ClutchFans Game Thread: Grizzlies @ Rockets 11/9/2004

I desperately hope you are right, because it looks to be a huge problem for the future otherwise.

He has never been that great in this area, but he has clearly taken a step backwards this year so far. The only other reason I can think of for him getting worse is that the team is a much better passing team than it has been (tonight's 24 turnovers notwithstanding). That means that Yao is on the receiving end of more bullet passes, no look passes, and passes that catch him in stride. Maybe he could never catch the ball and move his feet at the same time... we just didn't know it because Steve and Cuttino didn't know how to pass to someone who was moving.

 

good win. The bench players really stepped it up late to secure the win.

Hope TMAC gets well soon.

 

yeah catch that!!

 

HOUSTON (AP) -- Juwan Howard scored 20 points, Yao Ming added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets kept Memphis winless this season, beating the Grizzlies 90-87 on Tuesday night despite losing Tracy McGrady to a hip injury.

Playing only his second home game in Houston, McGrady left midway through the third quarter with a right hip strain and didn't return. He finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

The star guard limped out of the arena after the game and said he wasn't sure if he would be able to play Thursday against Minnesota.

The Rockets have won three straight since losing their first two games of the season in Detroit and Toronto. They've beaten the Grizzlies twice during that streak, sandwiching those wins around a victory over Sacramento on Saturday.

Howard, one of the forgotten players in the summer trade with Orlando that fetched McGrady, picked up the scoring slack in his teammate's absence.

The Rockets' newest sixth man shot 7-of-12 from the field and made all six free throws, providing a timely boost on a night when Houston's preferred 1-2 scoring punch of Yao and McGrady was nowhere near peak efficiency.

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Houston also managed to overcome some extremely sloppy ballhandling, committing 24 turnovers that led to 26 points for Memphis.

The Grizzlies were hurt by the absence of forward James Posey, a former Rocket, who missed the game with a sprained left foot. Shane Battier took his spot in the lineup, going 2-of-4 for six points.

Stromile Swift led the Grizzlies with 18 points, Pau Gasol added 15 and Bonzi Wells had 13.

Memphis continued its struggles on offense, making only 41 percent of its shots -- just slightly better than its average of 38.4 coming into the game.

Swift broke the Grizzlies' five-minute shooting slump in the fourth, converting a three-point play with 2:08 left to draw Memphis to 87-83.

But with the Rockets leading 89-86 with 3.9 seconds left, Gasol actually hurt the Grizzlies' chances by unintentionally banking in the second of two free throws.

Memphis coach Hubie Brown cursed, and Gasol shrugged his shoulders.

Notes

None of Houston's opponents this season have come into a game with a win. ... The Rockets have won 16 of 19 at home against Memphis. ... A portly male fan who began removing his clothes while on camera was escorted out of the arena during a timeout in the third quarter. Ushers arrived just as the man began taking off his pants.


Updated on Tuesday, Nov 9, 2004 11:53 pm

 

Playing only his second home game in Houston, McGrady left midway through the third quarter with a right hip strain and didn't return. He finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

The star guard limped out of the arena after the game and said he wasn't sure if he would be able to play Thursday against Minnesota.
oh oh

 

Jason Williams got outscored by Charlie Ward. I think the Grizzlies have problems.

 

The star guard limped out of the arena after the game and said he wasn't sure if he would be able to play Thursday against Minnesota.
oh oh [/B][/QUOTE]

oh oh indeed...lets hope its not too serious.

 

and i have tickets to the wolves game

 

me too

 

I think this AP writer got duped. I have seen that "skit" twice this season already.

 

was that yao's new arm?

 

Yao did fight hard for position. A lot of people confuse scoring points for aggressiveness: If Yao scores big, he's aggressive; otherwise, he's not -- not always the case folks.

It does seem to me that he's too worried about getting called for 3 seconds -- just when he seems like he might establish his position, he's on the move again...

No complaints though about the refereeing - the grass is always greener...the Memphis commentators were ripping the refs about phantom calls going against them as well.

 

Yao's arms look very rippled.

Gotta give props to Folsan's conditioning

 

:lol

Anyone catch the chipendale at the game? Man, that was going to get real ugly real fast. Good work, TC Ushing staff. Although, as soon as I saw him reach for the belt, I knew this wasn't going to end well. Boo camera crew and video screen operator for leaving him up on the screen even while taking off his belt and reaching to undo the pants, then panning up when the ushers and officers were escorting the man out of the arena.

 

where is jediknight the jungle boy??? Once we won the game, he disappeared in thin air agian!!!!!

 

My thought was that he was a plant, just like the "Memphis" fan who got the pie in the face.

BTW, was this the most awfully officiated (for both teams) game this season or what?

 

Something positive, we were 1-7 against Kings and Grizzs last year, we are now 3-0.

Of course both teams off a bad start this year.

 

didnt get to watch the game... can anyone please tell me how was the rockets did against the mephis' fronting of yao mingtoday??? Any signs of improvement compare to the last memphis' game??? Thanks

 

the first three games for kings were
Mavs, spurs and rox
no surprise for them to be 0-3

the first four games for Grizzs were
Mavs, Wizards,Rox, Rox
still no big surprise for them to be 0-4
they only could have won wizards

I am very happy for ROX!!

 

hope TMAC will play this thurday