ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Pistons 1/7/2004

lose by 3 pts

 

Final score 59 to 65. No comment on the winner. Some call it ugky, I can't imagine why.

 

Yao needs to remind himself that he did well against them at home. If he plays hard and avoids quick fouls he can hurt them again.
We need him and Francis to score more in this game and keep on moving the ball.
Pistons by 7 in a low scoring game.

 

Charlie Ward lights up the Pistons.

 

If they play as a unified team and Francis continues to make those nifty passes, yes Rocket will win by five

Rocket 82
Detroit 77

If Francis to bound pass to Yao and TO, we shall lose by five

Rocket 72
Detroit 77

 

A tough, gritty game. Rockets take it.

Rockets 80 : 78 Pistons

 

rockets 81
pistons 79

 

Win, Win, WIN

 

Rockets by 11.

DD

 

Some one put a flat-tire on Yao's car!!!

 

Pistons 92 Rockets 83

 

I won't be able to catch the game tomorrow so I'm absolutely positive the Rockets are going to dominate...

win... 94 to 79

 

Rockets 18
Pistons 16

Francis goes 1-21 for 2 points, with 3 assists and 13 turnovers.

Ben Wallace denies Yao the paint, forcing him to post up in the locker room.

 

Hmm.. bit new to the prediction deal but what the hell why not give it a whirl.

I'll take the rockets on this one

Rockets 90

Detroit 86

Yao will return to form and Francis will score more than 2 pts

 

We may win. Franics goes for 7 TO again and maybe 5 pts. Maybe the rockets will trade him finally after this game.

 

Rox will keep it close until the 4th quarter when then Pistons pull away for an 85 - 71 win.

Steve 3-16FGs 9 Pts 4 Assts 6 TOs
YAO 2-4FGs 6 Pts 5 Rebs 5 Fouls

 

Houston (19-14) at Detroit (22-13)
Preview - Box Score - Recap

The Detroit Pistons' record-setting defense is only getting better as the season wears on.
Coming off their best defensive outing of the season, the Pistons seek their longest winning streak in nearly 12 years when they host to the Houston Rockets.

Detroit allowed its lowest point total of the season in a 78-68 win over Boston on Monday to extend the team's winning streak to six games. Richard Hamilton scored 15 points while Tayshaun Prince and Elden Campbell each added 13 for the Pistons, who haven't won seven consecutive games since March 1992.

The Celtics shot a season-low 29.3 percent, including just 9-for-34 on 3-pointers, to become the 35th straight team this season held below 100 points by Detroit.

``We won this one playing defense,'' Hamilton said. ``We didn't let our offense dictate our defense. We just came out and really played aggressive defense.''

The Pistons, fourth in the league with an average of 85.1 points allowed, broke the previous record of 33 straight games without allowing 100 points -- set by the New York Knicks in 2000-01 -- with a 99-93 win over Golden State on Saturday

``We don't really think much about that record,'' assistant coach Mike Woodson said. ``We just try to play tough defense, and this comes from that. We know that if we can keep this up, we'll win a lot of ball games.''

Detroit has won six of the last seven meetings with the Rockets at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons have posted a 13-5 home record this season and play four of their next five at The Palace.

The Rockets' defense has been strong all season as well, but its been overwhelming the last three games. Houston, second in the league at 83.8 points allowed per game, has given up only 66.7 points and held the opposition to 36.4 percent shooting (80-for-220) while winning three straight.

After setting a franchise record for fewest points allowed with Saturday's 84-63 win over the Utah Jazz, the Rockets were just as dominant in an 83-65 win over Golden State on Monday.

``Our defense carried us tonight,'' reserve forward Maurice Taylor said. ``We play well defensively and that's something we can hang our hat on. We have to work on our offense but with our defense we've got a system that works.

``We're one of the elite defensive teams in the league. We've got to get our offense to the same level.''

Taylor scored a season-high 25 points and Jim Jackson added 18 to help the Rockets overcome a poor outing from their two best players -- point guard Steve Francis and center Yao Ming.

Yao played only 23 minutes because of foul trouble, finishing with 10 points, and Francis didn't score his two points until only 1:35 remained.

``I'm glad all the other guys played well,'' said Francis, who did have a season-high 12 assists. ``For me, these things are going to happen. Fortunately, the others picked up the slack.''

The Rockets, 7-10 on the road, begin a stretch in which they play eight of their next 11 games on the road.

Houston Notes
Jan 6 The Rockets have won three consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak from December 3-9. ... Houston allowed just 65 points, the second-lowest total in franchise history. It set the team record by allowing just 63 points in Saturday's win over the Utah Jazz. ... The Rockets had at least as many turnovers as their opponent for the 28th time in 33 games. They had 18 turnovers while the Warriors committed 12. ... Coach Jeff Van Gundy recorded his 267th career victory, moving into a tie for 50th place all time. ... The game was played in front of a crowd of 9,956 - the smallest crowd at the brand new Toyota Center this season.

Detroit Notes
Jan 6 Pistons coach Larry Brown opted to have F Elden Campbell come off the bench on Monday and the move paid big dividends as Campbell responded with a big effort early. "Elden is a real post presence when we get him the ball: 13 points and five rebounds in 15 minutes is pretty good." Campbell also felt the move was a good one. "Coach told me that I wasn't going to be starting and I thought that this might be a good opportunity for me to click with the second team a little better," he said. "It was fun tonight and it felt good just hitting a couple of shots for us early." ... F Ben Wallace the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, had just three rebounds at the half but finsihed with 16.

 

The Rockets never shoot well in Detroit.

A huge step down:

Rockets: 73
Pistons: 95

 

rox 86
pistons 82

francis 19pts 8 rebs 9asts