even by just looking at the boxscore, he should know that tmac played a good game..maybe not scoring-wise but he was close to getting another triple double finishing with 8 rebounds and 9 assists. I guess tmac has to score 40 a night to shut the haters up
we all have to understand tmac's orlando scoring days are over. the most consistent part of his offensive game is now his passing and making others better. you can see how aggressive luther and brooks were when tmac passes out of the doubles in the 2nd half. i'm sure he'll score his usual 25-30 pts in the playoffs. but the most consistent part of his offense is no longer his scoring, but the passing game. but you can see tmac taking it easier in the 2nd half. since they doubled him every time he stepped inside the 3pt line, he didn't even look to drive. he wasn't aggressive in the 2nd half and rightfully so. let him relax.
What I don't get is on the night we clinch a playoff berth, the members here being so critical of various players. Why the hate? Congrats to the Rockets on making the playoffs. You guys have overcome a ton of obstacles, played together as a team and have great chemistry.
Luther DID have a good game tonight, of course he still had a couple messups. Overall, though it was a good game from him.
Nothin like the Clippers to right our ship. A few things I noticed about this game: Positives: 1. 48% shooting, 81.5% free throw shooting! For Scola in particular I think it's a sign that he's settling in finally and is going to shoot better than his season FT% for the rest of the year. 2. 24 assists, 6 players in double figures with Mutombo #7 at 8pts. I don't care who the opponent was, this is the kind of basketball that we were playing after Yao got injured and the kind we got away from after Landry got injured. Even against the scrubs we weren't beating them like this (see Seattle and Portland recently). 3. Aaron Brooks. He really looks like he regained the confidence in his shot that got so many of us excited at the beginning of the year. By midseason it looked like the grind of the NBA had gotten to him and he stopped believing in his outside shot, but he's making his threes more recently. This Rafer injury actually occurred at a pretty decent time, we've been worse with him out to be sure, but Aaron Brooks is actually pushing Bobby Jackson for the backup spot now. Negatives: 1. Carl Landry, 16min 4pts. Who are you and what have you done with Carl Landry?!! I want the old one back, the one who was healthy and would dunk every ball that touched his hands within 5 ft of the rim. 2. Tracy McGrady, 5-16 shooting with 1-5 threes and many bad decision shots. I'm actually not too distraught here. This is just who T-Mac is. We pull our hair out when he's cold and just fall off our chairs laughing when he's hot. He'll get hot again, when it happens we won't know and can't do a thing to control. He had 9 assists so he realized that he wasn't on either. Maybe this cold spell is his own way of trying to peak during the playoffs. 3. Rafer DNP. The Rockets haven't really talked much about his injury which makes it cause for worry abit. We need him badly for the games against Utah Phoenix and Denver, and of course, for the playoffs.
I have to totally agree. Normally I just troll the boards, but enough is enough. Rockets just won by 26, moved up to the 5th spot, on a 3 game winning streak, playing better defense, bench is playing well & contributing, and of course THEY ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS. We should be celebrating, not being so damn critical of every player. So what Tmac did not score 30+, did he really have to this game? The closest Clippers got in the second half was 13. I guess most of the fans on this board is expecting that every player suited up in a Rockets uniform should play perfect ball. Remember guys/gals, this is a team sport. We should be thrilled to have such a solid bench this year. Just kick back in the lazy chair, crack open that beer and wait to hear on ESPN how the Rockets have clinch playoff berth and how Denver can't play a lick of defense. Back to trolling ....
ummm rafer has missed the past 3 games, and in the past 3 games we are 3-0. additionally, in the last 5 games we are 3-2; in which, the 2 losses came with rafer in the starting 5. SO, you are wrong.
just got back from Staples Center, where the clutchfans were loud and proud! the seats were amazing, just two rows behind courtside (Penny Marshall and Frankie Muniz were chatting it up during the whole game- what is this, Hollywood social hour?) the Clippers crowds are always a bit tamer, and much nicer to be a fan of the opponent versus the self-entitled Lakers bandwagon. the best part of the evening, for me, was getting to meet Mr. Gene Peterson and thanking him for such an incredible body of work. Craig Ackerman was there too... props to the fans in sections 110-113, alot of you guys in the expensive seats making noise... HOW SWEET IT IS, ROCKETS CLINCH
Hmm...no. The Rockets played terribly for most of the Portland and Seattle wins with Rafer out. We are a worse team this year with Rafer out. It's been proven every time he's sat games out. The fact that we're 3-0 with him out is just a testament to the weak competition. The silver lining is that Aaron Brooks is playing again, and playing well. Bobby Jackson has played about the same with Rafer in or out, which is to say not so great. But he's 35, slower, and was never a 3pt sharpshooter, so he is what he is. A serviceable backup, but nothing special even where backups are concerned.
a W is a W... and rafer is 40 for 118 in his last 8 games played.. so, when he is throwing up bricks, no we are not a better team.
Great win, but I don't think Tracy should have played so many minutes with his shoulder hurting. But we needed to make sure we won this game. It was great to see so many Rocket fans at Staples Center. Hopefully we get an even better crowd if we play the Lakers in the playoffs.
Lol brooksball, you got some serious unneeded hate, but dun worry i wont talk smack bout u the way u did when i publicly stated i don't like lebron. AS FOR COPTER. Well, mr. stephen a. smith junior always have sumthin to say. Guess 8 rebs n 9 assists aint good enuough for u? For those of u worried bout playoffs, have no fear cause t-mac is here. Sure he is cold recently, but he is a better playoff performer than kobe, n he has been considered one of the best playoff performer in nba history. He'll definately show up like last year, n every year before that
Nice win. We are now clear for the playoffs!!! We ll have to win to get the home court advantage and the 5th spot.
A very important to clinch the playoffs berth. Now I just wonder whether we could chase SAS or Lakers.
Right now we are in the playoffs for 100% but we still don't know which seed. I'd like us to finish 5th cause than we will have hca against Jazz. If we are 3rd we will probably face Phoenix so I don't like it, Jazz matchup is okay for me
