I was amazed that this game Yao still can get 16pt and 7 stuffs. This is biggest step compared to last year. I think that last year it's most difficult games with Heat, remind me if I'm wrong. Although about 6pts are padding pts, 7 stuffs are totally different. So I would take him over divac, maybe like sabonis who is yao's hero?
With the way our shooters our scoring, if Yao gets double teamed, and therefore locked down, we should be fine especially with the game-to-game hot streak of Cat and/or Mobley. I didn't see the game, but I checked out the stats. For all the Yao fans, I think it's fair to say he had a great game. Like I said, I didn't see the game, but he made up for his lack of scoring by switching to a higher gear on defense and getting seven blocks. Seven blocks is a real difference maker. This was a 20 point blow out, but, still, it makes a big difference. Basically, if Yao isn't scoring because he's being efficiently double-teamed, then that means our shooters are open--and our shooters are looking better and better each game. If they try to cover our shooters, Yao gets to go one-on-one. If the Rockets transition in their offense smoothly and know how to work with one hole or the other being plugged, it should be a win-win score-score situation either way. ANd if Yao is getting double-teamed, and can't score a lot, then he can get back at them with defense. Blocks are always good, and a very, very good season that he isn't invisible on the other side of the court, not to mention aggressive. If Yao has to sacrifice, let's say 8 or 10 points, for 7 or 8 blocks, I'd take the blocks any day. They're intimidating, can mess up the other team's rhythm, if not humiliate the player and break down morale. By the way, Cat is playing so well that I'm going back on my cardinal principles and taking back everything bad I said about him. If Cat keeps it up, he'll have a good number of people voting him in for the All-Star game. The guard spot is pretty competitive though, but I'm sure, with these numbers, a lot of people would put a ballot in for him. Great job, Rockets. Poor Stan Van Gundy.
Yes, Yao is similar to their style but Yao is already better than divac and sabonis right now. Yet Sabonis came to NBA when he was much older, he migfht have been much better if he joined NBA at Yao's age. By the same token, Yao will likely be dominant with the Sabonis style.
Yao do have back to basket game although it is different from Shaq's game in powering out (fouling without being called) his defender. Yao do it with skill, e.g. a combination of shielding (with hook or fad away shot) and spin move (or move and under that kind of thing).
I believe Yao blocked Haslem 4 times, Odom once, Tyrone Hill once, and John Wallace once. And how the hell about this? With the Pacers and Pistons losing tonight, the Rockets now have the best record in the entire friggin' NBA! Course we've played nothing but bottom dwellers with the exception of New Jersey, but still. I bet NO ONE SAW THAT COMING!!
Great game for the rocks! 4 game winning streak and counting Loved the ball movement. Heat tried too hard to deny Yao the ball, which resulted in lots of wide open 3s for Mobley and co. And when Yao did get the ball, he definitely delivered. 16 pts in 7 attempts! Mobley was unstoppable. No one can guard him when he's that hot. Francis also played well, a very controlled all-around game. JVG you're my idol! Up next : the league's best D against the league's best O!
I've watched the whole game. Most of the times it's not that Yao could not get his position. It's actually our guards passing capability. I guess both Steve and Cat are too short. Otherwise, there is no excuse that the big man cannot get any passes. The last one from the newly signed guy is pretty good pass. Yao has been working hard for his position throughtout the game, but the guards either ignored him or simply could not pass the ball to his hands. Steve made one pass to him one time with great delicacy, so slowly that by the time Yao got the ball Grant has already planted his feet behind Yao. I don't know why that pass went so slow. Perhaps Steve thought Yao could not hand a quick pass, or what? I don't understand.
Yeah, Thursday is going to show what the Rockets are really made of. Though I, of course, hope for a win, if we can keep the Mavs below 100 points and lose by less than 10, I would be more than happy with that result.
hey, yao is like yao. stop comparing him to others and instead respect him for who he is as an individual.
I'm really very pleased with Mobley.He is doing a great job. Yao did well on defense even though he didn't score much and Steve got some good assists but if it wasn't for Padgett we would have been in big trouble. I didn't see the game but I shudder when I see JJ getting only 2 points and hitting only 1 out of 8 shots. He isn't as old as Rice so he shouldn't be getting too tired. Is his shooting form off and why isn't he getting to the rim? I think he can do better than what he doing in the last two days. The slow starts on offense are also disturbing. We can get away with the Heat but a stronger team can really hurt us if we get off to a poor start. The next game against Dallas will be a real test for us.
There were a large number of times, especially in the last half, where Yao would quickly roll off a screen and get himself free but the guards never noticed despite Yao waving his arms like a madman to get their attention. I think they need to be locked in a room and force fed video tape of Malone/Stockton to learn the essence of the pick and roll. Stockton is at least 2 inches shorter than Francis or Mobely and never seemed to have trouble getting the ball to his big man when defended by bigger guards so I don't accept the height argument.
im happy for cuttinos performance so far this year.... this game tho....im really getting aggitated with steves ball handling. he keeps tryin to cross, or spin...and there were a few times this game where he'd just bounce it off his foot or traveling.
A couple of late night observations... Did Cat just abue Eddie Jones? Blew by him for drives, shot in his face, called for the ball in one-on-ones... and scored a lot on a fairly small number of shots. Also on Cat... not one of my favorite players, bad decisions, head not always in the game, etc... definately the mvp of tonights game. He has looked good all season. And yes I know it is only six games against the lower half, but he is shooting lights out. It seems to me that he is still making the shots he made previously, just eliminating the other wasted posesions. His "efficancy rating" (however that is defined) must be about 2x last year. Was there a point in the third quarter wher Yao looked tired like last year end? Running up the court slow, having trouble holding onto the ball etc.? Padgett had some trouble holding onto the ball, I think 3 or 4 turnovers. But once he got a grip on it, he sure knew what to do with it. Could he be our next Bullard... or is that sacreligous? I had a bad feeling berfore the game started, and was nervous till about 5 minutes to go. I felt like we should have put away such a bad team no later than early in the third period. Is our defense just a beast or what.
that's just pure bull. did u even watch the game? there are many times he had good position and never got the ball. just in case you didn't know, there's a 3 second rule and u just can't camp there forever. how many times did yao do a textbook pick and roll and he was wide open waving his hands in the air but never got the ball. yao was fighting hard and aggressively in the paint but never got the ball.
Oh one more thing, Steve passed up open shots to feed a hot Mobley. I am reeally likeing how this team is playing.
