ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Warriors 11/27/2002

I couldn't watch the game so what was the deal with Cato? Absolutely unbelievable. Was he dominating? Mostly dunks and follows?

 

Cato: 22pt, 12 rb, 6 blocks. The only game he played better is that pre-season game few years ago which got him the big and long contract. Collier also played well for his limited minutes. It appears the addition of Yao motivated them big time. Props to Cato and hope him keep up the good work.

 

Steve is maturing before our eyes...what he did was really respectable..

 

Our center position produced 36 points tonight!!

Only a few months ago you would think that it's an impossible feat.

I never knew that Calvin was capable to play that good.

 

I don't think Collier played....

 

awesome!

 

Sounds like the perfect time for a Contract Extension!!!

 

I agree. Yao got called for a bunch of fouls that were best left as no-calls. The NBA refs are horrible. Either they are horrible or the nba rules are horrible. I hate it when a guy can just jump into the chest of a big guy who's just standing there with his arms up and the big guy gets called for a foul. The refs need to stop bailing out players when they do that. Besides, this is the nba, let these guys earn their money. Let them play rough. I swear, even the ncaa refs let a lot of fouls slide and they just let the kids play it out. Time for a rule change, David Stern.

 

Steve's last play really surprised me a little. I guess it is a good sign really. Seve finally decided to use his brain a bit instead of just instinct. Deserve a round of applause!

 

You are a loser!!!

 

Cato had a great game today and had been more consistent this season. May be we can start Cato and Yao together when Cat got back from the injury. With the addition of Cat (along with Steve and Rice on the floor), we have enough scorer on the floor. Our power forward position isn't doing that great right now. If Cato is in the game along with Yao, this would help Yao out on the defensive end until he learn how to stay out of foul trouble. This allow Yao to remain on the floor longer and the offense run smoother when it run through Ming. We really don't need scoring from our power forward position. What we need is someone who can shut down the other team PF (especially with all the good PF that are in the West). I don't think Elton Brand would go off against Cato like he did against our other PF. On the offfensive end, with Yao offensive skill that should be enough of an inside presence as he will command double team in the majority of the time.

 

Actually I think Rudy did the right thing by leaving Cato in. He was having an excellent night.

 

Francis- Continues to struggle with his jump shot, but did not try to shoot himself back into the game (i.e. Allen Iverson). Set up his teamates well and down the stretch found a way to score. Tried to force the play too many times, but this deficiency will fade with time.

Hawk- Good hustle and D as usual. If he had a consistent jumper Mobely would be packing his bags right now...

Rice- He can't play defense or rebound, but he is the only rocket (excluding the big men) who can shoot right now. Made his value well known after the Rockets swung the ball to him in the corner for a couple of three's.

Thomas- Just not playing well at all this season. Shooting touch has disapeared and he is shoved out of the way when he takes it down low. Lost his knack for picking up rebounds as well.

Yao- Terrific game despite the foul trouble. Displayed the great, soft shooting touch all night. More importantly, showed the Rockets that the offense can be run through him in the low post; his passing skills are second only to Steve's.

Mooch- First game that he has played well in for a long time. Showed characterstic hustle and playmaking ability and actually hit a few jump shots. What's more, he made a high percentage of his free throws Finally played up to his contract.

Taylor- Jump shot continues to desert him and he looked to force the play too often out of frustration. He and Kenny are bringing this team down right now.

Cato- Player of the match. Showed true presence down low with rebounds and block shots, and showed a Yao like touch around the basket. He even managed a few turn around jump shots and hooks. If he continues to play this well, he will become very atractive trade bait or a great compliment to Yao.

Disapointed with Griffin's absence from the game, I think Rudy dropped the ball. All three of the fowards are strugling with their shots, why not go with the one who can actaully rebound a block shots?

 

I was referring to the games Collier played while Cato was away for the funeral. My bad for the confusion.

 

Anyone hear Yao's interview on the NBA League Pass broadcast? They asked him what he planned on doing, siteseeing-wise, while in San Francisco -- and he answered in English. Pretty freakin' good English, too. You could understand everything he said, and he didn't speak slowly, either. He only stumbled when he couldn't remember "Fisherman's Wharf."

I was blown away. I've been hearing that he speaks servicable English, but his English is much better than I expected. All those sportscasters and writers who said he'd have trouble communicating with his teammates obviously didn't do their homework.

 

Hehe, has anyone else mentioned or seen Clutch's hilarious typo (I guess you could call it that?) under the headline for this game? Funniest thing I've seen all week.

Anyway, is it just me, or has Francis' shot cooled off over the last several games? Dating back from the BEGINNING of last season, he hardly ever had a bad shooting or scoring night when he didn't have a legitimate excuse - a blinding, deafening migraine. I hope this is just a very temporary slump that he'll blast out of with a fury. We need his offense

 

What typo?

 

I am back from the game. One word: ASIANS. man that crowd was loud. When Yao made that baseline turn-around and slammed it home, everyone was wooww-ing. And some Asians, including me, just went crazy. Then they replayed it twice on the big screen ...

And I have to mention the crowd waiting outside the arena after the game. Of course, most of them were Asians. But to my surprise, a lot of girls, CUTE girls. wooow, that was the ultimate reward for me tonight. But only Rudy went out and talked to the fans. Yao just went straight into the coach. And people just yelled at the bus "yaoming! yaoming!" ....

 

This: "Cato came off the bench behind Yao Ming, who played just 16 minutes in the game but scored 14 points on 6-8 shooting in just 17 minutes of play."

Notice anything wrong there? Like I said, not really sure it would be called a typo, but a majorly hilarious blunder nonetheless. (No offense if you're reading this, Clutch, but I'm sure even you're laughing at yourself... unless there's something in that sentence I'm not getting that I should be).