Alston may be pretty good but, for the most part, when deron gets going rafer gets flustered and wants to make it a one on one game and when he does that he is basically useless...that is the reason why the rockets will lose Friday...alstons gonna get flustered.

Houston in 7 then a sweeping by the Lakers. Better the Rockets than the Jazz to get embarrassed by Pao and Kobe.

What is it with Harmon and his love for Steve Cleveland. Get over it the guy is a mediocre and poor coach.

If the Jazz stop relying on jumpers tomorrow, they should win. Then it will he important to win one of the first two games in L.A., where the Lakers are getting rusty and overconfident. I predict the Jazz in 6 in both series.

The lakers played a poor team in the first round. They aren't invincible. The Jazz have smothered them before. Alston was indeed the key to getting Houston back into the game. If he had been out one more game, we'd be playing the Lakers already.

Make Alston play defense by posting up Williams. Williams can get to the basket anytime he wants.

Smothered? Such as their 3 and 1 record against the Lakers this year? Homers. Take off the rose colored glasses, they aren't the 1 seed for nothing. Lakers in 5.

The Jazz are hardly in trouble. Houston is in trouble. They have already played as well as they can play and face elimination tomorrow in the most hopeless place to play in the NBA.

Kudos to Alston, but also good-bye.

Good article! Good insight, on Alston. Good angle, on where he came from. Good source, since Cleveland coached him. An enjoyable read overall.

Just 1 and 1/2 work days to go before the Jazz dispatch of the upstart Rockets. You've got the Jazz's full attention. It's over. Then, bring on those big headed Lakers.

I'm still not sure how the Lakers are any good. Kobe's finally effectively dishing when needed, to back up his impressive shooting; but they are far from as unbeatable as they think they are. A little defense, which Denver didn't have, will bring the Lakers back down to earth. The Jazz may not have brought that defense in the regular season but the Lakers are going to get all they want of it in the post season. Can't wait!

never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Let McGrady try to win it by himself.

jazz fans are alryead talking about the lakers. funny boozer said this series wasnt going back to houston for game5. funny jazz fans predicted a blowout after games 3 and 4. funny rockets with alston are 2-1. funny how the one lost was by a rebound. funny how rockets will win game 6.

... we can figure out how to ATTACK THE BASKET!!! Everybody needs to go at them, AK, Okur, Harpring, D-Will and ESPECIALLY BOOZER. If we play soft and try the jump shot offense, we're toast. But I suspect we'll figure it out, and it'll be Houston crying in Battier's beer.

I just hated the way the Jazz give up during game six. They had better come out ready for bear and play like there is no tomorrow. The Rockets are a good team and will be there at the end if the Jazz don't play smart basketball. Something they have not done since they were up two games to none. Houston's 22 game winning streak was not fluke. Boozer had better start using that chiseled body to bang inside where he can make a statement. That in itself will give Houston fits and make fridays game a blowout.

Alston is obviously essential to the Rockets in the playoffs. Look, he missed the first two games, and the Rockets lost them. He played in Game 3 and the Rockets won! He even made a tough 3-pointer in Game 4 that could have made the Rockets win. Now that he is healthy, and the whole Rockets team is determined to win the series(facing elimination), no wonder they will strive to win Game 6 in Utah. Plus, their defense is too much for the Jazz, and their offense is now phenomenal. Rockets in seven games. GO ROCKETS! IT'S TIME...