Another Rockets Streak?
T-Mac on Dime #27The Rockets seem to have reclaimed the spirit of their 22-0 run. They’re getting contributions from absolutely everybody - the Houston bench outscored the Jazz’s 18-0 in the first half, and rattled off the first nine points of the second half to give the starters a comfy-womfy 14-point lead. This is the same magical production that the Rockets got from guys who Rick Adelman might as well have pulled off of the Houston streets during the streak (read: Mike Harris).
“Look around,” Rafer Alston said. “You see guys that don’t want to leave. We enjoy one another’s company.”
“We’re a bunch of confident guys,” said Tracy McGrady. “We’re a loosey-goosey group. It doesn’t feel like we’re behind 3-2.”
It clearly was a team effort last night, holding the Jazz to 69 measly points. But this transformation from being down 0-2 to having some momentum in a 2-3 hole didn’t just miraculously happen. It was because of the return of Rafer.
Without Skip in the lineup in games one and two, Houston lost two of their most valuable contributors. As we said above, Houston’s bench was been their saving grace this season. But when Rafer was hamstrung, Bobby Jackson was bumped from his spot as the first or second man off of the bench into the starting lineup. Jackson was miserable in game one of the series, going 1-7 from three for 7 points. In game two he was more efficient, but still only mustered two assists.
But last night, he played as the “supplemental scorer” that he is, not as the point guard that he tried to be during games one and two. He’s at his best when looking to provide the offensive spark similar to the one that J.R. Smith was giving the Nuggets.
But Tuesday it showed another side — it allowed Bobby Jackson to be Bobby Jackson,” writes John Hollinger. “He’s not a point guard, as he showed to everyone’s satisfaction in Games 1 and 2, but he can be a very effective bench performer on a team like this that needs supplemental scorers. In that role Tuesday, Jackson keyed the bench run to start the second quarter before handing the keys back to Alston.
Jackson’s being Jackson, and Rafer’s being Rafer. He gives the Rockets the deadly three-point threat that they need to make defenses pay for quickly doubling T-Mac. In three games, Alston’s knocked down 11 triples. Plus, his team-high six assists don’t hurt either. It’s better than having T-Mac lead the team in dimes as was the case in the first two games.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:12 am
YOUNGFED says:
Where ya at Gee, A-Katz did this article just for you.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:14 am
SWAT says:
How does GEE say it….H-TOWN UP!! Wow! We blew these cats out of the water!! I will be the first to admit that Daron usually has Skip’s number but last nite dude was killin’ Williams. Overall, Skip has stepped up this year and become the point guard we believed he could be.Can we pull it out…haters will say no but the momentum has switched and it looks like Clutch City may be coming back baby!!!
April 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am
The Big Country says:
How would this series look if Rafer was there for the first two games? I’m rooting for a game 7 in Houston. Nothing against the Jazz, but I need to see T-Mac get out of the first round!! Watching the Rockets has been great all year; it’s amazing to see a team play together like they do. I hope the Nuggets have been taking note.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Prof. TX says:
If Houston can win game 6 in Utah, then it’s really anybody’s series. Utah has the edge now, but if they have to play the deciding game on the road then they’ll have to step up their game a little more than usual.
The Lakers have to be watching this series too, and if they’re smart they aren’t relying on talent to coast them through it but recognizing that either of these teams will put up a good fight. The Celtics and Pistons have certainly seen what happens when big names go against and underated team that won’t give up. The big names will probably win, but only when they play like they respect the other team’s talent.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:26 am
iain. says:
comfy-womfy? loosey-goosey? wtfff..
April 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Chuck says:
I applaud H-Town for not giving up and staying in there without Yao Ming.
This team would be significantly better without the injuries every season.
I agree that skip has stepped up this season and in the post season
@Swat-Deron has had everyone’s number this year, even the possible MVP Chris Paul. So I def agree with you on that on.
But Skip did step up and Houston held utah to 68 points, which is incredible defense on Houstons part, containing Boozer, Williams and Memo.
I’m not really feeling Yao right now, working out to play for his country this summer and leaving his team out to dry just about every year during the Post season. heart for your country but no heart for the team that’s paying you 14 mil with an addittion mil added to that every year.
I’m looking forward to seeing Yao getting Beasted by Dwight, Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum next season.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Chuck says:
@Big Country
I would love to see T-Mac get out of the first round, but Jerry Sloan won’t let that happen.
T-Mac isn’t getting out of the first round with Landry and Mutombo and Jackson as his sidekicks. It just isn’t going to happen.
The Hawks won two games and so did the 76rs but bottom line they still don’t have the talent, experience or coaching staff that Detroit and the Celtics have, and that same philosphy is applicable to the Houston and Utah series. It just isn’t going to happen without Yao.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Prof. TX says:
I also have to say I’m getting a little tired of Deron’s ’signature move’ that he keeps getting away with. If you tuck the ball under your arm like a running back and take 3-4 steps, it’s not inventive, it’s travelling.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:39 am
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
Houston Up! SWAT what up!
Young you know I’m here!
Loyalty and belief baby…Loyalty and belief!
Regardless of what happens I am already more than pleased.
I am loving what I see right now though and want more of it!
It has been and STILL IS a true pleasure.
April 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
T-Mac aka “the tinman”…will he show up and have enough heart to pull this out?? TBD.
The Lakers will make quick work of either of these teams. But i’d like to see T-mac get out of Round 1. That will give Carmello Anthony aka T-Mac 2.0 some hope!
April 30th, 2008 at 9:53 am
iain. says:
“The Hawks won two games and so did the 76rs but bottom line they still don’t have the talent, experience or coaching staff that Detroit and the Celtics have..”
Chuck, i’d rather have Mo Cheeks coaching my team than Flip Saunders, or Doc Rivers for that matter if your talking assistants too then ok my knowledge aint that deep but damn Cheeks has done a lot with a little in Philly while Saunders has tried his hardest to F-it all up in Motown.
So going back to your statement i think yur right they dont have the talent or the experience but its because they do have the coaching (and heart) that they got 2 games off the Pistons so far.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:04 am
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
For the “It won’t happeners”
Just on a side note,
-A few people started out the year saying Houston won’t make the playoffs.
-More people started saying Houston won’t make the playoffs upon them losing Yao.
-A lot of people started saying it won’t happen in regards to them making the 22 games to become the second team in the L with the longest winning streak ever.
-Then some people still predicted Houston wouldn’t make the playoffs once the streak was over claiming Houston had will be the odd team out.
-Then a lot of people predicted T-Mac and Houston would be swept.
-Then some people (Even Carlos Boozer) predicted (after Houston won 1) that the series would not go back to Houston.
-Then few said Houston will lose at home.
-So now it’s Houston is still going to lose and it won’t happen in them getting to the 2nd round.
My drift is simply 1. People are going to keep guessing at Houston’s demise, till it actually happens so I guess they can be the one to say “I told you” …big whoop.
2. Houston has been defying most people all year long, so whether they keep defying or not. It’s been a year of having excellent things happen from bad things and defying the odds more times than not.
Will the odds catch up at some point? Probably. Till that point ……..It’s still a ride I am enjoying.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Chuck says:
@iain
I don’t know about that one?
It doesn’t take much of a coach to go out there and tell them to run.
Mike woodson and Mo cheeks just seem like 2nd rate coaches to me, they don’t even know how to get these teams to run effecient half court offensive. Both teams are useless unless there running and dunking on people.
The 76s success is because of Andre Miller being and actual point gaurd and distributing the ball. And the Dalembeast playing some legitimate d, and being a good defensive post presence.
And have you watched any of the Hawks-Celtics game. I swear if I see them just standing around on offense another game, I’m going to puke!
They can only win, when they hit buckets, and yes both teams have heart, but they have no strategy, ballmovement, and the hawks play alright D, but that’s because they are so athletic.
Flip Saunders did choke last year against Cleveland I’ll give you that. But his flaw is an over emphasis on offense and no emphasis on defense, and that’s transparent from the million and 1 plays they run.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:15 am
dapro says:
This is T-Mac’s time to get out the first round
“Mack, bitch - I move blocks and pounds
I move out with small blocks from towns”
Beans- Mack Bitch
April 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
iain. says:
@Chuck
Ok first off im making no excuses for Woodson i seen a lot of Hawks games this year and yeh i basically agree with you on that one..
As for Cheeks, OK he might not be the greatest coach in terms ofs Xs and Os but the thing that i like is that he clearly has their respect, they have been prepared well, and he has them beleiving.
Going into crunch time who would you have more faith with, the guy whose players look like they beleive in what he tells them and play their role correctly because of it, or the guy who tries to overload his team with plays and sets?
April 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
QQ says:
It’s still 3-2, the Jazz still has the lead. I ain’t believin’ til it reads ‘4-3, Houston’.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:21 am
doc says:
Chuck Mo Cheeks can coach his ass off.U dont know what you’re talking about with that one.And Yao aint got no choice.He aint from America and them China dicks run everything down to how many kids you can have.So basically if he aint ready for the olympics they gonna have him in some tall man dungeon in china next year eating gruel out of a dog bowl.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Suciniac says:
@Chuck
You are right about Yao.Though, it’s really ridiculous how patriotic the Chinese are.Watch this years Olympics and you’ll surely see.For the Chinese there’s no greater honor than serving their Country.The first thing Yao said when he broke his leg was I hope I can get ready for the Olympics or I hope I will be able to be play…something like that.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
GEE...While you was in diapers wettin your sheets, I was at the Ponderosa rappin to the beat says:
All weekend!