we have 3 weapons: tmac yao 3 pt all of them not sharp last night but still won. you can give credits to utah's defense. but if you spend that much energy to cool down all of our weapons, you won't have enough gas for your own offense. Okur is a good example: he can score 15 pts if he lets yao score 40, but the end result is the same, 20 pts plus from this matchup.
I read the article earlier today, and I KNEW this would come up. It's as easy as this: The Rockets haven't played offense well in the first half at ALL. The Jazz's offensive suckiness was not ENTIRELY due to JVG's amazing defense. If one player other than Boozer can step up, the Jazz can win a game or 4. So don't go assuming we've got this one in the bag already. And don't stop rooting for the Rockets either.
The Rockets haven't shot the ball well against Utah, yet they still play great defense to help their cause. Chuck and Deke have been huge on the boards and Battier has made many hustle plays. I think if Yao and TMac continue to play well and Luther and Rafer can start making their threes, the Rockets should be fine.
That's what I've been saying, Rafer, or anyone else, has to shoot when it's wide open. If you don't, then you shouldn't stay in the game. About G. Anthony's analysis on Okur, that's totally inaccurate. Okur was a good rebounder, a good outside shooter when he is wide open. He doesn't create himself, and cannot shoot when guarded, which was exactly what the Rockets did, someone always stayed with him. Unless Williams or someone else can create opportunity for him, I just don't see him be a factor on the offensive end. He did defend Yao well, always pushed Yao away from the paint, and didn't go for Yao's fake, and even blocked a few of Yao's shots. Considergin game 1 & 2 were close, and hard contested, I'd expect game 3 & 4 will be harder because the Jazz are always tough at home. I hope we can steal one over there, and finish the series at home.
Is this an anomaly or part of the Jazz strategy. Physical play yields low shooting percentages - and higher number of fouls. The Jazz paid for hurting us in shooting by allowing us to the line - a strategy that didn't work because we hit 34-38 free-throws. If the Jazz take the ball to the hole, continue to play us phsyically as well, and you factor that we can't hit that well from the line, hey - this is no walk in the park. Game 3 isn't going to be an easy game to win by any means. It's going to be much tougher on Thursday - and unless we make adjustments to address Boozer and figure out how to get higher percentage shots - we could be in for a big surprise. I expect a different brand of basketball from the Jazz now.
i will be really shocked if we win game 3. in fact i cant see us doing it because the jazz are so tough and so good at home. i hope we can at least steal one.
A great Rocket once said "Stay Humble, Stay Hungry." A team is most dangerous when their backs are against the wall and the Jazz are a few feet away from that. Also remember when T-mac was up 3-1 and said it was great advancing to the second round. T-Mac has had a history of getting overconfident and not being able to finish not to mention Houston at one time had a deserved reputation as Choke City. Lets keep our gloating down until we take 4.
Even when Okur let Yao get his 40s, Okur can't get his 15. I thing Okur can only sore while he is opened up, but we will not give him many open looks.
This article is wayyyyyyyy generic. I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't even watched a game. How bout this in depth piece of analysis. "If Houston wants to take total control, winning in Utah is the way to do it. "
The Rockets aren't pretending they have this thing in the bag. It's the media that's doing all of the talking. People are going ape nuts because Tmac and Yao were laughing at the post game interview as if they had no right to be relieved they won a crucial home game. Greg Anthony called the Lakers his darkhorse last year and said they would make the WCF. I have yet to see any of them point out the fact that Luther hasn't even done anything yet.
