1st round: Here we go.

[yangco]

Good luck in the Playoffs. As a Blazer fan, Houston is one of the teams I didn't want to see. Your front three of Yao Battier and Artest is just downright nasty. Hope for a great series.

[dunleavyjr]

dallas mavericks' brandon bass, who is a 6'8" forward, held yao to zero point in the 4th quarter.
try look up the term "fronting defense", before thinking about winning a playoff serie, will ya?

[Iggyemu]

We were hoping for Portland but with home court on our side. That is the difference in this series. The Blazers are extremely good at home and that'll ultimately be the determining factor. We don't have the execution down the stretch of games to go beat Portland in Portland.

[yangco]

I don't like to think in absolutes. Anything can happen. Blazers could lose their first 2 at home, Houston could lose their first two at home. Both teams are good enough to do it, the only question is how the players show up, and who gets lucky when they need to.

[GOBlazers]

With Yao playing, and Tmac in street clothes... You have a chance to escape the first round!

[Roxflynorth]

The whole year RA did not come up a way to solve the fronting defense - the old story, same every year. What doesn't look good is not the Home court advantage as we matchup pretty well vs Portland...its the fronting defense as dunleavyjr mentioned in earlier post. Should we change the coach if we didn't get out of the 1st round again this year and hire someone else who could solve this issue.

[hackle]

We have so many unsolved problems, i dont think we are going anywhere. We win by instincts, we lose by instincts. it's a waste of talent, we have so much. Yao, Scola, Landry, Wafer, Lowry, all great players. I dont know what to say.

[TMU]

So the worst of all scenarios has happened - the 5th seed. Considering how good teams are at home, I knew it was coming. Year after year, we make at least one lousy mistake and fail to take the easier path down the stretch. Typical Rockets basketball.

Portland is 34 - 7 at home, this won't be easy by any means.

[Roxflynorth]

So the worst of all scenarios has happened - the 5th seed. Considering how good teams are at home, I knew it was coming. Year after year, we make at least one lousy mistake and fail to take the easier path down the stretch. Typical Rockets basketball.

Portland is 34 - 7 at home, this won't be easy by any means.

Well, look at the bright side...at least if we lost we have a reason

[YoungMoney23]

If we don't get out of the first round let Rick go and bring in Avery Johnson

[smapor]

I will say it again. This series will go with the direction of Artest and Brooks. They typically hold the ball the most and they are shooters 1st. If both of them have lousy shooting nights and are hesitant on the offensive end.......Portland in 6.

Fronting defense basically nullifies Yao's ability to score. That's because we have guards that are scored to throw the ball within 2 seconds. 1st Half, AB lob the ball twice, which resulted in 4 points and slowed the fronting down. 2nd half, its hard to believe we pass the ball only 3 times in 24 minutes.

[Baller 24]

Seems like nobody has faith in us, even the experts think it's the Blazers in 6 or 7. We'll see.

[jzmagik]

My faith was shook in last night's game. Still no consistency when it comes to giving Yao the ball or taking advantage of the fronting defense, and Artest and Brooks as our offensive ball movement killers.

[yangco]

Very very well played game last night. You did what you needed to do, and roleplayers stepped up. You 100% deserved to win that game. Hope the excellent play inspires Portland to dig deeper, but I am doubtful we can pick one up in Houston.