ClutchFans Game Thread: Hornets @ Rockets 1/13/2008

If Rocket can make a 7'6'' robot with Yao's face, I am sure it would be the most aggressive and strongest center in NBA history, it could fouled out KG in the game vs Boston, it could block all the dunks from Howard, it could guard Nash with 0%FG, it could win 82 wins for Rocket just by itself.

 

i see what you come from. but in today's game, chandler's hacks were absolutely downwards in both cases.

 

Your right...YM should be more aggresive, and the refs will call a charge everytime he moves. And you can post more BS on this board. Have it all planned out, haven't you?

Give it up, TOFs. TMac has chronical problems with his back and knees, and problems with other body parts. You have more confidence than TMAC himself about his health. Blame YM or RA all you want, the guy with a suit and tie deserves the most blame.

The rox would be lucky to trade him and get 2 decent players in return.

 

every second is crucial, Rocket could have won the game if the coach bench Yao completely.

 

Doesn't take a genius to figure out that holding the ball away from your body at the level of your hips is just inviting people to take it away from you.

 

Watch the two plays at the end of the game again (I have a DVR. R2K, if we're lucky, will have the game here in a day or two), where Yao was hacked, and make that statement again. Could Yao do something that might make this less likely, since obviously the refs, some of them, are going to shaft him? Yes. He could raise his elbows and swing them around, ala Deke, and scare the crap out of some of these guys. Flatten a couple of them. Then they might think twice about it. I've wanted him to do that for years, but it's not his style. And he shouldn't have to, but that's the game.

 

Give me a break! Yao is not a three pointer after he joined NBA. In the after-game interview, Yao mentioned that the ball was passed to him with three seconds left and he had no choice. If it was arranged by the coach, he might have scored it. Don't forget, Yao was a good three pointer when he played in CBA.

 

I think the reffing is hard to call to be honest. Especially in clutch situations. With Yao being that big its doubly hard to call. Check Lebron Last year he thought was hacked, didnt get it. Check Dallas vs Miami, Wade shoved an arm out to push Devin Harris off before getting the winning layup. Its just hard to call I think for most refs. If they call it wrong, they get crucified, if they don't call it they get crucified. Catch 22.

 

It was not holding the ball at the level of your hips. It was a pre-jumping movement!!!

 

This is a blown play. Give Hornets credit for their defense, but Rafer should NOT have passed it to Yao, and for Yao, he should have passed it on very quickly, and for the others, they should have moved around to create space for Yao or Rafer to pass to, and the coach, they should have practiced various last second plays like how to create a 3pt shot when you really need one in a few secs.

 

All he has to do is bring the ball into against his body. That will push his elbows out. And then when he turns he keeps his head over the ball so they can't swipe it out. Now he has two hands on the ball and his body - and his arms pushing out against any defenders instead of his shoulder.

Not only does he protect the ball, he won't get called for the offensive foul for pushing his shoulder into a defender. That's what he has to do. Move like that with strength and speed. Maybe he was tired and didn't have the energy, but in crunch time, you ahve to will that stuff through. You can't let the ball get slapped away from you twice in a row like that.

And when I saw the replay, I was aghast to see his arms extended out basically offering up the ball on a silver platter.

In Jr. High School I was taught to "Chin the Ball" meaning you keep the ball under your chin with arms out near the chest. Not out holding the ball like a water ballon.

And when you put the ball on the floor, you do it between your legs so it's harder for guards to get in there, and you do it fast. Power dribble, not the slow dribble Yao does.

This is actually good news, because it means Yao can improve. But why isn't he doing this already, I have no idea. It's so basic I'm at a loss to understand why he breaks away from it.

 

Check the reply, the ball was lower then chest level and extended away from his body. Something any high-school coach would scream at.

 

He still has 2 hands in his back EVERY time down the floor, and that is a foul.

Chandler was completely LEANING into him......he should have fouled out in 5 minutes.

DD

 

I do believe any high-school coach is better than Adelman.

 

Just once I want to see Yao refereed fairly, they were hammering him and he was getting no calls.

Yao needs to get a tech, and so does Adelman...

They had 2 hands in his back each and every possession, that is SO FRICKEN illegal it is not even funny.

DD

 

Somebody in this thread (and some other threads) does remind me of that "Mr Point Forward" a while ago.

 

Did RA ever get a T, in his whole career? (going back to when he was player)

Instant replay is the way to go, with all the corruption/fraud/incompotence.

 

It seems that Yao played whole 24 minutes in the second half... That's bad sub pattern IMO.

 

I brought the camera today and made a special effort to take pics. Here are a few:

Chuck and Shane:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2190560831/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 022 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2262/2190560831_6a56d67309.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 022" /></a>

AB at the line:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2190566063/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 029 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2190566063_76ddd7c047.jpg" width="370" height="500" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 029" /></a>

Luther at the line:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2191350670/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 027 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/2191350670_508f94659d.jpg" width="368" height="500" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 027" /></a>

Peja in all his glory:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2191334106/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 013 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/2191334106_3f2455801c.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 013" /></a>

Clutch and the three Micro-Clutches
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2190549771/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 016 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2350/2190549771_a9999af37b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 016" /></a>

Power Dancers. I think the curly-headed chick on the right is smoking hot.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/21699842@N05/2191355896/" title="Rockets-Hornets 011208 034 by weslinder, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2191355896_c2ae35f2f6.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt="Rockets-Hornets 011208 034" /></a>

 

Great pictures. Did you sit in those front rows, lucky guy ?