ClutchFans Game Thread: Lakers @ Rockets 2/11/2004

Maybe I should start predicting wins more often. If Yao starts to play this way against the Jerome James's of the league, I will believe in this team again.

 

Is it any doubt... the Rockets play INSPIRED against the Lakers.

Everything falls into place when this happens... shots fall, turnovers don't happen, Yao steps up (and has NO FATIGUE after 3 minutes of play....)

You play inspired, you play smart, (you play a softer defense like the Lakers... San Antonio is MUCH tougher), but you execute, and YOU WIN!

(BTW... Yao LOVES to play against this type of defense, as opposed to the "fronting" defense)

 

Greatest game of the year, and best team game of the year.

Go Rockets!!

Big Macs for eveyone

 

Mark it down...

During the 1st quarter: Bill Walton - "This roster is NOT complete... CD needs to add something."

During the 4th quarter: Bill Walton - "This team has all the elements... they just need the passion and desire."

Huh?

Yea... Rockets win. THAAAAAAAAAA ROCKETS WIN!!!

 

Can I get an AMEN!!!!!

 

Just heard the ESPN announcer (Walton's sidekick, forget his name) say, "This crowd has just watched Yao Ming outplay Shaquiele O'Neal."

Damn that was sweet to hear.

 

NO TRADE

Yeah that line was awesome!!

"This crowd has just watched Yao Ming outplay Shaquiele O'Neal."

 

Oh. My. God!!! What a win!

This team drives me crazy... why can't they play like this all the time? Yao was superb. Cat had 10 assists! Just an amazing game by Mobes. Francis played like he should all the time. Do it all the time, Steve! We won't rag on you so much.

Boy, that was fun. I'm glad I got it on tape. It's one for the vault!

 

Efficiency:

Shaq - 32
Francis - 30
Yao - 29
Mobes - 28

Thats incredible..only if we could do this everytime

 

did i just watch what i think i watched?

steve francis shoots 9-11?

cuttino mobley takes it to kobe regularly and dishes out 10 ASSISTS!

yao ming, oh man. doesn't just have a good game against shaq, he outplayed shaq and really for the first time ever, took it to shaq. hook shots, spin moves for layups, drawing fouls to foul shaq out, playing D without fouling for the most part. i mean damn. that fourth quarter was crazy for yao.

when teams play yao one on one, we get him the ball and good things happen. i don't know why anyone does it, but i'm glad they do.


sweet, 30-22 instead of 29-23. i didn't even get to see the first 18 minutes of the game b/c of class but it was worth it. if you've gotta take about a week off, this is the game you want to be thinking about the whole time.

 

i think they play better when yao shoots more and mobes attacks the basket instead of shooting jumpers


Francis didn't really do anything different except take less shots, he just shot well for a change.

 

For all the people wondering why we can't do this every game...

We shot 55% from the field. This was a combination of a weak LA defense, and the Rockets finally hitting their wide open shots, and getting Yao involved big time.

Getting Yao involved was a combination of him being all PUMPED for the game, and the Lakers deciding to play him one on one in the post (even with Shaq).

This could all revert back to hell, if we play a scrappy team that fronts Yao, and plays aggressive Defense.... or, we could realize that playing basketball like that is COWARDLY, and this team should STOMP anybody who has that sort of defensive philosophy.

Which team will show up...?

 

Francis played under control. That was a big difference for him. Yao played HUGE and Mobley played smart. Is up down now? Is hell frozen over?

 

It's probably not going to happen, at least not this year. But how delicious would it be to see a Rockets / Lakers playoff series?

Good God I'm so high. A couple of knee-jerk comments:

-This should help quell any talk over the All-Star break that Yao doesn't deserve to start over Shaq. Now the issue is grayer.

-Talk about a confidence booster for Yao. Did you see the fire in his eyes in the fourth quarter? Heck, even before that, he was hopping up and down, demanding the ball.

-Great to see Mobley slashing again. We're a different team when Mobley cuts to the basket.

-Before every game, Van Gundy should make Francis go take a crap.

-Yao's PASSING seems to get more innovative when his confidence is high. Loved the bounce passes to the cutters, even when it worked it's nice to se the offense in motion.

-The fact that Yao KEPT SHOOTING. In other games, if Yao misses a string of shots that's it, he's done for the night. Tonight, though, he would miss shots, and then immediately after missing a shot, demand the ball again. Loved it.

-This has been a roller-coaster season, but what a high to ride into the All Star Game!

-And, finally, one note of caution. There have been many games where we finally thought that Yao was GETTING IT. (to use the biggest cliche of the 03-04 season). These were followed by some setbacks, some strings of 7, 9, 12 point performances. That could happen again. We shouldn't be shocked if he has some clunker games after the ASG. I'm just saying. Hope I'm wrong.

 

Check out the photos at ESPN. They are awesome. I cannot link them because it's flash.

 

Positives from tonight's game

Every once a while (usually on national television), the Houston Rockets find it in themselvs to play their asses off. This is incredibly frustrating. You know what they can do, yet you also know they don't bring it every night. But I promised this is a positive thread, so here goes...

The whole team out hustled, out boarded the Lakers and swarmed them on D. No Laker was left open. There always ways a hand in their faces. They played aggressive, they played tough and they thoroughly deserved to win.

Steve and Cat played an AMAZING shot tonight. They played a controlled game and you can see the results from their shooting. Another thing missing from this team for a long time: they attacked the basket. Few players can stop them every time when they penetrate, yet too often lately we see them receive a pass, hesitate, dribble for 10 seconds then throw up a prayer at the last second. Not tonight. They drove the lanes, making their men look like fools in the process, and then either finished strong or dished to the open man when Shaq comes over to help. Simply amazing. But most importantly, the gave Yao the ball when he wanted it.

JJ played his role. I mean wow, he grabbed boards, played great D and hit those BIIIIIIIIGGGGG 3's when we really needed them.

Cato played in his role tonight, grabbing boards, helping Yao on Shaq when he's in foul trouble and of course who could forget that shoulder he took. OUCH. That's heart for ya. Take one for the team.

Mo was great off the bench. He completely abused Medvedenko and Grant. He also didn't try to force too much shots, instead shot open jumpers when he didn't have a hand in his face.

Finally Yao. What can I say about him? Tonight was one of those nights where he just CAN'T find his range from the outside. He was also timid on the inside, rushing his shots. Give credit to Shaq who played great D. I thought we were in trouble when that happened. But instead of stop shooting like he usually do, he TOOK IT TO SHAQ in the 2nd half. He kept asking for the ball and attacked him. He was aggressive, efficient and didn't back down from the challenge. Most importantly (credit to the guards again), he got the ball when he wanted it.

Shaq is STILL the better player, however, tonight you saw the distance AND the progress. You saw the need for improvement AND flashes of brilliance. When you see that, you know Yao's going to be a great one.

 

A win against the lakers. Prepare yourself for the 4 game losing streak.