I actually think we have chance to steal a win on Sunday, with or without T-Mac. But after Pop has had an eyeful of the new improved Yao, we will have a much tougher game on the 18th.
I have a bad feeling about this game. Unless Yao gets some defensive help from whoever we have in on the 4 spot I think he will get into foul trouble. Ginobli and Parker usually get alot of points in the paint and im sure thats will be their game plan since T-Mac is A. Injured, B. In a slump. They get Yao on tilt/foul trouble and its going to be a blowout.
YES, like TD slump, Parker bad shooting, Gino injured early (Hey it happened early this season.), etc. It could be one of "those night." it could happen.
It's probably better if T-Mac doesn't play. Now before you get mad, here's why: 1. Whether he is doing anything or not, when T-Mac is on the floor, the whole team relaxes because they know if they get stuck he's supposed to get them out of it. Well, if T-Mac was healthy, that's fine, but since he's not healthy, he won't be able to take the pressure on his back. 2. He'll be guarded by Ryan, oops, I mean Bruce Bowen . No way can an unhealthy T-Mac handle Bowen's agressive defense. I would only want T-Mac playing if his back is completely normal (which it won't be) or if he's going to play the whole game (if his back is hurting, he wont' be). We can't afford this team to lose it's focus just because T-Mac is on the court.
For added motivation (and to prevent the laying of an egg), the coaches should post flyers with our record in the division (0-9) all over the locker room.
Rox would have to be clicking on all cylinders to win. Wesely hitting three's, Stro hustling, howard hitting his 18 footers, Rafer picking pockets and dishing, Yao working his magic and T-Mac healthy and aggressive. The last point is key, as great as Yao has been, this is still T-Macs team and he is our number one guy. I won't be predicting a score becuase my heart always wins out, but i'm hoping that its the night where the rockets click in every way.
Spurs have only lost 13 times this season. In those losses: Parker averages 4.2 turnovers per game. Duncan avg 2.9 TO/g. 502 rebounds for, 566 rebs against.
I'll be there I am trucking it up saturday morning! Time to end that losing streak to them in San Antonio and prove to the West that we are the team no one want's to face!
The Spurs are pretty much unbeatable at home but they do have a tough back to back with Phoenix and LA- a day off then the Rox. The Rox will have 3 days off before Sunday's game so there's a chance...
GIve it up. If Rafer can't even slow down Anthony Johnson, how is he supposed to disturb Parker? His D has been atrocious the last few games.
don't see how this game could be compared remotely to a suns game. suns are a matchup hell. of course, the spurs are a matchup hell at every position except center, but two different styles... and this one better suits the rox. rox fan 'til i die. rox by 8.
Very ture jopatmc, i can just see parker slicing through our defense kicking out to ginobli and turkoglu for 3 or dishing it inside to TD. Also, there is a good chance that parker can draw some fouls on Yao. Needless to say we dont have much in terms of an offense without tmac or Yao.
Since almost everyone says that we are going to lose to the Spurs, why don't we just give up and rest both Yao and Tmac? Rockets 92 Spurs 90 GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
haha. thats funny. think about what ur saying. other than yao other teams are not scared of us. who can they be scared of? 6'1 wesley? heads shooting? juwan's defense? here's probably what spurs fans are saying now: oh they dont even have tmac, we are goiing to kick their butt. we were supposed to be a scary team if the tracy yao combo was working. but with tmac out or not his old self..we just a medicore team with a good center.
I'm not so optimistic. It's hard to count on TMac giving his back condition -- he may not show up at all. And Yao can't do it alone, especially at Spurs home. Our role players and bench are totally out-classed by theirs. So, 80 - 92, we lost. Hope for the next game.
