ClutchFans Game Thread: Cavaliers @ Rockets 2/25/2004

Great game tonight. Yes, Yao's shooting touch was a little off, but he did get it all back in the 4th Qtr. I think part of the problem was due to fatigue. I mean, the guy played 3 OT on Sunday, and then duked it out with the league's hottest team yesterday night. On any regular night, he would've schooled Ilgauskas.

Mobes was simply spetacular along with JJ's 3-pointers and Spoon's inside contribution. What I found disturbing, and some of you guys have already pointed this out, was Francis' lack of energy. Being the highest paid guy on the team, he's gotta do a lot more. And the problem is, it isn't just tonight's game. He's been off for several games now. Anyone thinks he's taking this whole "Yao's team" thing a little too personally?

Honestly, if the Rox are going to go deep in the playoffs or even just trying to make it into the playoffs, Francis has got to stand up and play his role. He's a leader, and although the ball no longer goes through him first, he's got to find ways to contribute to the team as a whole. Play tougher defense. Make smarter passes (by the way, when you're playing pick n' roll with Yao and the 7'6 center is rolling towards the basket with no one in front of him, DISH HIM THE BALL!!) and stop dribbling so damn much!

One last thing, I really liked how Cato stood up to defend Yao whenever Ilgauskas shoved him in the stomach. In any team that revolves around a center, you need a guy like Cato that would sacrifice himself to protect the big guy. Remember Oakly and Ewing of the Knicks? Although he ended up getting a T, what he did really showed his devotion and loyalty toward the big man. Props to you, Cato!

 

re: Yao vs. Z

c'mon guys, simmer down. Yao inadvertently whacked Z in the face, and Z instinctively put his arm up and gave Yao a *very mild* shove back. It was a "get off me" shove, not a "let's fight" shove. You guys are making it out to be Ali-Foreman. It was nothing.

 

How in the world was Steve's beautiful block on LeBron called a foul? I just don't see any foul.

 

I think Steve just needs to get his jumpshot back. Keep on practicing in the gym. He made his first jumpshot tonight, and I was thinking maybe the practice worked. He then managed to brick a whole bunch afterwards. There's possibly something technically wrong with his release. I'm no expert. That's why Calvin should advise Steve.

 

That was a tough call, I'd let refs slide on that one.

 

Hats off to Cat. Spoon was spoon. Actually SF3 had a good game except his shooting%. Yao was fine in the 2nd half. Everybody forgot that Pike provided a sparkle in his limited mins tonight. Did you all see his alleyoop?

 

the problem with Steve to me is that he seems to have lost his confidence. He's constantly pump-faking and then passing up shots. All the talk about his low FG% seems to be getting to him. He needs to get his mojo back.

 

That's heresy!!! How dare Steve get near the King, let alone block him.

 

I like how Pike is using his minutes. He hasn't missed a shot in 3 games in the few minutes he's gotten. He's slowly coming back into the rotation.

 

I'm not sure I'd like to see Yao transformed into a b****y, whiny type guy. His been called alot of things, but not whiny and b****y. I think time will make refs respect him.

 

I'm glad they proved me wrong and we won but it was like watching a slow horror show all night long.
I wasn't very worried when Yao went down because it didn't look serious but I'm glad he played though it. However his old problems persist. He was timid against Z and when he was fronted he struggled. He has got to use his footwork against bigger players so he can go around them and score because he can't bang and shoot over the top all the time.
Francis did set Yao up and also JJ and Mo but everyone was missing their shots.
Fortunately M.Jackson passed well in the 2nd quarter and kept us going or we would have be in real trouble at half time.
Mobley was the only consistant player tonight and I was impressed by his defense against James.
Mo is in a scoring slump and JJ has been unable to put points on the board and that's a very bad sign.
We aren't executing on offense but a combination of improved defense and poor play from the Cavs helped us get by tonight.

 

Fatigue got to Yao tonight, he was able to get alot of touches but misses a lot of shots. If he does it on Friday, then you'd have a point.

 

totally. you just dont regress like that, barring severe injury. it seems to be completely mental. he loses his dribble constantly now, and i dont recall him doing that before. he did that several times tonight.

it just seems like he's forcing everything. it's weird and very frustrating.

 

1st, do you think you are the only one who watched the game? anyone who has different opinions from yours is subjective?

2nd, "He thought it was on purpose." quoted from your post. i asked one more time. did he tell you his thought or this is just your guess? if just a your guess, then that is not called objective.

3rd, "he was not hit on his face. he just acted so let the ref think he got a hit on his face." this is an example i showed you that anyone can make a guess. that is my way to prove how your guess looks so unlogical. this is not my opinion on that incident.

i dunno what he was thinking. but the action he did should get a T. the replay shows yao lost his balance because z's foul. if his arm hit him, it was not on purpose. clearly?

 

i agree. the replay does not show any foul.

 

AggNRox,

I said it wasn't on purpose...go back and read my post.

Geeesh!

 

I said this about a month ago but Steve needs to go back to wearing headbands (like his 1st couple of seasons when he was extremely confident). Since it's 99% mental with him, it may just snap him out of his season-long slump.

 

Refs won't respect him until he elbows hacker like big Z.

 

The refs tonight were terrible on both ends. Many times Cat was held by the jersey by Wagner and the Rockets got away a few hacks too.

 

Yao shoots over Z with pride!