Rockets vs. Knicks Preview - December 27, 2002

TALE OF THE TAPE
VS. 15-12 RECORD 8-16 L2 STREAK L2 5-5 LAST 10 4-6 91.9 PTS. SCORED 92.5 89.3 PTS. ALLOWED 95.9 44.2 REBOUNDS 39.9 18.4 ASSISTS 20.8 .439 FG% .435 .427 OPP. FG% .451

Rockets vs. Knicks
December 27, 2002
Compaq Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: KNWS Channel 51
Radio: SportsRadio 610 (English); KYST 920 AM (Spanish)

by Trevor Mitchell, rockets.com

After a generous holiday break, the Rockets return to action Friday to take on the New York Knicks. Houston is coming off a disappointing home loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday.

The Rockets will try to regain their winning ways against a Knicks squad that has started the season very poorly. Knicks coach Don Chaney, known very well from his coaching days in Houston, brings in a team that has suffered from injuries and lack of chemistry.

PROBABLE STARTERS
ROCKETS KNICKS RICE 9.8 ppg F SPREWELL 15.7 ppg GRIFFIN 8.4 ppg F HARRINGTON 6.5 ppg YAO 13.0 ppg C THOMAS 15.5 ppg FRANCIS 23.6 ppg G EISLEY 8.3 ppg MOBLEY 17.6 ppg G HOUSTON 22.8 ppg

Leading scorer Allan Houston has been sensational for New York this season. However, a devastating preseason knee injury to newly acquired Antonio McDyess made him unavailable for the entire year and took away the hopes of many New York fans. Volatile forward Latrell Sprewell has been surrounded by various trade rumors throughout the season. Sprewell missed the beginning of the season due to a highly publicized hand injury. He has returned, but Sprewell and the Knicks have yet to develop the chemistry that once made them one of the NBA’s elite teams.

The Rockets have lost their last two contests and are still trying to find ways to implement the newest addition to the Houston squad, swingman James Posey. Guard Cuttino Mobley struggled in the last game and center Yao Ming has had limited shot attempts all year long. Steve Francis has continued his exceptional play and the Rockets' fate seems to have been thrusted upon his shoulders all season long.

With Yao playing great basketball, Eddie Griffin getting more minutes, and contributions from a very deep bench, Houston’s main focus should be consistency. The Rockets have their best basketball in front of them and need to start beating teams that they should beat. With a better record than the Knicks, hopefully that will start tonight.

Allan Houston is the main offensive threat for the Knicks. Mobley, a tenacious defender, will have the tough assignment of keeping Houston’s jump shot from falling. New York has tough frontcourt players in Kurt Thomas and former Rockets forward Othella Harrington. Look for these two players to not allow Yao any easy baskets in the paint, which may lead to a very physical and low-scoring game.

Rockets - Steve Francis has nailed 16 of his last 29 three-point attempts ..... Yao Ming ranks 16th in the NBA with nine double-doubles ..... Yao has dished four assists in each of his last three games ..... Before Monday's game, Glen Rice had a streak of six straight double figure scoring efforts ..... Kelvin Cato has grabbed 32 boards in just 59 minutes over his last five.
Knicks - Clarence Weatherspoon is averaging 10.3 boards in just 23 minutes over his last four games ..... Kurt Thomas has reached double figures scoring in all but two games this season ..... Allan Houston has only missed 10 free throws all season (101-111) ..... Howard Eisley ranks 6th in the NBA in assists-to-turnover rating (3.38).

Rockets - Cuttino Mobley has missed his last 12 three-point attempts ..... Steve Francis had seven turnovers Monday against Utah ..... Yao Ming has 11 turnovers over his last two games ..... Mo Taylor is 11-of-35 (.314) from the field over his last six .
Knicks - New York ranks last in the NBA in rebounding (39.9 per game) ..... Latrell Sprewell shots 39 percent from the field and just .315 from the three-point line ..... Former Rocket Shandon Anderson has failed to reach double digits in scoring in his last four games off the Knicks bench ..... Othella Harrington is just 5-of-19 (.263) over his last four ..... Latrell Sprewell's 15.7 ppg is his lowest since his rookie season (1992-93).

CUTTINO MOBLEY VS. ALLAN HOUSTON Tonight Cuttino Mobley faces one of the Eastern Conference's premier guards in Allan Houston. Houston torched the Rockets by averaging 25 points in two meetings last season. The Knicks guard leads his team in scoring and is currently ranked seventh in the league. Mobley, who averages 43 minutes per game, will be the Rockets' main defensive weapon against Houston. Mobley will also be a factor on offense with his notorious fourth quarter scoring. Look for these two guards to lead the way for their teams tonight.

Keep up to the minute on all the latest Rockets injury news by visiting our Injury Report page. We get daily reports directly from the basketball staff, giving you the inside scoop on who's playing and who's sitting every night.