Houston Roundball Review Archive: February 2007 men's hoops MP3s

Monday, February 26, 2007
Rockets Blow Lead and Lose to Boston

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets runined "Ladies Night" tonight.

The Rockets (35-21) blew an eight point fourth-quarter lead (68-60) with 4:20 left in the ball game.

Boston (14-42) outscored the Rockets 17 to 4 during the final four minutes to defeat the Rockets 77 to 72.

Despite star player Tracy McGrady's missing the game due to flu-like symptoms, the Rockets, on paper, seemed to have enough to defeat the awful Celtics.

Boston scored 29 points in the first half; however, the Cs only trailed Houston by six points 35 to 29 at halftime.

To say the first half was filled with ugly basketball is gross understatement.

Boston shot 23.3% (10 for 43) from the field including a woe-be-gone 11.1% (1 for9) from the three point range.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Jeff Van Gundy after Rockets win over Heat

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Jeff Van Gundy, Houston Rockets head coach, gave concise answers during a shorter than usual post-game press conference following the Rockets convincing 112 to 102 victory over the Miami Heat.

Houston led by as much as 18 points during the game (66 to 48); and, despite a few runs by Miami, the Rockets were able to keep the Heat at arms' length for much of the ball game.

JVG: "...not a word to describe how bad it is..." (the Rockets' defense when Dikembe Mutombo sits on the bench)

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Miami's Wade Injures left Shoulder versus Rockets

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- With 10:27 left in the fourth quarter of Wednesday nights' Houston Rockets - Miami Heat game, Dwyane Wade, Heat superstar guard, left the game in a lot of pain.

Wade injured his left shoulder (early word is the shoulder is dislocated) while playing defense.

He ran into Rockets' forward Shane Battier; and, the next thing I see is D-Wade in tremendous agony.

His left arm hung limp by his side and his faced grimaced in pain as he walked to Miami's bench.

Wade was taken from the game in a wheelchair for further examination on the shoulder.

Shane Battier: "...Dwyane was on the sideline..."

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Friday, February 16, 2007
McGrady: "stays in Vegas"

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Take a listen to Tracy McGrady's comments...

T-Mac: "...stays in Vegas..."

Heck, there may be a commercial here, somewhere.

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Thursday, February 15, 2007
T-Mac wants his teammates to ATTACK!

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- After the Rockets 80 to 77 loss to the Dallas Mavericks tonight, Tracy McGrady told the media wanted his teammates to attack the Mavs' defense when Dallas double-teams him.

Read his comments:

(on what the Rockets need to do defensively when he is forced to pass the ball) -- “It’s pretty simple. You know what they’re going to do. Once I get on a roll, they’re going to want to take the ball out of my hands and they’re going to deny me the ball. They’re going to send 2 guys at me and make somebody else make plays. And, once again, we didn’t know what to do and it worked into their favor.”

(on the solution to playing better defensively when he is forced to pass the ball ) “Attack, be aggressive. You’ve got 2 guys guarding me so that leaves 4 guys on 3. Attack them and we just don’t do that.”

Or, listen to them: "...attack..."

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Mavs Beat Rockets 80 to 77

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Twenty combined assists.

Twenty combined missed free throws.

Eighty-three combined missed field goal attempts.

Those are a few of the numbers in tonight's three point loss by the Houston Rockets to the Dallas Mavericks, 80 to 77.

The Rockets began the game slowly and trailed Dallas 21 to 14 with 3:03 left in the first quarter.

However, as the fans began to arrive to their seats, the Rockets' offense started to awaken from their slumber.

Juwan Howard scored four points during a 9 to 0 run by the Rockets to finish the quarter with a 23 to 21 lead over the Mavs.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Rockets edge Kings by five in Overtime

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Tuesday night at Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets won a game without playing their 'A' game.

The Rockets (33-18) defeated the Sacramento Kings (22-28) 109 to 104 in overtime despite being outplayed for much of the ball game.

The first quarter went back-and-forth as the game was tied four times and the lead changed hands three other times.

Sacramento led 25 to 22 at the end of the first period.

Kings' forward Ron Artest scored seven points during the period followed by six points from former Rockets' forward Kenny Thomas.

During the first part of the second quarter, the quicker Kings exploited the Rockets poor perimeter defense and built a twelve point lead (45 - 33) with 5:44 left in the period.

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Jeff Van Gundy: Discusses Yao Ming's Return

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- After today's shootaround, Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy gave his comments regarding when Rockets center Yao Ming will return to action.

Not just practice but playing in basketball games.

Listen to what Jeff told the media: "...once you can practice..."

The Rockets play the Sacramento Kings tonight at Toyota Center. Tip-off is at 7:35 p.m.

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Monday, February 12, 2007
JVG: too few minutes

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- After Saturday's victory, Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy, told the media he wouldn't play Kirk Snyder and Bonzi Wells in the rotation at the same time because it becomes too muddled.

Well, after today's practice, some of my media colleagues decided to ask JVG to elaborate on those comments.

Take a listen to what JVG told us: "...too few minutes..."

By the way, Bonzi participated in today's practice. He told us he expects to play in tomorrow's game versus Sacramento.

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Saturday, February 10, 2007
JVG and Skip after Rockets Blowout of Bobcats

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Instead of wilting to a deficit like last night versus the Dallas Mavericks, tonight, the Houston Rockets shook off a slow start to rout the Charlotte Bobcats 104 to 83 before 18,061 fans at Toyota Center.

Houston (32-18) trailed Charlotte (18-33) 13 to 2 just eight minutes and 38 seconds into the ball game.

Nine of those points came on wide open three-point shots from guard Raymond Felton and forward Matt Carroll.

The Rockets calmed down on offense and improved on defense to end the first quarter with a 29 to 28 lead.

Luther Head scored nine points in the second quarter as the Rockets outscored the Bobcats 31 to 18 to take a 60 to 46 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

Six Rockets players scored in double figures.

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Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Willis, Morris, and Zo after 70-55 win over Southern Miss

HOUSTON, TX (Autry Court) -- Wednesday night, the Rice Owls defeated Southern Miss 70 to 55 before a sparse crowd of 1,305 fans at Rice University's Autry Court.

Morris Almond, "Mr. Efficient", led the Owls with 35 points.

Why do I refer to Morris as "Mr. Efficient"?

He scored those 35 points on just 21 field goal attempts.

He made 14 of those shots (including 4 for 4 from three); and, he was a perfect three for three from the foul line.

A scout for the NBA's Indiana Pacers attended last night's game to see Morris.

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Monday, February 5, 2007
Rockets Rout Minnesota by 28

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The following quote from Randy Wittman, the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, should give you a good idea of who won tonight's game between the Houston Rockets and the Timberwolves:

(on his team's play): "Our guard play was atrocious. There was no direction at all. I didn't recognize what we were doing offensively. I don't know what to do; but, I have to find the answer. If you have good guard play in the league, you have a shot; but, we are not getting any guard play...This loss is the whole damn team. We didn't have anybody come out with any heart or desire."

Wittman kept going: (on his future team plans): "I'm not going to keep the status quo. I didn't see this coming. We'll see who wants to play, even if its only five guys. I want to see who wants to play every night. I have three or four guys I can count on every night and that is about it."

The Rockets blasted Minnesota 105 to 77.

Houston (30-17) started the game slowly and led Minnesota (22-26) just 21 to 15 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was entirely different.

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Penders Challenges Seniors to be more Vocal

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- Saturday's eight point road loss by the Houston Cougars to the UTEP Miners bothered Cougars' head coach Tom Penders.

The loss was not as bothersome to Coach Penders as the lack of effort given by his team in the ball game.

Today, at his weekly media press conference / luncheon, Coach Penders was very candid with his comments regarding the play of the team in Saturday's game; the lack of vocal leadership being provided by his seniors; and a potential change to the team's starting line-up as early as this Wednesday versus SMU.

Take a listen to what he had to say: "...didn't give the effort..." | "...hunch and your heart..."

More from Coach Penders: "...don't have the depth..." | "...most disappointing..."

Senior forward Jahmar Thorpe: Coach is challenging us...

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Saturday, February 3, 2007
JVG and T-Mac after Rockets ugly loss to Hornets

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- I covered two basketball games today; and, the Houston team lost both games: UH women lost to UTEP.

The Rockets capped off the day of losing with an ugly 87 to 74 loss to the New Orleans / Oklahoma City Hornets.

Houston trailed 33 to 30 at halftime. Yes, halftime.

The Rockets managed just 49 points after three quarters of play.

Rafer Alston and Hornets wing player Desmond Mason were ejected in the first quarter.

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Thursday, February 1, 2007
Penders' Comments after Coogs 70 to 63 win over Rice

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- Kudos to whoever was involved with the University of Houston in getting a big crowd of students to attend Wednesday night's UH - Rice game at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The students created a loud, exciting atmosphere as 6,115 fans saw the Cougars hold on to defeat the Owls 70 to 63.

Houston (11-9, 5-2) opened the game with two dunks from forward Dion Dowell and never trailed in the game.

Rice's Morris Almond, the Owls' All-America candidate, was limited to 21 points (six below his 27.4 ppg scoring average) as Marcus Malone did an excellent job defending Almond one-on-one.

Houston's team defense helped hold Almond to just 16 field goal attempts and just three free throw attempts.

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