ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Jazz @ Rockets 2/11/2003

Well they were lucky to made that shot. But it really didn't have to come to that. Malone was the real reason why we lost tonight. Wonder why Rudy didn't put Cato on him cause Cato seemed to be the only guy who could get in his face. Normally Cato will be too slow to cover a PF, but Malone is 40 years old, Cato should've been able to contain him much better than anybody.

 

i just don't see how t-morris(although he played well) gets significantly more minutes than Cato.. Cato has been the most consistant player on this team this season. he deserves the starting postion over yao,but even more so over Mobley and Griffin. i would like to see cato in the starting five and mobley come off the bench with taylor. Both of these players are only effective on iso's so let them fight each other for shots

 

Tough loss! The Rockets made costly mistakes down the strength, but what can you expect when you don't have a veteran leader, your best player leads the league in TO, and your center is a rookie.

This team is young and they have to pay their dues by going through tough losses like this. They are indeed not ready this year. Don't blame it all on Rudy. This year really is really an adjustment period for the team to learn how to play together. Give Rudy another year after this and if the Rockets still don't show improvements then Rudy should be let go.

 

Hey, on the bright side, Francis had an "undefined" ATR. 5/0...

 

Sigh, I hope Steve can behave like a Kobe somehow.
Today's Lakers vs. Nuggets. Kobe took the last shots of
all first 3 quarters, get one in, and fouled twice.
The game was over in 3 quarters.

 

If the rockets lose tommorw Ill be upset. Losing to the Jazz two days in a row will be to much to take. I hate the Jazz!!! great game by stevie and yao although yao kind of choked down the stretch. (not fouling getting dunked on by ostertag) On a postive note the suns lost today too.

 

Everyone made mental mistakes down the stretch. Yao fouled Ostertag on a dunk. Steve gave another AND 1 to Stockton. Morris didn't foul Malone on that last play. Mobley didn't take a wide open 3 on the last shot.

Oh well we are young and we are learning.

 

What I dont get is why rudy kept mo taylor in the game, that was a big mismatch him guarding malone. Malone was shooting over the top, why not put eddie griffin back in the game, eddie is longer than mo and known to be a shot blocker. That was really pissing me off, the first time malone scored on mo t, i knew it was time to bring eddie in, but rudy is a strong believer in keeping the warmer players in.

 

Mustard , no way cato starts in front of yao, cato uses his minutes well, but i believe if he gets the starting spot he will slack off, he will put up the same performance he did last year.

 

Yao didn't choke. Steve also fouled Stockton for a 3 pt play and didn't make the FT. The whole team made mistakes that's, not choking.

 

You have GOT to be joking!!! Yes, Cato has played well, but the only area he has been more consistent than Yao is in rebounding, and not by much... I can see starting Yao and Cato because few teams could even think about matching up with both!!

I'm am SO sick and tired of hearing this crap. This team has more talent than Utah, Phoenix, or Minnesota, yet we are going to miss the playoffs because we have immature, selfish, alleged "veterans" playing in the backcourt and a coach who has no perception of how to MAKE his team play the way they're supposed to, and no clue about what's really going on anyway!!!

I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS TEAM NOT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR. It may drive me crazy, but I will continue to cheer, cajole, rant and rave all season until the Rox are eliminated mathematically from the playoffs. I can't believe I paid for half a season of GREAT SEATS to watch this team self-destruct !!!

 

First of all, we are making the playoffs.

Second of all...no we are not a young team anymore. These guys have been together for a little bit...Yao is the only major addition. This is a tired excuse for crappy play.

 

I know exactly what happened on that last play. When Steve got the ball, he was on the other side of the halfcourt line because Stockton put some pressure on him during the inbounds play...Rudy probably designed a play to use up the entire clock, but he didn't end up getting the entire clock...Maybe that "Steve coming off the Yao pick for the three pointer" would have been a better play...

 

C'mon guys. I'm pissed as you all are, but let's look at the bright side:

19 TO's fro Utah. They still scored a lot, but that's just their offense

40 mins. and 25 pts. for Yao. Too bad he missed those FT's

19 assists ain't bad for the Rockets. Too bad Utah had lot more. The Rockets need to learn from Utah's offense. When their forward averages 8 assists, that tells you something.


The Rockets are pissed, and they will come out swinging tonight.

 

Are you kidding me... What a freakin' way to lose a game. I have to believe Rudy didn't design it like that, but as I've said before, I was praying Cat's shot had a chance.

DO NOT give the ball to someone who wasn't as hot as Yao or Franchise. I about had a heart attack when I saw Cat with the ball.

Let's just hope they keep the game inside out as last night showed what Yao can do.

 

Ah, we now get the true reason RRU is upset...he spent too many bones on Rox tix! You do understand that even if we DO manage to make the playoffs (which is still at least a 50:50 proposition), it's almost guaranteed that we'll be out quickly in the 1st round. Even though this is frustrating, I tend to maintain a good attitude based on what I think this team will look like in 2 years...

 

I don't think this loss was like the last one (to the Cavs). That loss sucked because the team didn't bring their focus to the game and didn't play well. This game, they were focused and played well and lost anyway. They made some mistakes, which will happen, but they were beaten by a good team (and their refs).

Speaking of the refs, I was annoyed when they wouldn't call the obvious fouls on Yao when he took it inside in the last 2 minutes. But, I told myself, it looks like the refs are going to swallow their whistles and let the players play. As Utah goes down the court, they call Francis for a ticky-tack foul for the 3-point play. You can call those ticky-tack fouls, but the refs need to be consistent; if you're calling a bump like that, you have to call the mugging that Yao got.

 

You have got to be kidding blaming this thing on the refs. Yao already gets superstar treatment and he's been in the league, what, 50 games? Yao missed those two free throws at the end of the first half because he believes in karma and he knew he was the beneficiary of some weakass calls on Amaeche (i.e. instead of calling a blocking foul on Yao when he was in the circle—calling a double foul instead, and then calling another foul on Amaeche when Yao was clearly on his back). Also Stevie believes in halfassed karma because his missed second free throw came on a phantom call on Osterfat.

And what about the two "missed layups" near the end of regulation by Malone and Kirilenko? No contact by the Rockets on those, right? … NOT! If y'all want to see some home cooking wait until you see the calls the Jazz get tonight. Deal with it.

 

why didnt we sub for Mobley??? *wheres Hawk?*

First let me start off with, I am a Mobley fan, but I understand when your hot your hot, and when your not....

0-7 in the first half
Did not get on the board until 3rd QTR.
played 45 minutes and had 5 pts w/2-13 FG%15.4.

I understand that he is our star starting guard, but when someone is playing like this why not try something different.
Hawkins? Moochie?

 

As Bob Barker would say:



"It's time for the Showcase Showdown!"