Mavs@Rockets game thread!!!

[Findog]

Maybe it was just a mental thing because of the sleeve..but it seems like were on to something with this Hassell guy.

I wonder how he fairs against Wade?

I don't think we have to worry about how he will fare against Wade except on January 4th and March 16th.

He's looked real nice the past couple of games...very Adrian Griffinesque. He gets set properly, he's real physical, and on offense, if the defense funnels the ball to him, he's got a nice midranger jumper he hits consistently.

I read in the paper today that he's lost 13 lbs since the trade. I thought he looked like a big bag of nothing when we first got him, but it's hopefully a case of him getting his conditioning in order.

[Findog]

I was rooting for the Mavs in this one. Very impressive and solid win for the Mavs.

And for the record I don't think that was a flagrant on Harris. He did foul on Yao but I think they just called it flagrant because of the way Yao positioned his footing, which had nothing to do with the foul.

Props to the Mavs.
Hopefully we can meet up in the playoffs and give the NBA another series of the year.

He raked him across the face, so I can't complain about the call. Good thing the Rockets couldn't hit their free throws or buy a basket the last 1:30.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He raked him across the face, so I can't complain about the call.

Hmm. I didn't see that. Guess I'll have to relook it over.

Good thing the Rockets couldn't hit their free throws or buy a basket the last 1:30.

Yea I was amazed at their chokejob.

[sribb43]

He raked him across the face, so I can't complain about the call. Good thing the Rockets couldn't hit their free throws or buy a basket the last 1:30.

typical rockets basketball

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

typical rockets basketball

Off topic, but why do you still have the DJ avatar?

[anakha]

Yeesh. What is it with Adelman teams and coughing up big leads?

[Ginobilly]

Is it just me or do the spurs miss Malik Rose and Sjax when it comes to facing the Mavs. Remember they were a big part in us owning them.

[bdictjames]

I've found the reason why I should hate the Mavs. Such thugs.

Why the did Stackhouse dunk the ball with 1 second left?

[Findog]

I've found the reason why I should hate the Mavs. Such thugs.

Why the did Stackhouse dunk the ball with 1 second left?

Thugs or softies, pick a lane please.

[bdictjames]

Thugs or softies, pick a lane please.

Dirk = softy
Mavs = thugs, with the exception of Dirk.

I think Jerry purposely did it to raise the Mavs point differential.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

the mavs are the best team in the league right now, no question.

[Findog]

Dirk = softy
Mavs = thugs, with the exception of Dirk.

I think Jerry purposely did it to raise the Mavs point differential.

I think he did it because it was an emotional comeback win and he momentarily lost sight of the fact that it could be construed as showing up the other team.

[Findog]

the mavs are the best team in the league right now, no question.

Brandon Bass! Devin Harris!

[bdictjames]

I think he did it because it was an emotional comeback win and he momentarily lost sight of the fact that it could be construed as showing up the other team.

HOMER ALERT!!!

Dallas = emotional comeback team. Hopefully other games wont be this unusual.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Brandon Bass! Devin Harris!

but seriously, Brandon Bass could really make the difference for you guys this year. He's obviously a bit rough around the edges, but he could be groomed into a solid banger for the Mavs.


I look forward to the dec. 5 matchup.

[Findog]

HOMER ALERT!!!

Dallas = emotional comeback team. Hopefully other games wont be this unusual.

Second night in a row we erased a 17+ point lead. Hey, you win a game on the road against a division rival after being in a hole, you'll be pumped. I'm not defending what he did.

[Findog]

but seriously, Brandon Bass could really make the difference for you guys this year. He's obviously a bit rough around the edges, but he could be groomed into a solid banger for the Mavs.


I look forward to the dec. 5 matchup.

He shows his inexperience at times, but he can flat-out play. Devin Harris has a consistent jumper now, so pack the lane on him at your own risk. I no longer cringe when he shoots from the perimeter. Dirk had some nice post baskets down the stretch. His numbers by his standards aren't that great, except for the upswing in assists, but he's doing the Duncan thing*: setting up his teammates, letting them go off and carry the scoring load, then about once a week like in the Toronto game, going off to remind teams that he can. That's what Duncan does in the regular season.

* obviously Dirk isn't as good as Duncan.

[boutons_]

Houston has really been -slapped the last couple weeks. Some of it is certainly Rick, and lack of solid leadership from Tracy and Yao.

[Findog]

How is that Battier for Gay trade working out now, Houston?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

He shows his inexperience at times, but he can flat-out play. Devin Harris has a consistent jumper now, so pack the lane on him at your own risk. I no longer cringe when he shoots from the perimeter. Dirk had some nice post baskets down the stretch. His numbers by his standards aren't that great, except for the upswing in assists, but he's doing the Duncan thing*: setting up his teammates, letting them go off and carry the scoring load, then about once a week like in the Toronto game, going off to remind teams that he can. That's what Duncan does in the regular season.

* obviously Dirk isn't as good as Duncan.

Very fair assessment.

I was gonna make a thread asking what was up with Dirk this season, but then I backed off once I saw what he did at the end of the third quarter during the toronto game


And yeah, if Devin Harris continues to outplay Parker everytime they face off, the Spurs could be in real big trouble.

I thought Trenton Hassel was gonna be a steal for you guys, seeing as how good of a defensive stopper he is (or was?), but he seems to be struggling a bit this year.

I'm also digging the Terry vs Ginobili 6th man race, although watch Barbosa win it again

[Amuseddaysleeper]

With Alston and Mike James Houston isn't going anywhere..and Luther Head isn't the answer either. I'm really starting to feel bad for Tracy and now Yao...they will probably never get out of the first round. And I don't even want to start on their coach.

I don't know about Mike James, I mean that dude can go off for 30-40 if he puts his mind to it.


And everytime I wanna feel bad for Tracy and Yao, I realize the talent for them IS there. Shane Battier and Mike James may not be names that make opponents shudder, but like the Spurs, the rockets have a ton of complimentary pieces. I mean , you could argue the rockets are in the top 3-4 teams in terms of depth.

Mcgrady passed off like 5 opportunities in the final 3 minutes of the game against the Mavs. He had so many layups but kept dishing out at all the wrong times in the clutch. The one decent look he finally took was like 20 feet from the basket.

Yao is obviously great too, but I think he's one of the softest players in the league. Which is a shame.

[Findog]

Very fair assessment.

I was gonna make a thread asking what was up with Dirk this season, but then I backed off once I saw what he did at the end of the third quarter during the toronto game

He's been getting the "Golden State" defense so far this year: teams are playing a physical zone against us and swarming him with double-teams, often sending a defender from his blindside. He's getting better at anticipating where the help defender is coming from and his passes out of it are better. Avery wants more balance offensively, because as this team was constructed last year, we needed Dirk to put up 25-30 points to win, and often he'd get no more than an assist or two. This year I think Avery's ideal line for Dirk is 21 points with 5 or 6 assists.

I thought Trenton Hassel was gonna be a steal for you guys, seeing as how good of a defensive stopper he is (or was?), but he seems to be struggling a bit this year.

He started off real slow, I think his conditioning was off. The Morning News beat writer made a mention of how he's lost 13 lbs now since the trade, and he played well these past two games: did a good on TJ Ford and McGrady, while consistently hitting the midrange jumper when defenses funneled the ball to him. I never saw him play much with the T-Wolves but he had that kind of defensive reputation, almost on par with Bowen. If we're not having to play 4 on 5 on offense when he's in the game to guard Kobe, McGrady, whomever, even better.

I'm also digging the Terry vs Ginobili 6th man race, although watch Barbosa win it again

The Suns can sweep the awards again for all I care. They will always be overhyped because of their style of play.

[Roxsfan]

How is that Battier for Gay trade working out now, Houston?

trust me, rudy gay would have sucked in houston...you know, houston luck

I think he did it because it was an emotional comeback win and he momentarily lost sight of the fact that it could be construed as showing up the other team.

with the way they played, giving up 17 point lead....the rockets deserved that from Stackhouse. If you're going to be a pansy-team, you're going to get "shown-up"...Go stackhouse!!!. Rub the salt in the wound....

[Findog]

trust me, rudy gay would have sucked in houston...you know, houston luck



with the way they played, giving up 17 point lead....the rockets deserved that from Stackhouse. If you're going to be a pansy-team, you're going to get "shown-up"...Go stackhouse!!!. Rub the salt in the wound....

I agree that JVG would've brought him along slowly last year and he wouldn't be the second-scoring option like he is in Memphis, but the Rockets don't have the athleticism they need to be immune to small ball, and I think Gay would help with that. Battier is a solid glue guy, he does the "little things" that sometimes don't show up in box scores, but Gay has a much higher ceiling.

Why isn't Francis playing? No way he's worse than Rapist Alston and Luther Head. I heard it was bc he showed up fat like Bonzi did last year, but they need somebody who can actually run a pic n roll. I'm sure Francis would've fouled Harris hard on a couple of those drives too.

[Roxsfan]

I agree that JVG would've brought him along slowly last year and he wouldn't be the second-scoring option like he is in Memphis, but the Rockets don't have the athleticism they need to be immune to small ball, and I think Gay would help with that. Battier is a solid glue guy, he does the "little things" that sometimes don't show up in box scores, but Gay has a much higher ceiling.

Why isn't Francis playing? No way he's worse than Rapist Alston and Luther Head. I heard it was bc he showed up fat like Bonzi did last year, but they need somebody who can actually run a pic n roll. I'm sure Francis would've fouled Harris hard on a couple of those drives too.

You make good points. I will not praise them when they do good, AND I will rip them when they do bad.

I still am a big fan, but I won't defend them against internet criticism........

on the francis thing, not sure....adelman says he was not in cardio-shape and did not play as well as alston..so whatever.