Don't know if there is anything to this, but it does make you wonder after the record setting performances in the 1st half last night. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2289997 By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Robert Horry didn't need to fetch a ladder or a level. The 12-year veteran could tell by just looking at the rims that they were tilted. He could tell by just shooting the ball that the hoops were too high. The problems with both Toyota Center baskets baffled the former Rocket. "You should go out there and look at those baskets," Horry said. "Those baskets are terrible. Go look at them. They are not right. They need to fix them. They are too tall and the rim tilts up in the front. You all think I'm joking, go check them out." San Antonio teammate Manu Ginobili agreed with Horry, but fell short of joining Horry in placing the blame of the Spurs' miserable offensive outing on the baskets alone. But Horry said much of the team's first-half struggles were because of the hoops. The Spurs had to overcome a franchise-low 30 points in the first half to defeat the Rockets 71-67 on Thursday night. "The rims had a lot to do with it," Horry said. "Because the way the rim is tilted, if it doesn't go in, if it doesn't go straight in and you hit all net, it's going to scrape the rim and rattle out." The Spurs converted only 11 of 41 field goals (26.8 percent) in the first half. Ginobili had the most problems, hitting just one of seven. Horry didn't expect such problems with the rims in the Spurs' first visit to Toyota Center. "The rims are terrible," he said. "They are supposed to be level. That basket is also too high. You'd think in a brand-new building they would get something that simple right." San Antonio's 71-point outing was its lowest offensive output of the season. The Rockets and Spurs also combined to set an NBA record with 55 points in the first half. It marks the fewest points for two teams in the first half since the shot clock was introduced in 1954-55. "The rims were bad, but we are not finding excuses with the rims because both teams shot on them," Ginobili said. "We are not going to find the rims guilty of anything."
Arent they supposed to check those before the games? They arent permenant..so before each game someone ahs to set them up...logic would dictate that you should check the height and levelness before each game. Wonder if Horry is just making excuses since he wasnt shooting very well either...
If he noticed there was something wrong w/ the baskets. He shouldn't address the problem after the game.
Yeah, I assume he's blowing smoke because if there was actually something wrong, he could have asked a ref to have it measured during warmups.
I've haven't heard any Rockets complain about the rims, but it's strange that Horry would take the time to make a point about it... He has certainly had bad nights before. Have any of our players said anything about the rims before?
The Spurs asked before the game that the rims be checked. We brought out the testing equipment, tested the rims for height and level for the refs during warmups, and the rims passed the test with flying colors. We also test them before every game immediately after the players get done with their afternoon shootaround. That's all I'm going to say on it. Tim
C'mon dude. This is a basketball goal you're talking about here. yeah, yeah, they'll get to that. But right now they're running out of fine wine in the resturant. and the cushions in the club lounge need fluffing! basketball goal you say? geez buddy get your priorities straight. .
Free Throw Made Percentage: Yao Ming: at Home: 67.6%; at Road: 83.3% Steve Francis: at Home: 73.1%; at Road: 88.1% Somebody does need to check the rim at Toyota Center.
With all due respect windandsea, if you check halfway into this thread...Tim(who should know) said that San Antonio asked to have them checked before the game, and they checked them for height and levelness withthe refs...the checked out . That isnt the reason for their decline in %ages.
Thanks for the stats, windandsea. Those are really eye-popping. Kinda like an anti-Coors field advantage. I think it's(rims) JVG's doing. He'll stop at nothing to improve our defense. On a side note. I'm sure everyone has played on outdoor courts where the rims are bent down a little in the front. You get used to that and then go to a court where they are perfectly level, it's MUCH harder to shoot. I'm sure to a pro, even a quarter of an inch could make a difference. One good thing though. The opposite can be true. You get used to shooting on a hard rim, and when you go to a court with a softer(or straighter) rim, and the bucket will seem a little wider. Maybe JVG thinks we will get used to the rims, and will then have an extra advantage against opponents coming in who aren't.
Ok then, if the rim is correct in it's relative area, then what about the height or levelness of the floor, away from the rim? I don't think that the floor is permanent, and seem to remember someone saying that there was ice under the foor... Anyway, maybe the floor isn't right from where the shooters launch the bricks.
With all due respect to windandsea, partial stats only tell a partial story. Instead of selecting only two players, how about taking a look at the team as a whole: Rockets FG%, home: .447 Rockets FG%, away: .415 Rockets 3P%, home: .376 Rockets 3P%, away: .364 For some reason, the team does shoot free throws better on the road (.773 road vs. .729 home). But the FG% and 3P% really should put to rest any conspiracy theories. (stats from nba.com) Guess the rims must be even more bent in every arena we've visited, right? Tim
