COVERITLIVE.COM

1:56	Michael Peters - Hi. Welcome to the final combined chat between the Chronicle and the Oregonian. There will be no Game 7 chat, if necessary, because Game 7 would fall on a Saturday. Our thanks to the folks at the Oregonian for allowing us to partner with them on these chats.

1:56	Michael Peters - Joe Freeman and Jonathan Feigen should be joining us shortly.

2:00	Jonathan Feigen - Good afternoon, everyone. Let 'er rip, Michael.

2:00	[Comment From Chris] How key is Brent Barry now to the Rocket's success tonight with Wafer out?

2:00	Jonathan Feigen - He can help. A 3 here or there would not hurt. I would not expect him to be a key to the game either way.

2:00	Joe Freeman - I'll let Feigen take that one ...

2:01	[Comment From Rockets4Life] How are the Rockets coming in to this game mentally from what you have seen or heard from the team? Do they feel under pressure or relaxed or pumped?

2:01	Michael Peters - I'm having poll problems. Please forgive the wrong game number on the first poll.

2:01	[Comment From Guest] What's up with Artest saying Roy is a tougher guard than LeBron or Kobe? Is that pressure talking?

2:01	Jonathan Feigen - All of the above. Of course there is pressure. There should be, if they care. Pros are supposed to handle it. It appears that they are handling it fine, but practice and shootaround are the easy parts.

2:01	[Comment From Derek] What do the Blazers need to do to stay out of foul trouble, this seems to be a huge factor in if they win or not. Whoever has committed less fouls in each game has prevailed at the end

2:02	Joe Freeman - I can't speak for Artest, but I know throughout this season, I've heard Roy's name mentioned more and more in the same breath as Bryant. He's becoming one of the NBA's best players ...

2:02	Jonathan Feigen - Ron just talks. There is no motive, no secret reason for the comment. He just says things. I asked him today what makes Roy better than Kobe, LeBron or Wade and he said, 'That was yesterday."

2:02	[Comment From jerrin] do you think the rockets can close it out with wafer being out?

2:02	Jonathan Feigen - Yes. Wafer can help. He is not irreplaceable.

2:03	[Comment From Dennis] Hi Jonathan, are you still sticking with Rockets winning this one despite Wafer being out?

2:03	Jonathan Feigen - Yes. See above.

2:03	[Comment From Guest] Is Rudy starting?

2:03	[Comment From Guest] Do you think if Portland can win tonight, and force a game 7 that either team will have a chance against the Lakers on Monday?

2:04

Joe Freeman - Simply put, the Blazers need to play good, solid defense. They need to avoid picking up cheap fouls, especially Oden and Przybilla, and the perimeter defenders to keep their assignments from passing them easily toward the hoop. When the Rockets have blown by the Blazers' guards, the Blazers' big men have gotten into foul trouble ...

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