<div align="center"> AT Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Toyota Center, Houston, Texas 0730 PM(CT); TV CH 51 Keys To The Game</div> <font color="blue">Toronto Raptors :</font> The Raptors are one of the hottest team since the new year had begun going 18-8 in that span. The return of Chris Bosh from injury have propelled the Raptors on top in the Atlantic Division. Aside from Bosh the key to their recent success has been the impressive performances of their point guards, namely Ford and Calderon. Andrea Bargnani is beginning to show his worth as a number 1 pick increasing his scoring average as well as gaining confidence as the season goes deeper. Against the Rockets, the Raptors must take advantage of their mobile big men(Bosh,Garbajosa,Bargnani) who have the ability to shoot anywhere in the floor including beyond the arc. This will draw the Rockets frontcourt away from their comfortable positions. The quickness of Ford and Calderon is also an important factor in igniting the pick and roll offense. On defense, they have to match the Rockets intensity especially in their own territory where they have a good record. Always apply pressure on TMAc as he's the spark plug of the the Rockets offense. Winning the battle of the boards is also a key factor. Lastly keep an honest defense to the Rocket's outside shooters. <font color="red">Houston Rockets:</font>The Rockets have cooled off after the All Star break going 2-2.The last loss to the Celtics was an embarassment as they were not able to connect on their outside shots and letting the Celtics crawl back to life. Even without TMac they had all the opportunity to win. With a one day rest everything should be back to normal. The Rockets should be wary of the Raptors as they are one of the teams with better FG%. Keeping the Raptors from having good looks and defending the pick and roll is a must. TMac should start aggressively. Role players should do their job well this time in protecting the paint and perimeter as well as securing rebounds and loose balls. Too many turnovers, allowing lots of FTs and giving up offensive rebounds has been the major cause for the Rockets woes. All of these should be minimized. Hoping TMac gets well and play tonight. <div align="center"></div> This game will be a competitive one. The Rockets should be able to neutralize the mismatches in order to win tonight. Everyone should hope for a good shooting night for the Rockets and forget the disastrous loss the other night. Another off night in shooting would turn the game to the Raptors' favor.
Both teams came off embarrassing losses and this should be a good one. You guys caught a break, because our best perimeter defender (Anthony Parker) is out from a Bruce Bowen undercut. Tracy McGrady will probably get his, but I think Rafer Alston will be a big factor. He's played more in control this season and, as Tony Parker showed on Monday, if he commits to penetrating and drawing the second defender, the Rockets will get a ton of open looks.
If the Rockets don't guard the Raptors well on the perimeter, they'd most likely lose. Head, Alston and Battier need to hit the open shots they get and after Bonzi's great game against Boston, look for him again on offense. If Jorge Garbojosa guards McGrady, TMac could have a field night.
I'd like to see us use more of our bench tonight. Head isn't a superstar, neither is Skip. We can afford stretches without one of them on the court. I'd also like to see Bonzi get 10+ shots and Howard get goin early. Tmac's gonna get his.
Should be a fun matchup tonight, we need this win desperately for numerous reasons.....I hope this isn't close come the 4th quarter, because our execution has been piss poor as of late....go rockets!!!!
Man ive been busy last week and this week but I hope the rockets win... Sorry for not doin the previews ill be back on it next week....
Since Im studying for an exam, I'm not watching tv. Is the Rockets defense that bad or is toronto just playing really well.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Since Im studying for an exam, I'm not watching tv. Is the Rockets defense that bad or is toronto just playing really well.</div> A little of both, but once again it's like pulling teeth to score with the Rockets.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You guys caught a break, because our best perimeter defender (Anthony Parker) is out from a Bruce Bowen undercut. </div> Don't even go there ... YOU GUYS are lucky Yao isn't playing.
<div class="quote_poster">Pakman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Don't even go there ... YOU GUYS are lucky Yao isn't playing. </div> Go where? Anyways, you guys didn't really take advantage of it. The Rockets made a nice run in the 3rd, but were shooting way too many 3 pointers. The Raps showed some nice depth tonight.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Go where? Anyways, you guys didn't really take advantage of it. The Rockets made a nice run in the 3rd, but were shooting way too many 3 pointers. The Raps showed some nice depth tonight.</div> Yea, Rockets are in a slump. Raptors played good and they won. I was saying dont even complain about Anthony Parker being out, we dont have Yao. Anyways, wanna make a sig-bet for the next game?
Well, that was another crappy loss. Toronto was impressive though, so give them credit. They're much better than I thought. There were some terrible substitutions in the fourth quarter, in my opinion. And where was Snyder? He couldn't even get into the game in garbage time, when we went with 3 PGs. Bizarre.
I wonder are the rockets addicted too much to shot 3s lately? when we start jacking up threes like nuts, we lose for sure. Confusing....
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, that was another crappy loss. Toronto was impressive though, so give them credit. They're much better than I thought. There were some terrible substitutions in the fourth quarter, in my opinion. And where was Snyder? He couldn't even get into the game in garbage time, when we went with 3 PGs. Bizarre.</div> I was wondering the same thing. I can't understand JVG's rotation or reasoning behind his subs. If a team is obviously outquicking you, you'd think he'd play his quicker players. I've seen Snyder give Dirk fits on defense. Why wouldn't we atleast try him on Bargani? Snyder would excel in a up and down game like tonight. I must say that Howard has played like a complete bum last few games. I can't even deny this.............. The reason we're losing games is because Tmac hasn't had his superman cape on. I've said this before, we depend entirely too much on Tmac to win games for us. If we utitilized everybody on the court and found more creative ways on offense, we'd have better chemistry when Mcgrady has an off night. The only play we run without Tmac is Luther comin off a screen. No movement, no cutting, or penetration. All of which Snyder does effectivley
Great play by Toronto and T-Mac. These young athletic teams are a problem for the Rockets. I wonder where Snyder and JVG's head have been lately. <div class="quote_poster">tracymcgrady_01 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Man ive been busy last week and this week but I hope the rockets win... Sorry for not doin the previews ill be back on it next week....</div> hmmm, ever since you stopped doing the previews we have started losing games moreso than winning games.
So what do you guys think of Andrea Bargnani? I'm pretty sure it was most Rockets fans first game they saw of him.
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So what do you guys think of Andrea Bargnani? I'm pretty sure it was most Rockets fans first game they saw of him.</div> I didn't realize he was this good already. He'll be very good, I think. Closer to Dirk than Turkoglu, if you want to make the Euro comparison.
Yea, I thought Bryan Colangelo was either blowing a smoke screen or just an idiot when they said they wanted to draft Andrea Bargnani with their first rounder. Turns out I was wrong, and Bargnani has a bright future ahead of him. He's not as raw as I thought he would be, rather NBA ready. It's a good thing Toronto is in the east, because the last thing the Rockets need is another run and gun athletic team to compete with.
