The Post Up: Rockets drop Blazers

By: Holly MacKenzie

I had every intention of watching the games last night even though I wasn’t that interested in any of the three. It didn’t happen. I think all of the big games that have been on this week have spoiled me, because I managed to make it through the first three quarters of the Bulls and Cavs before “watching” the entire fourth with my ears rather than my eyes. Even as the game went down to the wire, I could not force my eyes open and had to settle for listening to the game instead. This isn’t always an easy task and it is one that is immediately made much harder when Reggie Miller is announcing.

Even in my semi-lucid state, I was thrilled to hear/see Hughes have a great showing in Cleveland. Yeah, he had his ups and downs while a Cavalier, but the way the crowd turned on him wasn’t cool with me. Maybe I’m too nice, but when guys are on my team they are like family, it doesn’t matter if you like them or not, you are stuck with them and in it together. Even if you can’t stand them you cheer for them while they’ve got the uniform on.

Kwame Brown. Kwame Brown. Kwame Brown.

Although, I didn’t ever mind Kwame as a person, only his basketball skills drove me mad.

I woke up at the half of the Houston/Portland game and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep, but Tracy McGrady simply wouldn’t allow that. After looking jacked up when the Blazers took the lead late in the third, McGrady took over. It’s so much fun to watch him play like that. When he is on, who is going to stop him? No one on Portland’s roster. Draining jumper after jumper and mixing it up with some drives to the basket, McGrady woke me up.

Let’s hope Bron’s back gets back to normal quickly. The weight of carrying his team has got to be wearing him down and we need a LeBron who is at full-strength for the playoffs.

I was surprised to catch the report on Kenyon Martin being suspended for the Nuggets next game as a result of a flagrant foul he had committed on Boris Diaw in the Nuggets game against the Suns, Tuesday night. He will miss the Nuggets next game as well as face suspension for each additional flagrant foul he is assessed.

Yao is in China to consult with doctors about potentially treating his stress fracture with traditional Chinese medicine.

I had a whole lot more written here for you, but somehow, it has disappeared and Firefox will not allow me to “go back” and bring it up. Fantastic.

The photos from DeShawn’s birthday party were one of the highlights of yesterday. Gil and DeShawn were killing those looks and the Wizards remind me more and more of the Eastern Conference’s version of the Warriors crazy. Can you imagine the stories those guys have to tell?

Dallas @ Lakers tonight. Should be good. It had better not be a replay of the Mavs game against Golden State or I may pull my hair out.

Don’t miss the doubleheader on ABC this Sunday. Huge games, everyone.

Are there really only two weeks of the 2007-2008 regular season left?

Sacramento 110 LA Clippers 98

In a game that won’t mean anything come playoffs, the Kings and Clippers found themselves in a battle last night. Thanks to Kevin Martin’s 26 points Sacramento was able to come out on top, 110-98. After trailing 25-20 at the end of the first quarter the Kings outscored the Clippers 30-18 in the second as they took a 50-43 advantage into the break. Things continued to spiral out of control for the Clippers in the third, as the Kings extended their lead to as many as 22 points. The teams went into the fourth with the Kings leading 84-70 and the final quarter was more of the same, with the Sacramento lead never really in doubt as they went on to the victory. In addition to Martin’s 26 points, the Kings had 17 off of the bench from Francisco Garcia, 16 from Mikki Moore, 11 from Spencer Hawes and 10 from Ron Artest. Elton Brand continued to get comfortable on the floor, scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in 27 minutes of action for the Clippers. Corey Maggette had 28 points, Nick Fazekas scored 18 and Dan Dickau added 11.

Chicago 101 Cleveland 98

After these two teams were tied up at 29 at the end of the first quarter, the Cavaliers outscored the Bulls 29-19 in the second to take a 10-point advantage into the break. With the Cavaliers extending their lead to 17 points in the third and LeBron James scoring 32 points through the first three quarters it appeared that Chicago was going to fold and allow Cleveland to walk away with the victory. This was not so, as former Cav Larry Hughes went to work in the third, scoring 15 points in the period as the Bulls used an 11-2 run to cut the Cleveland lead to single digits at the end of three, 85-77. In the fourth, the Bulls continued coming at Cleveland who found themselves in trouble offensively as James had to leave the game for treatment on his tightening back. While the Bulls had found their stride in the final quarter, Cleveland was out of sorts on offense, managing only 13 points in the period. The Bulls took their first lead of the game with 1:42 seconds remaining after Ben Gordon knocked down three free throws and the Cavaliers would not score again. Hughes finished with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists for Chicago, Ben Gordon dropped in 24 off of the bench as Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni each scored 15 points. James finished with 33 points for Cleveland as Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 23 points, Delonte West scored 11 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 10.

Houston 95 Portland 86

With the Blazers coming off of a disappointing loss against the Lakers the night before, they were ready for a win and the Rockets had their hands full. After the teams battled for the first two and a half quarters, Portland soon became the team with their hands full as Tracy McGrady got hot and stayed hot, propelling Houston to the 95-86 victory in Portland last night. While the Rockets held a 52-43 lead at the break, the Blazers came out strong in the third and cut the lead to briefly take a two-point advantage midway through the quarter. This was where McGrady had seen enough. Leading the Rockets on a 13-0 run to take an 11-point lead into the fourth, McGrady had 14 points in the third quarter and continued his dominance of the Blazers in the final quarter as he dropped in 12 more points in the fourth. A three from Aaron Brooks with 3:05 remaining extended the lead to 91-78 to seal the game for Houston. McGrady finished with 35 points. Aaron Brooks scored 12 points as Dikembe Mutombo, Bobby Jackson and Luther Head all added 11 points apiece. The Blazers were led by LaMarcus Aldridge’s 23 points. Jarrett Jack scored 19 points and Travis Outlaw had 14 points as both Channing Frye and Steve Blake added 12. Joel Przybilla had 15 rebounds for Portland who was without Martell Webster and Brandon Roy.