It sure feels goooooood after a win (and a Suns' loss) http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4311172.html Nov. 4, 2006, 11:34PM Rockets shut down Mavs in home opener By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle The Rockets don't even dream this good. After all the happy, heady even silly summer weeks projecting such greatness only to let the air out with the season-opener, the Rockets had themselves a home opener only they could not have scripted to be more joyous. With Yao Ming dominating and their defense pounding from the tip, the Rockets rolled to a start-to-finish, in-every-way 107-76 rout of the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks before 18,245 at Toyota Center, the largest opening night crowd in franchise history. The Rockets got a spectacular all-around game from point guard Rafer Alston who not only had 14 points and 12 rebounds, but added four steals, didn't commit a turnover, and helped hold long-time Rockets killer Jason Terry to an 0 for 5, one-point shooting night. While Alston was electric, Yao was unstoppable. In 36 minutes, Yao had 36 points, making 12 of his 16 shots, and all 12 of his free throws, capping his night with a fast break, alley-oop dunk of a Kirk Snyder lob. The Rockets were so strong offensively, they barely needed Tracy McGrady's help. McGrady came around a bit in the third quarter, making three of his five shots, but he finished with just eight points, playing only 23 minutes as the Rockets pulled away for good with him on the bench. But nearly everything the Rockets tried Bonzi Wells played for the first time with the Rockets. Snyder moved to the bench and added 12 points. Luther Head, who struggled in the opener, had a 14-point fourth quarter as the Rockets' lead swelled to 33. For all that went so well, in many ways Yao sent the Rockets flying. Against a team particularly well-equipped to defend him, with DeSagana Diop and Erick Dampier taking turns applying defensive muscle to him, Yao was sensational, scoring more points in the first half, 22, than he averaged against in the Mavericks, 20, last season. Yao made 8 of 10 shots. He made all eight of his free throws, including two in his unusual role as a 7-footer (and then some) that takes his team's technical free throws. He ended the half with a shake-the-building flurry, sinking a technical free throw after Dirk Nowitzki had a nutty. Then, with the Rockets inbounding with 1.7 seconds left, he cut to the baseline, took the pass from Alston and swished his 17 footer with a tenth of a second to spare to give the Rockets a 52-38 halftime lead. Yet as well as the half ended for the Rockets, it began even better, with the Rockets scoring the game's first 12 points. The Rockets started rapidly offensively in Utah, too, but this was different because defensively, they were swift and swarming as they never were in the season opener. The Rockets held Dallas to a 16-point first quarter, led by as much as 16 and never trailed. They survived a half in which Tracy McGrady made 1 of 6 shots and missed all three of his free throws and got more of a lift of the bench from Wells and Snyder than the reserves offered combined in the opener. By the fourth quarter, the game grew to complete rout, and a Toyota Center celebration the Rockets had longed to launch. jonathan.feigen@chron.com
The only thing that really didn't go too well for the Rockets seemed to be that they didn't rebound too well, but that seems to often be the case when a team swarms on defense.
I could not see the game in Beaumont. I am glad for the win and very proud for Yao Ming and Rafer....
Maybe it was not finalized...Now there is an updated version: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4311382.html
It was a great game tonight, but I still have questions about TMAC. Not everyone can play this amazing night in and night out, but we need Yao and TMAC to be solid. The first two games are quite shaky. I am hoping it is just all the rust from the injury.
i just hope Mac can find his touch again =(. its just one of those lucky days which T-mac not in the groove and Yao picked up his slack. get well soon Tmac
While Alston was electric, Yao was unstoppable. In 36 minutes, Yao had 36 points, making 12 of his 16 shots, and all 12 of his free throws, capping his night with a fast break, alley-oop dunk of a Kirk Snyder lob. off
Just like the roxs overall game improved from game 1 to game 2....T-macs individual game will improve too....as the season progresses.
Actually I found that you can put anything .justgotowned.com for the same effect. Just use periods for spaces. For example: for tomorrow's game http://The.Hornets.justgotowned.com
seems to me it is not about Tmac's touch, its about his back strength. he doesnt have the same strength on his back, thats why most of his missed shots are shorted.
Just kidding with you a little. But you are right, I don't agree. It takes time to get back into a rythm and considering all that happened to him last year I have no doubt -barring further injuries- that he will be just fine quite rapidly. Different players take varying amounts of time to get back into their groove.
