Points Scored 10. Boston 94.5 13. Houston 94.2 FG% 6. Houston 45.7% 27. Boston 40.7% The Rockets hit a higher percentage of shots. Boston doesn't hit the offensive boards so much so that it offsets their FG%. Advantage ROCKETS <HR WIDTH=50%> Points Allowed 10. Houston 90.7 27. Boston 98.9 FG% Allowed 26. Houston 46.1% 27. Boston 46.2% Turnovers Forced 7. Boston 17.7 16. Houston 16.3 Steals 8. Boston 9.0 14. Houston 8.16 Both are poor defensive teams. Houston has been limiting points by not committing personal fouls, while Boston fouls with more frequency. Boston forces a lot of turnovers thereby registering steal off of their defensive scheme, but it's not leading to high percentage shots for them (FG% - 40.7). EVEN <HR WIDTH=50%> 3PT% 5. Boston 38.7% 15. Houston 35.2% 3PT% Allowed 20. Boston 36.2% 28. Houston 40.7% Boston is among the best hitting 3's and the Rockets are among the worst in defending the 3. Advantage BOSTON <HR WIDTH=50%> FT% 2. Houston 79.4% 21. Boston 71.7% Personal Fouls 2. Houston 20.6 17. Boston 24.4 Houston hits their free throws and doesn't put opponents at the line. Advantage HOUSTON <HR WIDTH=50%> Rebounds 13. Boston 42.3 28. Houston 37.6 Rebounds Allowed 4. Houston 39.2 19. Boston 42.8 Boston is mediocre in the rebounding department, while Houston pulls down the lowest average number of rebounds in the league, but is among the best in limiting rebounds by the opponent. The bottom line seems to be that the Rockets are a good shooting team (FG%) as well as being a poor defensive team (FG% Allowed) which limits the number of rebounds available on both ends. A better indicator is probably Rebounding Percentage which has the Rockets at 49% and Boston at 49.7%. EVEN <HR WIDTH=50%> Blocks 24. Boston 4.5 27. Houston 3.75 Blocks by Opponents 4. Houston 4.5 23. Boston 6.4 Neither team can block shots, but Houston does a better job of not getting their shots blocked. Boston doesn't seem to have that knack. Advantage ROCKETS <HR WIDTH=50%> Assists 21. Houston 19.1 25. Boston 18.4 Turnovers 15. Houston 16.0 18. Boston 16.7 The assist to turnover ratio is a wash. Both thems are below average on the assists and average on the turnovers. EVEN <HR WIDTH=50%> Intangibles: [*]Fatigue could be a factor with Houston on the road last night and Boston off. BOSTON. [*]Home and Away has the Rockets at 1-4 on the road and Boston 4-2 at home. BOSTON. [*]Momentum has the Rockets on a 4 game win streak, Boston losing 2 straight. ROCKETS. [*]Turmoil has Pitino telling his team this is his final season with Boston. ROCKETS. [*]Injuries has Cato out for Houston, Anderson & Brown out for Boston. ROCKETS. <HR WIDTH=50%> The final talley: Houston: 3 Boston: 1 Even: 3 <HR WIDTH=50%> Too bad this one isn't played on paper... Rockets win! ------------------ "We end up with Francis/Mobley isolations very often. More often, I'd say, then other teams." -- jamcracker [This message has been edited by Tb-Cain (edited November 22, 2000).]
The Boston Globe announced that Pitino is quitting after the season. The team had a closed door meeting after the article. Pitino just finished with a live news conference saying that he's NOT quitting. He did take all the blame for Celts not making the playoffs, etc. Think that'll affect the Celtics play tonight? [This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited November 22, 2000).]
Yeah now the Celtics will want to win one for Rick. ------------------ Vice President of the Jason Collier fan club!
Sorry Francis3. My first post was wrong. [I edited my post to correct it]. I was listening to the new conference and typing at the same tim and I got it wrong.
If we can't get past Boston, I will be very surprised, and of course, disappointed. With our current road record (albeit we have played some tough teams on the road), we need to win all the road games that we can, and this is a great opportunity to go to 8-5. ------------------ Jazzkiller
Paper stats mean nothing. Individual games count (and make paper stats). The Rockets will win this one, because - you mentioned it - we have the momentum. It's been a while since we've had a 5 game win-streak. Also, we've got a crappy road record, and we want to improve it... ------------------
As surprised as I am to say it, the Rockets are not a poor defensive team. Limiting opponents to 90.8 points is excellent defense. Still, the opponents fg % is a little high. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Revote! Revote! Revote!...... Rocket's Championship 2001!!
Predicted score: Rockets - 93 Celtics - 89 ------------------ "Jop tvai mat!" - Arvydas Sabonis after Steve Francis sat on his head after a dunk
Anyone else want to see the great "Who can play less defense" matchup between Mo and Toine? ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
I'm going with: Rocks 97 Celts 90 Stevie and Walt are the high scorers. Go Rocks!!! ------------------ Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon atheistalliance.org
Rockets 109 Celtics 96 Steve and Mo with high scores. Mobley and Anderson do decent. Walt has off night Maurice Taylor will get career high in rebounds. Yeah I mean it , I predict him getting 6 tonight! ------------------ Vice President of the Jason Collier fan club!
Francis3, I still can't believe that Mo actually grabbed 20 boards in one game. What are the odds of so many balls just falling onto his hands? Almost lottery-type odds, when you think about it. He hasn't even achieved double figures in that department yet (8 is his high so far). ------------------ Nederland 2002 Rocketman95 on board. Check out his latest game recaps.
Just read that Boston has picked up free agent Doug Overton to help out while Anderson and Brown are recovering. Herren has been running the point. I don't know what kind of minutes Overton might see tonight. However many, they'll be his first of the year. ------------------ "We end up with Francis/Mobley isolations very often. More often, I'd say, then other teams." -- jamcracker
Ace - Haha. I dont really think he got it , nba.com probably had a typing error on that. If I were hakeem I would tap the ball to maurice when the ball is coming in my hands so maurice can grab the rebound. ------------------ Vice President of the Jason Collier fan club!
sorry, I don't have much to add to this thread, but I just wanted to say this is an excellent post Tb. It even looks pretty. I can tell you put some time into it. thanks. oh, and of course the Rockets will take it. Rockets are the paper champs, after all. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, lies, and heypeeisms. -DrofDunkingDonuts
I predict the Rockets to lose by about 15. ------------------ 2000-2001 Rockets Game Formulas: End of 1st quarter: "They're playing so well!" 2nd: "What a great game!" 3rd: "Theres no way they can lose now!" 4th: "What the ******* **** happened?!!" Revote! Revote! Revote!...... Rocket's Championship 2001!!
