Playoff Musings: Rockets v. Jazz

AK-47 finally showed up bigtime tonight. AK had 14 pts. and more importantly, he played some lockdown defense on T-Mac as the Jazz won 94-82. This series, in which the home team has won every game so far, begs the question - why on earth do basketball teams play better at home than on the road? There's no difference in the rims and the courts are essentially the same. The only difference seems to be the homecourt fans. And you assume they make a difference because basketball has the most intimate connection in professional sports between fans and players.

Let's hope that's true, because I'd like to see T-Mac in the second round.

-WCK

Playoff Musings: Rockets v. Jazz

If I were a betting man and I am this is the game I would have did bet on. Utah has been excellent at home this year and despite the Rockets hot start in the series, we all have to remember that McGrady has never gotten out of the first round of the playoffs. But I don't think any of us expected this, an 81-67 beatdown. The Jazz made the Rockets look terrible tonight. Carlos Boozer had another big game with 22 pts and 12 boards, but it was Utah's bench that made the difference tonight. The Jazz bench went for 33 while the Rockets bench pulled the old goose egg. Oh yeah, AK-47 sucked again as usual.

This series is far from over, I just wish there was more offense.

Playoff Musings: Rockets v. Jazz

As everyone knows by now, AK-47 followed up Game 1 by crying about his lack of playing time. In Game 1 he played only 16 minutes and scored just 2 pts. So how did he follow up that impressive performance? By scoring ZERO points in 18 minutes tonight. Wow. I didn't think it was possible for him to play any worse tonight than he did in Game 1, but he managed to do it. Sloan might just want to bench him for the rest of the series. At the rate AK-47 is going, he might start scoring baskets for the Rockets in Game 3.

AK-47 wasn't the only one on Utah to throw up a stinker either. Okur went for only 4 pts. Two starters going for a combined 4 points. Not going to win a lot of games when that happens. Carlos Boozer did his best with 41 pts, but it wasn't enough as McGrady went for 31 and Yao went for 27. The Rockets won 98-90.

Playoff Musings: Rockets v. Jazz

Strange game tonight. T-Mac and the Rockets went AWOL in the first half (33 points) before turning it on in the second half (51 points). Meanwhile Utah was decent in the first half (42 points), before crapping the bed in second half (33 points). By the way, what the hell has happened to AK-47? He used to be a huge fantasy basketball staple, now he seems totally lost on the court. He's awful. Maybe he should finally take advantage of that groupie allowance his wife has given him. It might clear his head.

-WCK