<i>Jazz keep beat in overtime Harping's 3 saves Utah after Rockets lose touch By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle For all the times the Rockets wanted to just forget everything and take a swing at Karl Malone, here was their chance. Tackle him. Push him. Get in a three-point stance, rush him and sack dance over him. As much as the Rockets have yearned to do it all these years, this one time, it was just what was needed. Instead, Yao Ming and Terence Morris, a pair of Rockets too young to have felt the pain Malone had inflicted over the years, let him go. Malone passed to Matt Harpring. Harpring launched a 3-pointer that barely touched the last twines of net with a tenth of a second left in regulation to tie the game at 95. And when the Rockets could not get their last-second shot in overtime to fall, the Jazz had a 103-101 win in their last game at Compaq Center. But even before Harpring's trey forced overtime, before the Jazz so perfectly managed the overtime, even before Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich would say again and again that he was heartbroken, Tomjanovich looked sick to his stomach. Tomjanovich ordered that Malone, playing with his nose broken just moments earlier, be fouled so he could shoot two free throws with the Jazz down by three. Instead, the Jazz, inbounding with 3.4 seconds left, ran a play torture him again. <b>"We made a mental mistake at the end -- we were supposed to foul -- and they're a team that takes advantage of things like that," Tomjanovich said. "It's just heartbreaking. We did so many good things. Just one assignment, we couldn't get it done. "It's heartbreaking, to get us started here, to have an effort like that and we just can't do that. They have to shoot those free throws and go after a rebound. Everybody is heartbroken. We just can't let that opportunity get by you. They catch the ball. We foul. "I'm heartbroken. You can't have that right in front of you." Yao could not get to Malone in time. "I did not know if I could foul him or not," Yao said. "But I think I should have fouled him." </b> Morris was in position to grab Malone but never made a move in his direction. Morris was not available for comment. But there was more than just their own mistake that had them reeling. Yao and Maurice Taylor had shots blocked by Greg Ostertag down the stretch of overtime. Both times the Rockets screamed for fouls. None were called. Once in overtime, the Rockets seemed like they were in shock. They had led by nine in the fourth quarter, but had just one field goal in the final six minutes. Steve Francis, who led the Rockets with 28 points and five assists without a turnover, missed a free throw with 1:03 left that would have been enough. John Stockton, who had 18 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, twice set up three-point plays in the last two minutes, grabbing a rebound and passing to Ostertag and then slicing past Francis on a drive. After Harpring's trey sent the game into overtime, the Jazz needed 15 seconds to take their first lead since late in the third quarter. After missing their last four shots in regulation, the Rockets missed their first six in overtime. By then, they were outscored 7-1 in overtime closing in on the last minute. But with 1:10 left, Morris -- who had missed his previous three shots -- nailed a trey. After Andrei Kirilenko made a pair of free throws, Morris knocked down another 3-pointer to pull the Rockets within 103-101 with 39.1 seconds left. As if following a script nearly as old as he is, Stockton went for the kill, but his jumper rimmed out with 19.7 seconds remaining, giving the Rockets a last shot. Francis drew a double-team in the lane, but found Morris was covered. Francis got the ball to Cuttino Mobley at the top of the key. But Mobley had made just 2 of 12 shots at the time and had the 6-9 Kirilenko flying at him. Running out of time, Mobley tried at runner in the lane with three-tenths of a second left, but it clanged away. As the court emptied, Francis and Mobley crouched in their spots, unable to move. "Heaving up a 3 wouldn't have been smart. Kirilenko was right on me so I pump faked him. Karl Malone stepped up. I tried to get in closer, but Steve said, `Shoot it, shoot it' because the clock was running down. I tried to heave it up as fast as I could. "It hurts me. If I could have made a couple more shots, we could have been more comfortable. I didn't have a good shooting night. That was a hard one, that one right there." More than the other tough losses, the Rockets left with many maddening moments to consider "Obviously we should not have been in that position," Francis said. "There were a lot of things that went on in the game we couldn't control and the game got away from us. They got a lot of calls that went their way late in the game." But Tomjanovich left sickened by the one thing that they could control. "To me that's not a hard assignment," he said. "We got to take that foul. You have to find a way to take that foul and make them shoot those free throws." By then, he didn't have to add that it was heartbreaking. </i>
Uh what does Yao mean I didnt know if he I could foul him or not?? Does he know the rules??? anybody can foul anybody I thought that was common sense
I didn't watch the game on TV. I looked at score box, Yao had 5 fouls. I don't know when he got that fouls. But assuming he got them all before the final minutes, won't he be ejected if he fouls Malone? But I think what Yao means is he doesn't know if he can get to Malone in time to foul him. Anyway... a loss is a loss. Rockets will learn, no doubt about that. No playoff this season, just as I predict.
I didnt see the game either. But even if he had 5 fouls he should still foul and get the game over with. The way things are going no playoffs. But I look for the suns to ccollapse eventually. It will be close between the rockets suns and golden state. yes golden state.
I Don't get it Jeff. Why didn't Yao know to foul? How about Morris? You would think with a time out, that Rudys only words were foul ASAP on entry. Perhaps they were dazed that Stockton did not receive it (like every time in Rockets history), and bury the 3. Anybody on this board could of smacked Malone over the head on that entry pass!! With Hawkins & Posey our best defenders, why weren't they in the game in such a critical time?
I don't necessarily think that not fouling was such a huge mistake. I mean, we played the inboundes pretty well. Harpring had to throw up a prayer over Ming and Morris's outstretched arms. It just went in. It happens. It sucks, but if the situation were the same and we a chance to force that kind of shot, I bet the chances it goes in are much worse than the chances that we blow our free throws and they hit theirs.
Raven Lunatic: I agree with you. Francis did the same thing Harpring did tonight at least three times this season. It's pure luck, although it would still be nicer if Harpring or Malone was fouled.
Dude, Yao was stating that he didn't know if he coulda reached Malone in time to foul him, but that he knew he SHOULD have fouled him.
Agree, like someone mentioned. The last 3.5 seconds, Utah called time out and put out their 3 point-specialists. Why can't Rudy foresee this by putting out his best defenders? Had Hawk, Posey or Eddie was in place of T-mo. I am sure Harpring would never had such and easy time inbounding the ball and getting the ball from Malone to launch that killer 3. After watching 49 games of Rockets basketball. I saw many things that support those complained about Rudy T's strategic skill.
I watched. As far as I know the Jazz had only two players on the floor capable of hitting a 3 - and Harpring was their best, and the passer. He got the ball easily...that should never have happened. The LARGER ISSUE IS THAT THE ROX DON"T KNOW HOW TO PUT A GAME AWAY! Down the stretch they revert to dumb ball and don't rebound, defend, or do the little things to get a win. This was an instant replay of the last Jazz game and too many other games. Our last play with 13 seconds left - yes, 13 second left, is a perfect example. Point is it should never have come down to a last minute shot. Jazz had 3.5 seconds left, had to make a 3, and knew exactly what to do, running a play with numerous options. Poise, leadership, smarts, staying patient, not forcing things - down the stretch we get exposed. The players simply aren't there yet (I think/hope they will get there ) and RT hasn't taken command enough to offset their immaturity and lack of bbal IQ.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what we're in the middle of doing right now? It doesn't matter what the Suns (or any other team for that matter) do. The Suns are saying, "way to go Rockets, stink up the court like never before."
How about if the coach (knowing the other team has to have a 3 point shot) uses more mobile perimeter defenders?
TheFreak: Whether you approve or not, the coach is accountable eventually. If you keep losing... who gives a **** if you have a decent excuse each time? You can't give someone a free pass forever. WHEN DOES IT END WITH YOU? When do you say "ok Rudy, thanks for winning those two titles... but you just ain't that good anymore?" Please give me specific requirements for him to merit firing, in your eyes. Besides not fouling, there were all sorts of idiocies. Like the fact that Harpring got the ball so easily.
This loss is clearly all Steve's fault. If he hadn't been at another part of the court, he could have been there to foul Malone. This team needs a real leader...
Seriously. If your whole purpose is to foul, you should have your 5 quickest players on the floor. Hawkins, Moochie, Posey should all have been in there. After the 1st free throw, bring in Yao, Cato, Mo Taylor and Griffin on the line. The coach did tell them to foul but it wouldve helped to have the right players.
