Preview: Rockets at Blazers

Tracy McGrady, we certainly all have fond memories of him.... being injured. Well Tracy brings his hobbled knees and spasming back to the Rose Garden on Friday. Needless to say this could be a tough game for the Blazers, especially if the Rockets decide to play up to their potential for once. This was a team many predicted would be best in the west and to be our representative in the NBA finals. They finally got a decent coach (after getting rid of one) and made all the right moves in the offseason (supposedly), except of course get a point guard and turn T-Mac into a cyborg so that he could stay healthy. But Houston can still be a dangerous team at times, Portland needs to watch out for Rafer Alston on the perimeter (dude likes to shoot), and of course Yao Ming in the middle.

They are 8-2 in their last ten games, but of course, when one takes a closer look, it can be noticed that that included wins over the Knicks on two separate occasions, as well as Seattle (which, on an eleven game losing streak, Houston struggled to beat them the first game, and had to have the bionic T-Mac save them in the second game, and oh, did i mention that they played them one game after the other??? Wouldn't you think Houston could have figured out Seattle by the second game?) and then another win against those feisty T-Wolves. I know they had some decent wins as well in that stretch, San Antonio, Washington, and Orlando, but Orlando has not been playing their best ball as of late, and San Antonio has been looking somewhat crappy on the road (they played in Houston). So the Rockets have either been hot or the other teams cold, needless to say it will interesting to see how the Blazers will respond to being back in the familiar Portland air.

Projected Starting Lineups:

Portland

G Steve Blake 7.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 4.7 APG
G Brandon Roy 19.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.7 APG
C Joel Przybilla 5.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.17 BPG
F Martell Webster 10.7 PPG, 4 RPG, 1.5 APG
F LaMarcus Aldridge 17.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG

Houston

G Rafer Alston 11.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.3 SPG
G Tracy McGrady 22.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.1 APG
C Yao Ming 22.4 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.3 BPG
F Shane Battier 8.3 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.8 APG
F Chuck Hayes 3.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.6 APG

I think this will be a favorable matchup for the Blazers, typically the Rockets bench contributes, but I don't think they will contribute more than the Blazers "White Unit". However, for Portlanders this will mean the return of one of our favorite sons, Bonzi 'I-Blackout-On-The-Court' Wells, so you fans in the first few rows, be sure to bring your raincoats and plastic covers, because he will spit on you! The Blazers need to make sure that they are firing on all cylinders, Aldridge, should be able to have a good game due to the size difference between him and Hayes, but if they put Yao on him, Joel could get some easy dunks. T-Mac isn't totally healthy and might not even start this game, but we cannot overlook him as Seattle seemed to do. Trout has had a hot hand on this road trip so look to him for scoring off the bench, and I think the most interesting matchup will be Brandon Roy versus Battier, because you know they will stick Shane on Roy, but the slower Battier should fall prey to Roy's butter smooth game. All in all it should be a good matchup, but I think the Blazers will overpower Houston in this game, and should see a fairly easy victory. GO BLAZERS!!!