ClutchCity.net Game Thread: Wizards @ Rockets 11/22/2002

They are about to talk about Yao on the Best Damn Sports Show...

Edit: This is a replay, sorry...

This is the one that John Salley "tries" to say something bad about
Yao...

EST

 

I went, my first nba game. It was great, the funniest part was when some jordan fan knocked clutch-on-stilts down and got "escorted" out of the arena.

 

I was there.

 

Then it will be the first one in the NBA,wont it?

 

If only my memory did not betray me. Yao's four blocks are on:
Haywood, Christian L, Stack, Tyron Lue.
He also altered some shots even Jordan's.

 

I didn't catch most of the game - who laid the 4-15 pasting on MJ?

 

They played a zone, Jordan was guarding steve 1on1 though.

 

Does anyone have any video of clutch getting knocked down? If so I'd like to see it again.

 

hey, im studying in shanghai now, i read a lot of reports about how marketing people think they can sell yao jerseys and all that here. NOT, i cant find them anywhere, not in local stores, sportstores, not even nike stores. nothing. Ever since jordan and bird the US has been marketing the players more than the team, i have only so far seen team jerseys with no names or number on them (i actually did buy a rockets ball). So when they say that they think they can sell 100,000,000 yao jerseys, thats not quite true because that market hasnt even opened up.
regardless though, i found a person that can get me shanghai sharks, yao ming jerseys from a private tailor. do you think if i bought a ton, i would be able to sell them in the states and make some good cash? (i know id wear it)

 

21 assists and only 9 TOs; 49% from the field with a 42% opponent FG%, shutting down JStack in the second half and Jordan all game, and 9 blocks! Balanced offensive attack, and a great game. I'm liking these Rockets more every day.

 

"He's for real," Jordan said. "Look at that 30 and 16 (against Dallas). Anytime you can make Charles Barkley kiss an ass, that's a good thing. I just couldn't tell which one was the ass. Was it a four-legged ass or a two-legged ass?"

LOL!!!

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1674445

 

I loved that game!

Wow. I took a very long nap, and missed watching the game live, but I taped it, and just finished watching it.

Here are my random musings...

-The 2-3 zone is awesome. If anyone has noticed, I've been begging for Rudy to employ a zone since last October. Our zone is obviously made more effective because we have Yao clogging things inside. The only drawback I saw to the zone, was that Rice/Morris would cheat too much from their corner spots of the zone, and we would give up a lot of wide open 3s from the corner. Also, our defensive rebounding was mediocre, which always happens in a zone. What we must need is for all 5 guys to crash the boards, as the shot is released. I like fast breaks as much as anyone, but rebounding is more vital than rcreating fastbreak chances.

-Juaquin Hawkins needs to start for us at 2-guard. This is in no way a bash to Mobley, but I feel like we don't necessarily need Mobley's scoring in the starting 5, if Ming continues to give us around 20 pts a game. Hawkins provides much needed size in the backcourt, and obviously gives us defense. If he can hit the open shots like he did tonight, then he is the ideal fit at SG for us. I would like to see Mobley come off the bench when Francis is resting, since we would need his scoring punch. I just feel like Francis and Mobley are too repetitive to be on the court together for 40 mins.

-When we get Cato back, we will be ready to make a run for 50-55 wins. Say what you want about him, but he is a pretty good backup center, and is a much better fit in the middle of the 2-3 zone, than Mo Taylor is.

 

Ha, they are playing the zone like you do on NBA 2K3, when u kicked my @$$ the other day.

As for the game, I did like the zone defense. Was very effective in the second half and I hope they stick with it for awhile. As for Cato, I want to see him play. Hell, he has DNP-CD for the second straight game. I know that Ming is playing great right now, but Cato is very effective on the boards which is something Taylor isnt at the moment. Also wondering what happen with Taylor and Ming playing together? Although, I did like seeing Griffin playing with Ming on the same corner and wing Taylor was perfecting the night before. Overall, great game, up until the Wizards tried to comeback.

I wondered where Oakley was? Would have been interesting with him on Ming.

 

lmao. i've been very impressed by Yao...i always thought he'd do good, but this is just amazing. Must faster developed than i thought.

 

Yao has come a long way really fast.
The Rockets only had 9 turnovers the whole game!!!!!
Not alot of wasted plays like usual tonight, Yao is maturing this team.

 

18 pts and 8 rebs off of a back to back game situation, very nice.

I look forward to many more games like this.

I just wish I could see the Rockets convert Ming's rebounds and blocks into points for our team. Ming makes a great play then the rest of the team fails to capitalize. It's almost like an insult to Ming. Sometimes I wonder if a couple of practices a week could be of the Chinese variety? Maybe the Rockets could practice Chinese free throw drills? Yao seems pretty consistent. I know he probably practiced A LOT!!

regardless.... a great effort, a great win and we improve our record!

another thing I noticed... yahoo has 5 players as DNP. I noticed that in chat no one complained once about how many folks were on our bench!! We were 5 players short and still kicked butt! If we ha 5 DNP's last year, we'd be in an uproar!

 

Yea I to would like to know why Cato isn't playing ?

I'd like to see The Twin Towers 2k3

 

excellent points. I really like Mobley off the bench as a scorer.

 

My observations of the game

First off, I was there in attendance and had a blast, you gotta go get in on the action if you haven't yet.

Now to the game.

1. Yao Ming is the real deal-I haven't gotten to see much of the Rockets in Austin, but he has the complete package. Great touch, moves, intelligence, and shot blocking ability. I think he may very well surpass Shaq as the best all around center in the NBA very soon. Not more dominant but better all around. I have not seen a big man with his shooting touch and passing ability this young in a long time. Whoever said he was a Bradley clone, the only thing they have in common in height. Shawn wishes he could have part of Yao's all around game. Houston, Yao is special, embrace him, nurture him, and you will reap the fruits of the labor.

2. Kenny Thomas is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team. First, off this is not a bashing of KT's game. However, tonight it was readily apparent the offense was flowing beautifully and the rockets could get any shot they liked. But every time KT came in and touched the ball, the motion completely stopped. I think he is a nice bench player, but for our needs trade him before his payday this summer, preferably for a nice backup guard(Tony Delk comes to mind). He just does not fit the direction this team is trying to go.

3. Joaquin Hawkins is a player. He may be a bit raw offensively, but I would not be surprised if he can develop a consistent outside shot, which he had working tonight, that he is a better fit than mobes at the 2 guard in the future. Cat is a fabulous player, and I am not bashing him, but a better bruce bowen would do this team a world of good, and Cuttino can be our Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson type spark plug off the bench.

4. Glen Rice is back and an asset to this team. Now you see why CD/RT traded for this guy, he basically is a much better version of Walt Williams who can also play with back to the basket. He will be a great small forward with the offense running through Yao.

5. Steve is growing by leaps and bounds. It may not show up in tonight's boxscore, but Francis did not force the issue, he got his, but in the flow of the motion offense. Steve also knows to look for the big fella and is not jealous whatsoever. He is quietly becoming a special player and maturing rapidly.

6. My Play of the game goes to Terrence Morris. That slam right before the half was off the hook. Pure butter. Welcome back T-Mo.

7. Rudy-T is a fabulous coach. This new offense is beautiful to watch, and its only the beginning. To think people questioned this guy as the Rockets head coach. He is the perfect man for this team, and I love the motion.

Bottom line: Houston something special is occurring before our eyes, get in gear and head out to the Labtop to support this team, they deserve it. You want fun, exciting basketball, no need to go to Dallas or Sacramento anymore, just head out to the Compaq Center to watch the Rockets. Trust me, it's worth every penny of it.

Peace.

 

ESPN PAGE2's sign today reads:

ESPN PAGE2
...where "Yao" is apparently Chinese for "Quick Learner".

Funny stuff.