Nets-Rockets Game Thread 1/13/05

[bbwSwish]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="3">New Jersey (12-22) at Houston (18-17)</font>

Game Info: 8:00 pm EST Thu Jan 13, 2005
TV: TNT, KNWS

After a sluggish start to the season, the Houston Rockets are finally starting to shoot with a purpose.

The Rockets will look to climb two games above .500 for the first time this season when they host the New Jersey Nets.

Houston is coming off a 124-114 victory over Dallas on Wednesday, its seventh win in its last nine. Tracy McGrady scored 30 points and matched a season high with 11 assists, despite injuring his toe early on.

``I was in one of those zones,'' said McGrady, who shot 6-of-8 from 3-point range. ``When I saw daylight, I was confident I was going to knock the shot down.''

Offensively, the Rockets are finally starting to jell. Houston scored 116 in a win over Denver on Sunday and is averaging 104.9 over the last 13 games after putting up just 86.9 over their first 22 games.

The Rockets are 8-5 during their scoring outburst.

``We've got a lot of shooters on this team,'' center Yao Ming said. ``That really stretches the defense out. The last two games, we've really had great chemistry.''

While the Rockets are starting to find their groove, the Nets are struggling to find themselves. As if the team's 12-21 start wasn't bad enough, New Jersey found out on Tuesday that All-Star forward Richard Jefferson is done for the season.

Jefferson needs surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left wrist, meaning the Nets will have to make do without their leading scorer and rebounder just 3 1/2 weeks after acquiring another proven scorer in Vince Carter.

``It's tough, we were just talking about it (Monday) and he wasn't sure what the doctors were going to say,'' Carter said.

Prior to Jefferson's injury the Nets had lost four of five. Now that they won't be getting his consistent 22.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per night, a run at the playoffs looks even more daunting.

His loss was felt immediately as the Nets struggled to score in Tuesday's 89-80 loss to Detroit.

``Well, we have to win games before we can think about the playoffs,'' point guard Jason Kidd said. ``We can keep saying 'What if, what if?' and before you know it the playoffs will be here and we'll be on vacation.''</div>

Link: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2005011310

<u>My Prediction</u>: I think the Nets will win this game 92-87. We have to contain Yao inside and can't let him dominate this game. Vince Carter has to play good defense on Tracy McGrady and chip in some points if we want to win this game. It should be a good game and I look forward to watching it.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

Darn, the Nets were close in this nail-biter game, but they just did not have it to finish. I closed my eyes every time Sura got the ball....that dude got soooo many lucky shots and plays, that I am not even going to say that they were lucky.

I liked what I saw from Carter early in the game with his passing, but then he started to make mistakes late in the game...I did not like Kidd's shot selection lately: too many three point attempts down the stretch.

I kinda wish that Sura never existed, but what can you do...the dude had a tremendous game and I have to concede and accept that the Nets lost.

Jefferson's absence was felt strongly, as the Nets had thier infamous and heart-breaking offensive droughts.

 

[JKiddAST125]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting xpehbamxyu:</div><div class="quote_post">I liked what I saw from Carter early in the game with his passing, but then he started to make mistakes late in the game...I did not like Kidd's shot selection lately: too many three point attempts down the stretch.</div>

I totally agree. Early in the game, Vince made an awesome move to the hoop, and as Yao came over to double he wisely made a very nice pass around him and got it to Kristic who finished it off nicely. Kidd needs to slow down a bit and survey the floor when he gets those looks. Hes rushing to shoot the 3 and he isnt making the right choices.

This was the first game Ive been able to see in a while, and I was impressed with how well Kristic played tonight. If this guy keeps developing well, we might have a force to be reckoned with down low for once. Granted his size is smaller now with his 7' frame, but things are promising.

 

[Dan Le]

Boring Match, either both teams defense was great or both teams offense was disgraceful, i'm gonna say the offense was bad. You guys put up a great fight though!

 

[bbwSwish]

That was good game by the Nets. I sawa couple things I liked in that game.

1. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd were getting everyone involved and making great plays in the clutch. When there was 2:00 left Carter and Kidd kept their poise and lead us to overtime.

2. We contained Yao Ming. He played terrible out there and that's terrific for a team with no frontline. Krstic and Collins played great and got majority of the rebounds.

That was a great game and the Nets played well on national T.V.

 

[littlereynolds5]

I dont know. I dont think Kristic will be a dominant force in the post because he is not as phisical as he needs to be. He will never be a Kevin Garnett or a Shaq and i think hes just taking up space on the floor.

 

[bbwSwish]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting littlereynolds5:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont know. I dont think Kristic will be a dominant force in the post because he is not as phisical as he needs to be. He will never be a Kevin Garnett or a Shaq and i think hes just taking up space on the floor.</div>

I know he won't be a Kevin Garnett or Shaq but I think he will be a good player in the post. He won't be a superstar but I can see him being a decent player who gets 10 points and 10 rebounds a night. Shaq and Kevin Garnett are on a different level than anyone in the NBA so I don't expect Krstic to be as dominant as them.

 

[Smoke]

the nets really impressed me in this game. they showed a lot of heart to be majorly underhanded in this competition.

 

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont know. I dont think Kristic will be a dominant force in the post because he is not as phisical as he needs to be. He will never be a Kevin Garnett or a Shaq and i think hes just taking up space on the floor.</div>

If you're looking for the next KG or Shaq, you'll never find them. Not physical enough? He gets so many fouls for being overly physical on defense or banging too much in the paint. I just don't think you watch him play.

 

[Ma3oxuct]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting littlereynolds5:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont know. I dont think Kristic will be a dominant force in the post because he is not as phisical as he needs to be. He will never be a Kevin Garnett or a Shaq and i think hes just taking up space on the floor.</div>

Not physical enough!!! I saw him battling Yao as if Yao was 5-11 inches, he pulled down rebounds over him, boxed him out and was able keep Yao a non-factor in the game. He is physical and will continue to become more physical.

For some reason, he reminds me of Vlade Divac when he was young, but such an assesment does not fit in well right now.

I do not think that Kristic can be compared to any player or though of become like a certain player...he seems like a unique big man who can shoot, rebound, defend and score well down low. Not that other player cant do that, but his technique of doing those things seems different; maybe its Cartwright's influence on him, but I did not watch old school basketball.

In conclusion I think that he will become a good, productive player, and someone who a team can rely on to score the ball when given it down low and to defend. I do not think the he will become a star or a franchise player, but he will become a very good role player.

 

[Tesh15]

it was a awesome game which the nets should have won but the fell apart in overtime maybe because of fatique

 

[JKiddAST125]

Fatigue and losing Vince and Twin to fouls