ClutchFans Game Thread: Spurs @ Rockets 11/14/2006

it will probably be really close unless both yao and tmac have monster games. i dont know if we have enough to topple the spurs if tmac doesnt play like the superstar he is. yao, i predict, will destroy them scoring wise, but duncan is good enough to score on us just as often. we need our guys to hit the open shots our big two create for them, and we need tmac to create for others as well as for himself!

cmon tmac show that superstar skill (aside from the passing)

 

I am going to be crazy if Rockets win at least two of these three: Spurs,Piston and Bulls

 

Yao has had great success against Duncan than Shaq. It was really difficult to score on Shaq because of his huge body presence. Yao has dominated at least offensively against Duncan a couple of times. The key is to eliminate turnovers when Bruce Bowen comes to double him. Yao says he can't see his teammates clearly when Bowen is there.

 

I don't think Pistons on current form is good enough to beat the Rox. Unless the inconsistant Rasheed Wallace is on form, they have no post presence. The rox perimeter defence can make the pistons' shots difficult to fall. And we got a pretty good chance against bulls. They don't have a consistant scoring threat, and Yao can hopefully dominate the aging Ben Wallace.

 

Rockets will win but T-Mac will steal the show from Yao. T-Mac 40pts... Yao 21 pts 12 rebs. Rox 102 - 95 Spurs

 

Here's my keys to the game:

1) Keep Duncan out of the paint as much as possible, let him shoot jump shots and foul him when necessary because he's a bad free throw shooter

2) Stop the penetration of Tony and Manu

3) Yao dominates Alberto and Elson

4) Rowdies work hard to boo out Bowen and T-Mac be aware of his dirty feet

5) Our Bench plays better than theirs

I've noticed that in the past four seasons vs Spurs, no team has scored over 100 pts in any game, so it could be another low scoring match. Also, Rockets haven't played a closed score game of which the result was decided in the last minute in this season. This could be it and we better have a plan to make the winning shot. I hope T-Mac play better in the Spurs game.

 

ya'll do realize that we haven't won in san antonio since like the year duncan was drafted right? then again, in previous years, we would lose that game at miami on espn also. our defense just kept frustrating them, and it made up for our offensive struggles.

without hayes, it will be interesting to see how yao plays, because it seems you guys are claiming that hayes played a direct role in yao putting up huge numbers. while i'm not saying that statement is incorrect or that hayes is overrated, i would like to see first-hand how much hayes' role affects this team. i want to see how yao performs if battier, howard, padgett, or novak are playing instead. IMO, they can't stop yao no matter who's playing PF for us. they HAVE to double-team him. when they do that, whoever's playing the 4 spot better be ready to hit some jumpers.

i live in austin, so i'm just glad that since we're playing the spurs, it should be on FSN. if we somehow win tomorrow, i can't wait to see what kenny and charles say on TNT before the bulls game, and then in the post-game after we beat the bulls. they'd be suckin up to us big time!

as far as the spurs game, i'm worried about alston/snyder/head not being able to contain parker/ginobili. i'd love to see a vspan vs ginobili matchup, since vspan has been compared to manu many times on this board, but obviously it won't happen. duncan is also a bad matchup for us especially without hayes. if duncan is posting up, yao can guard him. but then he can take yao outside and shoot his jumpers. if u put battier/howard on him, then he'll drive and use his strength to post up and score.

this is going to take great TEAM defense if we want to come out of san antonio with a W because our individual defense could be a problem. zone defense might be necessary here to prevent a monster game by timmy. just hope that their perimeter shooters don't get hot and that we can still get some rebounds without chuckie.

my gut feeling is as long as we can keep it close going to the 4th quarter, we will win because t-mac will have the ball in every possession late in the game since he'd be the point guard by that time. his decision-making and court vision is so special, and i know he'll find a way to lead us to victory, whether it's his passing or scoring ability.

 

oops nm it's in houston LOL!

 

Very thorough analysis and I might add that we need to continue to keep our TO's down and out rebound the Spurs as we've done all season. The Spurs rely on the 3 ball more than the Heat or Knicks and we need to defend against that as well.

Mac needs to be on the offensive tomorrow and continue to penetrate until he finds his rhythm. He can shoot over BB and he's primed for a breakout game at home...once his shot starts falling...it's over!

Alston has to pick up his assists and play some D on Parker to keep him out of the lane drawing fouls on our big guys.

I'm ready for that matchup...bring 'em on.

 

Great Success!!!

 

Yao 50 points, 25 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 fouls.
Mark my words!

 

If Houston Rockets can keep their momentum from the Heat game yesterday and keep rolling then I say they'll beat the Spurs by 5 - 7 points. Maybe insert Bonzi Wells into the lineup to intimidate them a bit.

 

You guys don't give the Spurs enough credit...











...as you shouldn't. Rockets find a way to win this one.





OBERTO ON YAO!? HAHAHAHAHA GOOD LUCK.

 

it would be nice to have bonzi aka "the spurs killer" go up against the spurs again.

 

# 114

 

May be it is time we put V-span to stop park and novak to out score barry

 

Tmac is due for a good shooting game. Key for me is Yao's help defense on Parker and changing Parkers shot to misses when he dribble penetrates. Man if we beat the Spurs, what a statemnent.

 

Put Bonzi in. Either Bowen wets his pants thinking about last postseason or he gets too scared to stick his foot out because fat Bonzi might break it if he lands on Bowen.

 

'Two Wins' is my prediction for this week's Rox,