ClutchFans Game Thread: Blazers @ Rockets 12/9/2003

TWO? Wasn't even close!

 

.500 FT ....

 

GOD! He missed two....
I will shoot him if its not a win

 

All the mistakes Steve made in the second half are erased...dude is ******* CLUTCH!

As for Yao and those final two free throws...I'm gonna pretend it was his strategy to miss the second one that bad as to take a few ticks off the clock!

Ugly win, but I'll take it!

 

Yao almost kill us

 

props to houston. they played better for the majority of the game. as for the blazers, you cant beat a team like houston if if you only shoot at a 40% clip from the field. ithought yao in the last couple of minutes stepped up when the blazers were steam rolling ahead..... anyhow the only positive i'll take is the last quarter where the blazers actually decided to turnup and play.

 

I am actually more concerned on how this is gonna affect his psychology.... although he did a good job by scoring straight 4 points and tied up the game at the end, he seems to have very poor performance on last minute FTs.... reminds me of Chris Webber....

 

Thanks Yao for turning around the game in the last couple of minutes. Thank Steve finally hit one shot at the end to give us the lead. Thanks God Yao's final two FT did not cost us the game.

 

Yao saved us and almost killed us !?

 

Don't worry about it. Did you see Yao showing how pissed he was after the final buzzer? He'll work on it and look forward to the next opportunity to take pressure shots, freethrows or otherwise.

 

Yao needs to practise his FTs! What happened to him? Last year, he would be the rocket player I choose to shoot clutch FTs. This year, he has missed several so far.

 

We are back on top of the Division tonight. What a great feeling in December!

 

Caught the game on Directv. It was good that they won, but I'm forced to agree with the Blazers announcers. The Rockets mistakes and turnovers were what kept the Blazers within striking distance and allowed the game to get so close at the end. In time that's what will eventually prove to be their undoing as they fight for a playoff berth.

 

YAO!!

Talking about lack of mental toughness...Thank god we win, otherwise the boy is going to get bombed here.

To lose a 10+ lead with 6 minutes left in the game is simply inexplicable. Until we learn how to close out games we'll never be an elite team.

 

Isn't it strange that both Yao and Francis were .500 FT after they practised that yesterday.

 

Exactly. Yao was not a bad FT shooter. But he has lost several.
It is already a problem of psychology.
I have to think he is young and lack of confidence and experience.......... He will overcome this ..nightmare

 

So exciting!!
But now I must go to school to have a lesson.
When you sleep I will come back~~~haha

 

The Rockets looked good through 3 quarters until their 4th quarter collapse. Learning to play the 4th quarter the right way may be the toughest thing this team will have to go through so far, because it is so crucial to play without unforced turnovers, and to play with composure at the free throw line and when running plays in the half court. Yao saved us and almost cost us tonight but he did a great job in the final 2 minutes not only tieing it up but also playing good D on Randolph. Francis was money with the last shot but the guy that gets my player of the game is Mobley. He absolutely carried us early on in the 4th with I believe 10 straight points and kept it close til the bitter end. I didn't like the lack of composure from Francis in the 4th with running plays that he did such a good job of getting everyone involved with in the first 3 quarters. Yao didn't seal his defender well, the inbound passer didn't do a good job of helping him get the ball in a comfortable position, and Yao's butterfingers emerged til the end of the game. All things that can be worked on and should be fixed by the team the seasons over with though. In the meantime I'll take this win and am glad we executed so well in the final 2 minues, but wish we could of executed like that for the whole 4 quarter. Good win for the Rockets!

 

Piatkowski said it best after the game:

The great thing about this team is that they're winning, and they KNOW they can play much better.

The last two games, they've put it together big-time in the first 3 quarters.

Two things left to accomplish this season:
1.) Learn how to keep composure on the road.
2.) Learn how to CLOSE OUT TEAMS.

 

Yao needs to play with conviction. Instead of soft layups, go and jam on your defender. Slam in his face! demoralize him!

As for FT, he needs to concentrate more.