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[Salt Lake Tribune] Houston's X-factor: Dikembe Mutombo

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by jsmee2000, Apr 19, 2008.

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  1. jsmee2000

    jsmee2000 Member

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    Houston's X-factor: Dikembe Mutombo
    Utah Jazz: Big man still could be a big factor
    By Tony Jones
    The Salt Lake Tribune
    Article Last Updated: 04/19/2008 03:09:31 AM MDT

    Dikembe Mutombo was done. His career was over.
    It wasn't official, but it was clear that he was finishing out the season on the Houston Rockets' bench so that he could gracefully exit the game that he's impacted for over a decade.
    That was in the middle of this season. Now, heading into tonight's playoff matchup against the Utah Jazz, he's as important a piece as you'll find.
    The turnaround wasn't months in the making, it was sudden. And just as suddenly as Yao Ming went down with a season-ending injury, just as suddenly as Mutombo found himself thrust back into a starting role is how surprising it was to see a Dikembe Mutombo that can still play.
    He's 42 years old, we think. He's the oldest player in the league. Yet, in the few months that he's taken over in the pivot, Mutombo has proven to be the same stabilizing defensive presence that he's always been.
    He can still block shots. He can still hit a jumper, and he's still quite capable of wagging his finger after a rejection.
    He didn't play the whole season," Luis Scola told the Houston Chronicle. "I was like "He's out of shape or he's not ready to play right away." It's not like we were getting him ready. He just found out one day and 10 hours later he started and played 25 minutes. This guy never gets old. I want some of that medicine."
    It's amazing that Mutombo was able to be dusted off after months of almost inactivity. It's equally amazing that he's been able to replace everything that Yao's absence bought defensively. With Mutombo in the lineup, the Rockets were able to extend their winning streak to 22 games, a streak that became THE story in the NBA this season. With Mutombo, the Houston guards were able to extend pressure and gamble, knowing that the old anchor was in the middle replacing mistakes.
    He's averaged three points per game this season, but you can throw the stats out when discussing his game. If the Rockets are to advance, Mutombo must come up big because he's the only real major size Houston has left. The rest of the Rockets interior consists of undersized guys who survive on grit and tenacity.
    "Now I have to deliver," Mutombo said. "It's not all on me, but there are a lot of things I have to do with my old body. I think this time, I didn't have no choice but to come in and step up."
    tjones@sltrib.com
     
    #1 jsmee2000, Apr 19, 2008
  2. Tom Bombadillo

    Tom Bombadillo Member

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    If Deke can get us outta the first round then I am forever his slave.......
     
    #2 Tom Bombadillo, Apr 19, 2008
  3. withmustard

    withmustard Member

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    Nobody flies in the house of mutumbo
     
    #3 withmustard, Apr 19, 2008
  4. Dei

    Dei Member

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    If memory serves right, Deke torched the Jazz every time the Rockets played them when Yao went down last season. We would've probably advanced to the second round if JVG didn't bench him during the series.
     
    #4 Dei, Apr 19, 2008
  5. magnetik

    magnetik Member

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    I will sex Mutombo if we get out of the first round.
     
    #5 magnetik, Apr 19, 2008
  6. smoove shoez

    smoove shoez Member

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    I agree.
     
    #6 smoove shoez, Apr 19, 2008
  7. RedRaiderRocket

    RedRaiderRocket Member

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    I was actually wondering if he would even start with Boozer and Okur spreading him out. I love Mutombo more than anyone but this is not the series hes going to be as useful maybe versus Mislap. Though Mutombo is a better defender than Yao is, both don't do well defending the perimeter. I think the X-factor is Chuck Hayes and how can defend and rebound vs. a very powerful and strong rebounding team. But I hope I am wrong I absolutely love Dikembe Mutombo.
     
    #7 RedRaiderRocket, Apr 19, 2008
  8. LouisianaRocket

    LouisianaRocket Member

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    If a 40+ year old man is our X-factor, we are in serious trouble.
     
    #8 LouisianaRocket, Apr 19, 2008
  9. Tonaaayyyy

    Tonaaayyyy Member

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    HAHAHAHHAAHHAH
     
    #9 Tonaaayyyy, Apr 19, 2008
  10. rofflesaurus

    rofflesaurus Member

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    i LOVE Mutombo but srsly, he's almsot as big as a defensive liability as Yao is against the Jazz, although he can guard Boozer a bit better, Boozer will still blow past him, and he's not gonna chase Okur.
     
    #10 rofflesaurus, Apr 19, 2008
  11. thelasik

    thelasik Contributing Member

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    Where in the article does it say Deke will be the X-factor?
     
    #11 thelasik, Apr 19, 2008
  12. Cannonball

    Cannonball Member

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    We only played Utah once last season w/o Yao and that's the only Jazz game Deke played significant minutes in.

    1/5/07 - 35 minutes, 19 Rebounds, 1 block, 9 points. Rockets 100 - Jazz 84.
     
    #12 Cannonball, Apr 19, 2008
  13. Crudder

    Crudder Member

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    I think Deke needs to be in there during hte critical possessions because he can intimidate Utah's bigs which will leave Scola and Landry open for rebounds or else Okur, Milsap and those guys will just take it away from Scola and Landry.
     
    #13 Crudder, Apr 19, 2008
  14. Dave_78

    Dave_78 Member

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    The series needs to hurry up and begin so sport writers are forced to keep manufacturing stories like this. Really? Mutombo is the X-Factor? He will average less than 15 minutes for the series.

    This story is stupid.
     
    #14 Dave_78, Apr 19, 2008
  15. Dave_78

    Dave_78 Member

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    Obviously I meant "sports writers are NOT forced"
     
    #15 Dave_78, Apr 19, 2008
  16. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    He did it for Denver!

    Rocket River
     
    #16 Rocket River, Apr 19, 2008
  17. IROC it

    IROC it Member

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    Didn't quite see it in the article as definitively as you did... besides the title...

    But the rebounding sure is better with Deke on the floor.
     
    #17 IROC it, Apr 19, 2008
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