[Game 45] Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons - 5:30pm

[HTown_TMac]

VS.

Where: Palace of Auburn Hills
When: Sunday, January 25, 2009
Time: 5:30 pm
Channel: ESPN - FSNHOU

Detroit Pistons



Projected Starting Lineup
PG Rodney Stuckey
SG: Allen Iverson
SF: Tayshaun Prince
PF: Jason Maxiell
C: Rasheed Wallace

Houston Rockets


Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Rafer Alston
SG: Tracy McGrady
SF: Shane Battier
PF: Luis Scola
C: Dikembe Mutombo

NBA TV Preview

The Houston Rockets know all about adversity, having been decimated by injuries in recent years. Playing without all three of their stars, however, would be uncharted territory.

After losing Yao Ming to a knee injury in the first half of their last game, the Rockets could be without their top three scorers for the first time as they visit the struggling Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

"I'll see how I feel tomorrow," Yao said. "It was just a knee-to-knee hit ... I felt a little bit funny after the first play."
Despite their injury problems, the Rockets (27-17) have one of the best records in the Western Conference. They haven't, however, played any games without all three of their stars.

The Pistons (24-18) can't use injuries as an excuse for their poor play of late. Richard Hamilton missed a 99-82 loss to Utah on Jan. 10, but otherwise, Detroit has had all of its key players available during its 2-6 stretch that began with that defeat in Salt Lake City.

The Pistons took advantage of meetings with last-place teams to win their previous two games against Memphis and Toronto before getting blown out 112-91 by Dallas on Friday night. The Mavericks shot 54.9 percent from the field and scored more points in regulation against the Pistons than any other team this season.

Houston has lost 11 of its last 12 road games against Detroit, including seven in a row since a 103-90 win Feb. 8, 2001. Hamilton led Detroit with 17 points and the Pistons held Yao and McGrady to 14 and 12 points, respectively, in a 94-82 home victory last season.

My Keys to the Game:
1. Protect the paint
2. Don't let their backcourt get hot
3. Try not to let Pistons FO talk to the refs before the game
4. Play Houston Rockets Defense

[jzmagik]

I don't think Deke will start, but I'm hoping Rick does the right thing and put him in for some good minutes... I hate how he doesn't want to use him in the lineup. Tmacs first game back, we'll see how he does but I'm not expecting any miracles. I'm circling in a loss for this one.

[waferwalston1]

I really hope tmac is ready to play this go around

[Baller 24]

McGrady's been talking a lot lately, better live up to those words and hopefully they don't bite him back.

[abcdef]

My guess is that Yao and McGrady will play tonight and Artest will not.

This is a winnable game against a slumping team, but it won't be easy. Tayshaun Prince is a fine defender and will hound McGrady. The Pistons have a number of good defensive bigs; McDyess, Rasheed, Jason Maxiell, and they can even throw Kwame Brown out there in a pinch to bang with Yao. I think Yao and McGrady need to bring their 'A' games to be a factor in this game and for the Rockets to win. They definitely were not the last time we played in Detroit.

[HTown_TMac]

I think Wafer will get more PT and he will be the main offense with T-Mac/Alston feeding him.

[YoungMoney23]

GO ROCKETS!

[ShaY]

I hope Mcgrady really does look good and moves well , I will never raise my hope to vintage T-Mac because that will never happen but he mush be feeling pretty good so I hope he looks good.

It's important how we start the game imo , they are a truggling team with a lot of talent.
Hope to get a win.

[dunleavyjr]

Tmac said he is back to his "old self". We'll see if he is an honest person telling the truth.

[jove9]

I'm hoping we start Scola at 5, move Battier to 4, and Tmac to 3.

We need Wafer's energy in the starting lineup.

[Mr. E]

^ If Yao doesn't play then I'd like to see that lineup as well. Even if Yao does play I hope that they limit his minutes tonight. Detroit should be a good team for Deke to really get his feet wet against. I'm hoping for 16-18 minutes for the big fella.

[TMU]

I hope Mutombo plays. He has a 54.3 PER, 100% TS, 204 off. rating. What a monster.

[ChinaTown]

MARK MY WORDS...

The game will be on ESPN (National TV) so expect T-Mac to put on his customary high basketball IQ in display for this one.

This game is going to be a tittle bit more difficult because of the adjustment factor but at the end the Rockets will raise threir hands in victory.

PS: Hopefully God bless all of us and RA find enough PT for my son Wafer and who know if even we get the opportunity to see him share the court with Mac so he can shoot the light out with T-Mac's eagle eye and we enjoy a delisious ball game.

[magicfan4life05]

I hope Mutombo plays. He has a 54.3 PER, 100% TS, 204 off. rating. What a monster.

Tonight marks the return of T-MAC.

Tonight marks the return of dominance.

Tonight marks the return of aerial creativity.

Lastly, tonight marks the return of 22-0.







"WHERE WILL YOU BE??????????????????????????????????????"

[reupdadj1]

Man make the trade She-Mac for Rip Hamilton + 2nd Round pick please!!!!!!!

[Baller 24]

Shhhhhhh...I've known for quite some time that Mr. T was a returning banned poster. Keeping a close eye on him much like the other one that everybody knows of.
Vator

[reupdadj1]

That is a great trade for the rockets at the moment and I need to see Von "Vonstastic" Wafer on the court for a good 20 to 22 minutes today.

[Mr. E]

So, is it a given that McGrady will start if he's back? I wouldn't mind seeing him come off of the bench for the first couple games back, kind of like what Larry Bird did back in the day when he was returning from injury and the Celtics were playing well without him.

[abcdef]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6229767.html

No Yao, Artest and McGrady will play.

[TMACFORMVP]

Yeah, McGrady HAS to step up.