ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 1/17/2003

I lost any respect for shaq (the little i had) when i heard that comment.. since when does the amount of money determine how good they are at reffing.. i mean sure i agree refs can be bad a fair bit of the time, but just because shaqs got an overbloated salary doesnt mean he can belittle ref's like that..

 

I don't live in Houston so I don't get to see the Rox play that much, but MAN!!!! This game was one of the best I've seen in a long time. I too taped it and will watch it over and over and over! Stevie Franchise was taking it to Kobe tonight like I've never seen him and the rest of the team did their job too. Great win for the Rox!!!

BEAT LA! BEAT LA!

 

Well out of a timeout the play that allowed the Rockets to even go into overtime was drawn up by Rudy. He did have Yao shooting over Shaq several times, and Yao was missing them. Like a good coach, Rudy then went away from that play. No point in continuing to bang your head into the same wall. Rudy also was better on his substitutions tonight, with Moochie just getting limited playing time.

Also Rudy really showed his brilliance in the overtime. At first he was fouling Shaq everytime, then once the Lakers expected that, Rudy switched up and had them fronting Shaq on those inbound plays, which resulted in Cato knocking the ball away, and somone else doing it again as well.

Our overall defensive scheme against the Lakers was superior. It was drawn up by Rudy and executed to near perfection.

While fans are noticing good or bad defense in games now, they don't notice the defensive plan drawn up by the coaches. This time it was beautiful and I think Rudy flat out outcoached Phil. Notice that a crucial moment in the game, Rudy wasn't hit with 'T'.

I think the Rockets and Rudy all did a great job.

 

I don't think that the Lakers lose because of that flagrant foul call near the end of the game. If you look at the whole game the Lakers got a lot of calls in their favorite ( for example, Shaq put back dunk when the ball is still in the cylinder and no offensive goal tending call, out of bound against the Lakers near the end of regulation but the refs gave the ball to the Lakers, Bryant go to the free throw line when replay show that Mobley didn't foul him,etc.). Over the year the Lakers got away with numerous offensive fouls that they can call on Shaq. So instead of blaming the referees on the loss, they should have look at the game where the Rockets outshoot them from the three (10/15 vs. 5/23), out rebound them (50 to 43), make 90% of their free throw(28/31), out block them (9 vs. 4). They should look at Bryant 's poor shooting game (5/21) and his inabilities to contain Francis on the defensive end. Being the World champion the Lakers should learn to lose more gracefully and give credit where it is due. The Rockets didn't play a smart game either but the individual effort of Francis carried them to victory. Just imagine in another year or two when Yao and Griffin get stronger and better, the Lakers with Bryant and Shaq will not be a match for Yao, Griffin, Francis and Mobley.

 

Well, what I don't understand is if Yao is being single covered by Shaq, why doesnt Rudy get Yao in the low post with that move across the paint and baby hook. That play is unstoppable.

Yao settles for way too many fadeaways which he is having a hard time connecting.

Also, at some point Rudy will have to draw another last second 3 second play. Seriously, how many times have we used that and been succesful - Do people even watch tape?

Im was ecstatic that Rudy did not play Moochie as much as he usually does.

 

well said basketball.


I also agree, I think Yao should use the hook more.

The team has a lot of potential, just got to clean up the rough edges.

 

Er, every body knows that Kobe Bryant is going to have the ball at crunch time. Do you blame Phil Jackson?

 

a nickname for the ages: Yao "ButtaBing" Ming! or something like that...

 

Incredible Game - Top 10 all time for me. To see Yao reject Shaq and the whole team help Yao fend off the big hippo, great team effort. Franchise was incredible. People love to hate on Steve for making bad decisions, not passing, etc. Francis showed that he is a PG on "The Pass" to Yao. In the past he would have taken the shot, instead he faked it and made an incredible play. It is just amazing to see how much this team has grown and they are really starting to gel.

Shaq blaming the ref at the end shows very poor sportsmanship. He deserved the flagrant, the refs let him get away with numerous offensive fouls the whole night. Besides, the refs jipped Houston at the end of the 4th when they said the Rockets knocked the ball out of bounds. It was clear that Shaq knocked it out. Quit crying you 30yr old baby.

My very few complaints - TO's. Francis had 7, but he had 11 assist. He did get in the air a couple of times with no where to go, but I think he showed amazing poise. He is maturing and showing that he can lead the team. Also I wish Rudy would have had Posey guarding Kobe, but Mobley did a pretty good job, 3 steals.

The Rockets have a 17-5 home record. They are tied with the LA Clippers for the most home games so far. With a 6-10 road record the real test for this team will be the next 10 games of which 6 are on the road starting Monday/Tuesday versus SA/Dallas. If Houston can get to around .500 on the road and own home court like they have been, Houston will make the playoffs. They are only 1/2 game behind Portland for 4th in the West. Houston is 23-15 already, they could eclipse their 28 wins from last season before the all-star break.

Schedule to the All-Star Break

JANUARY

Mon 20 at San Antonio 5:00 PM - ??? (only 1.5 behind SA for 3rd in West, big game)

Tue 21 at Dallas 8:30 PM - ??? (tough game, already played in Dallas once and lost.)

Fri 24 Detroit 8:30 PM - WIN (must take care of home court)

Sun 26 at Chicago 1:00 PM - WIN (tough game, decent team at home 13-7)

Mon 27 at Memphis 8:00 PM - WIN (must win versus a team that always gives Houston problems. 10-9 at home.)

Wed 29 Dallas ESPN 9:00 PM - WIN (huge showdown)

Fri 31 Minnesota 8:30 PM - WIN (take care of home court)

FEBRUARY

Sun 2 Sacramento 4:00 PM - WIN (already beat them at home once, must own the home court.)

Tue 4 at Minnesota 8:00 PM - ??? (tough home team)

Wed 5 at Cleveland 7:00 PM - WIN (must win 5-13 at home).


I think Houston can and should go 7-3. That would be 30-18 at the break, with a 15-5 streak in their last 20 games. I think that would place Houston in the top 4 in the West. They would have a lot of momentum/confidence going into the second half which they are going to need with 19 of the 34 games on the road. Hopefully then can start to beat the teams that they should beat (Chicago, Cleveland, Memphis) who they have been overlooking. I am very excited for this team.

Go Rockets!!!

 

Oh you're talking about the play that helped us go into overtime and win the game, right? Yup... pretty simple. Yup... 90% of the chatters in the chat guessed it would be called. And... yup... no one has come close defensing it yet. Steve's been wide open for that 3 at least in 4 occasions. He's nailed it at least 3 times. It's a great play and one we should go to until someone figures it out.

Go Rockets!

 

Damn Moses and Hakeem stylin'

 

It's the first time I saw Kobe hesitated. One time, he drived under under the board, found out Ming is there, very unhappy kick the ball outside. One time, He drived to the board, throw a airball . A player like Kobe hesitated when face Ming, who else not?

 

Actually we typically don't make those kinds of comments. Shaq gets good marks for respecting Yao, but bad Marks for what he said about people not making much money etc. Those comments should be judged harshly, and others given praise.

 

Yo Clutch, where's the recap??

 

FANTASTIC GAME!!!!!

 

Stevie Franchise was the story.

44 points, 11 assists and clutch late in the game. I'm starting to love this man more and more. With all the hype surrounding Yao, I believe Franchise is still the biggest key to the Houston Rockets' success. When he's dominating offensively and distributing like that, the Rockets are unstoppable. Big plays by Cuttino too. The three and the freebies. I hope this signals the arrival of Houston as one of the elite teams in the west.

But - a couple years ago, if you'll remember, the Rockets broke the losing streak to the Spurs at home. It was a huge win, and the Rockets were feeling really good about it. Then they lost six in a row. They need to keep up the level of intensity and play well throughout their Texas trip.

We can and will make the playoffs this year. The Rockets just have to believe in themselves and concentrate every game, whether they play the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Sacramento Kings.

 

Great.

It used to be that Rudy would catch heat if the ball went to the obvious player and the shot was missed...'everyone knew where it was going!', or if it went to the non-obvious player and it was missed...ride your franchise player!...

NOW he catches heat EVEN WHEN WE MAKE THE SHOT AND WIN!

Pardon me, BUT THAT"S F***ING RIDICULOUS.

I said it elsewhere, but we've got the youngest team and now we're 8 out of 10, incl wins against Minn, Orlando, Phoenix, Bsoton, and the Lakers.

The ignorance is staggering.

 

Terrible officiating. Kobe receives too many calls!

 

Yup. We almost lost the game because the ref gave the ball to Lakers near the end of regulation time mistakenly. Maybe that's why they gave a flagrant to Shaq on Franchise's drive in OT.

 

Yeah Rudy's only major problem is how he runs substitutions. But, I guess he knows what hes doing. The real problem is with the guys just being young and very immature a lot of the time. They don't know how to be role players. Case in point, MoTaylor-- HE did better than usual, but everytime he gets the ball he feels like he has to shoot, like when he took that awful shot in OT. Posey did some dumb things tonight too, but he doesn't usually so I think he was just overhyped for the big game. They just need to learn to screen away from the ball and then swing and reverse the ball a lot more as well, thats how we got Sam and Horry so many open CLUTCH 3 pointers back in the day. Still a freaking AWESOME GAME by everybody!