ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Heat 12/16/2002

Now that's a nice pic!!!

Let me give you the article from the Miami Herald concerning the game.

Wasted comeback
Heat overcomes 14-point deficit before falling to Rockets in overtime
BY ISRAEL GUTIERREZ
igutierrez@herald.com

Yao Ming caused all the fuss in Miami.

Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley caused all the heartache.

Even with the presence of a 7-5 center, the Rockets' backcourt tandem proved it is still the pulse of the Houston franchise, one sending the game to overtime with a buzzer-beating three, the other coming up with a crucial steal at the end of overtime.

Yao had his moments in his Miami debut. But it was Francis and Mobley who carried the Rockets to a 105-100 win over the Heat.

After Miami fought back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to take a three-point lead with five second left, Francis hit a difficult three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Brian Grant to send the game to an extra session.

''We knew exactly what they were going to run,'' said the Heat's Eddie Jones, who finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. ``We saw it about four or five times on the edit tape. The guy [Francis] hit a tough, tough shot. Brian was all over him. I give him credit for hitting a tough shot.''

In the overtime session, the Heat still could not stop the penetration of Mobley and Francis. Even after Jones hit a three-pointer to give the Heat a 101-100 lead, it was Mobley, who scored four points in the extra session, who turned right back to put the Rockets ahead by one.

On the following Heat possession, Mobley stopped Jones' penetration at the top of the key. While Jones was looking for a teammate to get him out of a jam, Mobley tipped the ball away from Jones and to Francis, who called a timeout.

''He stopped me and then I started trying to pass,'' Jones said. ``The ball popped out. I cost us. I definitely cost us.''

Jones might have cost the Heat on that play, but it was his inspiring play that got the Heat back in the game in the fourth quarter. With Miami trailing 77-63 early in the fourth quarter, Jones scored 12 consecutive points to bring the Heat to within two.

When the Rockets built their lead back up to 86-81 with less than two minutes left, it was a Jones three-pointer and assist to Caron Butler on the break that tied the score at 86-86. Jones also hit the two free throws with five seconds left in regulation that gave the Heat a three-point lead, giving him 17 for the quarter.

''He was really great,'' Heat coach Pat Riley said of Jones. ``We just couldn't get that one last stop.''

On the final play of regulation, Francis took the ball from Yao, got a screen and found himself at the top of the three-point circle with Grant defending him. Francis elevated, shot and drained it.

''We've used that play several times,'' Yao said through a translator. ``Maybe we should change it up, and I should shoot the three.''

Part of the 7-5 Chinese center's appeal is his personality, but that's not what basketball fans came to see at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Yao started the game off slowly, missing his first shot and only getting to four rebounds in the first half. As the game progressed, though, he began to take advantage of his size and tree-trunk-like legs to move Grant and Malik Allen out of the paint.

Yao, who did have a couple of dunks on offensive putbacks and another off a slick pass from Steve Francis, finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.

Two of those blocks were against Butler, who tried twice to dunk on the 7-5 rookie. Both times Butler was rejected, the most impressive coming late in the fourth period in a tight game.

''He's a tree,'' Butler said. ``He's a big dude. You can't go over him and you try to go around him, but his wing span is ridiculous -- it's 8 feet or something.''

Although it was Mobley and Francis' combined 48 points that did in the Heat, Riley believes it will be Yao's presence that eventually puts the Rockets over the top.

''He's going to be a great addition with them as he grows with them and matures with them,'' Riley said. ``[Mobley and Francis] will probably take a little bit off their game because they have a relief guy now.''


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/4754986.htm

 

Oh, and the picture from the article...gotta love that elbow in Butler's face .

 

This block is Dynasty.

 

What was Steve doing in this photo?

 

Looks to me like he's taking a dump. Hey Steve, save that for AFTER the game!

 

he is try to peek that guy's underwear

 

I thought the Heat played very well. Was that an audition by Brian Grant?? I haven't seen him play that well in a looong time. He DID get away with murder on the calls, ROXTXIA, as did Miami in general.

Good points francis 4 prez and BigM on the Heat's D. But the Rockets are still feeling their way through the new offense and definitely lost their way in long stretches during the game. It wasn't just Miami's game plan.

It's weird to hear praise for our backcourt from opposing announcers (on League Pass) and to read the same in the media- then to check out the sentiment here (mine included... I'm baffled all the time... they'll gell, they'll gell... right??). Quite a dichotomy.

 

Well, I am a little bit concerned about the game tomorrow. Pacers is good @ defense. As we know it, the tougher defense we r facing, the more we should pass.

I forgot who said about the game @heat, "While Steve was trying hard to look for a seam, his teammates were just standing around him." I feel we may lose with this strategy.