The TNT crew couldn’t say enough good things about Andrei Kirilenko, going so far as to use the word “hero.” Personally, we feel it takes more to be a hero than simply surpassing your series-high eight points and not breaking down and weeping mid-game.

Juwan was whistled for a technical foul in the second quarter, apparently because he refused to fight a belligerent Mehmet Okur. It seemed unfair at the time, but upon further review, we’re behind this call if only because Juwan should have clocked the Turkansan in his euro/white-trash face.

T-Mac forgot to take off his skirt after filming that vitamin water commercial. McGrady was 1-for-8 in the second half. He also followed up his career-high assist mark with a measly three dimes on Thursday. Our top playmaker is averaging 9.3 assists in the Rockets’ three wins and just 3.3 in their three losses.

We don’t know who holds the individual record for most turnovers in a series, but he’s got to be ecstatic that Yao is getting a seventh shot at breaking his record. Yao’s eight turnovers were just one shy of his nine field goals.

We’d like to see Yao catch and shoot in rhythm or else give the ball up right away. The Rockets have had success reversing the ball and finding Yao near the hoop as he flashes to the other side. When Yao tries to operate with the ball 15 feet from the basket, it pretty much ends with a turnover, unnatural fadeway, or an offensive foul. Unless Jarron Collins is guarding him, of course, then the referees don’t mind calling shooting fouls.

Game Six marked T-Mac’s fifth chance to advance his team to the next round with a win. The Rockets 12-point loss in Utah was the closest he’s come to winning one of those decisive games. (Average loss in those five games = 22.6 points.) In Game 7, we expect Tracy to pick-up his skirt, grab his balls, and take the ball to the basket with a little more authority.