ClutchFans Game Thread: Grizzlies @ Rockets 11/01/2003

Steve and Cat did, but could not convert........

 

U said it all!!!

 

Oh my...how a loss gets people all going apes. Memphis played a good strategic game denying the guards from throwing into Yao and also fronting Yao. The Rockets need to work on getting the ball into low post regardless how they play Yao. It's defintiely a weakness that Van Gundy will address. I hope more teams do what Memphis do so Van Gundy can eventually show the team how to counteract it. If adjustments aren't made the next time around, then I'll worry. For now, it's one loss and a learning process. So people don't get too worked up!

 

Yes, Yao Ming is automatic once he gets the ball down low.

BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE A WAY TO GET HIM OPEN!!!

You can't just say, "hey... lets pass it to Yao."

Jeez... you think the other team might catch on to that?

They made adjustments on how to defend the post... we didn't (or we kinda did, but they countered).

Its one thing if they're letting him catch the ball, and the Rox guards aren't passing... its another if they're trying to get him the ball, and he's not open.

THE LATTER HAPPENED TONIGHT.... STOP SAYING THAT THE GUARDS DON'T WANT TO PASS HIM THE BALL!!!

 

You have no idea of this game. You fool! Steve/Mobley plays well and pass to Yao as many as they could. Mobley has only 4/9 shots.

There are three major reasons that we lost this game:

1. Poor bench score by Rockets. Moochie need be traded. He is such a Dumba$$, no defense at all!! Did you saw Posey's reverse layup, I just want throw my beer in moochie's face. What the He11 is he doing there??

2. Grizzlies' defense is unbelievable tough. James Posey shut us down.

3. If you did not watch the game, just shut up! Steve/cat/JJ tried their best to pass Yao the ball, but Grizzlies did every effort to block the pass by double team, cut in front of yao. And obviously yao still need to improve on setting up deeper position while others never figured out a better way how to pass yao the ball. If other teams ever watched this game and do the same thing to us. I guarantee we will be kicked ass again like this and there will never be an in-out game.

 

I dont know if it was so much of a tempo thing as it was a Super Grizzly defensive effort. The Rocks tried to slow it down in the half court but the Grizz were just swarming on every play. I believe I heard Bill say that it looked like they had 8 players out there. If JVG stressed turnovers after opening night I fell bad for the fellas at practice tommorow after this low assist/high turnover fest.

 

I blame this game on Moochie and Nachbar. Why did Piatkowski have to get hurt? Somebody needs to make those 3s when we need them.

I can't believe we lost. I have a headache now.

 

First of all, I just want to repeat a statement I've posted many times,

Don't get too high after A win, don't get too low after A loss! It's only two games, there are still 80 to go.

A few observation about the game...

Rockets played good defense, not great, but above average. The obvious problem is on-ball defense for the guards, they just cannot stop penetration;

Yao was exposed when face small but quick opponent, especially when the guy can hit 12' J consistently.

Yao was very timid on defense, probably due to the foul trouble from the Denver game.

The offense was horrible, it mainly due to the on-ball pressure by the Memphis. One thing I noticed was that our guards always put their heads down when face pressure, which made it impossible to see the open men. Norris was the worst here since he couldn't beat the defender 1on1, he usually ended up with killing the clock; Francis had the same probelm, but at least he could go 1-on-many, which leads to many low percentage shots and TOs.

The spacing was terrible. In one sequence, Talor & Yao were both in the paint, then Steve drove right into the crowd, caused a TO.

Yao was fighting for the position hard, but a bit passive calling for the ball. He needs to be more aggresive, yell out for the damm ball every time he get the position.

Too much dribbling, not enough pass.

Oh, Norris was horrible on both end.

 

I blame this game on smart coaching from the grizz for making early VERY effective adjustments.

 

This is where Van Gundy will hopefully prove he is damn good coach. He has to recognize this problem and fix it before next game. This loss is ok in my book because it did exploit a weakness Rockets had and will hopefully open the coaching staff's eyes to address this right away.

 

I am also worried about the C/PF rotation. Yao and Cato both looked a little winded by the 4th quarter. For Cato a 17 mpg to a 30 mpg jump is huge and I think he loses his effectiveness with anything over 25 minutes. It will be nice to get A.Griff and Piatkowski back so that our bench wont get so badly outplayed.

 

i totally agree with you


how come everyone loved yao/francis/mobley/cato/etc when we played against the nuggets? can't they have their off days? they can't be perfect every time they play. so yeah, we did make some careless mistakes, but it was because of the grizz's great defensively plays that messed us up.

 

Gentleman...we can sum it all up, but you do not put the ball in the hole, you do not win.....our shooting regardless of who did or did not shoot it was terrible...if we are not going to get Ming more touches in the 4th then I expect us to be knocking down jumpers and protecting the balll

we protect the ball and hit a higher %, say league average on both and we win....bottomline

yes, everyone is right, but shooting % and ball protection win games...we did not do either with high caliber tonight....

 

I thought we were done with this BS offense where we play like chickens with their heads cut off...VG's post game analysis was right on (any pressure and our guards decide to do it alone and lose). Yeah, the Grizz were swarming Yao, but there were plenty of firckin times when the guards could have easily dumped it down. And Cat...oh Cat....we've got to trade his A%%&&SS NOW! He just does not get it. Want proof? Every time Yao is in the paint and he sees Cat on the perimeter with the ball, Yao leaves to set a pick for Cat because he knows Cat won't throw it to him. He plays with his head down, ignoring one of the best post players in the game. I predict his sorry A%%$SS will be shipped out by mid season.

Don't take this SH*))*T, JVG. This is why you're here!

 

Well said!

 

I love that mind-set!

 

Anybody else notice that MoTay seems to have zero explosiveness right now? Seemed like he could barely get off the ground out there

 

Looking at the photo posted by Clutch, it looks like Stevie was trying to do it all by himself, eventhough he was guarded by Pau Gasol & the other Griz defenders. Yao was just behind Gasol, unguarded. So where was the passing...waita minute, Steve couldn't possibly be passing the ball while he's trying to do a home-run show. Result? Stevie got blocked by Gasol, then a turnover off course.

 

Pathetic...Trade the whole damn team.

 

All I'm going to say is this the grizz drew up a blueprint on how to beat the rockets and if any grizz fans are reading this you still suck and still going to the lottery this summer. Anyway the rockets need to find a better way to get yao the ball without turning it over when fronted because trust me on this one the next game you'll see the exact same thing from the opposing team.