[123fakestreet]

How they got here: Houston and Denver were both in the heat of the extremely tight 4-5-6 race. Houston came out on top to claim home court, but Denver was very close.

Rosters: http://www.basketballboards.net/foru...d.php?t=310276

Houston:
Starters: Jason Kidd, Eddie Jones, Channing Frye, Emeka Okafor, Shane Battier
BENCH: Charlie Bell, Marquis Daniels, Jackie Butler, Melvin Ely, Maceo Baston, Jason Collins, Bostjan Nachbar

Denver:
Starters: Damon Stoudamire, Michael Finley, Shaquille O'Neal, Rasho Nesterovic, Ricky Davis
BENCH: Earl Boykins, Josh Childress, Theo Ratliff, Pape Sow, Joey Graham, Keith McLeod, Chris Taft

I encourage both teams to write a write-up of how they will handle this matchup. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR YOUR OWN TEAM.

Anybody is allowed to vote, regardless of conference, or whether you're in the draft or not. We invite everybody and anybody to vote.

[ravor44]

Houston Rockets - Game Plan vs. Denver Nuggets

Matchups: Houston vs. Denver

Starters:
PG: Kidd vs. Stoudamire - Well, its a huge advantage for the Rockets...
SG: Jones vs. Finley - Veterans who are past their prime, Jones can still defend but Finley has still some offense left...Finley's advantage but only by a hair...Nuggets
SF: Battier vs. Davis - Battier will lock Davis down...Rockets
PF: Frye vs. Nesterovic - Well, we know Frye could put it up if he's healthy..Definitely, advantage for Rockets
C: Okafor vs. Shaq - Shaq will win this matchup but don't forget that this is not the same Shaq who bullies in the paint..I know Okafor can stop him but still Shaq got that small advantage...

BENCH:
Boykins vs. Bell - Both very good 6th man for each team, I say its a tie
Childress vs. Daniels - Daniels has proven something and Childress is young, so it goes to Marquis.
Ratliff vs. Butler - Butler has potential and Ratliff has been bug by injuries, Rockets advantage
Sow vs. Ely - Ely can put it...Rockets win this matchup
Baston, Collins and Nachbar vs. McLeod, Taft and Graham - Tie....all are scrubs...

Well, Rockets will definitely win it at 5...

[ravor44]

I know some of the guys who voted for the Nugs hates my team and me..but its OK..
Even we ask Basketball experts, its a matchup Rockets can really win...

[crazyfan]

Originally Posted by ravor44

I know some of the guys who voted for the Nugs hates my team and me..but its OK..
Even we ask Basketball experts, its a matchup Rockets can really win...

hey, i voted for the Nugs but i never ever said i hated your team.

and im hoping your not referring to me.

[jericho]

I've been saying that this Houston team really needs more firepower, and their backcourt is pretty long in the tooth.

But these Nuggets are pretty creaky themselves, and they don't have the right kind of complementary piece (either a top drawer slasher or a deadeye shooter) needed to take advantage of the matchup problems Shaq can still create. Denver has some big names like Finley and Ratliff who are way past their prime. Okafor will make Shaq work harder than he wants to, and Nesterovic is way out of place as a starting power forward.

I think Boykins could end up as Denver's third leading scorer, which isn't a recipe for success (in part because it means the starting lineup isn't pulling its weight, and in part because he's not the kind of guard who will look for the Big Man first).

Houston takes this in 5 or 6 games.