Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by Darkess
I think I'd like to see a Houston vs. Utah matchup in the playoffs if I'm Houston. Heck, maybe even if I'm Utah.
I think it's a 7-game series for sure.
It's all but guaranteed. The Rockets have the 5th seed clinched and I think the Spurs have made a mission of getting the 3rd seed. I think it'll definately be the most competitive series in the first round of the West playoffs.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
Everyone is picking the Rockets over the Jazz, so I consider the Jazz the underdog in that series.
The Jazz' main problem will be defending Tracy McGrady. With Andrei Kirilenko having a down year of sorts, he has to show some of his defense prowess from his past and hope that he can at least contain McGrady. If the Jazz can contain McGrady to under 30 PPG they have a legit shot in the series.
The Rockets' problems will be defending the point guard and center positions of the Jazz. Okur is a very capable 7 footer from behind the arc and Yao will be forced to be drawn out to guard him. Williams will be a tough match up for Rafer Alston due to his penetrating ability and his off the dribble jumper.
They both play a tempo that suits each other well, a slow it down type game. It may boil down to the home court advantage. Either way, expect a 7 game series.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by 90sDynasty
Everyone is picking the Rockets over the Jazz, so I consider the Jazz the underdog in that series.
The Jazz' main problem will be defending Tracy McGrady. With Andrei Kirilenko having a down year of sorts, he has to show some of his defense prowess from his past and hope that he can at least contain McGrady. If the Jazz can contain McGrady to under 30 PPG they have a legit shot in the series.
The Rockets' problems will be defending the point guard and center positions of the Jazz. Okur is a very capable 7 footer from behind the arc and Yao will be forced to be drawn out to guard him. Williams will be a tough match up for Rafer Alston due to his penetrating ability and his off the dribble jumper.
They both play a tempo that suits each other well, a slow it down type game. It may boil down to the home court advantage. Either way, expect a 7 game series.
Rockets will have a problem defending the center position? I think the Jazz will have a MUCH bigger problem defensively at that position.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by JSub
Rockets will have a problem defending the center position? I think the Jazz will have a MUCH bigger problem defensively at that position.
The Jazz' have had a great interior defense all year, they help out in the paint and will sacrifice perimeter defense. I think drawing Yao out of the paint will be crucial in the Jazz' offensive success.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by 90sDynasty
The Jazz' have had a great interior defense all year, they help out in the paint and will sacrifice perimeter defense. I think drawing Yao out of the paint will be crucial in the Jazz' offensive success.
No doubt that'll be a big part of their game plan, but frankly, nobody is going to stop Yao Ming from scoring 30 points in the half-court set. Okur is going to give him fits, but he's not going to bust every single jumper he takes. As long as the Rockets crash the boards, I'll live with that. In addition, the Jazz cannot swarm Yao everytime hes in the paint either. Cant sleep on TMac on the perimeter.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
all underdog teams in the west are all capable of beating the jazz. but i don't think they'll be capable of beating the spurs, or suns, or mavs IMO.
except maybe for the lakers, if they'll face the suns again in the playoffs. even with amare back, the lakers still have what it takes to beat the suns.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by 90sDynasty
The Jazz' have had a great interior defense all year, they help out in the paint and will sacrifice perimeter defense. I think drawing Yao out of the paint will be crucial in the Jazz' offensive success.
Yeah but what they might do is slot Battier out to guard Okur, kinda like when Bowen played Nowistki last year (it didn't work, too much size was lost). That would give the Rockets control of the game becuase the boards would be in favor of them. With Yao, and Chuck Hayes both in the post it'd be tough to lose in rebounds.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by R.I.P.
Maybe if Yao showed T-Mac how to hit a free throw. Guards in general are ****tier than ever at free throw shooting.
excuse me u take forwards and take centers and compare them to guards free throw shooting and guards are alot better @ it. anyways yeah the rockets could do it... and free throw shooting should not be a factor for them.
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
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Originally Posted by IBall280
excuse me u take forwards and take centers and compare them to guards free throw shooting and guards are alot better @ it. anyways yeah the rockets could do it... and free throw shooting should not be a factor for them.
Yao shoots 86% from the line on the season T-Mac shoots 70%
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
Ugh. No one giving any respect to a very good Jazz squad. No surprise, though. Small market team without a superstar and zero national publicity.
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Why would we be afraid of the Jazz? Dont get me wrong, they're a very good team, but I'd take them over playing a first rounder against the Mavs, Spurs and Suns any day. On top of that, they dont have a true superstar on that squad. We have TWO.
Jazz don't need or want a true superstar. Your TWO have rarely played together for two years. And you have some pretty sizable problems at other positions.
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I think it'll definately be the most competitive series in the first round of the West playoffs.
It might wind up being the most hard-fought, competitive series of the entire postseason.
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Rockets will have a problem defending the center position? I think the Jazz will have a MUCH bigger problem defensively at that position
Yao has must show a willingness to consistently guard Okur all the way out to the three point line or he will get torched.
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Rockets will have a problem defending the center position? I think the Jazz will have a MUCH bigger problem defensively at that position
Jazz will try to make him take quick shots. No backing down his man once he has the ball. The minute he puts the ball on the floor, expect the Jazz to swarm all over him. At that point it will be up to guys like Mac, Battier, Alston, and Head to make shots.
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Okur is going to give him fits, but he's not going to bust every single jumper he takes
He's capable of it. Recent performances include a 13-15 effort and a 10-13 effort, including going 5-7 from downtown last game.
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all underdog teams in the west are all capable of beating the jazz
Really? Why do you say that? Jazz own the season series against all of them except the Rockets (tied 1-1) and Lakers (1-2, though the second L.A. win was without Deron Williams). Denver and the Clips are both 0-3 against the Jazz. Hornet's only win against them was in Oklahoma City without Carlos Boozer or Kirilenko. Thanks for drastically underrating them.
Jazz are a hurdle that will be overcome only by a team playing about as well as it can play, and that holds true even for the Mavs, Suns, and Spurs (who are a combined 2-6 against them, btw)
Re: Rockets: Most capable underdog in first round?
