ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Kings @ Rockets 10/16/2003 (PRESEASON)

I know posey is gone but if we still had him think how much better our defense would look right now.we reall have no need for J J we are deep at the 3 spot and it look like Boki might just find his shot.

 

I was at the game.

Had great seats. $135.00 ticket. my Company bought, so free to me. It made me sad: I'm a big Rockets fan and really really enjoyed the game (I'm very vocal), but it made me sad to know that there was absolutely no way in the world I could afford to take my wife and kids to the game and enjoy it at that level. No way.

Saw George Foreman (with his entourage) in the stands near us.

The Stadium
My take: stadium is top-notch. Even the not-so-good seats seem to be closer to the floor than the CPQ center.

The sound system was superb - will be excellent for concerts. The announcer was aweful. The music is old (Tim has already said that a change is in the works for the music).

domestic beer: regular: $5 Large $7
imported beer: regular: $6 Large $8

... cheaper than at the baseball games.


The Game
Biggest reason we won: we set up out picks VERY well. The picks were constantly giving our players the open shots that they wanted from their 'comfort zones'. As I watched the game, I thought, "our players are doing well, but we're winning because of great coaching."

Defense was excellent tonight. Very 'attacking'. We weren't just trying to stop them from scoring. We were constantly trying to take the ball away from them. very impressive.

I'm glad Boki did well. I've dogged him a lot recetnly, and I'm glad to see him actually shine.

Ramblings
There are hot chicks in the crowd. at one point I was checking out a couple of girls, when my co-worker says to me "dude! they're too young for you to be saying that! those are high-school girls!" It was at this point that I truly realized that I'm 34 years old. I felt like a pervert. I felt a little better when my other co-worker said to me "it's okay to check 'em out - you just can't say anything." A sad moment in my life.

Our croud is more quiet than other cities, and I now know why. It's because the seats are not filled with die-hard fans. The seats are filled with big-company clients who got free tickets. They don't yell and scream and cheer. They just sit there shaking hands with each other and talking business. Frankly, if the crowd is quiet, I blame the Rockets organization for setting the prices to "business class".

TIM: How can I audition for a job as the Rockets announcer? (I have a great voice for it).

-- droxford

 

I hope your wife and kids don't have access to CC.net.

 

Not only that but the kings only had 17 TO's so even though we turned it over a lot the kings kept it down and took care of the ball fairly well but we were still able to pull out the win. But yes if we can cut down on them TO's we will be much better but most of the TO's came from Yao and Boki. 5 a piece I believe so everyone else is doing fine. Yao will come around and boki is improving. I expect our ball protection to improve.

 

nowhere
block

 

Vlade said of Yao, "give him two more years, he's going to replace Shaq as the dominating center in the NBA".

 

from rox.com


ROCKETS COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY

On the play of the team:
"I thought in the first and third quarters we played well. We’ve got to reduce our turnovers, but I think we’re playing big minutes right now for a reason. I like the way their condition is coming along and I think they’re trying to play the way we want to be playing.”

On the importance of perimeter shooting:
"Those guys (Steve Francis, Yao Ming) are always going to draw attention. If we’re spaced correctly and our passes are on time and on target, we’ll get good shots and then it comes down to making them or missing them. A lot of the games, we didn’t make our perimeter shots…Boki (Bostjan Nachbar) got on a bit of a roll and Moochie (Norris) made a couple.”

On shooting open shots confidently:
"If you’re missing, it’s hard to shoot with great confidence. I do think, though, if you pass up a quality shot, if you’re a perimeter player, if you can’t shoot, then you can’t play. Especially on a team that has a player like Steve (Francis) and a player like Yao (Ming). So he’s (Bostjan Nachbar) in the gym and make and keep making and do it correctly and get the proper footwork so that when he goes into the game, he’s highly prepared to make (the shots). He’s been getting a lot of opportunities, it’s nice to see him make (the shots), he’s trying harder, he still makes a ton of mistakes, but I like him as a guy very much, he’s intent on getting better.”

On how he feels now as opposed to earlier in the week when he was frustrated:
"I wasn’t frustrated. I just knew that we needed to make changes in order to play better. I said at that time, I know what a winning team looks like and I know what a losing team looks like and we were disorganized, uninspired, we lacked passion. The last two games, we’re getting the results, which you always like to win, but we’ve been more professional, more intense and more organized, so that’s a positive step.”

On situation with Eddie Griffin:
"No (haven’t heard anything new on that). Yes...when he starts to do right (on when he may be back). I’m not in charge of it, he is (on time frame when he’ll be back).”


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YAO MING

On his progress so far in the preseason:
"I think at first my endurance wasn’t up to where it should have been, so I was focusing more on getting back and working on defense and trying not to shoot as much."

On the Rockets’ play:
"It is still the preseason and a lot of teams are not playing at full strength. We have a lot of injuries. I think we’re only really at 60 percent. If you look at us, we’re still moving a lot of players in and out of the game."


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STEVE FRANCIS

On the Rockets’ recent improvement:
"I think we’re playing better. (There’s been) a complete effort. Guys are starting to feel more comfortable in the offense and in the defensive scheme. We’re missing Mo (Taylor) and Cuttino (Mobley) and there are guys who aren’t even dressed for us. Every game, we need to continue to do what we’re doing… moving the ball around and hitting the open guy. Hopefully guys will continue to improve."


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BOSTJAN NACHBAR

On his role in the offense:
"The open shots I get, I need to put them up because it’s going to help them (the teammates). It’s going to open things up on the court and everyone won’t be double-teaming."

On he mental aspect of playing:
"I think (playing in the NBA) is more than your physical (talent). One you step on the floor, you have confidence and you feel so much better. Having the confidence and having support from your teammates helps you play better."


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KINGS COACH RICK ADELMAN

On the game:
"We didn’t play well and there are no excuses. Our starters were awful and we can’t win games if we play like that. Eleven turnovers in the first quarter made it obvious that we didn’t come out to play. I have no explanation for it."

On injury to Vlade Divac:
"The x-rays were negative and, hopefully, Vlade will be all right."


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VLADE DIVAC

On his ankle injury:
"I was running and I stepped on somebody’s foot and my ankle twisted. It’s really hurting; it is as bad a sprain as I’ve ever had. I guess it’s better now than during the season or the playoffs."


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BRAD MILLER

On adjusting to new team:
"We have to work as a team on doing the right things. I have a long way to go getting used to all our players."

On being traded:
"It was a real big surprise. It’s a good lesson that this is all about business and trades happen. I’m glad I have a chance to be on a team like this and it is a great opportunity."


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JABARI SMITH

On his play:
"My knee really hurts, but I felt good. I was just real happy to get an opportunity to play."


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PEJA STOJAKOVIC

On the preseason:
"I feel good that I still have 10 days left and I’m trying to get into better shape. Coach is trying a lot of different things now. The additions of Brad Miller and (Anthony) Peeler will really help us and we’ll have to hang on without Chris (Webber)."

 

Where do you get this information? Is this true for what had been said from Vlada or just a joke from you.

 

he got that from the game last night. calvin said he talked to vlade when the rockets were in sacramento tuesday.

so according to the murph, vlade says that:

yao will replace shaq as the best center in the league within 2 years and he has the advantage over tim duncan because he has a better outside shot.

 

And free throw

 

hehe, thats mean

 

You guys need cut the "He's still young" crap out, Yao is only 2 years older than EG, and you don't see him making those stupid mistake.

 

crap, wrong thread.

 

And 6 inch taller, stronger, and better passing

 

Tim duncan has two championships and has better handles then yao. Yao is good but he isn't at tim duncans level and imo will not reach that high of a level.

 

Nobody is saying Yao is at the same level as Duncan yet. But clearly one can expect Yao to be at Duncan's level or surpass him, with the teaching of JVG and Patrick Hewing. Here is my comparison for Yao and Duncan right now. Also, remember Yao got LOTS of room to improve, while Duncan is has peaked.

* Height. Yao. 7-6 vs 7-0. You can't teach height.
* Weight. Yao. 310 vs 260
* Strength. Duncan. But Yao can improve a lot more.
* Stamina. Duncan. Again Yao can improve a lot more.
* Post play. Duncan. Yao has room to improve.
* Rebound. Duncan. Yao has room to improve.
* Outside shooting. Yao.
* Passing. Yao.
* Court vision. Yao.
* FT. Yao.
* Clutchness. Yao.

 

Dang it no edit. Patrick Ewing.

 

I LOVE those uniforms.

 

Here is the quote of the game:

Calvin: What do you do when you have a 7-feet-5 that shoots fade-aways?

Bill: You got to pray alot, I guess.

 

uh, no.


tim duncan has been in - and delivered in - situations that yao has never even sniffed. at least, not yet.