha

 

do you think Adelman would get upset if
everyone in the crowd just starts wearing Monocles at home games!

Rocket River
LMAO

 

here one of there forums in the web site

"what are those@$#@$@# celebrating for??????????? Beating the best team in the league without their twin towers?????????????????"

 

man boston and hornets are b2b. hopefully we'll do well on tuesday so tmac only plays 35-36 mins.

 

Dont need to bring all their negativity into this forum.

 

Typical LA fans emphasizing the absence of gasol and bynum. Wake up fellas, where's our yao and landry?

 

This is Awesome!!
T w e n t y - TWO!!!!
Bring on the Celtics next

 

at the end when tmac went out he turn to coach and said "i'm tired man" ..coach gave tmac a day off yesterday but he still showed up to practice, he just trying to make a show, I would rather him stay home get rested and show up AT THE GAME ..for god sake, if coach give him a day off tomorrow he better take it off, and show up at the game agianst Boston

 

Drexler should have wore his #22 Retro jersey on stand on top of the announcer's table. Place would have been off the roof if Hakeem would join him.

 

Matchups Key To Houston's Championship Hopes
By Tim Legler
ESPN.com
(Archive)

The Houston Rockets elicit more questions than answers these days. Twenty-one straight wins? Take it in for a moment and try to digest it. I'll say it again with emphasis. The Houston Rockets have won 21 consecutive games? The number is hard to imagine for any team in any era, but for this particular group it is almost unfathomable. I mean, for the past nine games of the streak we are talking about Tracy McGrady and a bunch of solid role players. This isn't a team that, on paper, should be able to keep its head above water without Yao Ming, much less dominate the entire league for a six-week stretch.


Is it luck? A weak schedule? A bunch of guys collectively playing over their heads? If you buy into any of those theories, you would be wrong on all accounts. The truth is that this team is doing every tangible thing on the court that equates to winning basketball. Furthermore, those skeptics who believe the Rockets will fade down the stretch and get bounced in the first round regardless of their seeding may be eating their words six weeks from now. This team can win in the postseason if it gets the right matchup. In that regard, the Rockets are no different than any of the other Western Conference teams.

There is always luck associated with winning. But this Rockets team creates winning opportunities by valuing every possession. Simply put, they are the best overall defensive team in the NBA. The numbers back that up, but they don't tell the entire story. Houston ranks fourth in points allowed, second in defensive field goal percentage and first in overall rebounding percentage. It is the stratosphere in which Boston, Detroit and San Antonio reside, three teams on the short list of title contenders. The Rockets are the best defensive team in the league because they contest every shot. They never give up on screens. They trap and rotate better than everyone else. They help on penetration. In short, they are relentlessly competitive. They have held opponents to fewer than 100 points 18 times during the streak.

Still not convinced the Rockets are legit? Wondering about that schedule? I will concede that they haven't faced a proportionately high number of elite teams during the streak. But they have beaten Cleveland (twice), New Orleans (twice), Dallas on the road and the Denver Nuggets. During the streak they have only played six games against teams that have no shot at the postseason. The Rockets have also crushed the bottom-feeders with a double-digit point differential. There have been no letdowns. The schedule will be significantly more difficult starting Sunday with a home date with the Lakers (ABC, 3:30 ET). That will be followed by a matchup with Boston and a three game trip to New Orleans, Golden State and Phoenix. We certainly will know a lot more about the Rockets a week and a half from now.

Next question. How are they scoring enough points with this lineup? First of all, they have an offensive weapon in McGrady who is as talented as any other player in the NBA. The Rockets use him as the primary playmaker, which allows him to score, create, or occupy defenders in order to give their role players the opportunity to make an impact. To McGrady's credit, he hasn't forced the issue or felt the need to put up huge numbers in Yao's absence. He trusts his teammates and they are coming through in a big way.


Luis Scola is suddenly pushing Kevin Durant for rookie of the year honors. He has averaged 12 points and seven rebounds after being inserted into the starting lineup at the beginning of the streak. Rafer Alston is having the best season of his career. Others have also chipped in with timely scoring. It doesn't matter to Rick Adelman who scores. The way they play D, the Rockets only need to get to 90 every night. With McGrady at the helm, that hasn't been a problem.

With that said, can the Houston Rockets actually do some damage in the playoffs? The answer is yes, if they get paired up with Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State or Phoenix.

As far as the Spurs, Lakers and Jazz go, each of these teams has the necessary combination of talent, scoring balance, discipline, defensive impact and coaching prowess to take care of business against the Rockets. Those teams won't beat themselves and that is a big part of what the Rockets have relied upon during the streak.

The Rockets are a serious threat in the West. They are an underdog, without a doubt. But they win because they understand what it takes to succeed. The final chapter on this team won't be written until the postseason run is completed. For now, just sit back and enjoy the show.

ESPN analyst Tim Legler is a regular contributor to the Daily Dime.

 

Kobe will have the fresh scent in his nostrils of Shane Battier's palms for weeks.

 

Ha, how about the guy laughing at us for celebrating even though we beat them with out their "Twin Towers"...funny he did not mention Yao, or Landry not playing..

 

"the zebras are screwing us.......koby's vagina just got fouled......call a timeout! callup dick bavetta!! where's kareeeem!!!"

 

yep ahahaha

 

I saw Dream on courtside. Dream, runs and exercises 4 weeks, and be ready for 10-15 minutes a game for playoff, and get your third ring, Dream!

 

Linda Cohn can bite me.

 

WOW....another great win and I probably enjoyed this game more then any other because of the streak, taking over #1 in the west, and finally seeing the rockets in HD. Also, with T-mac not having a good game, other guys seem to always step up, with Shane's great defense and the PG play from bobby and rafer was terrific. Just an unbelievable run!

 

You are being so disingenuous! You have a long history of bashing McGrady on this board. You have called his character into question over and over again. Here you are posing as an oh-so concerned fan. I wish you knew how to let it go. We don't need any Raptors fans around. Stay off our bandwagon.

 

I don't why, but just feel empty....

 

Claps hand