ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 1/19/2004

Houston 95

Memphis 87

 

Keep the ball out of Gasol's hands!!!!!!!!!

Rox 92

Grizzled 84

 

Rox win by 15.

New England Patriots win the superbowl by 20. Carolina panther gets embarrassed on national TV because they're such cheap shot taker the only thing they can do is try to hurt NE QB.

 

Just went to look at the Grizz team stats. Not only do they have 6 players averaging double digits, but they have EIGHT players averaging over 9 points per game.

I haven't seen them play this year, but that sounds like a pretty balanced offense to me.

I think this will be a good test of our team defense. We've done a good job during this mini-streak of taking other teams' top scorers out of the game; let's see how we do when we have to lock down everyone on the floor.

Should be a really good game.

Man, remember when Pau was a secret, and it looked like the Rockets might be able to swing a deal to nab him around the 9 or 10 spot ...

 

I also think the Grizzlies will be very tough to beat. They are tall, athletic,can pass the ball much better than us and because of their depth can come in waves. Most players need a lot of minutes to be effective but Hubie Brown has done a very good job with his rotation. They are also much better than us when it comes to closing games and have a psychological edge over us because they have already beaten us and are also at home.
Grizzlies 96
Rockets 81

 

Jason Williams scores 28 points and has 8 assists

 

No, he is cold recently. Beware of James Posey and Bonzi Wells.

 

rockbox, you forgot to start a SF needs to be traded and a we need jason williams thread.....

 

rockets win 94 - 78

yao will give some elbows hope to put one tech in the paint in a dunk,a block or something, *he beat garnett now memphis*.

i think yao are learning to play hard now how you see in the foto
vs garnett hiting them in the soft parts and the game vs minnesota our team are getting back to the old and new days
thats mean all are getting in shape and doing well hope that still

the last teams houston have metting have't made more than 80 points good D will bring us the W

 

I will like to say W, but my gut is against my wish.

 

Matchups:

Yao Lorenzen - Yao Should Control this matchup though Wright is a big body and i'm sure will get Lots of help b/c Posey/Gasol and Battier are great help defenders.
Mo/Cato Pau - We may get killed here if we play Cato much b/c there is no way he can stay with Gasol. He's too quick laterally and with cato out there Pau can double in on Yao and is quick enough to get back out. I think Padgett might get some minutes as well.
JJ Posey - I like JJ better b/c he has a more consistent shot, but Posey is great at playing the passing lanes and I expect him to snag a few steals off of Cat/Francis passes and maybe a strip of Yao as well.
Mobley Battier - Cuttino is too quick for Battier, but Battier is MUCH stronger and could actually post him up inside.
Francis Williams* - I'm not sure if Williams is playing or not!! But i think we are going to need points from Francis b/c this team has been putting up numbers like crazy


Bench:

Houston - Mo/Nachbar/Piatkowski/ Padgett

Memphis - Bonzi/ Swift/ Miller

I think they might have a more well rounded bench, but we have more dominance in a few positions. I think the key is limiting turnovers and being careful b/c guys like Pau, Posey and Battier are great at playing the passing lanes. Hubie's strategy is to play many players so they are going to be RUNNING like crazy.

We have to control the tempo and make good passes to get good shots. They have gunners from the outside also, so we must keep defenses honest by staying on our man and not doubling or trying to hard to get turnovers.

 

Memphis had our number in our last game (last one I can remember). Although I believe the Rockets can pull a win out of this one.

I doubted we would win against the T-Wolves (I really wanted us to win though), so now I will say...we will WIN.

Rox by 8.

86-78

 

Tough game with Yao be swarmed and Steve being pressured right from the outset. Of course, that means the other guys may get shots. If I were coaching the opposing defense, I'd never guard Cato aside from preventing from getting an alley-oop. I'd just keep the defender on Yao. Hubie Brown is smart. He will attack the Rockets' weaknesses which is the inability to score without Yao involved and the inability to pass the ball under pressure. If it's a close game in the final minutes, I do not trust the point guard to make right decisions in pressure situations.

 

Keep Yao moving around, so that the defense is confused as to how they need to defend him. Padgett should play today since the Grizzlies do not have a strong power forward. Steve must be able to break the Grizzlies' press.

 

We didn't lose to the Lakers by 10+ (won on X-mas) and only lost to Sac ONCE. Minnesota and Phoenix were the other 2 teams.

 

Basketball is about matchups and I really think advantage goes to Memphis tonight. They're gonna trap us and force a lot of turnovers and score on the outside against Yao and Cato. Rockets lose, although this game may be closer than the last one.

 

I like the Rox here, a revenge game...Another nationally televised game (TNT)...

Wed. vs. NY is on ESPN2...

Fri. vs. Pacers is on ESPN

Wed. vs. Kings in on ESPN...

Great exposure if we win...

Rox: 95
Griz: 88

 

yao has another 20 and 10 performance. anchors the defense. cato hits another 12 foot bank shot. steve gets 10 assists along with 17 pts and flrits with a tridub with 8 boards. cat is cat and gets 19 pts. boki posterizes pau, mjax gets a couple assists in very limited minutes

 

They lost last time 79-71 so if the offense can show up and we still play good D we have a real chance to distance from them. They are 6-1 in January... it ain't going to be easy.

 

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