ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 4/23/2005 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 1)

I know im nervous just because of years of let down by the Houston Rockets but this team feels different, we have the smartest coach in the game and that feels great just this team has got to keep it up.

 

El Toro...thanks for the press conference. One of those T-Mac quotes is going in my sig.

I knew this team had that kind of performance in them, and I know they are capable of going deep into the playoffs...

but I was still not sure that they would show up the way they did, being their first playoff game together. I think the players as well as the fans now have ultimate confidence in themselves that they can win this series. Their really isn't much of a buzz in the city though. Even last year their was more than this with a less capable team...I expect by the end of this round though there will be a lot of buzz, even more than what their was during the Astros postseason run.

As far as Dirk goes, I really haven't payed that close of attention to him throughout his years in the playoffs, but it just seems that he is very tentative and lacks a killer instinct. Perhaps that has something to do with him being from a different culture...I really expected him to bring it more than he did today (which I'm sure he will get better as the series goes on). I know Finley used to be one of the guys that came up big for them, but he seems to be on the downside of his career. I'm beginning to think that they were better off with Nash.

I think Cuban will be regretting throwing Avery into the head coaching position before too long. The guy has been an assistant for a year, and Cuban thinks he is ready to be a head coach? I know point guards are ideal coaches...but maybe he needed more time to learn from the sidelines.

But back to the Rockets now...we MUST have Yao contributing more to win the series. We can't expect Mcgrady to hit such ridiculously stupid (yet great) shots the whole game. And finally...Ryan Bowen is going to be a Houston hero by the end of this series (or at least a Clutchfans hero)

 

Somebody mentioned earlier that JVG called the refs out in post-game press conference. Would someone please recap it for us? Thanks a lot.

 

We completely rocked the Mavs, and it's easy to see past them. Heck, it's easy to see past the Suns, with the reserves we have.

Bottom line is, we won't get past the Spurs with Yao playing the way he is. When is is agressive, assertive and confident, he gets the fouls. When he plays his typical unassertive stuff, he is at best an above-average center, and dosen't get the love he deserves. A man takes what he wants in the NBA and the Western world. Yao needs to learn this lesson. We have seen him shine in this, but it needs to become his staple game. Yao has the skills to be a champion even without T-Mac, but not without the attitude.

J

 

I'm glad I didn't go in expecting anything from Yao today in my recipe for a win.

If you're Dallas, why would you not play Dirk at the 5? It's not like Yao will do anything. I would play Dirk, Stackhouse, Finley, Howard, and Terry together.

 

Im soo HAPPPPPPPPPY!

T-Mac came out with somthing to prove to all the haters out there who said he dosn't play a team game. I dont know about what u guys think but i saw a guy go out there and play with passion and heart which helped his team get the WIN!

Yao could have been affective but he was in foul trouble so im not worried. I only get worried when Yao is playing and he is sluggish. & even if he is who cares we got Deke! He is UNSTOPABLE. Great great D but the Rockets thats what helps you win games in the playoffs.

Once again Im so HAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPY!!!!

 

Well, I'd like to believe that Yao would be more succesful with Dirk on him than Dampier...if not offensively at least on the boards. It also opens up the likelyhood that Dirk would get in foul trouble, since he would be under the basket more during the game.

 

I think in that scenario Yao would have some success, but it's not like he'd explode or anything. He rarely really goes off. But on the other end, they could completely take advantage of him. Let's hope Avery is too stubborn to realize this.

 

What are Dallas fans saying?

 

Well, to quote a good friend of mine, right after the game in a smack-talking phone call (in a very sleepy and non-comittal voice), "Man, it was a fluke. We will own your ass next game. My boy Dirk will come through"

Typical Dallas denial.

J

 

i saw the poll results on the front page and i don't understand why jvg isn't getting more credit for this win. i think you could even argue that jvg played a larger role in this win than mcgrady. the man is an absolute genius. he puts his guys in a position to excel offensively and he blueprints suffocating defenses.

 

I'm the offical president of the I LOVE JVG fan club

 

I think you missed the memo -- Dirk plays minimum post defense. Yao will have a much easier day to score on him than Damp.

 

mad credit goes to ryan bowen!! he did a great job tonite guarding dirk!

 

Who cares?

 

We beat Dallas with Dirk having a bad game. So we learned we can win with Yao having a bad game if Dirk has one too.

Dirk won't have a bad game on Monday.

 

Well I just got back to Austin from Dallas and WOW!!!! What a game. The Mavs fans must hate me now. I was LOUD and man it was a blast. You should have heard the arena...At times it would be absolute silence. They were shocked and I loved every minute of it. I couldnt count how many times I saw Mark Cuban shaking his head in disbelief. I still havent seen T Macs first nasty dunk...bout to turn on SC...even the mavs fans were in awe. Lets win 3 more!!!!!

 

anybody have the file for the game..i missed the game...grrr..stupid wedding

 

T-mac was T-mac but the surprises were bowen holding Dirk to less than 25 pts and then James scoring 6 points in a row when it seemed like the Mavs were ready to take the lead.

Dirk will be much better on monday as will Finley. Hopefully, T-mac can continue to shoot well and Yao scores more than 11 pts and plays more than 20 mins. We wont win on monday unless we get alot more from Yao.

GO ROCKETS !!!

 

I disagree with your implication.

JVG used this game to expose Dirk and what separates KG (and TMac) from Dirk- Dirk simply isn't capable of consistently making the right play. Dirk has plenty of weapons around him, but he's just not capable of disecting an entire defense. He can tear apart his own man probably better than KG, but his vision and passing skills are certainly his weakness, comparatively.

There's not going to be another 20+ FT disparity. Yao got to the line 6 times in 20 minutes- if he can stay on the floor, he'll definitely help close the gap.

I think people are in for a surprise- Dirk will certainly play better, but some people seem to think that's as good as TMac gets. He's just getting started. TMac has had some amazing playoff performances (20 straight for the Magic against the Bucks, 46 and 43 against the Pistons).

And, I think JVG will continue to dominate Avery in the coaching battle.