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

Incidentally, that was probably the best overall game the Rockets have played this season, in terms of running an offense well and not committing turnovers. The defense has been better, though... and we seemed to give up too many offensive boards.

That was super fun. And the scary thing is: Yao didn't even have his shooting touch today. On a better day, he'd have made 3-4 more of those buckets.

OTOH, Francis seemed to get his back. After that air ball, I was scared... but he recovered very well.

 

Milestone! For Yao and Rockets. Hopefully, they all finally GOT IT... then we are on the way to the TOP! GO ROCKETS

 

POst by heavan: "It's funny: I never appreciated Robert Horry until recently, as I've learned how difficult it is to get the ball to the post in a zone defense. Odd speciality skill...["

Horry is taller, He is smarter, he always fake a pass first to check
defender before truely passing to Dream. Man, Can we get Horry back?

 

SF3 played really really really well in the game. With the exception of a few sequences that he held the ball to long, he just played an oustanding game.

And Cat just played like an all star tonight!

 

My Observations From This Game

- Cat and SF were really taking it to the rim.. they havent done that as much this year. (I was happy to see that)
- Yao started off slow but didnt stop shooting and actually demanded the ball
- I saw SF3 and JVG talking alot during freethrows and such(pleased to see that)
- Most undercontrol game I have seen from Cat and SF3.. think how good we could be if we played like that all the time.
- Its been a long time since I've seen Yao and SF3 have a good game together!
- Yao seemed more active today.. didnt appear as tired as usual?

Overall Best Game I have See This Year! .. makes me wonder what our team could accomplish if they change their thinking? could this be a turning point for us? Game's like this turnon a lightbulb in someones head..

I think they played a great game against SA (played hard fought till the end) .. I felt they would have a good showing against the Lakers.

Go Yao! Go Rox! Go Super Duper Backup Bench Brigade!

J

 

good lord 100 points for a JVG team? what next WMD in iraq??

great game by everyone, yao played well tonight, really well.

i think the zones and fronts played by teams against him effect him more. when slava was guarding him a few plays he had a hard time freeing himself, of course generally whenever yao gets fronted he also is being fouled but nothing is ever called.

imagine what he is gonna be in a year or three

yaoza

 

WTF? Shaq is, what, 7'1"? 7'2"? In that photo, he looks Moochie-sized.


Here's a poem in honor of tonight's performance:

Roses are red,
Bill Gates is rich.
Take a bow, Yao,
You made Shaq your b****.


Thank you! I'll be here all week! Be sure to try the veal!

 

everytime i can think of, yao has come back aggresively after a hard foul. that's all i need to know about his toughness and his potential.

 

BTW, I am not sure why Yao did not look tired at all tonight! At the end of the game, it seemed that he could play another 6-8 min without any problem. And he played 38 demanding minutes against Shaq tonight!


Maybe one on one against Shaq was not as demanding as going one against lesser two.

 

Trade who???




Wait 'til the off-season at least, pleeeeease! Just make the playoffs baby. We may have a 10 year anniversary surprise in the works!!

 

Your mama.

 

A replay of the game tonight will be airing at 2:00 AM Central Time on ESPN for those that missed the game but are night owls like me.

 

Probably because Shaq wasn't playing too physical w/ Yao, usually Yao spends most of the time fighting for position, but Shaq let Yao get the ball in the post tonight and though he could stop him one on one, better think twice next time Shaq.

 

check this out
http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?topic=55325&forum=1&15

 

I don't wanna rain on the parade but several things happened today that was out of the ordinary

Francis shot 9-11, as great a player as he is, he is not going to hit that percentage.

Cat had 10 assists. Yes, he showed his ability to pass, but this isn't going to happen all the time.

They fed Yao even after his horrid shooting start.

Yao, in turn, was in one of his rare moods in which he kept shooting even after missing several shots. This is rare, it seems Yao shys (sp?) away from the ball if he misses 2-3 shots in a row.

Steve was hitting those tough jumpers... like those acrobatic, mid-move pull-ups...

Hopefully yhis will trigger something with the Rox Realistically, if anything comes of this, it will be Steve and Cat's confidence in Yao and Yao's confidence in himself.

Stuart

 

Thanks a lot, London.

I just regretted i missed the game, but now am happy to be able to watch the replay thanks to your info.

Cheers!

 

I guess Sportscenter is going to be airing past 2 AM tonight or something. I checked the DirectTV schedule ahead and it said the Rox game would be replaying. Hopefully Sportscenter won't be going on for too much longer.

 

thank you for the most excellent reminder. i am now watching.

 

The guards ran a lot in this game, which should be sustained every game. Look at the replay of the final shot by Ginobely last game, he ran 2 circles around TD! The rockets has a really big guy, you got to make good use of it, not only the dominance inside but also PNR! Try to find a way to fee Yao the ball even when he is fronted or double teamed, he will balance the shoot attemp and passing to wide open. As for Yao, you should hold the ball more tightly. Imagin, though we can't have this high FGM for Steve, we are unstoppable as long as the guard's play are under control. Yao has found his door open after the Timberwolves' game, Steve and Cat should find their own open doors after today's GREAT win!

 

I'm sick of this attitude of Yao's. It's like he's only ever motivated when facing big time opposition but against someone he considers as a lesser player lackadaisical Yao reluctantly turns up to play,