I've harbored this feeling that Yao/T-Mac will average 25/25 pts this year, and the Rockets will start out 15-2 at the beginning of the season. Technically, they're both still possible.
Yao basically just got some decent post position, received the ball in a timely manner, and made a bunch of jumphooks, most of them baseline. Miller was just too small to guard him, and had to resort to obvious fouls, many of which were uncalled. He also shot some turnaround jumpers with some success. Yao still needs some work on the boards, as does the rest of the team, but he got the biggest rebound of the game with 2 seconds left.
Really? That's a good sign because he usually misses those. He has a much better percentage on jumphooks in the lane where the rim and backboard will give him a kinder bounce. I do wish he would go glass more often when he has the angle. It's much more forgiving than trying to get swishes.
I don't know if anyone's posted this article from msnbcsports.com, but here it goes: Rockets take home opener behind Yao's 33 McGrady adds 23 in 104-101 victory over Sacramento The Associated Press Updated: 12:35 a.m. ET Nov. 7, 2004 HOUSTON - Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady needed someone, anyone to give them a little help in the Houston Rockets’ shootout with the Sacramento Kings. Charlie Ward came through just in time. Ward made two 3-pointers in overtime, Yao scored 33 points, and the Rockets rallied late for a thrilling 104-101 win over the Kings in their home opener on Saturday night. “Yao and Tracy were playing a great game and doing their job and I let them down on a few of the shots,” Ward said. “I’m just grateful I had the opportunity to redeem them.” Ward finished with 14 points, going 4-of-11 from behind the arc. McGrady added 23 points in his Houston debut, giving Rockets fans their first glimpse of the inside-outside combination that many believe could replace former Los Angeles Lakers teammates Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s most dominant duo. Yao scored 16 points after the third quarter, making nearly all the key shots down the stretch to help the Rockets hold off Sacramento. He converted only 2 of 6 free throws in the final minute, however, keeping things interesting even as the Kings went cold in overtime. Chris Webber missed a couple of layups, Mike Bibby clanged a 28-foot jumper, and Bobby Jackson came up short on a tip under the basket that Yao rebounded to seal the Rockets’ win. Yao “was just imposing his will on those guys,” McGrady said. Bibby led the Kings with 31 points and seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to keep them from going winless during their season-opening, three-game swing through Texas. Peja Stojakovic added 23 points, and Webber had 20. Bibby and Brad Miller opened overtime with a couple of quick scores, but Yao made a basket to cut the Kings’ lead to 2. Ward then nailed back-to-back 3s to give Houston its first lead since midway through the second quarter, sending the crowd into a frenzy. “Their two main guys got it going and we couldn’t do anything to win,” Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. “We just have to do something to get a win.” Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan each had 30 points against Sacramento in the Kings’ first two games. Yao did that and a little more on Saturday, even as he deferred to McGrady early. McGrady was the last starter introduced during pregame introductions instead of Yao, who usually gets the honor. The sellout crowd of 18,003 responded with its loudest cheers, and a rocket was set off as McGrady skipped onto the court. However, McGrady and Yao were just barely the best combo at the Toyota Center on Saturday night. Bibby repeatedly weaved his way into the lane, and Stojakovic knocked down jumpers from all over as the Kings finally found their rhythm. The Kings led 39-37 at halftime despite shooting just 31 percent from the field. Their lead twice swelled to 14 in the third quarter, once on Bibby’s 3-pointer from more than 30 feet out. But Yao scored 12 points during the Rockets’ fourth-quarter rally, including two free throws to tie it at 93 with 1:23 left. The Rockets had one final chance to win in regulation, but McGrady slipped on his drive to the basket and Tyronn Lue missed a 3 from the corner as time expired. “We showed character in the way we came back,” McGrady said. “We played hard and executed great down the stretch. Even when we were missing, we didn’t hold our heads.” Certainly not the 11th-year veteran Ward, who was probably Houston’s least-celebrated offseason acquisition. Ward was 1-of-8 from the field going into the fourth, but never hesitated to take big shots in the final minutes. It was his final 3 that gave Houston a four-point lead with 89 seconds left. “One thing I love about Charlie is he’s got poise and he’s got courage,” Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “Whatever Father Time has taken away, they can’t take those two things away.” Notes: The Rockets ended Sacramento’s five-game winning streak in their series. ... Yao and McGrady each finished with double-doubles. Yao had 12 rebounds and McGrady had 13. ... Houston improved to 29-9 in home openers.© 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6423630/ It's nice to see voluntary cooperation among the Rockets - Tracy is encouraging Yao and has easily fit in with sharing scoring/leadership responsibilities with Yao. I'm confident both Yao and Tracy will silence their naysayers.
Not game related, but there's a section in today's chron on NBA news. I'm not sure if it's been posted yet, but Erick Dampier had some interesting stuff to say... 'Right behind Shaq' The Mavericks don't just have a center. Erick Dampier is, according to Erick Dampier, the best center in the Western Conference. Some — including 1.3 billion experts in China — might argue. Regardless, Dampier said he is the second-best center in the NBA, allowing Shaquille O'Neal an edge. "I consider myself right behind Shaq," Dampier said. "Some people are going to say top three, but personally, I consider myself the second best." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2888181
That's really hard to do giving that we have Howard & Talor as PFs, Yao has to play help defense all the time. I noticed from the two games I watched, he picked up at least two fouls from helping out those dudes.
I was at the game, TC was very loud and active and had a real nice enery going, I hope I get to see that every game i go to (11 more left ) I think JVG has started to ease up a wee bit on his offensive strictness. He's letting T-mac be t-mac. The first 2 games T-mac wasn't t-mac. The next game JVG told T-mac to control the ball and ever since then T-mac has been T-mac. When T-mac is T-mac Yao can be Yao. Because when T-mac is t-mac it's easier for yao to be yao. When yao is yao t-mac can be t-mac. Yea. GO ROCKS!
Well, I like Dampier's sense of humor. After hoops, maybe he could go into acting as a comedian or do stand-up. On a serious note, I'd put him in the top 4.
Top four centers IMHO: 1. Shaq 2. Yao 3. Ben Wallace 4. Erick Dampier At least he's confident. But top 2? Negative.
There are some people that are trying to provide all the rox games for download. Check your email for their link.
You guys need to watch some of Mavs games before making any judgment. Dampier is a much better rebounder, especially on the offensive end, and better low post defender. He is not as effective on the offensive end, but he is capable of ~15pt a game. Unless Yao can average more 20/10, and the Rockets go deep in the playoff, Dampier will generate a lot of comparison. I believe he will lead the NBA in rebound, average ~14pt this year.
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I don't see why anyone would allow a guy whose career best is 12 ppg and 12rpg and who's running on bad knees to talk so much smack. I guess getting a big contract made him think he's a top player.
Remember he has been playing with the Warriors, and everyone is better when they left GS . With the Mavs, I truely believe he will have a career year. I don't think he is better than Yao, but he is not that far behind either at this stage. Yao could easily settle all of this by showing up every game this season, instead of once every three, or four games.
I think it's the other way around. Players put up bigger numbers on bad teams and their numbers get worse when they go to a good team, especially one with a superstar like Dirk. In dampier's case, I can't see him putting up "big numbers" ever again.
