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Cornholio · 04-08-2008, 03:39 PM

(52-25)/(18-60)

When/Where:
Wednesday, April 9, 8:30 PM ET

Alston / Head / Battier / Scola / Mutombo

Watson / Durant / Green / Collison / Petro

Preview

The Rockets don’t want to let up.

They probably could. There is not a lot of movement to be made in the standings, with the Hornets 2 1/2 games in front (three in the loss column) in the Division and the Conference with just five to play.

The Rockets, with the playoff spot assured, said they need the last five games of the season to pick up speed for the post-season. They want to chase more than momentum. They could move into position to have homecourt advantage and as they approach the playoffs unquestionably shorthanded with Yao Ming out, they could use any advantage they could get.

But whatever motivations remain, the Rockets’ intentions to seek a strong finish to the regular season seem to be more than the expected talk.

Tracy McGrady said he would use the week to let his bruised and strained left shoulder heal, but will not miss a game. Shane Battier said he would not sit out to rest his strained left hamstring. Rafer Alston said he plans to come back from his strained left hamstring by Wednesday.

Coach Rick Adelman said he would be careful with every hobbled player, and certainly will not be going 40-plus minutes if he can help it. But with five games left, he said time is running out not to make the playoffs, but to get ready for them.

Notes:
• With his 18 points, rookie Aaron Brooks was the ninth player to lead the Rockets in scoring this season.

• The Rockets matched their season high with six players scoring in double-figures with Dikembe Mutombo, who made 4-of-6 shots, coming two points short.

• For a second-consecutive game, the Rockets held an opponent without a second-chance point in the second half. They had allowed 21 in the first half in Seattle, nine in the first half against the Clippers.

• The Rockets allowed a season-low 12 fourth quarter points in each of the past two games.

Quote To Note: "Considering all we’ve gone through this year —we started very poorly, we had an amazing hot streak, we lose our best player— we ran the gamut of emotions this year. To clinch a playoff spot in arguably the greatest playoff race in the history of the NBA says a lot about this team."— Starting forward Shane Battier.

Sonics Update:
• The Sonics need to win their final six to match the franchise-low of 23 wins (1967-68).

• The Sonics play three straight in Texas this week including Dallas on Tuesday and San Antonio on Friday.

• The Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Jeff Green is averaging 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and nearly 39 percent 3-point shooting in the past 26 games, compared with 8.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 15 percent shooting on 3s in the first 49.

Next Games
vs.

vs.

**Pimped Out** · 04-08-2008, 09:02 PM

Durant needs to step it up this time

**Yao Mania** · 04-09-2008, 12:52 AM

nah, Durant's used up all his mojo last last game. He shivers under the presense of Tracy McGrady.

CrackerJack · 04-09-2008, 06:25 AM

better win since we have a tough 3 games ahead which will likely be the difference between home court advantage or having to get it done on the road

**HayesFan** · 04-09-2008, 06:29 AM

Bad news... Seattle struggled last night against the Mavs.
Good news... Seattle struggled last night against the Mavs.

At least we didn't score 168 on them so they are extra motivated to try and "spoil our season"

Should be a win, but the mantra of the day "Just take care of business"

jdiggidy · 04-09-2008, 07:33 AM

Will TMac be guarding Durant or will Shane lock him down for the first half? I read somewhere that Landry feels like he is at about the mid to high 90's health wise and says he will be dunking again in no time.

Tonight would be a good break out game for him. It would be nice if we could run away with this game early so our stars could get a bit more rest. Freak'in Utah won again but, LA lost meaning if we win tonight we jump up to 3rd.

I'll just take a W but the blowout would be nice! Go Rocks!

**Pimped Out** · 04-09-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yao Mania

nah, Durant's used up all his mojo last last game. He shivers under the presense of Tracy McGrady.

shut your dirty mouth

Cornholio · 04-09-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdiggidy

It would be nice if we could run away with this game early so our stars could get a bit more rest. Freak'in Utah won again but, LA lost meaning if we win tonight we jump up to 3rd.

I'll just take a W but the blowout would be nice! Go Rocks!

The only way we can get in the top 4 is if we pass the Spurs. Even if the Lakers or Jazz have a worse record than us, they'll be seeded higher because they're division leaders.

Krimzon · 04-09-2008, 11:52 AM

It should be an easy game for us. If we lose this game, the next three will not be very pleasant.

mtlk · 04-09-2008, 04:28 PM

No T-Mac tonight.

Cornholio · 04-09-2008, 05:39 PM

Head will start in place of T-Mac, but I don't think he'll stay in long against Durant/Green.

jdiggidy · 04-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Damn we have alot of turnovers. It is pretty amazing that we can send Scola and Novak out there and dominate Seattle. Man, they are really bad. AB for 3!

jdiggidy · 04-09-2008, 07:41 PM

Just a follow up, I am not diss'in Scola and Novak. I guess a better thing to say was we could've played our second and third units only and still won by 10.

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