I don't believe the Suns are as bad as their record indicates. It should be a good game. Amare seems to get up whenever he plays Yao so it should be a great H2H matchup. Rockets when a close one.
What makes you say that? Amare had 18/9 on 41% shooting in his only meeting with us this year. Last year his head to head stats against the Rox were about his yearly averages if not worse. I guess you see what you want to...
Another win for sure. 102:90 Rockets. I think JVG is preparing for the playoff. His team are playing serious basketball games recently. I am satisfied.
That is not a monster game. I think Amare will have a monster game like 100 pts, 50 rebs, 30 ass, 20 stls, and 25 blks.
We'll want payback from when they blew us out at their place (the game Francis was suspended). It does have the potential for a letdown game, but I think they'll be up for TNT. Rox 98 Suns 87 Houston Native
Amare will fight hard but I expect Yao to be ready as well. Marion is also dangerous and Johnson can get going at times.Yao must keep out of foul trouble and Cato needs to get physical with Amare in the low post. We missed Steve the last time. If we don't take them lightly and play good defense, rebound and make our outside shots we should win. I expect a close game. We should win but I won't be surprised if the Suns win either.
For some reason I hate the Suns as much as the Lakers. I am sure Rox will get a good win against these guys. Predication: Rox 105 Suns 69
Phoenix (21-45) at Houston (39-26) Game Info: 7:30 pm EST Mon Mar 15, 2004 TV: PHO, TNT The Houston Rockets have not made the postseason in six years, but they are certainly playing like a playoff team now. The Rockets look to extend their winning streak to six games when they host the Phoenix Suns. Houston is aiming to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 season. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy knows how difficult that will be in the highly competitive Western Conference. ``You have to have an urgency,'' Van Gundy said. ``Our team in particular has to compete at a high level. There's no room or margin for error.'' Houston has won a season-high five in a row to solidify its hold on the seventh spot in the West. The Rockets complete a five-game homestand Monday, then play 11 of their final 16 games on the road. Jim Jackson scored 20 points and hit a crucial running jumper with 50 seconds to play as Houston beat Memphis 88-80 on Saturday, snapping the Grizzlies' seven-game winning streak. Jackson had 10 points in the fourth quarter, when the Rockets committed eight of their 17 turnovers and had their 12-point lead cut to six on two occasions. ``He knows when he has to step up,'' Houston center Yao Ming said. ``He's over 30 years old and has played in the NBA over 10 years and he knows what he has to do.'' Yao had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and blocked a shot by Grizzlies forward Pau Gasol with 44 seconds to go. Yao has been dominant over the last five games, averaging 21.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. Phoenix has lost four straight and five of six. The Suns gave up 70 first-half points and were routed 113-90 by the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. The 70 points were a season high for Dallas and the most allowed by Phoenix. ``It was a bad first half, just awful,'' Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni said. ``We need to find some defense somewhere. Our defensive effort was absolutely zero.'' The Suns are giving up an average of 105.5 points over the last four games. Phoenix allows 97.5 points per game on the season, the fifth-highest total in the NBA. Forward Amare Stoudemire has been one of the few bright spots for the Suns. Stoudemire led Phoenix in scoring for the 13th time in 14 games with 25 points on Saturday. It also was the 13th time in 14 games he had surpassed 20. The only time he missed was last Monday, when he scored 19 at Dallas.
steve should remember the super bowl loss and win this game for the team; Yao should remember the ROY loss and win the game for the team. All of rox have to fight hard for the first 6 win streak in two years. -Littlefish
man, i know we'd like to forget the pippen year and everything but give us a little credit, it's only been 4 seasons of no playoffs.
