Houston Rockets @ Washington Wizards Game Thread (1-8-08)

[Willitary]

Why don't you just pay $10 or whatever it is for the upper level seat and call it a night? Why go through all that trouble? You'd probably have a better experience.

Especially for Tuesday night's game since they're giving out a free swingman Gilbert jersey for those with an upper level ticket...the jersey cost more than the seat itself!!

But yeah, I bought some random 10 dollar ticket online so I can get the jersey, then go down to my seat.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

-= original quote snipped =-



the one guy I fear is Bonzi. He's a tough match for a lot of teams
and we could be one of them. That said, he's also a head case
that you don't know what to expect out of from night to night.
Without TMac, we should win this one. But they'll be tougher
than MIL/SEA was by a long shot. This one's no gimme.

In addition to Bonzi, beware of Aaron Brooks and Luther Head. Also, this could be the Steve Novak outburst or the Luis Scola outburst of a game.

Actually, this is a trap game for the Wizards. Seems like an easy enough win without McGrady, but this is a game where the Wizards offense needs to flow or else they could lose.

Houston's quickness and perimeter shooting from Head, Brooks, Novak and Battier; as well as their willingness to clean up garbage points with Hayes and Scola and mainly Bonzi all concern me.

I won't be surprised if Washington drops this game.

The thing Washington has as an advantage are great chemistry from players who know their roles and who play as a team. Houston's got a messed up rotation and they're not good defensive club. Washington needs to finish at the rim.

Wizards will need Blatche and or Songaila to step up this game, and for Wood to stay out of foul trouble. That happens and it should be a win.

I repeat, this seems to me like it could be a loss.

It's really important for the Wizards to get to 3 over .500 with two against Boston coming up.

[newslowsad]

This one will be a challenge. I can't even remember the last time we beat Houston. Anyone?

My next game is on the 25th against Memphis. I managed to get two tickets in section 117, row A for $102 overall including fees. Pretty great deal considering that just one ticket in that area is close to $100 before fees on Ticketmaster.

[bgwizarfan]

This is an absolute HUGE GAME for us... with Atlanta coming up (which is at least winnable), we could be 19-15 heading into our back to back with boston, which at worst puts us at 19-17 after Boston

If we lose this, then beat Atlanta, we're back at 500 if we get swept by boston. This game is absolutely critical for us. I think this will be a huge test for Haywood to see if he can really step up his game against Yao

[closg00]

Loss. Even w/o T-Mac, Houston is a better team against our type of D.

[BigA]

I was at the game last year where Brendan and Etan both went out with injuries, the game was delayed because of a problem with the lights, and Yao killed the Wizards with a 23 point 4th quarter.

As people have mentioned, Haywood staying out of foul trouble and doing a good job on Yao is key.

[Zerocious]

i went and got the holiday special, raps, spurs, grizz. sect 103 and 108. six tix plus caron swingman jersey. $199.00. They have a nice feature on the wiz website, a 3D view of anyseat inside verizon center. Just type in your section and seat number and you will get a +/- 240 degree view of your view from those seats. Went miami game too, had nice acela box (courtecy of toyota) seat behind backboard by wiz bench.
I wish i could see more games live but i am in balto, and it altogether is a half day investment and work is always an issue.

[Joe_Wiz]

This sure won't be a blowout, but I think we'll pull it out. I think Haywood can contain Yao and we can outscore them. My biggest worry stems from the (obvious) fact that Haywood won't be able to stay on Yao and give help defense at the same time. Because of Yao's height (easy target for a kick out, can't easily have his shot challenged by players much under 7') and his range, Haywood's gonna have to stay home if he's gonna contain him. The question is whether the rest of our team can play adequate "4 on 4" defense without Haywood's.

I predict a win, but not with confidence.

[nate33]

I predict a win with confidence. They're just not that good of a team. They're just 17-17 overall, they've lost 8 of their last 14 games, and they're playing on the road without McGrady. Finally, the matchups favor us. Defensively, we should contain them to less than 90 points. My only concern on defense is Rafer Alston. AD has got to get out on him and not let him shoot 3's

The only way they win is if they can contain us defensively too. Battier is an exceptional defender and might give Butler problems. And Hayes is a mobile PF who also plays good defense and should match up well with Jamison. We'll probably need some scoring help from either Mason or Young.

[Ruzious]

Watch out for the little guy coming off the bench - Aaron Brooks. The Wiz don't have anyone with his kind of quix. If Haywood gets in foul trouble, we lose. Otherwise, we win.

[jmrosenth]

Yao will get his but I see the perimeter defense as being the important issue. If the Wiz can defend the 3 in this one, they'll be ok. The Rockets don't have a lot of guys who can create their own shot, but btwn Alston, Battier, and Head, they are going to knock down 3s if the Wiz sag or don't rotate well enough.

[doclinkin]

I look at Luis Scola as the Wiz' designated headache for the game.

Eddie likes to match subs with subs, and Scola has the type of veteran game that should drive Dray to distraction and give Jamison all he can handle.

On the plus side, the Rox are trying to run a motion offense princeton descendant, but the Wiz have a head start on their roster and know the plays and counters. We could conceivably run a clinic on them if we can keep the ball in motion and not get caught in one-on-one match-up stuff.

[dobrojim]

I look at Luis Scola as the Wiz' designated headache for the game.

Eddie likes to match subs with subs, and Scola has the type of veteran game that should drive Dray to distraction and give Jamison all he can handle.

On the plus side, the Rox are trying to run a motion offense princeton descendant, but the Wiz have a head start on their roster and know the plays and counters. We could conceivably run a clinic on them if we can keep the ball in motion and not get caught in one-on-one match-up stuff.

How 'bout DS9 on Scola....shouldn't that work? Does Scola have
any footspeed to speak of?

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I like our starters against their's. I hate our bench against their bench. Jamison could have a big night, but Bonzi could light us up.

Man, I've been on the West Coast for a couple of weeks and hadn't seen many games for a while until the Detroit and the Seattle games... two players (Blatche and N1) who were really good early in the year look absolutely lost. Only Roger Mason, of all our 2nd teamers, inspires any confidence right now. I cringe at the end of the 1st quarter.

But, given that T-Mac is out, I'll say the Wiz's starters get it done and hold 'em off for an win.

[Guy986]

I think you guys are underestimating the strength of this Rocket team even without McGrady. The Rockets have really come together in the last couple of games. Coach Adelman has finally found a rotation he likes, and the role players are stepping up big time with the absense of Tmac. In the last 3 games, we lost to Boston by a couple points, beat Orlando at home and blew out the erratic Knicks. Plus, i can't remember the last time Yao Ming didn't dominate the Wizards. Contrary to popular opinion, Yao actually performs rediculously well against big strong centers like Dwight Howard, Shaq and Eddy Curry. It is the small fronting defense he struggles against. So i expect him to have a great showing against Haywood.

I worry about Jamison and Butler having a big night against the Rockets but i like our chances. So good luck and may the best team win.

[nate33]

Yao has publicly stated that Haywood gives him more trouble than any other center. It's hard to tell from the box scores because Yao abuses Etan Thomas.

[closg00]

I think you guys are underestimating the strength of this Rocket team even without McGrady. The Rockets have really come together in the last couple of games. Coach Adelman has finally found a rotation he likes, and the role players are stepping up big time with the absense of Tmac. In the last 3 games, we lost to Boston by a couple points, beat Orlando at home and blew out the erratic Knicks. Plus, i can't remember the last time Yao Ming didn't dominate the Wizards. Contrary to popular opinion, Yao actually performs rediculously well against big strong centers like Dwight Howard, Shaq and Eddy Curry. It is the small fronting defense he struggles against. So i expect him to have a great showing against Haywood.

I worry about Jamison and Butler having a big night against the Rockets but i like our chances. So good luck and may the best team win.

Not everyone is underestimating the Rockets (I predict an L), they did just beat Orlando recently. Once they get their rotation together, they will have a strong 2nd half/season.

Aaron Brooks is a total stud, I'll be watching out for him.

[dunleavyjr]

Rockets beat the Magic in Orlando couple nights ago. Dwight Howard fouled out without his usual double double.

Any indication?

[Rafael122]

Wasn't that the game that replays confirmed Orlando won?

[dunleavyjr]

Magic was down by 2. Tip-in basket to tie the game was waived off because time was expired. Magic lost by 2.