purpleb0n9
JBB JustBBall Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2004
- Messages
- 968
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 16
<div align="center">
@
<font color="red">Houston Rockets (43-28)</font> @ <font color="black">Portland Trail Blazers (24-45)</font>
Time: Sat, Mar. 30, 2005, 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time
TV: NBALP
Place: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
---
Ballers: <font color="red">Yao Ming</font> ( C), <font color="red">Clarence Weatherspoon</font> (PF), <font color="red">Tracy McGrady</font> (SF), <font color="red">David Wesley</font> (SG), <font color="red">Bob Sura</font> (PG)
Top bench baller: <font color="red">Dikembe Mutombo</font>
Coach: <font color="red">Jeff Van Gundy</font> (88-65 overall with Rockets)
---
Ballers: <font color="black">Joel Przybilla</font> ( C), <font color="black">Shareef Abdur Rahim</font> (PF), <font color="black">Darius Miles</font> (SF), <font color="black">Damon Stoudamire</font> (SG), <font color="black">Sebastian Telfair</font> (PG)
Top bench baller: <font color="black">Travis Outlaw</font>
Coach: <font color="black">Kevin Pritchard</font> (2-12 overall as interim coach)
<font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="orange">Ballers</font>:</font>
<font color="red">Yao Ming: 27 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.</font>
<font color="black">Damon Stoudamire: 31 pts, 6 assists, 3 steals.</font>
<font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Team</font> <font color="Orange">Analysis</font>:</font>
<font color="red">- Houston:</font> The Rockets have been quite a force in the last two months, losing only 7 out of 26 games. The acquisitions of veterans David Wesley, Jon Barry, and Bob Sura have played a major role in the team's more crisp passing, penetration, and especially outside shooting. But as always outside shooting can make or break a team... in the last three losses they shot only 12 of 50 from the arc (just 24%). On offense, Yao should take advantage of his mismatch (actually he's a mismatch every night with the exception of Shaq), post down low and score lots of easy buckets. If he is doubled, as a big man's job it's his duty to spot an open shooter or basically just give the ball to T-Mac, who was scorching with 44 pts on 15 of 21 shooting. I don't think he's going to blow up like that again simply because it takes a lot out of him. I think we're going to see the ball distributed evenly.
<font color="black">- Portland:</font> Since the coaching change, the Blazers seemed to get even worse, and everybody who cares about this team basically knows they're already looking forward to next season. One of Pritchard's main duties is to nurture young players such as rookie Sebastian Telfair by giving him more playing time and calling plays through him. The organization wants to know if they can afford letting Damon go this summer, now that Van Exel is also considering retirement. Another young player that seems to have some serious potential (and hops) is second year man Travis Outlaw, who has scored 25 pts on 12-22 overall shooting (54.5%) in the last two games. He's definitely one of the few bright spots thesedays for the Blazers organization and fans.
<font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Predict</font><font color="Orange">ion</font>:</font>
This game is no contest, the Rockets will come out and seize control early. The lead will be 12 at halftime, 18 entering the fourth quarter, and they'll hang on to win this 105-90.</div>


<font color="red">Houston Rockets (43-28)</font> @ <font color="black">Portland Trail Blazers (24-45)</font>
Time: Sat, Mar. 30, 2005, 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time
TV: NBALP
Place: Rose Garden, Portland, OR
---

Ballers: <font color="red">Yao Ming</font> ( C), <font color="red">Clarence Weatherspoon</font> (PF), <font color="red">Tracy McGrady</font> (SF), <font color="red">David Wesley</font> (SG), <font color="red">Bob Sura</font> (PG)
Top bench baller: <font color="red">Dikembe Mutombo</font>
Coach: <font color="red">Jeff Van Gundy</font> (88-65 overall with Rockets)
---

Ballers: <font color="black">Joel Przybilla</font> ( C), <font color="black">Shareef Abdur Rahim</font> (PF), <font color="black">Darius Miles</font> (SF), <font color="black">Damon Stoudamire</font> (SG), <font color="black">Sebastian Telfair</font> (PG)
Top bench baller: <font color="black">Travis Outlaw</font>
Coach: <font color="black">Kevin Pritchard</font> (2-12 overall as interim coach)
<font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="orange">Ballers</font>:</font>


<font color="red">Yao Ming: 27 pts, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.</font>
<font color="black">Damon Stoudamire: 31 pts, 6 assists, 3 steals.</font>
<font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Team</font> <font color="Orange">Analysis</font>:</font>
<font color="red">- Houston:</font> The Rockets have been quite a force in the last two months, losing only 7 out of 26 games. The acquisitions of veterans David Wesley, Jon Barry, and Bob Sura have played a major role in the team's more crisp passing, penetration, and especially outside shooting. But as always outside shooting can make or break a team... in the last three losses they shot only 12 of 50 from the arc (just 24%). On offense, Yao should take advantage of his mismatch (actually he's a mismatch every night with the exception of Shaq), post down low and score lots of easy buckets. If he is doubled, as a big man's job it's his duty to spot an open shooter or basically just give the ball to T-Mac, who was scorching with 44 pts on 15 of 21 shooting. I don't think he's going to blow up like that again simply because it takes a lot out of him. I think we're going to see the ball distributed evenly.
<font color="black">- Portland:</font> Since the coaching change, the Blazers seemed to get even worse, and everybody who cares about this team basically knows they're already looking forward to next season. One of Pritchard's main duties is to nurture young players such as rookie Sebastian Telfair by giving him more playing time and calling plays through him. The organization wants to know if they can afford letting Damon go this summer, now that Van Exel is also considering retirement. Another young player that seems to have some serious potential (and hops) is second year man Travis Outlaw, who has scored 25 pts on 12-22 overall shooting (54.5%) in the last two games. He's definitely one of the few bright spots thesedays for the Blazers organization and fans.
<font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Predict</font><font color="Orange">ion</font>:</font>
This game is no contest, the Rockets will come out and seize control early. The lead will be 12 at halftime, 18 entering the fourth quarter, and they'll hang on to win this 105-90.</div>