ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets vs. Sonics 10/10/2003 (PRESEASON)

Seattle 96, Houston 86

Preview - Box Score - Recap

By CHUCK BARTELS, Associated Press Writer
October 10, 2003

AP - Oct 9, 12:46 am EDT
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NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Rashard Lewis scored 19 points and Vladimir Radmanovic added 14 as the Seattle SuperSonics beat the Houston Rockets 96-86 Friday night in a preseason game.

Houston's Yao Ming made his first appearance of the preseason, leading the Rockets with 20 points and 10 rebounds. But Yao's inside presence on defense wasn't enough to shut down Seattle. He had two blocks and a steal.

The Sonics built an 11-point lead at the half, in part by using an aggressive defense to force Houston miscues. Houston had nine turnovers in the first half to two for Seattle. For the game, the margin was 16-9.

In the third period, Seattle led by as much as 16. Turnovers and missed shots kept the Rockets from putting together any runs. Also, Seattle was able to answer with long-range shots, finishing 9-of-21 on 3-pointers to 3-for-9 for Houston. Richie Frahm made 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and Lewis made both of his 3-point attempts.

Yao missed the first 10 workouts of training camp and sat during exhibition games earlier in the week. He'd been away from the Rockets due to obligations to the Chinese national team. He arrived in Houston on Sunday night, tired but in shape and played 30 minutes Friday night.

Ray Allen scored 11 points for Seattle.

Francis scored 19 points for Houston, and Cuttino Mobley added 14.

 

1. We were never good at shooting. It's just preseason. I'm expecting them to get better...hopefully JVG doesn't make them practice 2 and a half hours on game days..maybe he does

2. Juaquin Hawkins wasn't waived. Rockets offered him a spot at training camp...he refused...wanted to go to California instead..in Golden State now.

3. I agree with Nick. Their defense will improve...

I'm going to watch the game now...seems like Yao did good! I heard on the radio that Mobley scored 7 times in a row..yay!

 

Seriously, people should be exctatic with Yao's play. How soo we forget preseason game number 1 for him last year. 20 /10, first time with Van Gundy's offense...fantastic

I only watched the first 16 inutes or so, but you an tell that they are going to try and get the ball/Yao closer to the basket.

Rudy had some good sets, but you can already see Van Gundy expanding them - the double high post was run the first two plays of the game and there was already multiple new wrinkles. Why Rudy insisted grown professionals couldn't pick up on something more complex is beyond me??? On the other hand, when a lot of your players still don't know basic skills, it can be difficult.

 

how come the box score and recap are not available in NBA.com???

Is ESPN the only source?

 

Recap from NBA.com

SEATTLE 96, HOUSTON 86
Box Score | Rockets Home | Sonics Home

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Ticker) -- Yao Ming scored 20 points in his first appearance of the exhibition season, but the Houston Rockets absorbed a 96-86 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics.

The 7-5 Yao had sat out Houston's first two preseason games as he recovered from a busy summer that included leading China to a gold medal and an Olympic berth in last month's FIBA Asian Qualifying Tournament.

Last season, Yao took the NBA by storm but was edged for Rookie of the Year by Amare Stoudemire of Phoenix. Yao often deferred to guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and new coach Jeff Van Gundy would like his center to get the ball a bit more.

Yao made 8-of-10 shots and 4-of-4 free throws and also pulled down 10 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Rashard Lewis scored 19 points to lead Seattle. Lewis scored 35 points in the club's exhibition season-opening win over Houston on Wednesday.

Rookie Richie Frahm added 13 points for Seattle, which played without rookie point guard Luke Ridnour, guard John Barry and forward Calvin Booth.

Francis scored 19 points and Mobley added 14 for the Rockets. Bostjan Nachbar, Houston's 2002 first-round pick, scored six points in 18 minutes.

 

Tonite's game is very close to set the tongue of Big Yao this season: 20/10. I am expecting more assists from him this season.

 

If only Eddie can hit 5-footers.

 

Don't worry.... MO-T can.

And, Pike can hit the wide open shots we're missing.

The pieces are there... now its just a matter of getting them healthy and on the court.

 

Yeah Eddie was way off today. Yao made a couple of good passes to him, but he just couldn't connect. It was a bit funny him missing so many easy layups, finally he just dunked it.

 

dont you think the figure of 9 fg attemps by francis is scary?

 

Is it a problem even with the new inside-outside game, Yao took only 10 shots? How could your best player, who had 80% FG and 100% FT, attempted ony 10 shots in 30 minutes?

 

Yao had 0 fouls tonight, which was not the perfect situation. He should have "banged" using his 310(?) pounds in low post, say, 10 times. 3 of them got called and he made 4 dunks, 2 layups, 1 assist from the other seven.

Anyway, this is preseason.... and he's been here for only five days.

 

actually our best player took nine shots(francis), and he did look good, but he passed up alot of shots!!!!!!

 

We only took 65 shots, 20 less than the opponents. And we had 16 TO's (15 pts off).

 

Yes, I agree. France was good. That's why it's a bright sign for our key players. In fact, with them we closed in to 4 points with six minutes left. But then VG went to the bench and let go the game.

 

Why is Eddie still taking soo many shots? Man, he's the most inconsistent player for the Rockets.

 

Box Score:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2003101010

Seattle
Name Min FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast TO Stl Blk PF Pts
R. Lewis 29 6-12 2-2 5-6 2 8 3 2 0 0 4 19
V. Radmanovic 24 6-9 2-4 0-0 1 3 1 0 0 0 3 14
J. James 18 3-7 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 1 0 1 3 6
A. Daniels 27 3-10 0-3 1-1 1 2 8 1 2 0 1 7
R. Allen 28 4-11 2-5 1-2 1 6 6 3 0 0 1 11
V. Potapenko 20 4-4 0-0 0-0 2 4 0 1 1 0 3 8
R. Evans 26 3-6 0-0 4-4 2 8 2 1 0 0 5 10
R. Frahm 20 5-11 3-7 0-0 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 13
J. Hart 21 1-4 0-0 0-0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
G. Young 19 2-8 0-0 0-1 0 1 4 0 1 0 4 4
M. Moore 8 1-3 0-0 0-0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2

Totals 240 38-85 9-21 11-14 13 40 28 9 4 1 24 96
Percentages: .447 .429 .786 Team Rebounds: None

Houston
Name Min FG 3Pt FT Off Reb Ast TO Stl Blk PF Pts
J. Jackson 28 2-8 1-3 0-0 0 3 4 2 0 1 4 5
E. Griffin 27 3-12 1-1 1-1 0 9 2 1 1 1 2 8
Y. Ming 30 8-10 0-0 4-4 4 10 1 3 1 2 0 20
S. Francis 34 4-9 1-2 10-12 1 4 3 4 1 1 1 19
C. Mobley 30 7-8 0-1 0-1 0 3 2 2 0 0 2 14
B. Nachbar 18 3-5 0-1 0-0 0 2 1 3 0 0 3 6
K. Cato 23 2-5 0-0 0-0 1 3 2 1 0 1 3 4
M. Norris 27 1-5 0-1 3-4 1 4 6 0 0 0 1 5
G. Muoneke 11 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
J. Amaechi 7 1-2 0-0 2-4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4
M. Wilks 5 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 240 31-65 3-9 21-28 7 41 21 16 3 7 17 86
Percentages: .477 .333 .750 Team Rebounds: None

 

I agree. Yao shall be 20/10 and SF shall be 20+ ppg. That's the only way we r going to make the playoff this season. SF-YAO combo should score 50% plus of the whole team.

 

Are you joking?!?
And he still got 19 points?
Cool..I've watched like the first 3 minutes..very exciting! Francis looks awesome. I don't know why we would trade him unless we get a superstar in return. He is fun to watch....
Jim Jackson? First 3 minutes...not looking that great...but he should get more used to the guys...and start getting more comfortable soon.
Although we lost, our future looks bright with Piatkowski and Mo Taylor...who are both injured...they will be very important for our team. SHOOTERS!
And I agree with Nick again.

FInished watching 1st quarter. Mobley played very good defense on Ray Allen...seems like at least. Rashard Lewis is just owning. Too bad Boki couldn't make the alleyoop dunk before the buzzer or buzzard? Francis looks great...Mobley is doing fine...Yao is spectacular...Nachbar fouls too much...Eddie has improved slowly...he's thinking more to me...he always tries to steal the ball after the other team gets a defensive rebound though...loose ball fouls!

EDIT: I just saw Cato actually dribble the ball and not look awkward like a center..he looked like a small forward to me! And he made a nice pass to wide open Jackson...who made the shot! That play was delightful! I'm happy now.
Moochie still can't shoot...shoots awfully..but nice to hear 6 assists and 0 turnovers.

I think our team is looking good! They are learning...improving...patience!

2nd quarter...looking very nice. I'm like this lineup. Yao, Cato, Jackson, Francis, and Moochie. Very nice. I'm loving it actually. On defense...we're doing good...offense...lovely...Yao and Francis are flowing. Jackson is fitting in quite well. Moochie's the point guard...Francis is good as a 2. Cato cleans up everyone's misses...he's the guy you don't expect to touch the ball...I love him and his offensive rebounds!

Those scrubs on Seattle looked pretty good...decent quality...they can shoot.

Wow Eddie. You swoosh a 3 beautifully but can't make easy open baskets 3 feet away....man...

I guess we have to be patient...perimeter defense in 3rd quarter not very good...Francis shouldn't be running around inside when he's got Yao inside..ALONG WITH GRIFFIN and other capable defenders. Artest.

Sonics look good...they can all shoot. We better beat them at least twice in the regular season.

 

Actually all we need is a Phil Jackson, Yao and SF remind me
Shaq and Kobe, once they got PJ, they won. I hope our new coach is PJ caliber.