Houston vs Utah: Game 7 Preview
Tracy McGrady is all in at the Toyota Center…
The Rockets and Jazz have asked me to plead for you all to pump your breaks just a bit, the first round isn’t over yet. I realize the Houston – Utah series lacks much of the intrigue and excitement that has been brought to you elsewhere this postseason but the fact remains that this series is a diamond in the rough, and a throwback of sorts.
Sure, excellent defense and execution is a less enticing then the gems that have been brought to us courtesy of Nelly-ball’s historic upset of Dallas, but there is something left in this 4 – 5 matchup, and it’s worth watching.
Everyone, and I mean everyone had Houston winning this thing in six games. Before putting the ink to it, I did my research on this series and thought Houston had a step on Utah and could pull it off in five. Hats off to Jerry Sloan and his squad, amazing effort thus far.
However, I am still sticking with my prediction and Houston will win tomorrow’s game 7. Still, all praises due to a young Utah club that was able to claw their way to a seventh and decisive game at the Toyota Center.
Beyond Okur bringing his range back for game six and AK-47 reloading his clip, I feel the constant thorn in the Rockets side is still the Booze Cruise. You can make an argument that Houston should adjust their defensive transitions to pickup Okur for trey, but time and time again in this series Boozer has abused Yao Ming, while the rest of the Jazz play the bar on the opposite side of the floor. I suspect Van Gundy has something cooking beyond hanging Yao out to dry for one on ones with Carlos for tomorrows matchup.
From a line-up perspective I suppose the edge goes to Utah heading into game 7. Rafer Alston can’t guard Deron Williams and a solid shooting night from the second year stud would be just what Dr. Sloan ordered to push Utah over the hump. At the same time AK’s emergence in game 6 on the offensive end spells trouble for McGrady who had been able to rest previously on defense while the hustle man produced very little. If Andrei gets off to a hot start Saturday night it will be interesting to see if Van Gundy stays with Mac, or calls for a switch.
The bottom line is Houston still has the two best players in this series and stars win playoff match-ups. I feel this is the year that McGrady and Yao pull a Warren-G and Nate Dogg and “regulate” on their opponent. With that said I wouldn’t bet against Dr. Sloan. Is that a cop-out? Yes. But yet and still, game seven awaits, let’s get it.
12 Responses to “Houston vs Utah: Game 7 Preview”
May.5 at 1:50 am
Nothin_personal says:
JVG is too scared to shke things up in any conceivable way, so ou know that if either Yao or TMac is off, things are gonna turn ugly for the Rockets
May.5 at 2:30 am
OnThatDrought says:
JVG aint gonna mix that up, you trippin there but you killed this series with these posts good shit my dude
May.5 at 2:56 am
Decs says:
Jason Kidd for MVP
May.5 at 3:15 am
Russ Bengtson says:
This series is a diamond in the rough in the sense that it’s the coal in everyone’s Christmas stocking. I wish there was a way for both teams to lose.
May.5 at 3:59 am
Chou says:
Dr.Sloan got robbed.
May.5 at 1:17 pm
Mike C. says:
Went to the shelf and dusted off the AK. Caps gotta get peeled.
May.5 at 1:21 pm
Mike C. says:
This series reminds me of the mid 90’s Knicks-Heat series that seemed to happen every year for what felt like a lifetime. All-Star centres being guarded by tough power forwards, fundamental play, borderline assaults on D (although they were much more physical in the 90’s), excellent coaches going head to head with their between-game adjustments. This might not be a pretty series, but so far, it has been the best. It’s the only one that could have gone either way at the start. Every other series wasn’t too tough to call (except for Dallas melting like an ice cream cone in July).
May.5 at 1:29 pm
Michael says:
I still say T-mac has to shoot better than 37% today. Everyones talking about Dirk, but T-mac may be having a worse series than any other star. He just can’t find his shot. Usually T-mac has been a beast in the playoffs he was just on bad teams, this year it’s the opposite.
May.5 at 5:49 pm
Derms says:
I hope T-Mac can pull through. Watching him play against the Warriors would be much more enjoyable than the Jazz. Although D. Williams is damn good. I wonder what Lebron thinks when he watches Boozer.
May.5 at 7:30 pm
albie1kenobi says:
watching yao plays infuriates me. how can you be that much bigger than everyone and is not dominating? problem is position.
he should never set screens near the 3 point line. you have a huge screen yeah but he’s so far away from the basket that he’s completely useless. JVG needs to put him in elbom screens with mac. i don’t understand how utah can stop that. put your shooters in both corners and they’ll have wide open 3s all freaking day.
yao also still hasn’t learned about the quick re-post. when things are in motion, just quickly slide towards the basket, then it’s an easy layup or short bank shot.
on defense, he should never switch. ESPECIALLY OUT AT THE 3 POINT LINE AGAINST A GUARD. how’s that even logical? he moves as fast as trees and he’s out there helping to defend the 3 point shot? he should never be above the free throw line.
it almost seems to easy for yao to be effective. isn’t JVG one of the best NBA coach of our era? am i missing something?
May.6 at 9:52 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I need to apologize to the Jazz and Rockets, because that was a fantastic game. I think I made that clear in my recap post, but figured I’d add it here as well. Carlos Boozer is a beast.
Sep.10 at 10:00 pm
SEMAJ says:
T.MAC… OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD