Sorry, but how is this not the biggest game 7 he’s played?  Which one was more important in his career than this one?  He just seemed to be blowing it off because it’s the Jazz.  Moron.

Plus commentary from Barkley and the gang.

My favorite highlight, Millsap’s emphatic rejection.

Andrei Kirilenko wiped away those tears and played like the AK-47 of old.  He was the main component in Utah’s 94-82 win over Houston. Kirilenko was responsible for McGrady’s 8-23 shooting and made multiple hustle plays including stripping the ball from McGrady on a couple occasions, altering the layup of Howard, and and swatting Yao.  Speaking of thugs, that was a classy play on the part of Howard after Okur faked the three and caused Howard to foul him.  It wasn’t enough that Howard ran into okur, he had to grab him and throw him to the ground.  After he was whistled for the foul, he drew a technical and made contact with Dick Bevetta.  We’ll have to see what comes of that.  He could miss game 7.  He hasn’t contributed that much, but he does spell a couple of the starters.  This would force Van Gundy to play more of his already weak bench.

In addition to AK, the other story of the night was the return of Okur’s three point shot.  He also played fairly well on Yao.  The way Okur and Boozer played him, I was kind of surprised at Yao’s line: 9-16 from the field and 7-9 from the line for 25 points.  Yao didn’t seem to get good shots off all night.  He did have several dunks though.  One of the telling stats that showed how well they played him were the 8 turnovers. 

Once again it came down to containing McGrady and Yao and make the others beat you, and they couldn’t.  Alston was the only other Rocket in double figures and that required 5-14 shooting.

The Rockets live and die by the three.  Tonight they were a miserable 6-21 while the Jazz made 7 of 15.

This series should have been over by now with the Jazz waiting for the winner of the Golden State-Dallas series.  But now they have to return to Houston.  It’s going to take a game like tonight, especially for Okur and AK, for them to pull it out.  I expect McGrady to come out firing, trying to dispel his critics.  He’s never made it out of the first round, and should it happen again, that could be his legacy.

The series has lived up to its billing.  Game 7, Saturday!

Complete Box Score

On his latest basketball blog post, Simmons writes this in the sidebar about tonight’s game:

Just wanted to go on the record: I’m predicting an easy Utah win tonight. Once the Jazz finally figured out that nobody could hurt them except for T-Mac, this series took on a totally different feel after Game 2. Utah has three guys who can get quality shots — Williams, Boozer and Harpring (coming off screens) — whereas the Rockets have T-Mac and that’s it. And to answer your “What about Yao?” question … exactly. What about Yao? Defensively, he’s been a liability; offensively, he can’t even post up 6′7 Paul Millsap, much less Boozer or Memo Okur. It’s his fifth season in the league. He should be KILLING a team like Utah — they don’t have a single guy to guard him. So why isn’t he killing them? Great question. If you’re a Rockets fan, you should be petrified right now. Your team needs a superhuman performance from T-Mac to win one of these next two games. Anything less and they’re going home.

I absolutely agree but if you read Simmons at all and follow his picks for the NFL, NBA, etc., you’ll know that we’re now doomed.  As Simmons would say, “I will now impale myself on Karl Malone’s statue.”

Link to ESPN.com: Page 2 : Bill Simmons Blog

“I hear them,” Van Gundy said. “They’re paying the freight. That’s the way I look at it. There’s probably no one yelling at you in the coal mines, but I got a great job. If someone wants to heckle me, have at it. There’s a lot of material you could use too. I look bad. I feel bad. Have your field day. You’re not going to surprise me. ‘Hey Van Gundy, you’re ugly.’ Really. That’s unusual.”

Anyone going to the game that can make him feel otherwise?

Source: ROCKETS NOTES: McGrady says hip is fine | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Technorati tags: jeff van gundy, utah jazz, houston rockets, nba playoffs