Word. I am convinced that the there would be at least one whining, negative comment in the post-game analysis of a Rockets championship.
Great win. That Von Wafer was the most powerful dunk we have seen in a while for a Rocket. I know the regular season doesn't mean much when the playoffs start but we definitely want Portland in the 1st round.
Good win, but I get the sense this was an off game for the Blazers. They're a young, energetic team and when they get going they're hard to stop. That said, we do seem to match up well defensively against them. (Battier/Artest on Roy, Hayes on LA) If we meet them in the playoffs, Adelman will have to find time for Hayes with Landry back. Also, while they are offensively potent, they don't seem to be all there defensively. The Rockets faced a much weaker defense tonight than we saw previously against the Lakers and the Suns. Credit Adelman with the great substitutions. I liked the idea of going with Lowry for more minutes in the fourth when we have the lead. It made more sense defensively. And Wafer brought the energy and shooting touch in the second half that reminded me of his hot streak earlier this year. When we get Super Von, we're hard to stop.
What a game of Lowry!!! Lowry do need more min. and should start!!! The team plays pretty well with lowry in the 4quarter!!! Lowry is definitely the better choice for the starting PG than AB.
Stop being a damn hypocrite. You know damn well you have criticized Yao in Post Game threads after a win.
Keys to winning a first round: Give the ball to Yao Artest plays under control Brooks plays under control Defense will take care of the rest
We have no problem beating up on these 2nd tier Western Conference teams lately, like Portland, NO, Den, SA, Dal, . It's a matter of holding the 4th quarter lead. Nor the top East teams do we have real problems with. It really is the Western Conference teams that execute efficiently that we have a mental block against, ie., LA and Utah. We play from behind in the 4th vs. these teams, and can't hang. Both of those teams are much deeper than the rest, and Utah particularly didn't have half their team all year, so they weren't hyped as much thru the season. Ironically, these teams have trouble vs. the top East teams, and some of the 2nd tier West teams, except they have no problem with the Rockets! If we can avoid LA/Utah in the first round, I think we have a pretty good chance to make the 2nd round. And hopefully another team knocks out the Utah/LA people to clear a path. Granted, we didn't have Landry the last few times vs. Utah/LA. I just don't see any solutions vs. LA and Utah at the moment given our current rotation. Rick might want to consider moving Wafer and/or Lowry in and out of the starting lineup to test those lineups out before playoff time. I don't know if starting both Artest and Shane is the best idea vs. certain teams where we need dynamic scoring.
Best senerio is Utah drop to 8th, and fight LA firstly. Then we do not need worry two of them. If face LA in west final, Rox will have some chance.
it's easier summarized by just saying they need to spread the offense evenly, rebound, and not turn the ball over too much. That's all they need to win.
This was one sick dunk by Wafer. It was also one good counter to the fronting on Yao. Yao's man fronts to deny Yao the pass. Wafer heads to the basket using the Yao screen, loses his man and Yao's man is nowhere to help block the dunk.
We really, really, really, really, really, really, struggle, struggle, struggle, struggle to get the ball to MING when they front him.
