ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Rockets @ Hornets 12/6/2002

Magliore on Ming "Great player, tried to contest his shot, and relied on help defense. There are plenty of big men, but difference is, he is skilled."

Then Mag took home a 200$ check for player of game.

 

Totally agree with Jeff. Our shooting was off. Good shots didn't fall. In fact, Yao with his horrible (for him) % only took one bad looking shot. And we forced an overtime with defense and a great effort from KT. I'm bummed, but not disappointed in the team. I think we'll win tomorrow.

 

They sure could of used Griff for rebounding and D in the forth instead of a COLD rice who could not get any rebounds

 

Unfortunately, our perimeter shooting seem to be <i>off</i> more than it seems to be <i>on</i>. I don't know if the Rockets don't work on shooting enough or we just don't have coaches who can teach proper mechancis. But whatever it is, I don't think this team will ever be a legit contender until they can get some people who can shoot the ball.

Believe it or not, I think Mobley is the best outside shooter on our team.

 

Yao was not aggressive in this game. I did not see him dunk once, that might a bad sign for Rox. If he was as aggresive and
assertive as he did against Spurs, the Hornets would have run out of big men. He shots a lot , but most of them from outside.
Near the end of the game, he became a little physical and aggressive. He committed an offensive faul on one play and got
fauled on another play.
In the last two offensive sets, I still think Rox should either give the ball to Yao and let him operate or play pick-and-roll between him and Steve. But the coach chose to give the ball to KT, and that was basically the game.

 

You do realize that even good teams go .500 or below on the road for a season? The Rockets are now 4-6 on the road for the season. Considering 7 of those 10 games were against Sacramento, Seattle, the Lakers, Dallas, Portland, New Orleans and Indiana, all playoff bound teams and some of the best teams in the league this season, I don't see 4-6 as a problem.

I think we get so caught up in EVERY game that we forget the big picture. There are OTHER good teams in this league and beating them on their home floor isn't easy.

 

That is a good point. If we could get those defensive rebounds,
we would ...

 

Yao had his 2nd straight double-double, and the matchup zone the Rockets showed in the 4th/some OT was suffocating. We couldn't buy a shot and played one of the best teams in the East that has been playing great ball at home.

1st half Kenny Thomas was wonderful. 8-10 shooting, more decisive, less jab jab staredown. It was interesting that he started the game as 3rd string PF and came in playing well. 2nd half KT was the same old KT. 4-12 shooting in the 2nd half/OT, jab jab staredown.

This is the type of game that I think the Rockets will win in the 2nd half of the year.

I'm REALLY curious to see Mobley fitting into this offense. He could force more individualism, and be a terrible fit, or he could be the auxiliary threat that launches a struggling offensive team with dangerous parts into an absolutely devastating team on offense, to go with our newfound commitment to defense.

We'll see.

 

DC: True what you said, but tonight a great many of the misses were down low or mid-range. Shots we almost always make. They just weren't falling tonight. I just checked the box and we had 19 more shots than them and shot 39%. That tells the story. Great defense, no offense. And they got good shots, just couldn't make them. Momma always said there'd be days like this.

 

ESPN box has Mo at only 5 minutes, but with 5 rebounds. Does that seem right? I know he got the rebounds, but it seemed like he played more like ten minutes. If it is right though, he had a board a minute. And shot 0-5. Kind of damns expectations, doesn't it?

 

One thing I thought was really interesting was the fact that the Rockets went to a zone on the last shot in the 4th. Anyone else notice how that seemed to throw off the Hornets? Mashburn really didn't get off a good shot at all and they all looked really confused. Nice switch at the end.

 

I think that we didn't execute our offense well tonight.

Yao was pushed too far out by Charlotte (oh, excuse me, New Orleans) big men. He became a jump shooter, and that's the last thing you want your 7'5" center to do.

Steve still can't find the basket. He's been in this slump for a while now. I wonder when he will come out of it.

KT played good and was the only player on the Rox who can make a shot, However, he still can't pass

Still, the game was close. We didn't get the few bounces in the OT and that's the reason why we lost. This team can play much better if we execute our offense.

 

Steve is slumping because his role has changed and he has not gotten comfortable with his new SECONDARY role.

I think once he gets used to Yao having the ball in his hands as often as Steve does, he will be alright.

DaDakota

 

I am not too disappointed in Rockets tonight, despite the loss. Ming and Steve's shooting are both off tonight Ming took a lot of parimeter shots. Don't know why. Also I notice that he fades so far away from the defender and he almost lost his balance several time. Why did he just jump straight up and shoot? There is no one can block him anyway. He was not as aggressive as the night against Spurs. Must be because he didn't feel a challenge tonight?

He had 3 blocks though.

 

Have to agree. I guess this comment validates Kenny Smith's comment saying that Yao Ming is the Rockets' best player

 

I don't know about that. He took 29 shots tonight!! I wonder when he will start to learn that he's 6' 2" and have to work extra hard for his shots. Tigers don't change their stripes.
Steve will always be a good shooter but I don't think he is a capable good passer. Hope he's going to prove us wrong soon!

 

First off, I think Stevie Franchise needs to go back to "protect the ball" 101. His turnover to assist ratio has been absolutely horrific these past few games. Same goes for Moochie. I can live with the poor shooting, but the turnovers??? that's controllable, IMO.

I'm still torn on who's best for the 4 spot. Today you got to see MoTaylor in poor form in the opening minutes. I don't know who's the best fit for this position. Fact is, NO was bumping Yao off the blocks and he NEEDS another big body to help create space, IMHO.

RudyT going to the hot hand KT is sound enough strategy, but why is KT making such awful decisions? During clutch time, don't u give the ball to your "franchise" players who can manufacture points? Sheeeesh

PHX should've been a win
CLIP should've been a win
NO should've been a win

-frustrated

 

What was the purpose of Glen Rice tonight? Peronally, I think this was one of those games when KT could have played along with griffin. KT on Mashburn and Griffin on Brown would have been a good matchup. Glen Rice couldn't hold Mashburn in a 3 by 3 box tonight or any other night. Rice had that good 2 game stretch, but has really sucked since then.

 

This is the kind of game you just have to move on from. The Rockets executed pretty well, didn't take too many bad shots, passed fairly nicely, defended well, they just couldn't buy a basket at all -- even layups were clanking right off. And Yao Ming had his worst shooting game as a Rocket. The Hornets played good defense and rebounded very well. They protected their home court, and we took them farther than any other team has this season.

This is not like the Portland game or the Clipper game where we just flat out sucked. We played pretty well, just not well enough to win. I hope the team is not tired tomorrow versus the sixers. We've got the Kings after that and it'd be nice to go into that game with a good win in the previous game.

 

Steve shot pretty bad tonight. His jumper seems to have been off for a little while now. And you know you're having a bad point guard game when Kenny Thomas has more assists than you do. Yao seemed a little un-agressive today as well. He missed a lot of shots he usually makes. Still I'm not too crushed by today's loss, the hornet do have a good jump shooting team and had some good tough D on Yao tonight. I know he'll remember it when they come to Houston ,