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

Monday, March 26, 2007
Rafer Alston after Rockets Roll by Bucks

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Houston Rockets' guard Rafer Alston scored 13 points (one of six Rockets in double figures) in tonight's 106 to 87 win by the Rockets over the Milwaukee Bucks in front of an announced crowd of 14,287 fans.

The Rockets clinched their third playoff spot in four seasons with tonight's victory.

Alston said the team is "...trying to play more efficient basketball..." as they head to the playoffs.

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Jeff Van Gundy after Rockets Beat Bucks by 19

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Though they struggled in spurts, the Houston Rockets kept the Milwaukee Bucks at arms' length throughout tonight's ball game.

The Rockets (45 - 26) defeated the Bucks (25 - 44) 106 to 87.

With tonight's win, the Rockets qualfiy for the 2006-2007 NBA Playoffs.

Houston led 33 to 20 at the end of the first quarter and maintained a lead the rest of the ball game.

Six Rockets score din double figures: 22 points each from Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady; 13 each from Rafer Alston and Luther Head; 12 points from Juwan Howard; and 10 points from Shane Battier.

McGrady added nine assists while Howard added 10 rebounds.

Milwaukee's Michael Redd scored a game-high 26 points for the Bucks.

After the game, Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy told the media: "...we're just not playing real well the last couple of games..."

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Thursday, March 22, 2007
JVG after Rockets win over Detroit

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Rockets raced to a 10-0 lead over the Detroit Pistons tonight; pushed to lead to as much as 20 points; and held onto defeat Detroit 91 to 85.

Yao Ming led all scorers with 27 points on 10 for 19 shooting from the field.

Tracy McGrady added 20 points on just 9 for 24 shooting. McGrady added eight assists and five rebounds.

Rafer Alston scored 16 points; dished out six assists; and pulled down six rebounds.

Houston led by 17 points (73 to 56) at the end of the third quarter; but, Detroit managed to pull within four points (86 to 82) with 2:44 left in the ball game.

Listen to some of Jeff Van Gundy's post game remarks:"...finishing mentality..."

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Rockets Nip Clips by Four

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets may not be an elite basketball team; but, they are a good basketball team.

Good teams find ways to win ball games despite playing poorly.

Case in point, Wednesday night at Toyota Center before the 21st announced sell-out crowd of the 2006 - 2007 season versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Rockets (40 - 25) led the Clippers (29 - 35) by as many as 17 points in the ball game; blew the lead; and trailed by three points (103 to 100) with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.

Yet, Houston's defense (yes, defense) helped the Rockets beat the Clips down the stretch of the ball game.

The Rockets raced to a 12 to 0 lead on two three-point shots from guard Rafer Alston; two lay-ups from forward Chuck Hayes and a 14-foot jumper from big man Yao Ming.

Clippers' forward Elton Brand hit two free throws to break LA's scoring drought.

However, the Rockets' offense toyed with the seemingly lifeless Clippers' defense through much of the first quarter and led by as many as 16 points six times.

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Sunday, March 11, 2007
Yao Ming's 37 Leads Rockets over Orlando

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Houston Rockets center Yao Ming dominated the Orlando Magic in a quiet, workman-like manner Sunday evening.

Yao's 37 points led all scorers in the game. He made 14 of his 22 field goal attempts and 9 of his 11 free throw attempts.

In addition to his points; Yao added four blocked shots; seven rebounds; and three assists.

Tracy McGrady: "...searching out Yao tonight..."

The Rockets (39 - 24) led Orlando (29 - 35) for much of the ball game.

Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu scored the first points of the game by draining a three-point shot; however, once the Rockets took the lead 5 to 3, Orlando never led the rest of the game.

The Rockets shot 68.8% (11 for 16) in the first quarter and led Orlando 31 to 23 at the end of the period.

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Friday, March 9, 2007
Rockets' Snyder put on the Inactive List

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Houston Rockets' guard Kirk Snyder did not play in tonight's ball game versus the New Jersey Nets.

Prior to the game, Snyder was placed on the "Inactive List" by head coach Jeff Van Gundy.

JVG was asked why he made the move; and, he said, "...his response put him on the inactive list..."

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Nets No Match for Rockets Friday Night

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- Friday night, the Houston Rockets routed the New Jersey Nets 112 to 91 before an announced sellout crowd of 18,144 fans.

Houston started the game aggressively; slacked off slightly in the second period; regained their intensity in the third quarter and cruised to the victory in the fourth.

Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy after the game: "...how hard we've competed..."

Houston (38-24) jumped on the Nets (28-34) in the first quarter by scoring the first six points of the ball game.

Yao Ming scored the first four points of the game and the Rockets never looked back.

Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the period while Yao added eight points on perfect shooting (3 for 3 from the field and 2 for 2 from the foul line).

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Saturday, March 3, 2007
Spurs Blast Rockets by 23

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets participated in a game tonight featuring a chamionship-caliber team.

Unfortunately, the San Antonio Spurs were championship-caliber team while the Rockets were merely pretenders (lightweights) learning from a true contender (heavyweights).

The Rockets (36-23) are a good team; but, tonight, the Spurs (41-18) played like a team getting ready to compete for an NBA title.

Houston led 3 to 0 and 3 to 2. That's it.

Once Spurs' center Francico Elson connected on two free throws to give the Spurs a 4 to 3 lead, Houston never led the rest of the ball game.

The rest of the first quarter was a clinic on superb offense by the Spurs and woeful, almost comical offense and porous defense by the Rockets.

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