ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 3/26/2004

I really dont care about Memphis this year they will blow that team up this summer, just like Denver will. Untill they can put back to back seasons of improvement I dont really think they will ever be a force. They are the new suns of 04!!!

ROX 86
MEM 90

 

Roxs,could you just give us an easy win this time?
My heart cant bear the choke any more.
I know you will win this game at last whatever you have a collapse after leading 20 psts ,as what MemphisX said.
We don't want to see such bad Rockets show up again.
We just need an easy win this time. Beg you, sincerely.

 

For me ,and for MemphisX.

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/grizzlies/article/0,1426,MCA_475_2759409,00.html

Yao learns to carry Rockets
Mighty center developing power, finesse

By Ron Higgins
Contact
March 26, 2004

Imagine being thrown into a new job in a new country.

You don't speak the language, and you don't really know the way business is done.

And, oh yes. Everybody in your country of 1.26 billion people is watching your every move.

Welcome to the world of Rockets second-year center Yao Ming, who carries a continent and a franchise on his back. It's taken him a mere 12/3 seasons to adjust to the NBA, but as evidenced by his play of late, the league might have to start adjusting to him.

The 7-6, 310-pound Yao, who leads the 41-29 Rockets into The Pyramid tonight against the 45-26 Grizzlies, seems to have gotten the hang of this American pro basketball stuff. Since the All-Star break, he's averaging 21.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, including a career high 41 points against Atlanta on Feb. 22.

"Maybe (the difference) is just my self-confi-dence," Yao said after winning Western Conference Player of the Week honors on March 8. "I feel like my self-confidence is getting better."

Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said he's liked Yao from the first moment he saw him in the Olympics against United States, and nothing has changed his mind since.

"When you have a force in the middle second only to Shaq (the Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal), you have to exploit it if you want to win in the West," Brown said of Yao. "This young man has such immense offensive talent, and the thing I like about him is he's always working. I have a great deal of respect for him."

Two things have helped Yao accelarate his basketball education - new coach Jeff Van Gundy's philosophy to run the offense inside out, instead of outside in as in past seasons, and the hiring of assistant coach Patrick Ewing, one of the NBA's best all-time centers.

While Ewing wasn't hired specifically to go coach Yao, it hasn't hurt to have his experience in the post to show Yao some technique nuances, as well as the general advice of becoming more aggressive.

Over the second half of the season, Yao's biggest improvement has been knowing when to hold 'em or fold 'em - that is, taking his shot, or identifying double teams and passing to open shooters.

"I've had to face that situation a lot and I've had to take some things from that," said Yao, who has built his averages to 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds, and who's fifth in the league in field goal percentage at .532. "It's not a matter of knowing exactly when to pass or knowing exactly when to attack.

"You have to go with the feeling based on what's happening on the court."

His marked improvement has had opponents and teammates raving.

"When he turns, he's standing 8 feet tall, and when he's holding that ball up, he's 10 feet," said Portland center Theo Ratliff of defending Yao. "He has tremendous touch around the basket for as big as he is. He looks like he gets bigger and bigger every time I see him. They now look for him low and he gets it in the basket."

After Yao dropped 29 points on the Mavericks on March 7 in a 101-98 Houston victory, Dallas center/forward Dirk Nowitz ki was suitably impressed.

"He's going to be a dominant player for years to come," Nowitzki said. "At the beginning, we tried to play him man-to-man and he just ate us alive. He's tough to guard. He won the game for them."

Yao's effectiveness, his passing as much as his scoring, has made Houston tough to defend. In the past, with no post presence, the Rockets not only put most of their offense on guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, but they usually had to shoot with defenders hanging all over them.

That doesn't happen as much anymore on Yao's patrol.

"But the more touches he gets, the more space we're going to get offensively, because teams have to double him and it creates havoc for them on our offensive end," Rockets backup point guard Mark Jackson said.

Griz center Jake Tsakalidis gets the job tonight of starting off against Yao. Tsakalidis isn't exactly a tiny dancer at 7-2, 290, but he knows what he'll try to do against the enormous Yao.

"All you can do is play him physical and try to push him outside to shoot," Tsakalidis said.

- Ron Higgins: 529-2525


http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/grizzlies/article/0,1426,MCA_475_2759347,00.html

Preview: Grizzlies vs. Rockets
March 26, 2004


TV, radio: WPXX-TV (50), 7 p.m.; WHBQ-AM (560), pregame, 6 p.m.; WHBQ-FM (106.5) inside The Pyramid.

When, where: The Pyramid, 7 p.m.

Records: Grizzlies, 45-26; Rockets, 41-29. Rockets lead series, 25-10.

Injury report: Grizzlies - Lorenzen Wright (sprained right knee), Ryan Humphrey (sore right knee), Dahntay Jones (sprained left tricep) are on the injured list. Rockets - Jim Jackson (sore back) is day-to-day. Kelvin Cato (sprained left shoulder) and Mike Wilks (sore right foot) are on the injured list.

KEY MATCHUP:

Jim Jackson vs. James Posey


Yao Ming and Steve Francis will do their usual damage. The last time these teams met, Jackson was the X-factor in Houston's 88-80 victory March 13 in Toyota Center. Jackson scored 20 points, most of which on clutch shots either driving to the basket or from three-point range. Posey had been struggling offensively but found his touch Wednesday when he scored 17 points against the Knicks. The constant in Posey's game has been defense, and lately he's been effective containing the likes of Vince Carter and Ron Artest when it mattered most.

INSIDE THE ROCKETS:


Houston recently added more toughness with the signing of veteran forward Charles Oakley to a 10-day contract. Said Oakley: "Every team needs to let the other team know that no matter what happened with the score they are not going to be a pushover. I'm coming here to bring some energy and extra power." It's not as though the Rockets were soft. They've attempted more than 30 free throws in each of the past four games, which means the Rockets aren't shy about attacking the basket. Houston also holds opponents to an NBA-low 40 percent shooting.

INSIDE THE GRIZZLIES:


It's hard to imagine that fans in The Pyramid jeered Pau Gasol earlier this year. Lost this season is that he's averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds in just 32 minutes. Gasol's production is on par with his first two NBA seasons - both of which he averaged 36 minutes. Lately, it's been "all hail Gasol." Over the past five games, he's averaged 22.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and two blocks. Said Griz coach Hubie Brown: "He has a lot of talent. He had 29 points (Tuesday against Toronto) and came back (Wednesday) and he was running the lanes. Plus, he has a lower back problem."

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and mirror_image: I don't know why chron.com has not yet posted their Rocket's articles but I read the print edition and JJ is still day-to-day. Keith Jones, the Rocket's trainer, said JJ is getting better and has a chance to play but it will be a game-time decision.

 

Charles Oakley is going to put an elbow through Gasol. Rockets win tonight in a destructive fashion...105-80

Say hello to that 7th spot, Grizzlies.

 

We got Boki, easy win

 

WE WILL WIN, WE MUST WIN

 

Poseys Revenge Part IV!!!

 

At about the 20-games-remaining mark, I did a breakdown of the
Rockets' remaining schedules, as well as the Griz, Lakers and Mavs.

Tonight's game stood out then, and even moreso now, because,
as MemphisX honestly said, the Griz schedule the last 7 games or
so is absolutely BRUTAL, much worse than even the Rox'.

That makes tonight's game VITAL to both teams, because it is
entirely possible that the winner of this game tonight finishes
higher in the final reg-season standings than the loser of the game.
In fact, the way the schedules break down, there is a good
chance that there will be only a one-game difference in the records
of these two teams at the end of the year.

That said though, I stll have a gut feeling that we lose tonight, mostly
because of Dogface Miller draining shots all night long.

I would love for it to be us who starts the Griz' inevitable late-season slide though...

 

Can anyone tell me what channel the game will be aired on?
I look on my guid on dish. And it says channel 51 will be playing celebrety justice or something. And ESPN is playing The Mavs vs. Heat.

 

looks like a loss to me. luckily it is not the end of the PO

 

never thought i would hear that phrase. thats great signature material.

 

The Rockets site says ch. 51 and NBALP. TVguide.com says 51 too.

 

hope we win tonight. Yao 29-13-3/Francis 18&7.

 

I think Oak will get some meaningful minutes tonight.


We won't need TOO much offense, around 90pts will do. We've been scoring 94ppg this month.

However, if Spoon and Oak pick up a lot of minutes, we can effectively shutdown that sissy-ass PF Gasol.

As always, unless J-Will doesn't get possesed, we'll win.

 

Well, this is a road game so all signs point to a loss. What is dismaying to me is how easily Memphis has moved past the Rockets in the standings. I know a LOT of folks here still turn their noses up at the Grizz but results are what counts and the results as of today shows Memphis in 3rd place in the Midwest Division with a record of 45-26. The Rockets are currently in 5th place in the Midwest Division with a record of 41-29. If we take a look at the current playoff standings for the Western Conference, Memphis is in the 5th spot while the Rockets are in the 7th spot. The Rockets must play MUCH better tonight in order to get the "W" because the results say that Memphis is the better team at this juncture.

 

Thanks Blatz

 

If the game ends in the 3rd Roxs win by 20!!

End of the 3rd
Roxs 72
Grizz 52

Full game, Roxs win by 3

Rox 82
Grizz 79

 

I, for one, hope that's not the case because I am so opposed to Oakley's presence on the team that I've virtually stopped watching their games until his 10 days are up.

 

You're crazy if you think he won't be re-signed.

You may hate him, but there's absolutely no way he would've signed for us if he wasn't coming to the postseason with us.

He would've been betetr off getting minutes with someone who wasn't making the playoffs.

Absolutely NO WAY he signed here unless he was told he'd be here for the playoffs. Think about it for a second. The guy is 40 years old, joined us late in the season. You think he'll stick around for 10 games and be gone? No chance.