At the end of the first quarter, Rockets are up 23-18.
The game started out pretty slow and sloppy, but the Rockets started to pick it up midway into the game.
Phoenix went on a 6-0 run to end the quarter.
Rockets need to continue to play good defense and take good shots.
Friday, March 6, 2009
3/6/09 Suns @ Rockets Pre-Game
The last time the Phoenix Suns and the Houston Rockets faced each other, the game was halted for a scuffle between several players from each team.
Suns' forward Matt Barnes and now Orlando guard Rafer Alston got into each others face in the 94-82 Rockets win.
Alston took offense to Barnes' hard pick in the third quarter of that Nov. 12 game and a few possessions later, Alston shoved back.
Tracy McGrady came to Alstons' defense and Steve Nash the same for Barnes. McGrady and Nash got into it and Alston shoved Nash, the Shaquille O'Neal came over and started plowing any Rocket in sight.
Alston and Barnes were ejected and suspended.
Much has changed since that November night in Phoenix. For the Rockets (39-23), McGrady is out for this season and for the foreseeable future, Alston was traded to the Orlando Magic and the style of offense has changed.
For the Suns (34-27), Amar'e Stoudemire had his season cut short due to a detached retina, head coach Terry Porter was dumped at the All-Star break and the Phoenix picked up the tempo under head coach Alvin Gentry.
Both teams are coming off losses on the road.
The Rockets fought tough in the 101-94 loss to the Utah Jazz, while Phoenix was out gunned by Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat 135-129.
Both teams like to get up-and-down the floor, but only Houston is committed to playing defense.
While the Shaq vs. Yao should be mentioned, look for each of them to cancel each other out. The more interesting match-up is Nash and Aaron Brooks. Neither play well on the defensive side of the ball and both shoot well. The only difference is Nash's supremely better ball-handling skills. Look for a big game from both players.
This should be a close and up-tempo game. Look for the score to be in the century mark for both teams. The Rockets take pleasure in opposing teams taking jumpshots, but Phoenix is a great shooting team. Harass Nash and for the Suns to turn the ball over and take tough, late shots and the Rockets should record its 11th straight in at home.
Suns' forward Matt Barnes and now Orlando guard Rafer Alston got into each others face in the 94-82 Rockets win.
Alston took offense to Barnes' hard pick in the third quarter of that Nov. 12 game and a few possessions later, Alston shoved back.
Tracy McGrady came to Alstons' defense and Steve Nash the same for Barnes. McGrady and Nash got into it and Alston shoved Nash, the Shaquille O'Neal came over and started plowing any Rocket in sight.
Alston and Barnes were ejected and suspended.
Much has changed since that November night in Phoenix. For the Rockets (39-23), McGrady is out for this season and for the foreseeable future, Alston was traded to the Orlando Magic and the style of offense has changed.
For the Suns (34-27), Amar'e Stoudemire had his season cut short due to a detached retina, head coach Terry Porter was dumped at the All-Star break and the Phoenix picked up the tempo under head coach Alvin Gentry.
Both teams are coming off losses on the road.
The Rockets fought tough in the 101-94 loss to the Utah Jazz, while Phoenix was out gunned by Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat 135-129.
Both teams like to get up-and-down the floor, but only Houston is committed to playing defense.
While the Shaq vs. Yao should be mentioned, look for each of them to cancel each other out. The more interesting match-up is Nash and Aaron Brooks. Neither play well on the defensive side of the ball and both shoot well. The only difference is Nash's supremely better ball-handling skills. Look for a big game from both players.
This should be a close and up-tempo game. Look for the score to be in the century mark for both teams. The Rockets take pleasure in opposing teams taking jumpshots, but Phoenix is a great shooting team. Harass Nash and for the Suns to turn the ball over and take tough, late shots and the Rockets should record its 11th straight in at home.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
3/3/09 Raptors @ Rockets Post-Game
Rockets win 107-97
Rockets started slow in both the first and third quarters but managed to make runs to in both quarters to hold off the Raptors.
A couple late 3-pointers put some separation between the two teams.
Yao, Scola and Landry played well as a front court. It's good to see Landry back out there for the Rockets and looks like that ankle isn't bothering him any more.
Brooks struggled a bit, more so not being aggressive than anything else.
Rockets have an extremely tough test tomorrow going to Utah.
Rockets started slow in both the first and third quarters but managed to make runs to in both quarters to hold off the Raptors.
A couple late 3-pointers put some separation between the two teams.
Yao, Scola and Landry played well as a front court. It's good to see Landry back out there for the Rockets and looks like that ankle isn't bothering him any more.
Brooks struggled a bit, more so not being aggressive than anything else.
Rockets have an extremely tough test tomorrow going to Utah.
3/3/09 Raptors @ Rockets End of 3rd
Rockets 77-72.
Raptors tied and took the lead in the third quarter but the Rockets fought back and regained the lead to finish the quarter.
Toronto started to front Yao using Chris Bosh. The bench came in and did a nice job. Luis Scola is playing extremely well, he has 16 points and 15 rebounds through three quarters.
Raptors tied and took the lead in the third quarter but the Rockets fought back and regained the lead to finish the quarter.
Toronto started to front Yao using Chris Bosh. The bench came in and did a nice job. Luis Scola is playing extremely well, he has 16 points and 15 rebounds through three quarters.
3/3/09 Raptors @ Rockets Halftime
Rockets 57-49.
Raptors cooled off and the Rockets caught fire. Rockets playing good defense and having Landry back makes a big difference.
Yao is playing well on offense but defensively, struggling a little bit.
Raptors cooled off and the Rockets caught fire. Rockets playing good defense and having Landry back makes a big difference.
Yao is playing well on offense but defensively, struggling a little bit.
3/3/09 Raptors @ Rockets End of 1st
Raptors up 26-20.
Toronto started the game on fire. Chris Both was making Yao come out and guard him. This might be a long game if the Raptors continue to hit their jumpers.
Toronto started the game on fire. Chris Both was making Yao come out and guard him. This might be a long game if the Raptors continue to hit their jumpers.
3/3/09 Raptors @ Rockets Pre-Game
The Houston Rockets worst defeat might have come in the hands of Chris Bosh and Co. with a sound 94-73 shlacking back on Jan. 2.
The Rockets (38-22) road woes continued on Saturday when they gave up a 17-point lead to the Bulls in the fourth quarter, which broke Houston's six-game winning streak.
Houston has another winning streak up at home the Raptors (23-38) can end tonight, a nine-game home winning streak.
The biggest problem for Houston has been the inability to finish the game. It wasn't just against Chicago, but the Rockets have had problems finishing the Blazers and Mavericks last week.
The Raptors have not been able to get a road win since the All-Star break (0-3). Toronto has also been horrendous in the first quarter, allowing more than 30 points in each of the three road losses.
Another problem for Houston has been its record against the East, a 14-12 mark. If the Rockets want to start establishing itself has an elite team, then wins need to come against teams with sub .500 record and teams coming out of the East.
A bright spot in some of the inconsistency is Ron Artest, Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. They've played well and they will be key players down the stretch.
For Toronto, the addition of forward Shawn Marion hasn't been necessarily been the spark they were looking for. Since the Jermaine O'Neal, Marion swap with Miami, the Raptors are 2-4. Marion is, however, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
It'll be Shane Battier's job to keep those numbers to a minimum.
The Rockets should win this game easily, but the Rockets have lost a lot of games this season they should have won easily.
The Rockets (38-22) road woes continued on Saturday when they gave up a 17-point lead to the Bulls in the fourth quarter, which broke Houston's six-game winning streak.
Houston has another winning streak up at home the Raptors (23-38) can end tonight, a nine-game home winning streak.
The biggest problem for Houston has been the inability to finish the game. It wasn't just against Chicago, but the Rockets have had problems finishing the Blazers and Mavericks last week.
The Raptors have not been able to get a road win since the All-Star break (0-3). Toronto has also been horrendous in the first quarter, allowing more than 30 points in each of the three road losses.
Another problem for Houston has been its record against the East, a 14-12 mark. If the Rockets want to start establishing itself has an elite team, then wins need to come against teams with sub .500 record and teams coming out of the East.
A bright spot in some of the inconsistency is Ron Artest, Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry. They've played well and they will be key players down the stretch.
For Toronto, the addition of forward Shawn Marion hasn't been necessarily been the spark they were looking for. Since the Jermaine O'Neal, Marion swap with Miami, the Raptors are 2-4. Marion is, however, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.
It'll be Shane Battier's job to keep those numbers to a minimum.
The Rockets should win this game easily, but the Rockets have lost a lot of games this season they should have won easily.
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