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

I have a really bad feeling about this one. Yao will get crushed most likely but after this one, its all Yaos. He will do better the second time around. So don't worry guys, he'll be back with a vangence. My prediction for the game:

Yao:6 pts 5 RBS 6 Asts 6 fouls

Shaq:40 pts 17 RBS 3 Fouls



Rockets 98 Lakers 102

 

Unless Shaq hack a Yao, Yao will get his double digits on pts.

 

The Lakers are 5-14 on the road this season, with only one victory coming against a team over .500 (New Orleans). In addition, the Lakers have spent two nights in Houston coming off the game in N.O. on Wednesday night and you know that they have been frequenting Houston's finer establishments. Ming will step-up in the big game and Cato will be a big help slowing-down Shaq. Rockets 98, Lakers 88.

 

Cato will wear boots? Or just bring a hammer and flop a couple of times.

 

This game will be won on the defensive end. Although I want Yao to do well, I'm not worried about how he fares against Shaq one-on-one. We need to make sure we rotate well and get a hand up in the face of their shooters. The Lakers can knock down shots, especially the wide-open 3s. Let Kobe and Shaq get theirs, but let's not let Horry, Fisher, or Fox beat us. Rockets will be up for this one.
Rockets - 94
Fakers - 89

PS - Does anyone know if the game will be shown on channel 39 or 51 for those of non-ESPN households?

 

1, for anyone living in Vancouver, Canada, the game will be on Channel 54 (The Score)

2, I think Shaq will have better stats, but Yao will help Rox win the game on both end.

 

Lakers by 12.....

The sleeper has awakened.

DD

 

If the Rockets don't get caught up with all the hype and play team ball they can beat the Lakers. If Yao use all his basketball skills (include outside shooting, drive to the baskets, etc. ), I think he will give Shaq problem defending him. He should not play to Shaq strong point (which is power). But if he utlize his size, quickness, and good shooting touch then the match up will not be one sided like many predicted. On the other hand if Yao is determine to play inside game only then Shaq will probably dominate him. Hopefully, the Rockets players will look to set up Yao early for easy shots to get his confidence up. Prediction: Rockets by 7.

 

Rockets 99 : 94 Lakers

Yao fouls out with 10 pts, 6 rbs, 3 blks...

Shaq goes off for 35 and 12...

Steve will have a big game.

 

I'm going to go in a different direction and recommend Mobley be our offensive focus. Posey should pick Kobe off for open jumpers for Cat. Let Kobe get a few elbows from someone his own size. Cat must pick his spots, but he's been playing very well the last few games. In addition, I'd like Cat and Posey to continue bringing the ball up and set up quick to feed Steve or drop it down to Eggie or Yao. I'd decoy Yao and try to get Eggie going on Samake. I'd also call the clear-out and pull Yao out for jumpers at 15ft, or let him pass over the top to a cutting Poesy. I'd like to see a clear-out for Pose a couple of times. I'd like to see Cato drop the oop on Shaq's head. Shaq will foul him, out of frustration. Don't let a block or two frustrate the attack. Keep going at him. Eggie, Cato, Yao, Pose and Francis should attack the Shaq at least twice each. Let Kobe alone. He's going to get his, so just shadow him with Hawk or something. Don't waste to much time doubling him, the whistle is going to blow anyway - just seal off the middle and stay in front. Whack him on picks.

 

If Posey can keep Kobe under check we should be okay. Seems like Kobe always starts out 8-10 or 12-15 from the field against us. If that happens again this will be a very short game.

I also hope Yao doesn't play that many minutes tomorrow. Foul trouble or not, let Cato handle Shaq for quiet a while. Don't want Yao's confidence to completely shatter.

Francis better run circles around Fish boy.

 

Shaq is least of our worries. Kobe will be the real killer on the court. Last time Rox played, he scored 46 pts. Geez, I really hate it when that happens.

This time, it will be much tougher for him to go near the basket. But man, his treys ! I wish his worst luck tonight.

 

houston: 107
LA: 78


Yao: 21pts, 11rebs, 5blks, 5assists
Francis: 27pts, 7at,5rebs
cat:18pts

Shaq: 31pts 15rebs
Kobe: 24pts(9-24shooting)

 

Based on what I have observed from Rudy's coaching style, he is going to protect Ming if Shaq starts to abuse him. Offensively, rox probably wont dump the ball to Ming at low post much, maybe never. I believe Ming is going to do that high roll pick a lot, either he will shoot it from 18 foot away if shaq doesnt come out, or he will pass to steve of Mobely and cut to the hole.
Defensively, there will helper for Ming to defend Shaq, maybe even front team him using EG or posey. \
I still think this is anybody's game, even though Ming isnt favorable in the matchup. Rox need high 20's production from Cat and Francis, mid 10's from posey and low 10's from EG, Ming MoT+Norris. Then they also need to contain Kobe and Shaq limit them to 30pts. It's tough, everything need to go right from end to begining, but not hopeless.

 

The Rockets will have no such advantages vs Lakers except their the unified team effort and knowing that they are .450+ shooters. Prior to the Rockets/Suns matchup last night, many Rox fans claim that it shouldn't be too difficult to defeat the 24-15 Phoenix Suns, when taking into considerartion the Suns are on their second-half of back to back games, and especially when considering the fact that they were beat by the Spurs in overtime the previous night. Fans hoped the Rox would certainly take advantage of the Suns vulnerable state and "capitalize" on it. But I find something wrong in this idea, because when the Rox face a supposedly tired team, or if the Rockets themselves are well rested, OR if the Rockets face a sub-.500 performing team, amongst a variety of other "advantages" going into a game; the Rox either lose or almost lose it (usually not the latter). I hope Yao or any other Rox didn't plan on taking advantage of a "tired Stoudamire" or "tired Marbury" last night. Both Stoudamire and Marbury severely challenged the Rox. Both the Rox & Lax are getting a complete days rest, perhaps honing some technique that will be useful for tomorrow nights brawl of the basketball biggies.

The only thing that the Rox should take advantage of is THEIR OWN ABILITY to get the ball, move it, and shoot it. Even though the Rox rank 24th (out of 29) in the NBA's arsenal of offensive power, it's obviously made up for by the fact that they're the ranking 3rd in NBA defensive prowess. The Rox need a more dynamic and cutting offensive strategy that'll will compliment their ever-better defense (needs to step up for Kobe), and start widening the differential (and chance) in winning the games (OFFENSIVE STRATEGISTS AND TACTICIANS PLEASE POST YOUR IDEAS OR EMAIL SECRETLY TO THE ROX!!!!!)

It's said, and I tend to believe, that Yao Ming's a complete-package basketball player with the willingness and flexibility to learn and adapt to new situations. I'm hoping that it doesn't mean that the other Rox brains' are already vulcanized (i think BF Goodrich invented that word when he developed a tougher car tire) and are not as willing to learn as Yao is (YAO! YOU'RE NOT PLAYING THE XIAN XENOPHOBES!!!!! SLAM IT YOO FU!!!!!!). There's a strange phenomena that the Rockets exhibit in their performance stats: whenever Yao Ming is really hot, the other Rockets are really not. When Cat or Franchise get hot, Dynasty seem like he's not. I'm hoping in the near future, that the Rox can somehow pull together and peak these individual energies for simultaneous deployment on the battle-court to consistently beat opponents in a minimum of 5-6 game winning streaks (i don't mind settling for three 27 game winning streaks next time), and regularly finish their games with 3 guys in double-double figures, maybe a routine triple-double amongst them.

One beautiful development I've noticed of the Rox recently (and hoping they'll simply let it stick), is that they've been shooting well regardless if someone in the lineup shoots bad. Franchise recently remarked in a seemingly flustered tone: "if 1 guy shoots bad, we all shoot bad"; following a sewage defeat by the underachieving Hawks. It would appear that this disorder has become a non-issue, and proves that the Rockets' brains are not stiff blocks of vulcanized matter. I'd like to think that the Rox have already developed a level of team play as apparently exemplified in their last few games that seems to solidify their current 22-15 record. While it's still too early too tell, it'd be glorious for Yao Ming to achieve ROY, which isn't nearly as important to him as helping the Rockets win a Championship. ROY is glorious. MVP is glorious. But the Championship is MOST GLORIOUS. Every opponent the Rockets face is a worthy of facing the Rox...... the Rockets biggest advantage is knowing, and deploying their own abilities...... and the ability to overcome obstacles in the path that leads to glory.

 

Kobe can feed ball to shaq much better than Steve to Yao, and rest of the Lakers also feed ball to shaq every time they touches, rest of the Rockets do not. you know what will happen

 

Men.... so many pessimistic views around here

I hope this game is not the beginning of Rocket's 5 games losing streak.

 

Any little thing can set this game in the opposite direction.

But it's been my experience that our Rockets love the spotlight. Francis, Ming, Mobley and Griffin ALL wake up for ESPN, sellout games. MoT likes them, but he hasn't really shown any extra production in them like the other 4.

This is such a big game. Overtime baby:

Rockets 101
Lakers 100

Francis 33pts, 9reb, 9asst, 3TO's
Griffin 18pts, 12reb, 4blk

 

Oh, I want to add that Shaq and Kobe will combine for 65, but the rest of the team will only get 35 combined.