Houston Vs Minnesota @ Minnesota NSFW

[kam_soluusar]

VS



@Minnesota, 8pm Tipoff, (That means 12:00 in Australia!!!!)

Projected starting lineups (Hardest part of this thread, because of injuries etc......)

Houston.


Starting at Centre, our new BBG, the Big O, White Dwight, Whatever you want to call him.


Starting at Power Forward, Marcus Morris. (BTW we need to figure out a nickname for him!)


Starting at Small Forward, Chandler Bang, White LBJ.


Starting at Shooting Guard, The Beard, one half of 713.


Starting at Point Guard, Linsanity, the other half of 713.


*Insert mad cheering, props etc for arguably (LA Clippers other argument) the hottest team in the NBA right now!!!!!*


Minnesota. (This is where it gets tough, due to injuries etc, what I predict will be their starting 5.)


Starting at Centre, Nikola Pekovic.


Starting at Power Forward, Kevin Love. (If he's not still injured!!!)


Starting at Small Forward, Andrei "AK47" Kirilenko.


Starting at Shooting Guard, JJ Barea. (Or maybe Alexey Sved?????)


Starting at Point Guard, Luke Ridnour. (Because I assume Rubio is still coming off the bench!)

Now we insert the gratuitous pics of women!!!!!







And I know this breaks the theme a bit, but I just watched the new Total Recall yesterday, and yes, I have seen underworld but.....



I'm in love!!!!!!!!

Let's take it to them Rockets.

My Keys to the game.

1) Rebound. Two of the best rebounders in the game (assuming Love is playing!) fighting for boards. This is probably the most key aspect to this game. We all saw how Asik's rebounding led to our transition offense. Nothing is more important to starting this, than Big O rebounding like the glass eating monster he is!!!

2) Transition Offense. If we control the glass, we can push the tempo. We're young, and we have legs. Push the damn ball.

3) The mis-matches. I feel we have these all over. Rubio isn't a major factor yet, otherwise I would call this about even. But Lin has a great chance to push hard, and continue his roll since San Antonio, (even though we lost that game.)

4) Shut down K.Love (again, if he's playing.) Keep him off the glass, (Morris has his work cut out for him!) Don't let Love find his shooting stroke.

5) Defense. Channel players into Asik/Smith. Let them take care of the rest.

Overall, if Harden plays like he has been, hell, if the entire team plays like it has been these last 4-5 games, no reason it shouldn't be a blowout victory again.

Go Rockets!!!!

[rocketsballin]

didnt know you posted gamethread, i'll just copy paste here then


this is the 2nd game of a 4/5 which coincidentally started on christmas! what a nice gift from david stern

last season twolves destroyed us, i remember that game where pek got a 30/15ish game with 3-5blks/stls. rubio kept shredding the defense, bringing them to one side of the court, then they crosspass for an open 3 or layup .their big 3 kept pourin it on.

things done change neezios. we dont have the "no box out coka scola", and "half the contract-half the effort dalembert" , and "mr. 36minutes martin". now we got harden breaking out into a superstar, asik's a double double machine, the white lbj proving he aint a fluke...half our team is having breakout seasons and only gonna get better.

through 14 games love is shooting 36% from the field, 25% from 3, and 68% from ft. that makes things easier for morris, but still a tough matchup. just keep spreading the floor, attacking aggresively, and at least attempt to box him out lol. just two more tough pf matchups to go

[kam_soluusar]

Just saw something about Parsons being "iffy" for the game.

[rocketsballin]

oh yeah there was a thread on clutchfans sayin he had knee soreness after the game. might be out a few games.








brace yourself for 20 shots a game from delfino

[x-]

Parsons will play. Still feels like a loss. Hope I'm wrong.

We usually suck defending spread 4's, but that was in large part because of Scola & Patterson's inability to close out. Maybe Morris can make a difference.

Need to take advance of the T-Wolves sucky backcourt. Ridnour & Barea won't be able to stay in front of our guards & the T-Wolves don't have a lot of rim protectors. Rubio should be mostly matched up with Icelander, so that shouldn't be much of a factor either. Kinda fear Shved will do some damage on offense. Guy is streaky. Hope he's off tonight.

[kam_soluusar]

I think this will actually be a really good game to watch, (who ever thought they would say that about a T-wolves game?)

[Mr. E]

I'm kind of worried about the guys being snowed in up in Minnesota for a few days!

Poor Royce White could have found himself stuck in Iowa 'til the roads are cleared!

[Klomp]

It's likely Shved at SG, not Barea

[TMU]

All-white line up for the T-Wolves?

Either way, let's clubber some Timberpups. The last time I heard, Royce's bus is stationed in San Antonio.

[Zubby]

Awesome thread, and versus the team which his making this year possible as Adelman definitely took the rockets injury bug with him up to Minny.

Can't wait to watch Rubio, that guy is one of my favs pg along with Kyrie Irving.

[Mr. E]

They are controlling the pace. That's not good for us.

[jwise44]

this hasn't been pretty so far...we were spoiled last night

[90sAllDecade]

alright we got lin and harden involved early

[Mr. E]

At least once a game Harden makes one of those "How in the hell did he make that?" shot.

[rocketsballin]

great finish to the quarter. toney's D on rubio is suffocating

[phoenixx]

man i love the rockets' speed. so fun to watch.

also, rockets always do okay first quarters, then blow out the competition after on. hope it happens tonight.

[90sAllDecade]

The Rox are gonna have to go into refs won't make visiting team calls mode.

[Mr. E]

I wasn't sure if a player from the Shire could make it in the NBA, but that Hobbit, Ricky Rubio, looks like he might have what it takes to make it!

edit - Frodo was moving backwards on that one. Should have been a block.

[Mr. E]

WALLUMBIN!!!

How did they get that much ball movement in such a short amount of time?

[Nebula1]

Nice and 1 for marcus. Rockets looking like the back to back legs are good to go