Game Thread For Today ( against the Kings )

[Julio]

Local: CSNCA FSNHOU
Time: 8:30 pm ET

NBA.COM preview :

http://www.nba.com/games/20081219/SACHOU/preview.html

Artest is expected to play as a reserve again Friday when he faces his former team for the first time since the trade as the Rockets host the Kings.

"You've gotta get Sacramento coming in here," Adelman said. "We've got to come out and play a solid game because after that we've got three more (road) games in a row (in four days)."

Article in the chronicle about Brooks :

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6172664.html

Instead of being pounded by Billups, Brooks had answered with speed, outscoring Billups 18-8 in a 108-96 Rockets win, and answering at least one night’s worth of questions about his ability to step in at the starting point guard spot.

“We were just concerned with what they were going to do with Billups against him. But I felt he had an advantage at the other end. I mean, he’s got the quickness to break the defense down.”

Our Roster :

With the Lakers on a 72-10 pace, Rockets coach Rick Adelman does a head count before practices and games. He might have Brent Barry back tonight against the Sacramento Kings at Toyota Center, but Rafer Alston is out and Ron Artest questionable.

Their team :

[MaxRider]

let's trade Brooks to Sacramento for their dance team

[moofs]

:: nodding frantically ::

[RazorJordan32]

should be a good game...

lets hope the team played the same way in denver

lets not take them lightly

hope Artest does good against his former team

Go H-ToWn Rockets!

[Lebo13]

Should be a good game to watch, nice to see how T-Mac is coming along and I wanna see Ron off the bench again!

GO ROCKETS!!!

[A.J.]

This will be a bad game to watch. With all due respect to the Kings we should win this one easlily. I think they have won 2 games on the road, and they just got their new coach. Im excited to see Bobby Jackson though. I hope we give him a warm reception. I anxious to see Donte Greene, and Kevin Martin play. Donte Greene was my favorite rookie coming out the draft last season. Kevin Martin is hurt so he might not play. That's a shame because I thought for certain he would be an all-star this season.

[abcdef]

Yao is going to have problems guarding Hawes and Miller, who are both perimeter oriented centers that can really shoot. It is likely that the Kings will put Yao's man in pick and pops repeatedly to try to exploit this. Yao needs to compensate at the other end by dominating them.

[TMACFORMVP]

I'd have thought after the Clippers game, there would be no more of those "we win easily," posts. These are the type of games we end up losing, it's been the trend all this season. Salmons is balling, and they have other capable players. If the team comes with no energy tonight, and plays down to their competition after that Nuggets win, then this team has learned nothing.

[jove9]

Hawes is going to OWN Yao. Again.

[MaxRider]

oh no the game is in Houston
so no Kings dancers

[A.J.]

I'd have thought after the Clippers game, there would be no more of those "we win easily," posts. These are the type of games we end up losing, it's been the trend all this season. Salmons is balling, and they have other capable players. If the team comes with no energy tonight, and plays down to their competition after that Nuggets win, then this team has learned nothing.

I know, but I had to say it.

It really should be an easy game for us. No joke. Man I forgot about John Salmons. They guy is having another solid season for the Kings. Averaging close to 20 points a game. Shooting well, and he doesnt turn the ball alot.

[RaoulDuke79]

Well now we can all blame A.J for the inevitable loss!

[A.J.]

I guess I was wrong guys. LOL
The Kings are coming out strong against us tonight. I guess that's what I get for predicting an easy win.

[A.J.]

Both teams have shot the ball well so far. Back and forth scoring.

[Iggyemu]

See this is my fear with Houston. Even if everything start to click..everyone gets and stays healthy....we just don't have the luck it takes to win. There is a measure of luck involved and we don't have it. How else do you explain us playing well on both ends but the Kings of all teams come in shooting like they are 5 Reggie Millers running around out there. All their shots are contested....none of it matters. So as well as we have started..our extremely terrible luck has the Kings hotter than they have been all year on the road.

[A.J.]

Damn..30 points in the 1st quarter? Bad defense by us. Offensively I thought we played well, and I like that we kept on giving the ball to Yao. The Kings don't have an answer for him.

[ShaY]

I am so sick of seeing Luther get playing time.

[A.J.]

I am so sick of seeing Luther get playing time.

Me too man....I would much rather have Wafer out there at SG than Luther, and Francis out there at PG than Luther. Everyone knows Luther is not a fit for this offense.

[TMACFORMVP]

typical Rockets...

[ShaY]

I am so sick of seeing Luther get playing time.

Me too man....I would much rather have Wafer out there at SG than Luther, and Francis out there at PG than Luther. Everyone knows Luther is not a fit for this offense.

His defense is so bad , even though he is short he got some muscles but he is so soft on defense.
And on offense as well , he has athletic ability but throws weak layups in the rare times he drives.
The guy is just soft.