I don't mean to demoralize you guys. But I almost forgot when is the last time that we won over the suns...The game that I won is a tough won. And the the games that we lost were blowouts. The styles of these too teams are just so opposite. If we could win this game, I would really be a believer of Rocket's greatness this year....
I actually remember because it was a very memorable game. It was 2 years ago and I think the Suns had a 20 pt lead on us going into the 2nd half, I remember T-Mac could not miss in the 3rd, we kept running the same play with t-mac(screen) and he kept draining the jumper. I remember Yao had a monster game like 27 and 21, t-mac had at least 30, and MIke James sealed the deal with a three at the end, we ended up winning by 15+
Fran just posted on his blog that Bonzi did not travel to Phoenix. It is looking more and more like Bonzi is going to test the limits. He is going to lose this battle. If Van Gundy surrenders an inch to this guy, it would be a mistake. Too bad Bonzi doesn't want to be a part of something that could be very special.
Yep, one of the best game for Yao and T-Mac together and it was nationally televised so it was that much more special. We also split the season series with them that year. I don't know what's all this talk about them owning us when they got our number last year with half of roster being injured. Pu$$y Rocket's fan I guess...
Back to back home/away, Tmac and Yao banged up, at Phoenix, if we win this game, it would be huge. Go Rockets!
We can't stop Suns, they are quick and everybody can shoot, D is important, but Rox didn't do well for the 3's. IMO, play O better can be good D, Novak must play more min, shoot more 3's.
A really tough game!! Face a +.500 team who is good at offence on the 2nd game of back-back. But ROX WIN!!!
T-mac is out, V-Span has to step up to play the "playmaker" role. This is the only chance that we can win this game. Also Novak need to hit some big 3s. GO ROX!
I agree. No need to risk putting him in the second game of a back to back unless he's feeling 100%. Obviously we want to win every game, but it's just not worth losing TMac for an extended period of time.
I would leave him out, this is going to be a tough game anyway, and we need McGrady healthy in April and May, not November
Thanks to tsherkin from Realgm Keys to the Game for Houston - Pound the ball inside to Yao early to get Amare in foul trouble. Amare is a big weapon and, as Dirty has said, he's helping the Suns get into the bonus early, so if you take him out, you significantly weaken the Suns' attack as far as free throws go. Two, you take out one of their best rebounders and defenders and that'll open things up a lot more. Three, pounding the ball inside will draw attention from McGrady, Head and Alston, opening up the three, which will further space the floor. You should see a lot of post-ups and lot of mid-screens and side screens to take advantage of Yao's post game and T-Mac's playmaking ability in the lane. - Get McGrady and Rafer/Head into the pick and roll To expand upon the above, you've got two good shooters (streaky, and T-Mac's slumping, but still) and T-Mac is a fantastic and creative playmaker once he gets below the arc while in motion. Great vision and passing skills, so he'll get all kinds of kick-out passes and dump-offs happening. Also, Luther Head is dirty... - Look to Luther Head outside, especially in the fourth He's shooting 16-28 (57%+) from downtown in the 4th quarter on the season and over 48% from 3 on the season. He's hot; exploit that. Don't force it, but run plays with him on the strong side, waiting for the kickout for the quick shot. - Keep Chuck Hayes on the floor! Undersized he may be but the Suns run Diaw, Shawn Marion and Kurt Thomas at the 4 at various times, none of whom effectively make use of their size in post-up scenarios and thus negating their 1-3" height advantage on him. His rebounding is vital, so get him involved as the screener (and roller!) on pick-and-roll plays so that he can get some easy buckets and feel good. Maybe do this with Luther Head and Rafer, and less so with T-Mac, because they're more dangerous when they pop. - If T-Mac is hot, FEED HIM! Self-explanatory - Don't try to run with the Suns Take your time, be patient and execute in the halfcourt. T-Mac will be on the ball a lot, so you should see a fair bit of Luther Head because of his shooting abilities. Houston isn't a transition team, so play within yourselves and don't fall into their trap. - involve Shane Battier He was a 14 ppg scorer as a rookie. This was not a fluke. He can drive, he can shoot with his feet set, he can pull-up, he can pass... He's a triple-threat, so use him. The Rockets need a third scorer and he's it. He's a dangerous three-point shooter as well and he's got some size to him, so exploit that. - EFFING USE STEVE NOVAK! You're not going to beat the Suns with defense only because they're a high-octane offense that's largely uncontainable except if they stop themslves, so bring out the guns! Steve Novak is probably among the best catch-and-shoot players in the NBA at this time, if you give him the chance to show it... - Bonzi? Last played on the 18th, didn't practice on the 23rd, but that was almost a week ago. Dunno if he's going to play. If he does, get him going; more scorers are important. He likes to post, so let him. He likes to attack... so let him. If T-Mac's scoring average is going to come down, let Bonzi's pick up and make him a worthwhile acquisition. This assumes he's playing, of course; as I said, I'm unclear if he will or will not. - Defend Houston is a decent defensive team, so exploit that! Make sure Yao has help when he rotates off, close off lanes, channel perimeter guys into the corners, force them baseline instead of into the middle (because it's harder to make a baseline play than it is to make a play in the middle of the floor) and otherwise keep your hands up and contest all shots. Oh no, a Dikembe Mutombo sighting! Use Deke for up to 20 minutes in this one to spell Yao and to keep the Suns out of the lane. - Don't double Shawn Marion, double OFF of Shawn Marion. He is primarily an assisted scorer, so force him to create his own shot instead of handing him easy baskets. If he's hitting the three, stay on him but don't bring help, just force him baseline/into help and keep him away from the rim. - Take the ball out of Nash's hands (the same way you take it out of T-Mac's) and try to make it not Diaw that's getting the ball. - encourage Marcus Banks to shoot instead of drive - hope to God that Barbosa can't hit a shot so you can step back on him, otherwise, break his knees. The Suns have an INCREDIBLE amount of firepower, so you have to do what you can to slow them down early so they don't find a rhythm. Go over ALL screens, don't double off of shooters whenever possible, try to force the Suns into doing nothing but chuck threes and don't let them dictate the tempo. A steady diet of Yao down low plus the perimeter guys contributing should make this a winnable game. Conceptually, the Suns have a really big problem with post defense, so posting McGrady on the high block opposite of Yao's low-block position might help to increase T-Mac's efficiency and warp the defense some by getting him closer to the rim. He used to do this a LOT in Orlando... and, wonder of wonders, he was a two-time scoring champion... I wonder why...[/
