If you notice the last few games against competitive teams(Suns, Kings) the Rockets were faced with some very crappy and bad calls early on in the game. It appears as if the NBA had told the officials to make a few questionable calls against Houston early to see if it rattles them and helps them to lose focus and then the game. (bear with me here) Against Sacremento they pulled one out about 3 times in the first quarter and then some. Against Phoenix (in Houston mind you) they pulled 3 in the first quarter alone and one they tried to pull was rescinded because the defensive player was clearly outside the restricted area and the other 2 wanted to make it look a bit more clean. Against Sacremento it worked and Houston never got into a rhythym(though still almost won that game). Against Phoenix you could see the change at that 13-2 time out mark that the Rockets were just going to play 5 on 8 and said "screw it!" Against Denver the NBA had to adjust their strategy because of the way Houston rose above it against Phoenix. This time they decided to put the Rockets(like all of them) in foul trouble early with some ticky tack calls in addition to the legit fouls the Rockets committed. This curtailed their defensive intensity due to not wanting to foul out. They played tentative on D and couldn't be the usual pests that they are for fear of more ridiculous calls and even more free throws for the Nuggets. 15 personal fouls called the first quarter and then some?? Thats insane. 28 free throws for the Nuggets in the first half?? WTF is that? Yes, this is taking the conclusion and working back to create an equation, but sometimes you have to wonder. I think if the refs had not called the game so tightly(at least on the Rockets D) the team would have battled back from an early deficit and made the game competitive toward the end of the half. Instead the whistles just kept on coming along. NBA knew that Houston had a real shot to get the 1 seed without winning their division(or even winning it should NO fall again) and they didnt want that to happen. They want Houston at the bottom half of the bracket to keep them from a possible Finals matchup with Detroit. That would be a ratings nightmare for the NBA. Especially after the snoozefest that was the Finals last year.
very good points. but im a bit wary of conspiracy theories. Wouldn't the NBA have a perfect cinderalla story with the rockets?
Here these quote say it all from www.chron.com/sports. "That team needed a win badly. We played like it really didn't matter to us," said Tracy McGrady... "We didn't have any energy on the court," forward Chuck Hayes said. "They played last night (losing in Utah). They should be the tired ones. Maybe it meant more to them, and we paid for it." "We allowed them to do pretty much what they needed to do," Adelman said. "We turned it over. A lot of mistakes defensively. Let them get to the open court. You name it." There you go...from the horses' mouth themselves. They just flat-out laid down, and it is baffling.
Excellent analysis. Jazz team and the fans would much rather play with anyone except Lakers with HCA than play you without HCA. We matchup with PHX as well as we do with anyone. Also, you should never even think about Sloan throwing a game off. It's 180 degrees against what he is living this life for.
i knew they would throw this game lol what makes it funny is that denver was playing theyre a$$ off and at times they were barely leading by like 13, it was funny watching this game two rockets going up for a rebound and knocking it out of bounds chuck hayes shooting 3's hahahaha it was hilarious, we need to be 5th why the F would we wanna be 3 and meet phoenix then san antonio in the 2nd round, no the only shot we have at those heavyweights without yao is in the WC Finals, i love my team as much as everybody else but i hoped they would lose this game beat the clippers= HC Advantage chill out
You are wrong. Lose tonight and there will be no HCA, because Utah will not lose their final game, or at least we can't count on them too. To ever throw a game to get a favorable matchup is cowardly and can lead to disaster. I give the Rockets too much credit for that. However, if you were going to do such a thing, then you beat the Nuggets and it earns you a chance to throw the game against Utah and still beat the Clippers. Now it is basically win tonight or lose HCA.
I hope this was a tank job. In any case I'd rather lose this game and beat Utah. Since "everyone wants the Rockets in the first round" it won't surprise me to see Utah tank, even if that's a square to Sloan's circle.
I wouldn't put it it past them... They are still the craftiest team in the league... I saw a game earlier this year where, in PHX late in the 4th quarter, Manu got fouled and went down, and he lay there like he was semi-conscious, all because he wanted a half-minute more of rest!... And Tim was going along with it, like, are you okay, pal?... THe PHX fans were laughing at this scene. Horry fouling Gnat last year... Barry acting like he was considering other teams after he was cut by SEA... Bowen molesting people every night and getting away with it on D. Popovich, ex-Naval intelligence or whatever... THe Spurs would throw a game at the drop of a hat.
Damn I wouldn't think I will be happy if any of Rockets' player get injured but.....I'm not worried at all that Rafer got that setback with his groin injury. He is just hurting the team again and again... Bobby come back please, we need you. BTW, Chuck Hayes again 1/6. This guy is kidding...
I am certainly NOT a Rafer fan, but we will need his steady ball handling at some point in the playoffs. He has value when he plays within the constraints of team oriented offense, it is when he decides to just pass it to Tmac or shoot off the high screen that he begins to smell like an old pair of sweat socks. DD
Of course yes but seeing him shooting the ball lile 2/10 again and again every single time just hurts the team. He can't make any shots and I'm becoming tired of his ability to throw stupid, careless passes. I only hope Bobby is ok and he will be in the starting lineup tonight.
Actually I expect that you will get your fondest wish tonight: Brooks will probably start at the point. All I can say is good luck with that... I'm surprised that you were surprised at the lack of focus and effort last night. To me that was vintage Houston Rockets - they still don't possess enough of that "killer instinct" that they'll need to advance to the next level. They were still celebrating that big win over PHX and thought that all they had to do was just show up in Denver. Well, the Nuggest are in an absolute dogfight just to make the playoffs while the Rox are already in and they played accordingly. The key is the game tonight. If Utah pimpslaps them, then your worst fears may well be coming true.
I just expected the team to come out focused and hungry and play with maximum effort to get that number 1 seed. And they just came out like they didn't care...and then laid down from that point onwards. This was a game where a leader is needed, someone to get in players faces and refocus their efforts....instead we get guys just quitting and setting a piss poor example for the younger players. I honestly felt that last night's game was the key to HCA, and honestly feel that for this team to have ANY chance of advancing, that was a necessity. If we lose tonight (highly likely), I think reality sets in and we are out in the first round....perhaps with barely a wimper. DD
