How do you replace your teams best player? Thats the question Rockets fans must ask themselves once again after Yao Ming's latest injury setback. We have spent most of the Yao/McGrady era sweating out injuries and hoping the Rockets can adapt, and, now, all of our practice will be put to use. The Rockets have spent more time recovering from injuries than anyone else in the league, so its not time to give up hope yet. Last year, we were proclaimed dead when Yao was injured, but we kept our streak alive and won more games in a row than every team in the history of the NBA but one. This year, we lost T-MAC and were told that the suns would pass us up and take the last playoff seed. Look where we are now. If we know one thing about this team, its that they never give up, and if they believe why shouldn't I? So keep your heads held high Rockets fans because we can still win this series.
We have not been matched up well against the Lakers the last two games. Pau Gasol is one of the top match-up problems for Yao because of his height, athleticism, and skill. He gives Yao fits on defense by poking entry passes away and making life difficult inside, and then he runs the floor and can convert in the open court. Yao can defend him straight up, but Pau can score on him. With Yao on Pau and Crazy Ron guarding Odom, we have been using Scola to guard Ariza/Walton. Scola is not quick enough to guard them on the perimeter, and we are conceding the open three. Friday, they capitalized and went 4-6 from the 3 point line, combining for 19 points. Without Yao, I predict that we will play Scola at center with Landry at the 4. With this lineup, we have the option of Landry or Artest on Odom, and we can guard their 3 with a quicker man that will contest the three. If they decide to go big with Gasol and Bynum's injured knees, we can counter with Chuck Hayes and Scola or Landry.
While losing Yao is not good for the Rockets, it is not devastating either and we still have a chance to win this series. I predict that our defense will be stifling tomorrow, and good games from Artest and Wafer will provide the firepower for a Rockets win.
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ReplyDeleteI think we're going to play with a lot of heart tomorrow. I'm not going to predict a win, but nothing is a bigger motivator than Yao on the bench. We're playing for him now as much as we're playing for ourselves. Go rockets
ReplyDeleteLOLUMAD DAT ROCKETTES LUZ
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