ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Mavericks @ Rockets 1/29/2003

Never overestimate the heart of a loser.

 

Larry Bird Jr. torched the Rockets.

 

But seriously, Im the biggest ROckets fan in the world. But did you really think they had a chance against the Mavs?

 

I must concur austinrocket, the Mavs are the better team, and its not even close.

Ordinarily, the Rocks would win 2 positions (PG & C), possibly a 3rd (SG), and have the stronger bench. But against the Mavs, the Rocks don't have a clear advantage (C, maybe) at any position, and in fact lose at both Fs (especially when they go big with Raef at PF & Dirk at SF) and SG. Their benches are a wash (maybe a slight advantage to the Rocks, better big men).

The truth hurts sometimes.

 

I feel all the anger and disappointment in here, and I am frustrated as well. Best first half I've seen in awhile. Francis played great. Posey was awesome. Mo'Ball-ley was himself, but limited his bonehead mistakes. One thing I'd like to point out(as I have in another thread) is that we all know what Yao can do in a man to man situation. When he is double teamed, he is a great passer. He would have had at least two more assists. Francis and Posey missed point blank layups, and Nowitzki kick one of Yao's passes (no Kick ball call of course). My point is that when we worked the post up game with Hakeem, we always had a three point threat. I know Francis has high three point % and we have decent shooters in this team , but i don't think kicking the ball back behind the arch is an option anymore with this team. I'm not saying that we should have tried to match their three's, but once Yao was doubled, and the Mavs were guarding the inside well, we should have some three's to fall. It seems to me that the Rockets have a hard time adjusting. First guards jack up shots, and obviously before the game someone said 'let's get yao involved' which they did to perfection. Come second half and the Mavs change things up and we just fell apart!! That was frustrating. yeah, they hit their threes, but 20 some points in the entire second half...that's ridiculous. i'd like to see the Rockets come out strong against a very good Wolves, and learn to adjust and adapt.

 

Not just once, Mobley did this a few times! He and Francis are mind-bogglingly dumb. So Yao shows he's human in the second half by missing a couple and you stop going to him after he completely dominated the first?? Yeah, I guess it's better to drive recklessly into the teeth of the D and pray the ref bails you out. Actually, there were even some plays in the first half where Yao had great position and was brushed off by the Cat/Franchise duo. People, Yao is a special player who could have had 30 in the first half of yesterday's game, even as unselfish as he is. It seems quite obvious that Mobley and Franchise are unwilling to make this team about anything but themselves. The problem is their mindsets and attitudes, which is very difficult to change. One or both have to go for the Rox to reach their potential.

 

I only watched the 2nd half and it seems to me Yao was
not very effective. He needs more strength.


Some quotes from a Dallas bbs:
<i>
Bradley cannot defense Yao? Did you watch the game dude? Yao left the game with a sore anus from all the abuse he took from Shawn in the second half. As a matter of fact, Shawn must be feeling like Brigam Young, because last night, he made wives out of the entire Rockets team. Yao was completely shut down by Shawn. He looked like a girl out there. With the exception of one hook shot in the first half, all his points came from his teammates finding him open within inches of the basket. Whenever he tried to make a play on his own, he was made to look like a fool.

I watched the game on ESPN, and Walton kept yelling at the Rockets "Take it inside". Well they did. And got embarassed repreatedly by the most intimidating defensive presence in the NBA.


In the first half, Yao made exactly one play on his own. He made exactly one shot from beyond two inches. Most of his points actually came as the result of Neslon trying to match Dirk up against him. Now, I might agree with you that DIRK is a bad matchup for Yao, but Dirk is a bad matchup for just about everyone. Besides, the majority of Yao's shots against Shawn came as the results of Rockets guards breaking down the Mavericks interior defense and finding Yao wide open under the basket. It's not as if they were feeding into Yao and letting him work on Bradley. When they did that, Shawn embarassed Yao repeatedly. There is a reason why Raef, who dominated Yao last week, sat the bench the entire second half. It's because Shawn was dominating him even more. I'm not saying Yao doesn't have the ability to improve and become a better player... but based on last nights game against Shawn and last weeks game against Raef, I know which team's center situation I'd prefer to have. Give me a combo of Raef and Shawn over Yao any day. They are simply much better right now, as evidenced by the last two horrible beatings they've put on Yao and the Rockets. To me, Yao is more hype than substance, more potential than ability. Last night, I saw what could be the league's best center combination go to town on an inexperienced rookie.
</i>

 

Mavs were getting wide open looks and knocking everything down. We dont have any consistant shooters on this team. We miss more open shots than I can count. You may say Yao and or Cato, but I dont count dunks. Can anyone knock down the open j?

Also the rockets came out lazy in the second half...they thought they had the game wrapped up. The mavs made them pay...they got frustrated and gave up. If I was Rudy I would not let them forget. We need to play every minute as if it is the playoffs.

We were outplayed, outcoached, and outhustled. Just flat out got our asses handed to us. It was disgusting...and if it keeps up we will be outoftheplayoffs. I guess you could say im on the outs with this squad.

 

I am sick and tired of Rudy keep using Yao on the high post. I am sick and tired of our horrible perimeter defense. Why don't they play zone defense and have Yao in the middle and the rest guard the perimeter? We all know Dallas is a perimeter team and the only low post player they have is Dirk who isnt a good post player anyway. Rudy T really sucked.

 

Man those quotes were painful to read but they probably only hurt because they're true.

That said, there aren't many big men who can create their own shots out of whole cloth. It still takes a lot of skill and ability to do what Yao did even though he was inches from the basket. That's why you don't see 90% of the centers out there doing what he did in the first half. Yao's best when he gets the ball in motion, especially with the defense in motion.

Sure when he's iso'd in the low post he's less effective, but why should he have to be in that position? Rudy's going to have to be a little more creative than giving Yao the ball and getting out of the way.

 

A-Train, where are you? Where are you? You are da bomb. The Rockets are not going to make the playoff.

 

Even with big men, Rudy just loves the Iso. We are one good PF away from being able to play run-and-gun like the Kings or Mavs, since we are a young team.

Rudy (or maybe a new coach) just has to apply motion offense. Who knows, we may already have a good PF already in Mo or EG and not even know it because of all the ballhogging our guards do.

Imagine Yao with the Kings when Divac retires. He'll definitely flourish there!

 

heck.. imagine he with any other team..

 

We already have a good Power Forward...his name is Kelvin Cato...I'd start him over Taylor or Griffin any day...

 

One PF short? I think this team needs a lot more to keep up with the Mavs or the Kings. We really don't have a good PG to run fast breaks. Our outside shooting is inconsistent and we don't move the ball around quick enough to get open looks.

With Yao, we have to go to half court game and slow things down whenever possible.

 

That Dallas fan is a moron first of all. Dallas is not going to get it ddone this year with its soft middle.
Ming played well until the mid of 3rd quarter. Raef sat because he was in foul throuble. Gave Bradlet credit though, Rox made mistake by taking on him relentlessly, it worked in the first half, not in the 2nd half. Ming sat out in the most of 4th period, and last part of 3rd. Ming had some poor play against Bradley, but he was defended by at least 3 Mavs, Bradley didnt stop him on 1v1 play.It has been consensus in NBA that put Ming and Brandley in one sentence in a insult to Ming, period.

 

First half comfortable tempo, chemistry, feed off of Yao, success. Second half, not our tempo, resulting bad chemistry, resulting in uptempo offense for dallas, no success.

I'm sorry, but Rudy is sick.

I sat and watched for 6-7 minutes straight Rudy stick his hand up his @$$ when he should have been calling a timeout, adjusting, and god forbid teaching. Does Rudy not notice little things like tempo, offensive gameplan, and defensive gameplan? You call a timeout before everything caves in, you adjust before everything caves in. Rudy does none of this.

Yao Ming and the whole Houston team was punked because they changed their offensive style starting the second half. They tried outshooting Dallas and that got them out of their comfort zone they had during the first half. What's more is that Rudy didn't even notice this? Half court offense trying to be high octane offense....

Rudy is clueless and regardless of what others say, it is Rudy's job to teach our players to pass. It is his job to adjust the game, to discern little things like slowing the momentum change. It is his job to call timeouts at the right time, to exaplain how to fix the problems. It's his job to turn our often used excuse of "youth" into "experience". No signs yet......

As our coach though, all he is good for are pathetic quotes. Our team will only be as good as our player's talent level without any understanding of the game.

It's Rudy's responsibility and job as the Houston Rockets' coach and he has no f@#king clue.

 

Speaking of which, whatever happened to the "motion offense" Rudy was going to be implementing...?

 

6-7 minutes? WOW!

You're right. I fully support the statements you made. This isn't a joke either, but I think you should lead a coalition to disarm Rudy T and remove him from power. I know NBA front office support would be nice, but I don't think it's mandatory.

RUDY, DISARM AND DISBAND, OR DLS WILL DO IT FOR YOU!

You obvoiusly know the game, and have a keen eye for basketball ineptitude when you see it. I'll support you!