[Round 1, Game 2] Houston Rockets @ Portland Blazers

[TMACFORMVP]

Houston Rockets @ Portland Blazers


SEASON SERIES
Rockets lead 2-1
Nov 6, 2008: Rockets 99 @ 101 Blazers
Feb 24, 2009: Blazers 94 @ 98 Rockets
Apr 5, 2009: Blazers 88 @ 102 Rockets

PLAYOFF HISTORY
Previous Meetings
'87 NBA Western Conference 1st Round: 3 - 1 Rockets
'94 NBA Western Conference 1st Round: 3 - 1 Rockets

Championships
Rockets: 2 ('94, '95)
Blazers: 1 ('77)



Date: Apr 21, 2009
Time: 10:30 EST
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Channel: NBATV

==================================================================================


TEAM STATS
Season Record: 53-29, 2nd in NBA Southwest Division
Pace Factor: 90.3 (19th of 30)
Offensive Rating: 108.3 (15th of 30)
Defensive Rating: 103.9 (4th of 30)

STARTERS
PG: Aaron Brooks #0


SG: Ron Artest #96


SF: Shane Battier #31


PF: Luis Scola #4


C: Yao Ming #11


BENCH
G - Von Wafer #11
F - Carl Landry #14
G - Kyle Lowry #7
G - Brent Barry #17
F - Chuck Hayes #44
C - Dikembe Mutombo #55


==================================================================================


TEAM STATS
Season Record: 54-28, 2nd in NBA Northwest Division
Offensive Rating: 113.9 (1st of 30)
Defensive Rating: 107.8 (13th of 30)
Pace Factor: 86.6 (30th of 30)

STARTERS
PG: Steve Blake #2


SG: Brandon Roy #7


SF: Nicolas Batum #88


PF: LaMarcus Aldridge #12


C: Joel Przybilla #10


BENCH
F - Travis Outlaw #25
G - Rudy Fernandez #5
C - Greg Oden #52
G - Sergio Rodriguez #11
G - Jerryd Bayless #4
F - Channing Frye #44


==================================================================================





LET'S GO ROCKETS!!!

==================================================================================

PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING SIG.
GET ON THE CHUCKWAGON!!!

[TMACFORMVP]

I copied TMU's game thread, it worked Game 1

[sook]

I came across something very disturbing as i was watching the last game.........STERNT WAS AT THEIR GAME BECAUSE HE PROMISED THEM! Expect him not to let their fans down and the blazers to front Yao like no other.

[HTown_TMac]

I dont expcet to win this game, but I hope we do not make it easy.

[TMACFORMVP]

Yeah, I'm not expecting a win here, Blazers will come out strong, and they'll definitely front Yao from the get-go. But if we can execute like we did on both ends of the floor the last game, there's no doubt we'll be in the game when it comes down to winning time. It'd be HUGE if we could grab another game on the road.

[RocketsHero]

They will definitely front more, but it won't be effective for them because Yao and Adleman have developed an anti-fronting tactic.

[jzmagik]

Hopefully we can go to Yao a little bit more this time, I got worried in the second half when he hadn't touched the ball at all. Now with them fronting more, it'll be even more challenging. Our guys are going to have to take advantage of that.

[hayden]

What was great about last game was that we were able to build on our half-time lead even with Yao not scoring another point.

[stockmarketgod]

Hopefully we can go to Yao a little bit more this time, I got worried in the second half when he hadn't touched the ball at all. Now with them fronting more, it'll be even more challenging. Our guys are going to have to take advantage of that.

The Blazers didnt try to front Yao, im sure every one... was watching for it...

they just went away from Yao in the late stages of the second quarter.... and continued in what minutes he played in the 3rd...

the one time Yao did get the ball in the 3rd... he got it mid post.... with the defender on his back... but a weak side defender came from behind Yao... and knocked the ball out of bounds

[barnsleyman123]

Won't be a blowout but very well could be another win...

[The Laker Kid]

quick question, and somewhat a little off topic..

1. Where is Tracy McGrady? Is he playing at all later on in this series?
2. If Houston defeats the Portland Trailblazers, will you then say that Tracy McGrady has made it out of the first round?

thanks and good luck in the playoffs

[Iggyemu]

quick question, and somewhat a little off topic..

1. Where is Tracy McGrady? Is he playing at all later on in this series?
2. If Houston defeats the Portland Trailblazers, will you then say that Tracy McGrady has made it out of the first round?

thanks and good luck in the playoffs

No and No.

[Young_Star11]

It will be closer, and I think we can take another one.

We gotta play this one like we mean it. Just because we have the HCA now doesn't mean we 'give' them an easy win. Would love for us to come out and pick up where we left off.

If we play like we did last night, Portland ain't getting anywhere near us.

Once again, we know Roy will get his, but make sure gets them as inefficiently as possible. One FT and 2 assists last night, that was pleasing.

Shut-down LMA and his streaky jump-shot. Scola did a good job getting under his skin, and Hayes is our secret weapon against him.

[smapor]

Rockets need to just play the game.

Don't think about the fronting
Don't think about the last win
Don't worry about HCA
Don't worry about the crowd

Play your game, defend and execute your offense and be aggressive and don't make stupid mistakes (Turn Overs, ISO plays, really bad contested shots, no smack talk)

Focus on this game and don't think about going home.

[Guy986]

Blazers by 6 this game.

Rockets win this series in 6.

[hackle]

The league surely will try to give portland a win at their homecourt, but if we stand strong and execute solid and play with confidence, i believe we can withstand whatever there is to come.

However, rockets is in no ground to loosen its intensity. stay humble, play hard.

[stockmarketgod]

well the good thing is... in the games this year... against the Blazers...

It dosent seem like the other players need to feed off of Yao... to get there points...

so that is the best sign for us... our guys just need to play smart within themselves... and I think were in for another win...

[OneAnswer]

http://www.guesswhosback.com/guess-whos-back/when-keeping-it-real-goes-wrong-joel-przybilla-edition/
When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong: Joel Przybilla Edition

[Teckon]

In game 1, most Blazers were playing their 1st playoff games may be surprised about the pressure and intensity of playoff games. They were totally unprepared in game 1 when Yao led the charge from the 1st second on. After having a good taste, the Blazers should be well focused now but the loss of Game 1 has unduly rendered additional pressure on them to win Game 2. Game 2 will be a test of mental toughness for the young Blazers.

Expecting a close game that could go either side. But the additional pressure of a must win for Blazers (and i am expecting a few may crack under such pressure) may tilt the balance to the rockets.

[YoungMoney23]

We shot the ball fairly well in game 1 so I hope we can keep up the good shooting. If we can keep this game from being a close one we should be sick because we all know how clutch Brandon Roy is. I also read that the refs were a bit suspect so I'm just wondering if that really was a factor?