Hoops4theSoul

Nov

1

A Rocket Start—Tracy McGrady Leads Houston Past Jazz in Utah

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Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming Got the Houston Rockets an Impressive Win in Utah Tonight! For a guy who’s been heavily criticized for his will to win, Tracy McGrady was urgent tonight while leading the Houston Rockets to an 11-point road win against the Utah Jazz. McGrady scored 47 points on a sizzling 17-27 shooting tonight while Houston’s depth was impressive, with new acquisitions Luis Scola and Mike James playing key roles. While only two games, Houston is living up to its new look under first-year Head Coach Rick Adelman.

by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com



Nov

1

On This Day in Basketball History — 1994

Filed Under On This Day . . ., NBA, Chicago Bulls, Loose Balls | Leave a Comment

Michael Jordan Gets a Statue in Chicago, and Who Copies the Idea but the Chicago Cubs! Yuck! Rumor has it that the real reason Kobe Bryant isn’t coming to the Chicago Bulls is that Bulls General Manager John Paxson would not agree to build a statue for the Los Angeles Lakers crybaby superstar to go next to the Michael Jordan one outside of the United Center.

Sound like another far-fetched Kobe rumor? Sure, but it’s still not as bad as some of the rumors thrown out there yesterday on ESPN involving the alleged Kobe Bryant deal for nearly every member of the Chicago Bulls, including Benny the Bull.

Thirteen years ago today, the Bulls retired Jordan’s #23 and erected the famous statue in honor of the greatest player to ever grace a basketball court.

by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com



Nov

1

Thank You John Paxson! Now What about Ben and Luol?

Filed Under NBA, Commentary, Chicago Bulls | Leave a Comment

Chicago Bulls General Manager John Paxson Squashed the Kobe Bryant Trade Rumors Today

Not only did John Paxson end the Kobe Bryant trade speculation this afternoon and the distractions that it had caused for his Chicago young team, the Bulls General Manager made a very interesting statement.

In describing why the trade talks were off, at least for the meantime, Paxson essentially said that he could not make a deal in which he would have to go to team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and say that it would not have made the Bulls better.

Acquiring Kobe would have made the Bulls a more talented team but not a better one, and this distinction needs to be made.

by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com



Nov

1

NBA Game of the Night: Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz

Filed Under Previews & Reviews, NBA | 1 Comment

Carlos Boozer and the Utah Jazz Renew Their Rivalry with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets
In a rematch of last year’s seven-game, first round series in the Western Conference playoffs, the Houston Rockets and the Utah Jazz square off tonight. Last year, the Jazz got the tough Game Seven win in Houston as an Andrei Kirilenko three with a little more than a minute left in the game proved to be the defining play of the series and sparked Utah to a nice run to the Western Conference Finals.

In its playoff predictions, Hoops 4 the Soul picked the Rockets to triumph against the Jazz this year in a decisive seventh game in Salt Lake City. This prediction was based in large part on the strong offseason by the Rockets, including the hiring of a more offensive-minded Head Coach in Rick Adelman, the emergence of Yao Ming as a more dominant player, the acquisition of Argentine power forward Luis Scola, and the rededication of forward Bonzi Wells.

However, will doubting the incomparable Deron Williams prove to be a fatal flaw for Hoops 4 the Soul? Most likely!

by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com