ClutchFans Game Thread: Pistons @ Rockets 3/22/2007

How do you figure 80% coaches will choose dirk over Yao?

 

Cannot blame jvg, esp. after a recent win by 50 ...

 

fantastic press conference by van gundy. it's very evident that tracy and yao can make an opposing team absolutely helpless. detroit was lost for 3 quarters.

that said, we can't rest on just winning the game and the more van gundy can nail his point home, the better we'll be.

edit: i wanted to add that this team is really starting to round into form. i don't want to read about the pistons not being ready. they were simply bombarded by a freaking good team. the yao/tracy duo was really starting to roll a few games before tracy went out against washington and i think we're starting to get to that point again. we need to correct our finishes but despite that, i LOVE what i'm watching.

 

I only got to see the second half of the game, but man, what a second half! What a battle!

I can see what JVG is pissed about, but still, this is one of the best wins of the season, IMO. The Pistons are one of the best in the NBA and they played like it in the fourth. Their defense on us was excellent, esp. their double team on T-Mac. These guys don't rattle in the clutch.

Yao was clearly gassed by the fourth quarter. I was impressed with JVG's rotation to give both his superstars enough of a rest.

First, he goes with Yao, Howard/Hayes, Battier, Snyder and Alston early in the fourth.

Then with about 7 minutes left, he takes out Yao, Snyder and Alston and goes small with a Howard/Hayes/Battier front and T-Mac/Head backcourt.

For the finish, he brings back his starting unit + Howard in place of Hayes, with a somewhat rested Yao. Very smart.

The Rockets need to play more games like this, more defenses like this because that's what they will be up against in the playoffs. This game should begin to show them what it will take in the post season. Great win!

 

seems JVG is pissed despite a win tonight

 

Sometimes, this board astounds me. While I TOTALLY agree with JVG, and am disappointed by our inability to finish things off well, there is no reason to grumble about a win over a quality team. People say that we can't finish out wins- that's garbage, because we DID it when it mattered.

Also, to say that the Pistons weren't playing like themselves, that's garbage, too, as another poster pointed out. Anyone that watched the game knows that we picked them apart for three whole quarters. I'm excited about what I'm seeing from our team. We need to do better in the 4th, but we still know how to pull out the WIN, regardless.

We could win the FINALS and some of you would be whining that we didn't do it as well as we should have or "so-and-so" didn't shoot well. We beat 1)one of the hottest teams in the league and 2) the best team in the East. Many people put this team in the Finals. Dallas didn't beat the Pistons by a large margin either the other night. I'm not sure what you guys want.

Like I said, what happened in the 4th is unacceptable come playoff time, and that's why I'm glad we have about 13 games to work it out. Great speech by JVG, one of the best I've heard him give. But even still- there is a lot of positive to take out of this game.

 

now 52%!

 

the Rockets scored 18 points in the 4th

 

I just watched JVG's press conference again. I love how intense and pissed he's getting.

"It has to do with a mentality, a hunger to keep wanting to KICK ASS!"

I love it!!

 

MORE game photos including those at the pre-game team shootout practice.

PHOTOS FROM SOHU.COM 1

PHOTOS FROM SOHU.COM 2

PHOTOS FROM SOHU.COM 3

 

I agree great speech by JVG... he is basically calling out Yao and Tmac... telling them they are the go to guys.... and they need to finish...

I think both are the type of players that will respond well to this type of critique by JVG....

and to add to JVG's anology.... when I ran track... I was always told to run a 400 meter race... as if it were 410 meters....

you run past the finish line... not too it...

 

obtw... you see that look that Prince gives Yao...

its the same look that... Tmac gave Yao a year or two before he demanded to be traded to the Rox...

 

I'm with JVG here. Guys need to finish the game plain and simple. Who else can we depend on during the winding moment of the game? Our two super stars need to have those killer instinct to carry us far in the playoff.

 

nice to see Yao plays solid and with confidence .now. he could be even better.
.

 

I see that look...

and I raise you Chauncey Billups.

That said though, some props for Mr Alston. His shots are on the decrese and he shot 5-7, 3-4 on 3's. 16,6 and 6. Starting to see better efficiency.

 

this is the same alson before last night game against indiana that shot 1-8, but he did have a great game against pistons, just hopefully the team is more consistant like mr yao ming

 

ROFL SO HARD go jHO hahaha

 

And Yao with his poor help defense by just sitting there and doing nothing.

 

What makes you think the game pistions vs Spurs is MUCH more important than this one with ROX?