ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 1/19/2004

Ok thanks...

 

sign me up

 

So we should nickname Yao "The ChinaMan"?

 

We will win next time. at the end of the game, Yao showed some anger, but a bit too late plus some ridiculous bounce off the rim.

If I have to blame someone, it is Cat. He single handly gave away our 8-point lead.

 

Would think you would leave this alone but additional comments like this would make you look even more like an ass.

 

What are you basing this accusation on? I am a Rocket fan and a Yao fan, but did you notice the after-game interview when Craig Sager asked Pau about what he was thinking about Yao during the game, after scoring 24 some odd points with Yao guarding him much of the time?

Yao said "I don't think about Yao or anybody, I just try to do what I can to help my team win" (paraphrase)

After a game like he had where he scored on Yao 9 or 10 times and clearly had the better game, a truly "cocky" person would have rubbed it in at least just a little.

 

This has been discussed many times already. The Rockets have a great paint defense, but the perimeter defense is below average to bad. Jumpshooting teams like the Grizzlies and the Sonics can beat the Rockets due to this weakness. Cato doesn't even need to get up for these kinds of games, and Padgett needs to play until he is tired. Yao is not going to do well in these kinds of uptempo games too.

 

At the end of the T-Wolve game, Minnesota took Yao off of the dribble a few times with some success. Tonight, Hubie did the same thing with Gasol.

Nice game by Francis, but I thought he tried to do too much at the end with a couple of forced threes. He kept us in the game throughout, though. Looks like he is improving, almost putting the whole game together as a playmaker and a scorer; he could have easily had 10-12 assists if guys make the open shots.

Nice defense on Yao by the Grizzlies, they really packed it in on Yao and took away the passing angles. Then they rotated the D to keep the ball away from Yao. If Yao can get a little stronger, he will be able to hold his defender off and give a better entry-pass angle.

 

Good for you, dude. But don't freaking pretend you know what the fu*k you talking about. Geez.

 

I hated to see the Rockets lose, but what a game. This gamed belonged in the playoffs.

Gasol is no more of a banger than Yao is......they have no post presence, yet they make a showing night after night. Posey wanted to prove something, they got some lucky rebounds, many of our players struggled offensively. It really sucks, but I just don't feel too bad about this loss. I feel mostly bad that the ZRB's and the A-trains will puff out their chests about how we were destined to lose this game because we suck. I watched this game, and I saw a Rocket's team that is growing.


The Rockets played with effort tonight. They didn't play good enough to pull out the win, but they did show some heart. Francis played well enough to make me give him some slack for a while. I don't feel the Rockets are destined to win it all this year (or next), and as much as I hate to see them lose a hard fought game like the one tonight, I know it can happen without completely giving up on the team.

Games like the one tonight WILL build some character.

 

That could be perceived as somewhat cocky though ... like, you guys make it seem like I couldn't score on Yao, I wasn't even thinking about him being a factor defensively.

Whatever, he's no more cocky than any other NBA player. I've never seen a player get away with kicking a ball in disgust and not getting T'd up though.

 

Like I said before...and I'll say it again. If the Rockets can't get Yao involve in the offense, they don't have much chance of winning the game. Did you notice, everytime they lose a game, Yao had the least amount of shots taken out of all the starters.

I also notice that there are a lot of times Yao could receive the ball if they just lob it inside but they failed to do it. They simply pass to another player and just ignore him, they're scared of making turnover. I mean he's 7-6 ....just lob the damm ball in there and he will catch it. And for people that said he was doubled in front and behind, that is bull****, i seen the Wolves' game and the players could have easily lob him the ball when the defender front it him and nobody was behind him, instead they don't have the confident to pass the ball to him. It makes me sick seeing that they can totally practice this to make it perfect and yet during game i hardly see them pass the ball to Yao this way. If they could practice lobbing when the defender fronted Yao, Yao would have easy dunk every single time. Instead Rockets players do not have the ball to pass to him. This makes me think the Rockets players are JUST not good passers.

Regarding the Grizzlies game, who is guarding Posey, why the hell he keeps letting him get offensive rebound. Also I notice Steve Francis is trying to do it all by himself at the end of the game. Even though I didn't watch the game, if he's forcing the shots, man that would be pathetic if he does cuz like Van Gundy said, he should stop going for homerun everytime OR better yet, trust his teammates more. I mean I don't mind if he's wide open and take those shots, but if he's forcing it, that's not the way to go.

 

Because JJ is better (check out their stat this year).

 

Gentlemen,

When do we play the Whizzlies again? Need to mark the day on my calendar for a little payback...

 

And who is to decipher this in the future? You? Are you to make the decision on what one meant by "Chinaman"?

Spaniard itself is not, even sometimes, an offensive term

Nor is Nigerian.

Or Dutchman.

But "Chinaman" has a history of being offensive, do you see the difference or do I have to spell it out further?

Stuart

 

Man, that was a real tough loss, but stepping back, I liked the way we played with some fire tonight. The old Rockets might have folded in the 3rd quarter when memphis went on a run, but we fought back and came damn near close to getting the win. Both teams relly hustled and laid it on the line. Why can't every Rockets game be this entertaining?
A few other comments:
1) What's up with the commentators just ruthlessly slamming Yao? I've never heard national broadcasters single out a player and pile on him like they did tonight. I think people forget that he's still like 22 years old in his 2nd professional season. Give the guy a break!
2) Timeout situation was not just JVG's fault. The Rockets always burn 1 or 2 timeouts trying to keep possession after getting a loose ball. Sometimes, I think they're better off just getting tied up and taking their chances ta the jump ball instead of burning valuable TOs.

 

In the heat of the battle he is cocky. And the Rockets have to match that. Else we get our butts handed to us!

 

we get outrebounded, outhustled, outplayed by memphis next on...... March 13th @ 7:30 p.m.

 

Hmmm, that's interesting... did you telepathically deduce that Francis was somehow losing the game for Houston? Because I watched the game -- yes, actually watched it -- and you're dead wrong.

 

No point hating on Pau. He had a brilliant game tonight. Evevery time I see him play, he impresses me with his soft tough and surprisingly good low-post play. The Rockets were D-ing up, and he was just making tough shot time-after-time. Gotta him him props.