ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Jazz 5/3/2007 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 6)

Obviously I'm referring to the Shaq of Old, not the Old Shaq.

Truly transcendant superstars are able to impose their will on the game in the playoffs - regardless of rule changes. (do not tell me the knicks in 1994 didn't play physical - simply not a credibe statement - yet the stars of old were able to beat them). And it's not ture that the Rockets got zero calls - it's how they rallied to come back in the end of the 3rd quarter by not scoring a single field goal.

We will go as far as our horses are able to drag us, which is not far as they are not having transcendant performances. McGrady in 2005 was much better than he has been this series, for example.

you can scream and yelp about hte role players all you want but at the end of the day it's a superstar league and the champion will go as far as the big dog or dogs takes them - see Baron Davis, or Wade last year, etc.

 

Some things I think are a little Late to implement
but
I think Letting Yao get the ball at the Elbow and
at least try to get some shots off. . maybe some passing inside would help
maybe hit a few Cutters

To be honest I think the line up may need to mix up a little bit
We need every Able Body. Let VSpan lean on Williams for a while
tire him out .. . Tell VSPAN to just run him out on offense
and lean on him on Defense . ..

Maybe we need to start throw 2~3 people at their big guns
like they are doing ours . . .

Rocket River

 

because they play in a Crap Division
We won more games

Rocket River

 

Did the league do away with the "reachin in" foul?

 

I think T-mac was a little too focused on getting into the paint. He was true to his word, and drove to the pain frequently. But the thing that was missing was all the assists from game 5. I would like to see him set people up early in the game, and then score every opportunity later in the game.

We need to cut down on the TO's by YAo, and Tracy. That happens when other players aren't involved, and the Jazz defense can swarm those guys and guys and cause TO's. Yao just needs to not stay in the paint for 3 secs.

I really thought we were going to win that one.

This is why Home Court was so important. Let's finish them off on Sat.

 

Yall see that golden state game last night? You see those fans? That's what we need. Our fans suck. Hopefully tomorrow night, Toyota Center will be popping so T-Mac can get teh monkey off his back and advace and play the warrriorrrrrrrrrrrrs

 

Yeah, that, the hand check, and two hands in the back in the post.

 

I think you are close but not entirely accurate on Yao's TOs.
1) Haye's shot were coming off the rim, Yao tipped when it was not quite out. It's a tough call but I guess it is the rule.
2) Yao's moving screen on Fischer, this one was close. The refs could call these moving screens on Yao or anyone else many times over if they chose to. This time they did.

3) Chuck's man doubled team Yao. He passed to Hayes, the ball went thru Chuck's hands and chest. Should have been on Chuck.
4) Yao's turnaround, jump stopped and stepped back. Called for travel. Boozer made a move similar to this on previous play but did not get called.

5) Yao was in the post and dribbled, Okur reached around and tipped the ball away . Sometimes they call a foul on the reach. This time they didn't.
6) Yao's 3 second. His teammate did not pass the ball quick enough and the ref called a quick 3. He went in the lane at 15 secs, the ref called at 12 secs.

7) Yao was in the post. Raised his right arm to keep Okur off, Okur flopped. Official's view was blocked but he made the call anyway.
8) 3 sec violation. Yao's team mate did not pass the ball quick enough. This time he was in for 4 secs.

 

In a nutshell...

The Rockets make the phrase, "You've got to take your game to another level" a cliche.

As a team they've played all the games in Utah with regular season energy and gotten less than average result.

Hopefully, they'll play Saturday's do-or-die game the way they played Phoenix at the end of the season.

Maybe T-mac can channel some of Allen Iverson's moxy for game 7.

As a side note, I've noticed that Van Gundy AND T-mac seem pretty even tempered with the losses in Utah. I wonder if VAn Gundy has lowered his expectations of this team. He doesn't seem particularly agitated with the losses. And T-mac, ditto.