Wow The Houston Rockets are FINALLY fully healthy! With the big 3 (McGrady, Yao, Artest) back in action it will be a good week to watch for the Rockets. With the Bulls , Grizzlies , Timberwolves coming up with a combined record of 37- 90 the Rockets cant ask for a better week to regain one of the top spots in the Western Conference.
With the Rockets coming off a tough last second loss to the 76'ers, they look to get back on the winning road. The Rockets are 4 games back for the Division, and only 4 games out of 2nd place in the Western Conference. They look to get a bit closer or maybe steal the First seed in the Division and 2nd seed in the Western Conference, to close it out great before the All Star Break.
Chicago will be coming to Houston for the Rockets first game in this 3 game week. wow gold Fighting for the last seed in the Eastern Conference the Chicago Bulls wont be a look over game for the Rockets. With Chicago averaging the 12th highest PPG in the NBA this will be no easy test for the Rockets 7th ranked defense. I think the Rockets will win big in this one. The Rockets just have to much fire power for the Bulls, and i really dont see anyone stopping Yao on there team. Yao has 5 inches on every player on there team, he will be creating havoc in the paint. McGrady is playing very well coming off his injury, i think we will expect another solid game for McGrady. The 3 point game will be very even with the Rockets shooting 0.371% and the Bulls shooting 0.372%. The Rockets defend the 3 pointer giving up 0.333% and the Bulls give up 0.335%. That means the Rockets will need good enough points in the paint to win this one and Yao should do the job. I think the Rockets prevail in this one in a large margin.
Memphis is the next stop for Houston. Memphis is not playing very good basketball losing 11 games in a row. The Rockets beat the Grizzlies earlier in the season 82-71 and i think that margin of victory will be the same this time around. The Grizzlies are the 2nd worst offensive team in the NBA scoring only averaging 92.77 points per game, going up against a Rockets team that doe not give up a lot of points. Another great stat is the Rockets average the 6th most rebounds per game while the Grizzlies are the worst rebounding team in the NBA. I just think Yao under the boards and the Rockets Defense should lock this one up for Houston. Look for Scola to have a big game, he can rebound the ball very well and play solid defense.
The Timberwolves will be making a stop at the Toyota Center and be meeting the Houston Rockets. (The Timberwolves will be Houstons last game of the week.) Minnesota is not playing that too good of basketball either dropping 2 in a row and being 9.5 games back for that 8th spot in the Western Conference. Minnesota is a solid team all around, averaging more points than the Rockets this season, but rebounding the ball a bit worse than the Rockets. Minnesota is the 24th worst 3 point shooting team in the NBA while the Rockets are basically tied for 12th in the NBA. Minnesota is not that good of a away team being 8-14 while the Rockets being 15-6 at home this season. I believe this will be another win for the Rockets. Minnesota will be coming off 2 very hard road games against the Celtics and Pacers , Also 1 home game against the
