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While the Blazers and their fans no doubt have to be feeling a lot better about themselves after Portland's 107-103 Game 2 win on Tuesday, the Rockets come home knowing they got Stage 1 completed.
By taking Game 1, the Rockets can now win the series if they protect their home floor. Houston fans have to be a little nervous as the Rockets have dropped 5 home playoff games in their last 3 first round series, but this squad isn't the same home team we've seen in previous years.
Here are some confidence-boosting numbers to consider as the series comes back home:
- The Rockets are 25-4 at home this season without Tracy McGrady. Who would have thought this was possible? Houston's only losses came to the Lakers twice, the Spurs and a fourth quarter choke job to the Pacers.
- The loss of Dikembe Mutombo still stings, but you may be surprised to find out that of those 29 home games, Mutombo played in only 4 of them ... averaging just 4+ minutes a night.
- The Rockets won 18 of their final 20 at home.
- Since the trade deadline, the Rockets defensive FG% was 41.4% at home (15 games). This is outstanding. For perspective, the Cavs and Celtics led the league in defensive FG% this year at 43.1%.
- During that same stretch, the Rockets shot 47.9% at home and 38.0% from three-point range.
- This current Rockets squad is 2-0 at home against Portland, led by a balanced attack: Yao Ming, Ron Artest, Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks all averaged over 15 a game. Deke did not play in either of those games (and neither did Carl Landry).
- The officials tend not to make the horrendous calls you see on the road against Yao. In the final 30 games (15 each on the road and home), Yao was whistled for 4.4 fouls a game on the road and just 3.1 at home.
- Here are the home/away player breakdowns on offense since the trade deadline:
| |
AWAY (8-7) |
HOME (13-2) |
| Player |
FG% |
FGA/G |
PPG |
FG% |
FGA/G |
PPG |
| Yao Ming |
55.1% |
12.9 |
17.8 |
57.3% |
14.2 |
20.4 |
| Ron Artest |
44.3% |
18.1 |
20.5 |
38.7% |
15.3 |
17.1 |
| Luis Scola |
52.9% |
10.5 |
13.7 |
57.0% |
9.9 |
13.7 |
| Aaron Brooks |
43.5% |
11.2 |
13.7 |
42.0% |
11.7 |
13.6 |
| Shane Battier |
43.0% |
6.2 |
8.9 |
41.8% |
5.3 |
6.4 |
| Carl Landry |
56.0% |
5.0 |
7.5 |
70.7% |
5.9 |
10.6 |
| Von Wafer |
42.5% |
7.1 |
8.2 |
46.3% |
9.8 |
11.7 |
| Kyle Lowry |
44.8% |
6.4 |
8.6 |
51.4% |
4.8 |
6.5 |
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