When: January 28, 2009
Time: 7:30pm
Houston Rockets
Projected Lineup:
PG: Rafer Alston
SG: Tracy McGrady
SF: Shane Battier
PF: Luis Scola
C: Yao Ming
Philadelphia 76ers
Projected Lineup
PG: Andre Miller
SG: Andre Iguodala
SF: Thaddeus Young
PF: Elton Brand
C: Samuel Dalembert
NBA TV Preview
The Houston Rockets got two former All-Stars back from injury over the weekend, but that didn't stop them from blowing a late lead in their last game. They hope the return of Yao Ming goes a little more smoothly.
Yao could come back from a two-game absence and play alongside teammates Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest for the first time in nearly a month as the Rockets host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night
The Rockets, though, are still struggling to re-adjust to having their stars back in the lineup, as evidenced by the lack of ball movement late in their 104-98 loss to New York on Monday night.
McGrady went 7-for-20 from the field and Artest was 4-for-19. They combined to miss all nine of their shots - including eight 3-point attempts - in the final four minutes. Houston was outscored 12-4 in that stretch.
"We didn't play team ball," point guard Rafer Alston told the Rockets' official Web site. "We were very selfish tonight. They were able to capitalize on our selfishness. We have to decide whether we're going to play one-on-one or we're going to pass the ball to each other and play team ball.
"Not playing with energy on both ends, being lazy, not running up and down the court, not sharing the basketball, not setting solid screens, it's just selfishness."
Reserve guard Brent Barry thinks the Rockets will eventually put it all together, but knows it won't happen immediately.
"We have no quick fixes for getting Ron and Tracy back into the game, and back into the way we need to play," he said. "It's going to take some time."
The Rockets hope it's a little easier with Yao back in the middle. Yao missed his second consecutive game Monday with a sore right knee, but hopes to play against the 76ers.
"Compared to yesterday I feel much better," the 7-foot-6 All-Star said Monday.
Houston hasn't had its three leading scorers play in the same game since a Jan. 2 loss to Toronto.
Philadelphia (21-22) got its own big man back over the weekend when Elton Brand returned from a 16-game absence due to a dislocated shoulder.
The Sixers beat the Rockets 104-96 on Jan. 6 to start a seven-game win streak, their only run of more than three games this season.
Andre Iguodala had 28 points and went 12-for-19 from the field in that game. He's averaging 20.3 points and shooting 56.4 percent (22-for-39) during Philadelphia's three-game win streak against Houston.
My Keys to the Game:
1. Play with intensity
2. Guard the Paint
3. Get the big man going
4. Play our type of defense
