April 30: Blazers at Rockets, Game 6

[insidehoops]

Portland at Houston, 9:30 p.m. ET -- The AP reports: The strategy seems simple enough: Pass the ball to Yao Ming. Once again, the Portland Trail Blazers shut off that option for the Houston Rockets and stayed alive in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Yao scored 15 points—but only two in the fourth quarter—in the Blazers’ 88-77 win on Tuesday night to force Game 6 on Thursday night in Houston. The 7-foot-6 Yao, a seven-time All-Star and Houston’s leading scorer at 19.7 points per game during the regular season, took only four shots in the last quarter and the Rockets were outscored 24-15. The Blazers have mostly defended Yao by putting either Joel Przybilla or Greg Oden in front of him and then double-teaming whenever he touches the ball. Yao found a way to score 24 points in Game 1 and 21 in Game 4, leaving the game plan for Game 6 fairly obvious—at least to him... LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 points for Portland in Game 5, complementing Brandon Roy’s 25. Aldridge scored 27 in the Blazers’ other win in the series and has averaged only 13 points in his team’s three losses.

[All Net]

Rockets end this tonight and finally get out of the first round.

[DukeDelonte13]

I am hoping for a rockets win.

[SmackOrH.A.K]

Darryl Mowry just confirmed on the radio that VON WAFER WILL NOT PLAY TONIGHT after hurting his back game 5.

[iTruWarrior]

Originally Posted by SmackOrH.A.K

Darryl Mowry just confirmed on the radio that VON WAFER WILL NOT PLAY TONIGHT after hurting his back game 5.

Yeah it stinks, Now it's time for Brent Barry to play. Let's hope he can make a good contribution.

Rockets win please.

[laview]

Rocket wins if Yao can get going early in the game.

[mattevans11]

Originally Posted by laview

Rocket wins if Yao can get going early in the game.

thanks captian obvious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jmill]

Prediction:

If the Blazers win then 5150/RoseCity will say it's because they're the better team.

If the Rockets win then 5150/RoseCity will blame the officials, give the Rockets very little credit, and generally complain about how the league hates Portland.

Should be a fun game.

[nba_55]

man, no Von Wafer.

[Silverbullit]

I thought the Blazers would win this series, but I changed my opinion after Game 4. The Rockets played really well.

But: If the Blazers could steal this game tonight the series momentum could change again.

As a Mavs fan I have to route for Portland (or better: against Houston), so I predict a Blazers' win in OT.

[AznTacoLover]

So Von Wafer ain't playing....I feel as if Brent Barry is going to be raining threes the whole night since our perimeter D is horrible but.. he could be rusty from not playing that much

[Rockets(T-mac)]

Can't help but be nervous about this game tonight. Rockets need to come out with energy, not like game 5. Artest needs to start being aggressive. And the entire team needs to start being patient in getting Yao the ball.

[SCREWstonRockets]

Originally Posted by AznTacoLover

So Von Wafer ain't playing....I feel as if Brent Barry is going to be raining threes the whole night since our perimeter D is horrible but.. he could be rusty from not playing that much

Barry should be the last person you guys should worry about. He hasn't really been shooting lights out this year.

[DreamShake34]

Originally Posted by AznTacoLover

So Von Wafer ain't playing....I feel as if Brent Barry is going to be raining threes the whole night since our perimeter D is horrible but.. he could be rusty from not playing that much

More like making crazy passes that lead to turnovers and passing up the open three. Barry's pretty much been a disappointment for us this season to say the least.

[TMAC-RAPTORS]

Von Wafer = T-Mac?