Yao needs to set the tone early, to tell Grant he isn't taking that arm-bar or pushing in the back tonight.
i don't think yao's gonna have a 30/10 game tonight unless he's only single teamed. i think he's getting double even triple teamed even without the ball. he's on a major roll and the heat are gonna try to make others beat us.
Francis will try to make a statement, will go for 30, but, unlike other occasions, the Rocket's will win because of a great night by JJ.
Yao's not going to have a good game tonight. Grant is just one of those guys whose got Yao figured out, plus Yao's going to be exhausted. We should go to Mo down low and use Yao in the high post. Cat and Steve need to step up this game and takeover for us to win. I say rox lose in a close and frustrating game. Yao gets 10 tough shots, scores 12 pts.
Yao sets a new career high... we're gonna' spank 'em even though they have been playing above their potential (the heat that is...) Go Rockets Heya Voltaire! I thought that was you man... London?!? That sucks. You have a better chance of getting the Rockets games there than you do in Austin... I'll talk to you soon man...
You know, it's really not possible to "figure Yao out." Yao's bigger than Grant is, stronger than him... and even if neither was true, Grant can't do anything about turn around jumpers from guys that much taller than him. Yao might have an off game. He might get double teamed. But it's going to have precious little to do with Brian Grant, who might put up more resistance than Andrew DeClerq, but is hardly going to be the reason for stopping Yao.
Yao will have a big game, you cant stop the great ones.. Yao isnt it that class yet but he is showing glimpses of it lately. I hope they continue to mix it up inside/outside (this has been an awesome strategy as of late) and Yao has been delivering.. As Yao's confidence and attitude grow so does his effect on the game.. You must double team him if you dont you know the results. If they do double team he has to make them pay and and learn to pass out of it quicker or step back and take some shots. Im hoping he can continue taking it inside and make a statement with this game.. Inside or Out you Cant Stop Ming! haha People across the league are starting to take notice and the breakout everyone has been predicting from Yao looks like is taking shape.. This is a good time to be a Rox fan and I expect the people who have lost hope will come back into the fold of believers. I know im pretty optimistic but I really smell a nice win streak coming.. if we win today that will be 4 in a row. whens the last time we had a nice win streak over 3 games? im pretty excited about this game and hope Yao will deliver offensively and defensively.. complete game from Yao this game. Yao 28 pts/ 18 rebs/ 5 assists/ 11 blks SF 21 pts/ 5 rebs/ 11 assists I wrote in a different thread that Yao seems to be coming into his own (breaking out) and once SF breaks out of his slump we are one scary team.. The rest of the team contributes to their respective roles and we crush the Heat by outrebounding them 55 - 30. J Go Yao! Go Rox! Go Super Duper Backup Bench Brigade!
I believe the other Chinese center, Wang Zhi-Zhi will beat Yao tonight. Hey, I heard that Wang almost always beat Yao in CBA. 80:79 Heat on top.
That may be true when Yao was still a boy in CBA but now he's becoming an NBA Big man w/ an attitude.
Thought the last part of this Rockets-Heat Preview was interesting: Tonight's game: Rockets at Heat Posted January 26 2004 When/where: 7:30 p.m., AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami. Broadcast: TV - Sunshine. Radio - WIOD (610-AM), WBZT (1230-AM), WACC (830-AM, Spanish). Tickets available: Tickets remaining: 3,500 (balconies closed). About the Heat: The Heat is coming off its most impressive two-game defensive streak of the season with solid wins over the Nets and Knicks in which it allowed 141 points (70.5 per game). This is the second meeting between the coaching Van Gundy brothers, with Jeff and his suddenly defensive-oriented Rockets owning family bragging rights after a 90-70 victory in the Nov. 11 meeting at the Toyota Center. The 70 points ties for the Heat's the second lowest output of the season. ... In the past two games, Heat point guard Rafer Alston has helped contain All-Star guards Jason Kidd and Stephon Marbury to a combined 6-of-30 shooting. Center Brian Grant's minutes will continue to be limited until his sore knees improve. Guard Dwyane Wade (wrist), who may return on Friday for the Clippers game, and forwards Jerome Beasley (back) and Samaki Walker (ankle) are on the injured list. About the Rockets: Before Sunday night's game against the Magic, the Rockets had won five of six and were 8-2 on the road against Eastern teams. In those five recent wins, Houston, the NBA's second-ranked defensive team, hasn't given up more than 80 points. In the first meeting against the Heat, Cuttino Mobley, who will be a participant in the All-Star Game 3-point contest, had 30 points, including five 3-pointers. The Rockets outscored the Heat 30-3 on 3-pointers and Yao Ming had a career-high seven blocks. Since that game, the Rockets have waived Eddie Griffin (Nets) and traded John Amaechi and Moochie Norris to the Knicks for Clarence Weatherspoon. They've also signed Mark Jackson, who ranks second all-time in assists, to back up All-Star guard Steve Francis at the point. Adrian Griffin (knee) is on the injured list. Off the court: Bring five valid non-winning Florida Lottery tickets to the AmericanAirlines Arena ticket office and receive one free game ticket to tonight's game. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-heatbox26jan26,0,1136016.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines Man a ticket to see one of the hottest teams in the league for only 5 bucks. What a deal! I wish I lived in Miami.
Yeah I think Yao was 17 when WZZ used to beat up on Yao.. its different now that Yao is older and bigger. I wouldnt mind Yao putting some hurt on WZZ for all those years of torture under him.. hahaha I dont know about all that but I would like to see Yao keep hurting some people.. Yao hitlist - people who get injured playing against Yao. 1. Walter McCarthy - hurt his back from fronting Yao 2. Keith Bogans - bruised leg from bumping into Yao 3. Andrew Declerq - hit in the jaw from Yao's inadvertent elbow. can anyone think of someone else? Well I hope Yao's hitlist keeps growing! hahaha J
I hope Yao won't get hurt tonight. He's too polite, you know. I'll count this a win as long as Yao (and others) don't get hurt. I want to see them beating Sacramento Queens on Wed.
Yao will see the double-teams coming all night long. He will only take 10 shots and make 5 but will make 10 out 12 on free throw line. Another 20/10 game for Yao. Final score Rox 85 Heat 79
Unfortunately, the British have hardly heard of this "Basketball?". It's not on TV here and in Austin I could get NBA League Pass. Come to think of it, why doesn't the NBA offer that package worldwide? Sigh... As for the game - Yao will be too tired to carry the load again, wich leaves SF to dribble the ball off his foot 3 consecutive times on the final 3 posessions thus ensuring the win for Miami. Heat - 76 Rockets - 72 -VL
WZZ is rusty as 1000-year old turtle. Since he's been aquired by HEat, he's hardly playing. I don't know why Stan is wasting such talent. But Stan will pay.
Last Friday Wang came out of bench, "outscored J.Kidd" in 11 minutes of play. He made 11 points, 4-6 shooting, 1-2 3-point. J.Kidd made 9 points in 40 minutes.
