The Jazz are pretty strong. Hopefully, we can come out with another lucky win. I am not optimistic about this one. If we win, its going to be a close one just like on opening night. Rocks 97 - 96 Jazz.
Look at it this way...wouldn't we rather lose a few games early while the team is adjusting and win the rest when we get it all together?
If Adelman puts the same guys on the floor as last yr's playoff series then we'll lose this game. Maybe he can try putting Scola on Boozer and have him go at him on the offensive end to try to draw some fouls or at least tire him out so he can't do much on offense. Then put Francis on Deron for the same reason.
If Scola or Chuck can't handle Boozer we will have to hope MJ can slow down D Williams. We have to limit one these guys to have any hopes of winning. Thing is we know they will get every call in Utah we could see early foul trouble in this game so the bench will have to show up big for us.
Maybe it's time to start James over Rafer for tougher defense. James Battier Hayes and Yao are very tough defensively. Rafer is weak on defense imo. Leaving Fisher wide open for a tied game shot is one example. And i am sure Rafer has a lot to do with Williams explosiveness in the Jazz Rockets Playoffs series as well.
Which one do you think is more important to take away? I think we should really clamp down on Boozer. If you try to double Williams, he'll find the open man too easy. Good thing is that we can probly leave Kirilenko wide open. What would you think about Shane on Williams?
This is actually a game I am hoping we get to see more of the Scola/Hayes combo. Think about it this way... we struggled because Yao couldn't guard Okur outside and Chuck and he had to switch up. Now imagine Scola guarding Okur and Chuck guarding Boozer. I think that can be a successful defensive combination. I am making a semi-educated guess here, but I am going to say that Yao plays a bit less in this game, and Scola takes Deke's minutes and some of the extra Yao minutes.
How are we going to handle Okur,in addition to Boozer and Williams? Scola/Hayes against Boozer/Milsap James/Rafer/Francis against Williams T-Mac/Battier against Okur/Kirilenko Bonzi against Brewer/Almond Yao/Deke interior defense,rebounding,shot blocking Defensive matchups are going to be hard,especially at the 4. It's going to be a very physical game.
It will be a close one. D. Williams gonna school Alston again. Hope Fransic will have some mins on court
Gotta be a tough game, really tough. The Jazz looked fantastic last night against Warriors. I care about Boozer and I really belive we can guard him well, slow him down with our 'D'. Bench should be close. Mike, Bonzi, both can score and I hope Scola will have a breakout game. Kirilenko looks a lot better, so Tracy will have tough job with him but I expect great game from our starter and I really belive we can win it. Just put McGrady on Williams. GO ROCKETS!
guys, we have to look at this in the long term. If the team can build up chemistry at early stage of the season, then I'm happy with that. The season is long and it's important to bring the game next April May June!!!!
I think the Rockets are going to get killed in this game. The Jazz are not a good match up for us, especially at a time the team is struggling to get comfortable with a new system. At home the Jazz rarely lose. Jazz by 20+. I hope I am wrong.
Not exactly encouraged by Scola. He couldn't even guard Ronny Turiaf and Chris Mihm, how do you expect him to guard Okur? Deke looks like he's a complete stiff now. He did absolutely nothing yesterday and got beasted by Andrew Bynum on several occasions. Not sure this is likely to change. Yao will probably have to play huge minutes again, at least until Scola gets it figured out and stops fouling.
This game scares me, but we are a much deeper team then we were last year. So, I have hope. Since I live in Austin, I guess I'll have to listen to it online on the radio or something - damn it sucks not getting Rockets games.
The Jazz will murder us if we turn the ball over, with the way we are trying to learn the system, I don't see us winning.
Okur is more a spot up shooter than anything else, I think Scola should be fine guarding him. He takes most of his shots outside the paint, so I doubt seriously he is going to back Scola down in the post.
Well Ronny Turiaf and Chris Mihm are known for... well... not doing anything at all, they posted up Scola, and easily got three point plays. Okur actually has some legitimate post ability. I think we just have to accept the fact that Scola is a total foul machine and a horrible defender right now and really will have lots of trouble staying on the floor. Add that to the fact that Deke looks like a stiff, I see another 40 minutes for Yao.
There is nothing scary about the Utah Jazz. The reason the Rockets lost the Playoffs series is cuz JVG's offense suck and too predictable and is going no where. We can stop the Jazz because Rockets still play great D. And because now we have explosive offense..it makes winning games easier.
There is zero chance that he is going to tinker with the starting line up at this point. The only way that could happen is if he decides to start Mike James but even that's a longshot. So look for the same group to be starting on the floor.
we dont match up well with utah at all.. i think we will be best served if we play tmac at the point for most of the game, and possibly slide james over to the 2. i say this because none of our pg's can even get close to touching williams. he is too big for james and rafer. yao cannot let okur punk him, and this goes on the refs too.. i remember in last years playoff series okur would be hanging on yao's back like a little turkish monkey... i think when that happens, yao needs to take a page outta deke's (or dream's for that matter) book and start throwin some bow's.. im really proud of yao though, he has come a lonnnng way... he just has to get his defender off of his back, because the ref's obviously dont care. if we shut down boozer, or limit his cause, we should be 2-0.
