ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Clippers 2/14/2006

I just realized how good a shooter Wesley is. he's automatic behind the arc.

 

Now 28. Before long, China is going to get on to celebrate just like they rigged the Yao voting...

 

why cant we play like this against the lakers!!

 

Oh, I'm certain that it was somehow Jeff Van Gundy's fault.

Or Juwon's! Ha ha.

 

Lets just keep this going on Thursday and take care of the Suns to keep this streak Alive

GO ROXXXX!!!!

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006021412

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tracy McGrady rebounded from one of the worst games of his career with 28 points, Yao Ming had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Clippers 128-97 Tuesday night.

Houston shot a season-high 58.0 percent from the field, only the third time all season that the Rockets have shot at least 50 percent. All three games have resulted in road wins.

Rafer Alston had 17 points and 13 assists for the Rockets, who have won seven of their last eight games following a 5-16 slide. It was their fifth straight road victory over the Clippers and 10th in their last 11 meetings overall.

Sam Cassell scored 25 points for Los Angeles before he was ejected for arguing a foul against him late in the third quarter, and Cuttino Mobley had 23 points. Elton Brand, who will be in Houston on Sunday for his second All-Star game, scored 21 points before sitting out the fourth quarter.

The Clippers, who are second in the Pacific Division, have lost their last two games to teams that are last in their respective divisions. Chicago beat them 97-91 on Sunday.

Los Angeles played two men short, having traded backup center Chris Wilcox to Seattle for forward Vladimir Radmanovic a few hours before gametime. Quinton Ross, who sat out the second half of Sunday's win over Chicago, also wasn't available after a precautionary MRI on Monday revealed inflammation around a disc in his back.

McGrady led Houston to a 61-49 halftime lead with 19 points, after scoring just seven in Sunday's 90-83 win over the New York Knicks and shooting 3-for-20 from the field. The only other time the Rockets and Clippers met this season, on Dec. 17, the two-time NBA scoring champion shot 2-for-12 in the second half of an 89-81 loss.

The Rockets scored at least 30 points in every quarter, burning the Clippers time and time again in the third with a barrage of long-range perimeter shots. Cassell couldn't take anymore of it and vented his frustration at referee Eli Roe, who gave him two technical fouls after Cassell fouled Stromile Swift with 37.8 seconds left in the third and Houston ahead 91-74.

Alston's 3-pointer capped an 11-2 run that increased Houston's 14-point lead to 84-61 with 5:12 left in the third, and the Clippers got no closer than 14 points before the Rockets pulled away by 30 midway through the fourth quarter. The 31-point losing margin was one point shy of the Clippers' largest losing margin ever against the Rockets.

Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy got upset at referee Leon Wood over a foul called against center Chris Kaman in the first quarter, after Yao fell backwards under the Houston basket. Less than 2 minutes later, Yao was called for an equally questionable foul when Kaman crashed to the floor after driving around him. At that moment, Dunleavy put his hand in front of his face, made eye-contact with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy and mouthed the words, "We're even."

Notes

Brand wholeheartedly endorsed the Radmanovic acquisition, but acknowledged that he'll miss having Wilcox as a teammate. "Hopefully, Seattle will see the true Chris Wilcox because he didn't get a chance to play that much here," Brand said. ... The Clippers play at Golden State Tuesday night, trying to complete their second straight four-game season sweep of the Warriors. The only other teams the Clippers have accomplished that feat against were Denver, Minnesota and Dallas. ... The Rockets and Clippers came in as the league's top two teams in field goal percentage defense and fewest fast-break points allowed per game.


That's why you never get Van Gundy pissed.

 

Wow, Rafer's Jersey is going to be No.4 Seller in China

 

Sam I am spit on the referee, according to this??? I watched the sportscenter highlights, it did seem he did that after getting the 2nd T. If so, he could be looking at extended suspensions, that could mean good things for us.

http://www.nbasource.com/

 

I blame Juwan!
Start Stromile!

 

I just bought one. Anybody know what brand of sneaker Rafer wears.

 

Rafer was amazing tonight!

He was attacking the Clipper's defense all night, and several times all 5 defenders had their eyes on him and lost track of their own men. He got up-and-down the court as fast as any Houston guard I can remember, except he was always in control. 1 turnover (!) at that pace. I think once the team learns to run with Rafer, it could consistently be a high-scoring team. Sam Cassell's ejection was a result of Rafer putting pressure on the Clipper's defense.

Bogans looked good out there too. He's looked like a big, physical player each time he's been out there, able to do a little of everything. I thought his shooting would be worse, but he looks confident when he spots up for 3's.

Yao looked to be focusing on passing tonight. He had a lot of nifty passes inside that he didn't get credit for because either the man was fouled (Wesley) or fumbled it away (Swift).

Wesley doesn't do anything spectacular, but he always seems to finish on the fast break. Now his shot is coming around, and he's penetrating and dishing a lot more than I remember.

TMac is back! That's all I have to say about him. Unstoppable.

The team is coming around, enjoy the ride

 

A group of unknown players wearing Houston Rocket's uniforms put on a basketball clinic. We all know that they weren't the real Rockets. First, the real Rockets suck on offense, they can't shot, they can't rebound, they can barely move. The impersonators were like a track team. Watching the real Rockets try to score is like, well, constipation. The impersonators exhibited crisp ball movement, niffty passing, and, virtually, scored at will. Whoever these guys were, I hope they come back, because the real team has been very hard to watch. I could watch the imposters every night!

 

I was just laughing hysterically when Rafer put that move on Sam. And then Sam got ejected. That was great.

 

Replay is starting on FSN. In case you missed it.

 

Amen.

 

He wears some old school and 1 shoes if im not mistaken. Wesley wears the same shoe. its completely red on one side and white on the other, i may be wrong however.

 

This was the first game I've seen with my dad in months and it was a heck of game

Thanks, rox!

 

Great birthday gift. Thank you Rockets!

Time to kick the Suns' a** and make the league REALLY take notice. We win Thurs. and we make the other West teams cringe.

 

In the updated Yahoo recap, T-Mac is quoted as saying he has had personal off court issues the past few games and hasn't been himself on the court, and that is the reason for his recent shooting slump.

I wonder what happened? Hopefully nothing too serious.

 

great game

I was soo happy i was there
section 107 row 9

Terrell owens was sitting a few rows ahead of me

I sat next to the "clipper man" the guy in the blud/red suit and during the fourth quarter when the game was over he was shouting over at Deke. Howard was laughing and him and deke looked over and was making drinking motion movements and laughing back. Then he started to tease tracy, tracy started laughing at him and then looked at me with my mcgrady jersey on and nodded at me. He started to scream Yao's name but Yao had his deaf ear towards him and T-mac kept laughing cuz he nearly went hoarse trying to get Yao's attention. Howard and Deke had a good time with him



As for the game it was freaking awesome the best Rockets game so far this year I was just happy I was there. Big time statement game. It would have been perfect if deke scored. I really like Bogans, good strong body who D up really well and knocked open Js down


Also i like how barry came in and i believe hit the shot that gave us our new season high. the bench went crazy, deke and howard when barry hit the shot.

One thing i did notice was that Tracy did not again shoot warmups with the team during halftime, why i am not sure but i think someone mentioned about it during the last game.