Houston vs. Utah - Series Utah leads (3-2)

[Texas Longhorns]

( 4 ) Utah Jazz (54-28 ) vs. ( 5 ) Houston Rockets (55-27)

*Houston has home court advantage in this series by virtue of better record.

Link to game thread 1
Link to game thread 2
Link to game thread 3
Link to game thread 4
Link to game thread 5

Game 1 - Sat April 19 - JAZZ 93 @ ROCKETS 82 FINAL
Game 2 - Mon April 21 - JAZZ 90 @ ROCKETS 84 FINAL
Game 3 - Thu April 24 - ROCKETS 94 @ JAZZ 92 FINAL
Game 4 - Sat April 26 - ROCKETS 82 @ JAZZ 86 FINAL
Game 5 - Tue April 29 - JAZZ 69 @ ROCKETS 95 FINAL
Game 6 - Live on ESPN
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Utah at Houston TBD TBD
* if necessary

REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Jazz lead 2-1
Nov. 1: Rockets 106 at Jazz 95
Jan. 27: Jazz 97 at Rockets 89
Apr. 14: at Jazz 105, Rockets 96

Projected Starting Lineup



PG - Deron Williams
SG - Ronnie Brewer
SF - Andrei Kirilenko
PF - Carlos Boozer
C- Mehmet Okur

Projected Starting Lineup



PG - Rafer Alston
SG - Tracy McGrady
SF - Shane Battier
PF - Luis Scola
C - Dikembe Mutombo

*******************************************************

Utah still has a 3-2 lead in the series going into game 6. The Jazz got stumped by the Rockets as the Rockets held them to only 69 points and won by 26 points, by far the biggest defeat in the series so far. Utah will look to come out and put it on the Rockets early in game 6 with their crowd early, but can the Rockets hold on or will they be blown out? Game 6 of this series will be on Friday May 2, 10:30 PM EST on ESPN after the first game (Boston vs. Atlanta game 6).

[Last Guardian]

Houston will push this to 7.

[Dinky Bits]

I love how our guys have no respect for the Jazz. Mutombo guarantees a win.

http://www.click2houston.com/video/16116835/index.html

[Texas Longhorns]

Mutombo is dumb. We will lose now. DAMNIT! We just pissed off the Jazz more than they already were after that brutal defeat. We are going to get our asses handed to us.

[A.J.]

Deke is a great guy. I hope he backs up his word.

[Dinky Bits]

Please. We have zero pressure to win this game. True, we spanked them hard, which pissed them off, but it also gave us the confidence necessary to get another in SLC.

[hayden]

in deke i trust.

[carrottop12]

I hope Deron does to Mutombo what he did to Battier.

[etopn23]

I hope Mutombo does to Deron what he did to McGrady and Landry.

[carrottop12]

I hope McGrady does to the Jazz what he's done to everyone other first round match up he's had.

[eatyourchildren]

Dear Rockets and Jazz,

Please go to 7 games. Thanks.


Signed,
Lakers fans everywhere.

[Dinky Bits]

If you think about it, this really is a lose-lose situation for Utah. Either deal with the embarrassment of losing to a team decimated with injuries, or face a second round sweep at the hands of Kome. As far as the Rockets go, there's no fear. We're still supposed to lose this series.

Luckily, I'm still expecting an epic collapse from the Jizzies.

[cjs55]

Bounce back game at home after a blowout? Rockets overconfident?

Doesn't look good for the Rox. I would never guarantee a victory with this inconsistent Jazz team, but this game is as close as I'd come to it.

[RoxFan08]

ROX IN 7! CLUTCH CITY RETURNS!

[YaoisGodsAnswer]

Rockets lose 98-82. Lack of scoring and AK break Tmac's back in many places.

[Young_Star11]

Utah has to win tomorrow night, otherwise they will finally lose control of the series.

[HTown34s]

Gaddammit Rockets fans get a friggin backbone. I mean I know we're the fair weather city capital of the world but some of you fold faster than a damn wet wipe.

- When Yao went down, you were predicting brimstone & fire

- When fellow Rox fan creates a "How long will the streak last" thread a rare case of extreme paranoia breaks out thru Rockets Nation.

- Now that Deke makes a gimmicky guarantee, you're ready to tap out.

WTF, I'll be damned if I'm ready to concede defeat just yet. Clutch city baby, we can do this.

[Ern III]

This trembling Jazz fan is filling his shorts at the prospect of a Game Seven. I'm very, very worried about these Rockets. They completely outplayed Utah in every facet on Tuesday, and reading through the Deseret News, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of conviction in the words of the Jazz players interviewed. It doesn't feel good.

Edit: Plus, we have Matt Harpring.

[Rive]

Houston...

Ohhhh, Houston....

I cannot wait until about eleven o'clock tonight when this is all over and we don't have to play you guys again.

You guys kicked our butts in game 5... and it was perfect. As in the perfect way for Houston to play in their home finale of the season. It was great for your fans, great for your players, but all-in-all just another delay of the inevitable.

If our bench shows up AT ALL, you guys will be done by the six minute mark in the fourth.

I can't wait to read all the "Well, we had a great season" and "People didn't expect us to win more than 1 game, I'm happy with it" type of posts tonight after you lose and fade into the offseason. I'll fully enjoy it.

HOUSTON SUCKS HOUSTON SUCKS HOUSTON SUCKS HOUSTON SUCKS

[PurpleTestament]

It's quite a ways we've come from being swept to taking Utah to six games. I'm not sure what will happen tonight but I do know what will happen if this goes seven games. Something tells me Jazz fan isn't enjoying this as much as Rocket fan.