RealGM Basketball

Houston Rockets Wiretap

Rockets Win, Send Series Back To Utah

HOU 95, UTA 69 Tracy McGrady strapped the Houston Rockets to his back and helped will them to a season-saving win, 95-69, over the Utah Jazz at home on Tuesday night in Game Five.

McGrady posted 29 points and 5 rebounds and Luis Scola added 18 points and 11 boards for the Rockets, who shot 47% from the floor and outrebounded Utah by eight.

Carlos Boozer led with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Deron Williams had a mediocre night with 13 points and 6 assists for the Jazz, who made just 36% of field goals attempts and turned the ball over eighteen times.

Houston led by eleven heading into the second half, and used huge third and fourth quarter runs to put the game out of reach well before the final buzzer.

Utah led 10-8 early in the first quarter, but never held the lead again as the Rockets began running away with the game.

Game Six will be Friday night in Utah as the Jazz look to close out the series once again.

Game FIC Scores Luis Scola, HOU - 15.1 Tracy McGrady, HOU - 14.3 Carlos Boozer, UTA - 11.3 Ronnie Brewer, UTA - 10.0

Via Andrew Perna/RealGM


McGrady Slowed By Sore Knee

Tracy McGrady may have an excuse for his disappearance in the fourth quarters of the Rockets series against the Jazz, according to the Houston Chronicle.

He revealed on Monday that he's playing on a sore left knee that is so bad it requires painkilling injections just to take the floor.

Offseason surgery isn't out of the question.

"It is back to that situation where it was in the beginning of the season," McGrady said. "I'm still playing. I played on it the other night. I took a couple of shots. I'll be playing on it."

Via The Houston Chronicle


Yao Working Hard To Recover

Yao Ming is working extra hard to recover from the broken foot that sidelined him for more than half of the season, according to the Houston Chronicle.

He has been working with medicine balls, weight benches, dumbbells and a reduced-gravity treadmill.

Yao has been cleared to lose his crutches and at times, remove his protective boot.

"He is so driven," conditioning coach Dave Macha said. "No question. Yao is driven to a higher standard than most guys. He pushes himself. He relishes any opportunity to work hard and make himself better. It's something I think is innate in him as an individual. He wants to get better. He wants to get stronger."

Via The Houston Chronicle


Rockets Apr 2008 Archive

  • Utah Holds Off Houston, Takes 3-1 Lead

    The Utah Jazz took a 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets with a 86-82 win in Game Four on Saturday night.

  • Rockets Confident Heading Into Game Four

    After keeping their hopes alive with a win in Game Three, the Houston Rockets are confident heading into Game Four against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

  • T-Mac Leads Rockets Over Jazz

    The Rockets won game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the Jazz 94-92 on Thursday night, closing Utah's lead to 2-1.

  • Rockets' T-Mac Says Blame Piles On Him In Playoffs

    Mocking those who blame him for not being able to get any team he has played on past the first round of the playoffs, Rockets' guard Tracy McGrady was vocal and sarcastic on Wednesday.

  • Houston's Alston Could Return In Game Three

    The Rockets could get point guard Rafer Alston back for Game Three against the Jazz on Thursday.

  • Jazz Return Home With 2-0 Series Lead

    Deron Williams scored 22 points to lead the Jazz to a 90-84 road win over the Rockets on Monday night, to take a 2-0 series lead.

  • If Sonics Move, Divisions Will Not Change

    If the Sonics move to Oklahoma City, they will remain in the Northwest division even though geologically Oklahoma City is closer to the teams in the Southwest division.

  • Utah Grabs Game One Victory Over Houston

    Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer led the Utah Jazz past Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets 93-82 on Saturday night.

  • Deron Is Ready To Go Against Rockets

    Deron Williams claims he's more than ready to face the Houston Rockets in Game One of their seven-game series.

  • Doctor Says Yao Can Put Down His Crutches

    Yao Ming has returned from China and has been cleared to stop using his crutches.

  • NBA Rules Against Suspension For Utah's Okur

    The NBA has decided the foul committed by Utah's Mehmet Okur against Fabricio Oberto on Wednesday will remain a flagrant-1, meaning the center will be free to play in game 1 against the Rockets.

  • T-Mac: Success Hinges On Team, Not Him

    Tracy McGrady famously declared that the Rockets' success in their playoff series against the Jazz last season was "on him", but he thinks things have changed this year.

  • Rockets' Alston Out 'At Least' Part Of Playoff Series

    Rockets' guard Rafer Alston will miss at least start of the first round of the playoffs with a strained right hamstring.

  • RGM Rundown For April 13th: L.A. Rules

    The Lakers sit alone atop the Western Conference after downing the Spurs rather easily on Sunday afternoon. Read about the Lakers rise and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for April 13th’s games!

  • Nuggets One Win Away From Playoffs

    The Denver Nuggets were able to defeat the hot Houston Rockets 111-94 behind the strong play of guard J.R. Smith and now sit just one game away from earning their fifth consecutive playoff berth.

  • Lakers Stand Alone Atop West

    The Lakers stand alone atop the Western Conference after a big 106-85 win over the Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

  • Should Houston Be Ahead Of San Antonio?

    The Spurs and Rockets have the same record as of Saturday night, but after checking the tiebreakers Houston should have the edge not the other way around.

  • McGrady: Shaq Giving Amaré Boost

    Tracy McGrady believes that the Suns "have it all" with the addition of Shaquille O'Neal.

  • Rockets Unveil Olajuwon Monument

    The Houston Rockets unveiled a monument celebrating the career of team great Hakeem Olajuwon on Friday.

  • McGrady Says He'll Play With Sore Shoulder

    Tracy McGrady claims that he will play for the Rockets on Friday night when they battle with Suns despite his sore left shoulder.

  • RGM Rundown For April 9th: The West Has Yet To Be Won

    The West has yet to be won with less than a week left in the season. Read about the tight race towards the playoffs and more in the RealGM Daily Rundown for April 9th’s games!

  • Yao Turns To Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Rockets center Yao Ming has returned to China to consult with traditional doctors about his season-ending foot injury.

  • Woods To Sign Second 10-Day Contract With Rockets

    Rockets' GM Daryl Morey has revealed that Houston will sign center Loren Woods to a second 10 day contract today.