If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

[utexas]

They will make the finals. My mavs are trying but have no answer so far. I'm not giving up, but if Houstons top two keep plsying like they are , everyone will be in trouble. They are a matchup nightmare.

[nkhera1]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

They will make the finals. My mavs are trying but have no answer so far. I'm not giving up, but if Houstons top two keep plsying like they are , everyone will be in trouble. They are a matchup nightmare.

They won't be able to beat the Suns. Don't forget about the 40 points they got from Sura, Barry, and James which is just as important.

[utexas]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

McGrady has really stepped it up when it counts the most. He is playing out of the world right now, even defensively. He has become a complete player. As long as he keeps this up, they will be tough to stop.

[pastapadre]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Unless McGrady prematurely starts talking about how great it is to advance to the 2nd round, before the 1st round is over like he did last time and doomed his team. Hopefully for his sake hes grown up since then.

[bulls96]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

I'm all for Houston now...

McGrady has been showing just how great a player he really is. His basketball IQ is now on the level of the Pippens and Jordans, and that is pretty scary. He's the leader right now, the type of leader that can carry a team to a championship.

and did you see that DUNK ON BRADLEY?? WOOOW!

never been a Mcgrady fan but i'm beginning to believe...

[Jebby]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

and did you see that DUNK ON BRADLEY?? WOOOW!

Yeah that was sweet!

[TigerKnee]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

They won't be able to beat the Suns. Don't forget about the 40 points they got from Sura, Barry, and James which is just as important.

That's why we handed you your biggest home loss of the season and another home loss near the end of the season right?

I respect the Suns since they do have the best record in the league but to say we won't be able to beat them, even though we've proven that we can, is stretching it a bit.

[Flyboy]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

They won't be able to beat the Suns.

Let the underestimation of the Rockets continue. It's been like that all season so just keep it up.

[platic]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

They won't be able to beat the Suns.

Actually, the Rockets already beat the Suns twice this year, having split the season series at 2-2. In the playoffs, when defense and low-post offense are at a premium, you can bet the advantage tilts in favor of the Rockets.

The regular season is good for fast breaks and jumpshots and highlight reel dunks.

When the elbows and limbs and flagrants start flying in the playoffs, the Suns won't be able to keep up with the rest of the league.

[BigTigLSU]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

2 POINTS I would like to make

1. Dirk played the best I have seen him play ever. I have seen him score more but I have never seen him do it in the manner he did it in the 4th quarter last night. And he was being a leader.... chewing out Van Horn for being passive its Dirk is trying to make that transtion....to meet his full potential...This will be a great series if Dirk would get some help from Finely I dont know what to say about Finely, its like he isnt even on the team.

2. The Suns are good but the Suns will have to play defense or will not win in the second round. Giving up 100 or more points will start to comeback to haunt you. Playing a team in a 7 game series will allow folks to learn what you do and by game 3 they will be gameplaning to stop whatever you do best, and then you have to adjust I will wait and see if they can do that.


Back to the topic....

This Rockets team is str8 scary. McGrady playing D on Dirk let me know that this is real deal for him no more 1 round and out. He has that swagger not like the over confidence of its good to be out of the 1st round its like he thinking this is victim #1, whos next?

[BigTigLSU]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Actually, the Rockets already beat the Suns twice this year, having split the season series at 2-2. In the playoffs, when defense and low-post offense are at a premium, you can bet the advantage tilts in favor of the Rockets.

The regular season is good for fast breaks and jumpshots and highlight reel dunks.

When the elbows and limbs and flagrants start flying in the playoffs, the Suns won't be able to keep up with the rest of the league.

Kenny Smith said it best there are shots that are good shots in the Regular season that are bad shots in the playoffs. Every possesion counts defense especially.
The Mavs have had really good offensive teams but at the end you got get stops to win the game or you give up those 9 point leads that seemed secure all game.

[tdawgg]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

Don't count out the Mavs as well. 2 games is too early. Avery's gonna call out one of these guys and they'll step up. T-Mac has been incredible but he can't keep this up the entire series. But I'll definitely hope he does.

I still think the role players on the Rockets is what has elevated this team as everyone is aware. Yao's been able to play this way because he's getting solid backup minutes from Dikembe and Sura, Barry, Mike James have been clutch when they needed a basket. 2 guys can't do it all.

I'm a huge Yao supporter but man, he's gotta work on his toughness on the Defensive end. His offense has improved 10 fold since last year but he's still too weak and passive on the Defensive end. If you're gonna foul someone, Foul them hard! Like someone said before, I think he hits the deck more than anyone else on the team. And let's not get started on his rebounding.

[Streets]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

1. Dirk played the best I have seen him play ever. I have seen him score more but I have never seen him do it in the manner he did it in the 4th quarter last night. And he was being a leader.... chewing out Van Horn for being passive its Dirk is trying to make that transtion....to meet his full potential...This will be a great series if Dirk would get some help from Finely I dont know what to say about Finely, its like he isnt even on the team.

i don't know about all that. best he's ever played? He had 3 turnovers and only 2 boards and was 8-21. If you're throwing up bricks, you have to impact the game in other ways, and I just didn't see it from him. If Shaq isn't scoring, his presence is there on D and he still open's things up for his teammates. If Tracy's shot isn't falling he can still rebound, pass, D up, and open things up for his mates by drawing doubles. Dirk went off in the fourth making 3 of 4, but he had been trying to shoot himself out of a slump all game instead of impacting the game in other ways. Just prior to that 3 shot hot streak he had missed 5 of 17. I'm not a Mavs fan, but I've seen Dirk at his best and that wasn't it. Dirk coming up clutch in the regular season and singlehandedly beating the rockets in OT was Dirk at his scariest.

53 points (15-32), 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks, 1 turnover

thats what he did to us during the regular season, so I know all too well that last night wasnt Dirk at his best.

What you did see however was T-Mac and Yao at their collective bests... and we barely won. Dirk has yet to have a good game and I don't expect that to be the case all series long. T-Mac and Yao played their very best ball and THAT cant be expected all series long. Thus, I'm not counting out the Mavs b/c I know what theyre capable of all too well. Gotta save the celebrrations until this series is wrapped up because its far from over.

[jujuhound]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..

2 POINTS I would like to make

1. Dirk played the best I have seen him play ever. I have seen him score more but I have never seen him do it in the manner he did it in the 4th quarter last night. And he was being a leader.... chewing out Van Horn for being passive its Dirk is trying to make that transtion....to meet his full potential...This will be a great series if Dirk would get some help from Finely I dont know what to say about Finely, its like he isnt even on the team.

2. The Suns are good but the Suns will have to play defense or will not win in the second round. Giving up 100 or more points will start to comeback to haunt you. Playing a team in a 7 game series will allow folks to learn what you do and by game 3 they will be gameplaning to stop whatever you do best, and then you have to adjust I will wait and see if they can do that.


Back to the topic....

This Rockets team is str8 scary. McGrady playing D on Dirk let me know that this is real deal for him no more 1 round and out. He has that swagger not like the over confidence of its good to be out of the 1st round its like he thinking this is victim #1, whos next?

I agree with your post for the most part but the first sentence should read more like this: "Dirk played the best fourth quarter I have seen him play ever." Then, I would totally agree. If you watched the first three quarters, he looked every bit as bad as he did in game one. If Dirk can carry that 4th quarter over into the coming games, I think it is too early to count the Mavs out. With the way McGrady is playing, Dirk needs to play all four quarters to get the win.

[Streets]

Re: If McGrady and Yao continue to play like this..



"It'll make a nice poster for my kids" - Tracy McGrady