Game 34: Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets | Battle For Playoff Spot
January 2, 2011 — PDXPIPELINEBy Andy Popp
GAME 34: Blazers (17-16) vs Houston Rockets (16-16)
January 2, 6PM, Comcast Sports
Related: Trail Blazers Games, Schedule, and WIN Tickets
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The Blazers play the Houston Rockets at home tonight, this is the first of 3 games between the teams this year.
Two nearly .500 ball clubs facing each other in January doesn't seem like a marquee match-up, but the Rockets and Blazers are in a very close race for the 8th and final Western Conference playoff spot.
In the Rockets' 114-105 win against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, out of the 9 players who played, nobody logged less than 22 minutes or more than 26.
The Rockets on paper:
Starting five: Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Jordan Hill, Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry
Off the bench: Brad Miller, Aaron Brooks, Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger, Patrick Patterson
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
The Rockets have been hot lately, winning 8 of their last 10. Losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat.
Like the Blazers big man Greg Oden, Yao Ming is out for the year.
STRATEGY
The Rockets are going to try to outscore the Blazers tonight. The Blazers' best bet is to control the boards and get to the free-throw line. Good defensive outings from Wes Matthews and Nicolas Batum in the backcourt will also throw the Rockets off their game.
LET'S GET RICH
To date: 13-12-1.
Blazers -3.5. Blazers protect home court with a big win tonight.
TRADE ME
Rudy Fernandez
NUMBER OF BACK TO BACKS THIS SEASON (IN SETS)
9
NEXT 5
@ Dallas
@ Houston
@ Minnesota
vs Miami
vs New York
BOTTOM LINE
This win could have huge implications come playoff time. Chalk it up as a must-win if the Blazers want to make the playoffs.
January 6, 2011 at 04:16
[...] On Sunday, I wrote that the Blazers needed to get to the line often and do a good a good job slowing down the Rockets’ back court. The [...]