After seeing the Spurs’ Robert Horry hit another big 3-pointer in his illustrious playoff career in the waning moments of Game 4 Monday night to seal a win over the Nuggets, I ask myself, “Who on the Rockets is capable of being the role player on the Rockets who could be the next ‘Big Shot Bob’ or ‘Big Shot Rob’ as they say?”

My vote is for Shane Battier. The guy seems to have the knack to knock ‘em down in clutch situations, which he did in Game 5 making 5-of-7 treys.

Plus, I love the sound of “Big Shot Shane” or “Big Shot Battier.” His name – and his game — was built for making big shots. Now let’s see him do it in Game 6 for the series win. If he does, remember you heard here first my nickname for him.

Remember this scene?

It was taken during the 1997 playoffs. Utah-Houston. Game 6 in Houston. It was right after John Stockton hit a shot — with the help of a Karl Malone bearhug on Clyde Drexler that the refs missed — to eliminate the Rockets in Houston.

Ten years later, we’re in the same situation, but this time the Rockets are in Utah and can eliminate the Jazz in 6 games. It’s never too late for payback time. I would love to see Yao and Tracy McGrady celebrating at mid-court in Utah tonight. They say these things tend to even out in the long run, don’t they?

I’m optimistic about the Rockets’ chances because…

Read the rest of this entry »

I thought it was interesting what the Salt Lake newspaper wrote about what Utah coach Jerry Sloan said a few days ago, which was:

Coach Jerry Sloan has been saying that the Rockets are “built for a championship” with Yao Ming and McGrady, and recently added a touch of statistical evidence to support his claim.

However, Williams has grabbed 16 boards in the playoffs (now 28, 5.6 per game), compared with 14 (now 26, 5.2 per game) for McGrady”

I hope Jerry is right.