The Houston Rockets apparently still had a grudge for losing the seventh game to the Utah Jazz in the first round last year.
They came into the Energy Solutions Arena and beat the Jazz, largely behind the play of one man — Tracy McGrady. The Utah Jazz are known to allow high profile shooting guards to have their way offensively — which is largely the reason why they picked up Jason Hart and Ronnie Price in the offseason.
Well, apparently they haven’t improved much in that department as McGrady went off for 47 points, but it is still early in the season. Jason Hart and Ronnie Price combined for 9 minutes. The Jazz big men did limit Yao Ming to only 11 points.
Carlos Boozer, in another stellar game, got 30 points and 16 rebounds. Deron Williams had 18 points and 13 assists. Mehmet Okur finally had a good shooting outing with 16 points to go along with his 10 rebounds.
In our continuing Ronnie Brewer watch, he had 13 points (5-7 FG) and 3 steals.
Does this mean that the Houston Rockets are better than the Utah Jazz now? That all of their offseason movement pushed them ahead of the Jazz in the rankings?
Hardly.
It was just a regular season game, and only the second game of the season.
Some things we did learn are…
1. The Jazz still have a problem guarding high scoring shooting guards. Time will tell if Hart and Price will help, or Brewer will be improved enough this year to take on that role.
2. We’re not sure if the Houston Rockets are really any better. The game was more McGrady and company than an improved Houston Rockets team, and McGrady’s back is not likely to support that kind of activity 82 games into the NBA season. McGrady’s teammates are going to have to provide more offensive support if they hope to beat the Jazz in the playoffs.
