I suspect there is going to be a strong temptation to let game 5 slip away. We are playing in Portland, have a 3-1 lead and are coming to TC for game 6. I don't think that should happen and the Rox need to come out with the killer instinct that the Blazers Seasons ends Tuesday night. I was thinking all day yesterday how important Game 4 was. If the Blazers win it becomes a 3 game series with them with a 2 home game advantage. Every game is important though and the Blazers have to feel that if the ball had just bounced a little differently they could've taken both games at Houston. We've got them down but it is very possible for them to rattle off three wins in a row. We can't look forward to a game 6 or even worse to a second round series. We have to treat this next game as though it is an elimination game for both of us. GO ROX! GIT R DONE IN PORTLAND!
Teams facing elimination have a tendency to press and choke in close game situations. The Rockets should come out and take it to them, force them to cry uncle. DD
I actually have a feeling that this game is all up to Portland. The young blazers may either have that 'nothing to lose' mentality coming into game 5, or they could also be completely depleted and gutted by the fact that they are 3-1 down and basically, give up. I really hope it isn't the latter. Even though i want to see the Rockets get through to the second round, i also want the trailblazers to hold their head up high and go out with dignity. If the rockets establish themselves early and take a solid lead early on, i don't think the Blazers will put up much of a fight the rest of the way.
Losing a 1 pt game after finally taking the lead into the 4th has got to have the blazers doubting themselves at this point.......they were hitting on all cylinders with the game in their hands before wafer passed to yao for that dunk.......i don't think they will give up at this point, but they probably don't believe they can beat us now.... and we, on the other hand, got contributions from every player that got on the floor last night......i agree with DD, if it's close in the 4th we will step on their necks..
I don't think so. The Blazers have shown they are resilient, coming back from a blowout in game 1 to take game 2 and making huge runs in both games in Houston late in the second half. I think if the Blazers were mentally fragile instead of having a comeback in third last night they would've folded and game 4 would've been a blowout. You have to respect them because they do seem to have a never say quit attitude even in game 1 they still went on a run when the game was all but decided. At the same time we've seen the Rockets blow too many 4th quarter leads. In this series they seem to have rediscovered Clutchcity but they can't risk a relapse like the last game of the season.
Maybe from an energy level perspective, you might see something like this, but otherwise, let's not forget these guys are professionals, and have some goals. If they lose Game 5, and look pathetic doing so, I highly doubt it will be because they all decided to take a game off. They're going to go to Portland and try to win...just like they came home and tried to win, and did.
we need to deliver the coup de grace and get it over with. Finish strong and leave no room for questions. Qustions to themselves or their doubters. GO ROCKETS!
Amen, take care of business. The Houston fans will be glad to watch a clinch on TV and not in the TC. Have a feeling Artest will have a monster game and knock down 6-8 3s.
I think these guys have learned their lessons and know the history of the past few years. I don't think we're going to take this game for granted. It's kill or be killed. I'm also interested to see how Portland responds, dejected or determined?
Game 5 will be very tough to win. The biggest key will be weathering the storm in the 1st quarter, as the Blazers are sure to come out with a ton of energy and try to hit the Rockets with a haymaker. I expect a pretty close game, and we'll have to excute in the 4th quarter better than we did last night.
i think this is where the past playoff failures for the rockets will be valuable really. Yao has been in two different situations where the team has won 3 games and then lost the following games after that and he knows how difficult it is to win that fourth game. Shane experienced it two years ago, same with Chuck. Guys like Brooks, Wafer, Landry, Lowry, who may not have that experience at least has the vets around them to show them and let the vets' past mistakes be their own gain. The blazers do not have that (and this may be the first step for them to gain that valuable experience) and outside of Roy and possibly Blake I do not see any other player on that seems to be mentally 'tough'. Outlaw has been terrible this series outside of the last game. Rudy has hurt the Rockets with his 3s but outside of that he hasnt done much IMO. Alridge has had some good scoring games but he seems to easily settle for the long jumper rather than trying to bang in the post where his length and athleticism become such a natural advantage over anyone the rockets have at PF. it will be really interesting to see how they will come out really. the crowd is going to be ridiculously loud. The pressure is really on the blazers, the majority of the media picked the blazers to win the series and no one outside of van gundy expected it to be the rockets in 5 games or less.
Yes, we have a chance to close that series out on Tuesday,show them how hungry the Rockets have become through all these thin years. Go Rockets!
Listening to Yao in his post game comments he acknowledges that and said he is going to treat this game as if it were 0-0. I like that attitude far more than, Mr. "I'm hapy to make it to the Second Round." STAY HUMBLE! STAY HUNGRY!
Agreed. Lets close this baby out and make JVG's prediction come true. Portland will come out pumped with the crowd behind them. The Rockets will have to withstand this first run by Portland and execute after their adrenaline and the crowd subside. If we can keep the game close in the 4th, Portland and its youth will crumble at the pressure of an elimination game.
I also like the attitude as shown by Yao.This is the right attitude to have in the face of adversity,not to look down upon them,but to respect them and be prepared to meet their challenge. Yes the series is not finished yet, but I always believe the Rockets will edge out the Blazers and quickly at that, but so far the young,inexperienced Blazers have proved to be very tough to beat.They have adjusted very well since Game 1 and they will not go away easily. The Rockets also have made progress as to become a more resilient team.Some of the players have played together for some years now.Having acquired experience during the past playoffs and adding some young talents on the way they are today in a good position to get out of the 1st round. This is what they proved yesterday when they fought together as a team and it showed. There was Yao of course but also appreciated the intensity of Battier,the energy of Von,the fearless penetration from Lowry, the pugnacity from Scola,among others.They all contributed yes and that's why I love my Rockets!
