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Preview - Utah Jazz @ Houston Rockets - Round 1 - Game 2 - 2008 playoffs

This time last year the Jazz dropped game 2 to Houston on the road and were heading back to the SLC to try to salvage the series.  This year things are a bit different.  The Jazz already have stolen home court and can effectively end Houston’s season tonight with a win.  I always hate saying that type of thing because it always comes back to haunt you should it not turn out.

As I said in game 1’s recap, I think Houston is done.  I think McGrady is already looking to next season when Yao and Alston are back.  He’s tired of the “can’t get out of the first round” player and wants to be able to say it wasn’t his fault.  And to a point it’s not really.  Nobody expected them to win this series with the injuries they’ve had.  But he still owes his fans a competitive series.

Look for the Jazz to do the same defensive scheme tonight.  As Ken, Scrum, and FLA stated, they’re going to keep playing T-Mac straight up and send help.  Someone else is going to have to beat the Jazz.  We’re going to have to see Scola or Bobby Jackson have a career night.  Battier was great in the first game, but unless McGrady has 50+, just having two scorers won’t be enough.

Have you ever seen Memo and AK both have good games on the same night?  I can’t remember the last time both of them had close to 20 in the same game.  They must share one pair of lucky socks.  Boozer and Williams will get their’s tonight.  We’ll need a good game from one of the sock mates and KK and Millsap to do their thing.

Either the Jazz blow them out in this one or the Rockets pick up a win.

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    28 Comments »

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:13:02

    Did you see T-Mac’s face after the Price steal & dunk near the end of the 1st?
    Priceless.

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:14:21

    Pun intended. :)

    Comment by Basketball John
    2008-04-21 19:15:53

    :). We need to submit a new face to Simmons. The T-Mac face. 9-point lead after 1.

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    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 19:13:56

    nope…let me rewind and watch, then take a picture :)

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:16:21

    Has he already given up?

     
     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:20:40

    That’s the Jazz D right there on the McGrady pass to #14 (Landry maybe?). :(

     
    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 19:25:05

    weather the storm…

    This game is VERY similar to game 1

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:34:50

    Except that (as far as I can remember), the Rockets weren’t shooting 50% this late into the game.

    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 19:43:53

    the similarities slowly died after I posted that

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    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:50:03

    That’s good… as long as it favors the Jazz. :)

     
    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 19:51:35

    OK, maybe they’re back. Same halftime score (except Memo hit a late three instead of McGrady)

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 20:25:02

    And Bobby Jackson isn’t the Bobby Jackson we came to love in Game 1. :(
    Come back, Bobby of Saturday. We miss you.

     
     
     
     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:26:49

    Can Harpring really stick on T-Mac defensively?
    I don’t see it…

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:29:59

    This has to be the only series with 2 movie-star look-a-likes…
    Ashton Kutcher v. Chris Rock.

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:37:18

    If you forget about the money and just look at AK’s game…
    he’s an amazing player. He can do it all.
    Shoot (rediscovered this year). Help D. Rebound. And pass.

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 19:48:42

    Good god… why do the Jazz always get stuck with the officials that love their whistles like none… especially when they can call a foul on the Jazz?

    F U David Stern.

     
    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 19:50:03

    M O N E Y M A N!

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 20:31:22

    Where’s the whistle there, refs?

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 20:33:33

    Price!!!

     
    Comment by Basketball John
    2008-04-21 20:33:52

    Price! With the block and the three!

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 20:48:52

    Flopping SOB.

     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 21:06:53

    What a shot by KoKo!

     
    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 21:08:54

    KK = cash money

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 21:10:01

    That shot was amazing.
    The fact he got it off in time… dang.

     
     
    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 21:12:43

    Win!
    2-0 coming home!

     
    Comment by scrumtrulescent
    2008-04-21 21:14:42

    that win was like a warm blanket around my heart. Dear Houston, I’m sorry you had to meet this team, but we’re just better

     
    Comment by Nick
    2008-04-21 21:20:14

    Now, I know it looks good, but don’t go declaring this one over. Remember all the teams who have recently blown 2 games leads in the first round? Remember Orlando losing that 3-1 lead to Detroit a few years back? Remember Houston blowing that 2-0 lead on Dallas? Remember Houston blowing that 2-0 lead on Utah. . . .

    . . . .hmmm. . . .

    On second thought, this series is over.

    Comment by UtesFan89
    2008-04-21 21:23:06

    I’m not calling it over till its over… but it sure looks good right now.
    Coming home up 2-0. Not much more you could ask for (save for maybe a fair game by the refs).

     
     
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