Big man too much for slipping Magic This was like trying to climb a mountain with a step ladder, slay a dragon with a plastic sword. The Orlando Magic didn't have a chance. Giant Yao Ming took his Houston Rockets along for a joyride at TD Waterhouse Center Sunday night, crushing the Magic 99-87 and leaving them with a look of hopelessness on their faces. It was like running into a wall. Ming, 7-foot-6, 310 pounds and only in his second NBA season, did as he pleased anywhere close to the basket, showing a power not seen here since Shaquille O'Neal's last visit. He scored when he wanted at one end, then he brought the Magic offense to a standstill at the other end. "He's just a beast,'' said Magic star Tracy McGrady. "He's so big, it's scary. It doesn't seem fair because he could do anything he wanted with his size. Yeah, they have an advantage with him.'' Yao had a career high 37 points, 10 rebounds, two blocked shots and a dozen intimidations. McGrady had 31 points -- hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range -- but he never drove to the basket. And with good reason. Yao looked like a cruise ship guarding the lane. "He was quite the load in there,'' said Magic power forward Juwan Howard. "He's 7-6, and when he raises his arms, it's like he's 12 feet tall. And he's got skills on top of that.'' The Magic hit 9-of-15 shots from 3-point range, but they shot just 38.2 percent overall. Using Yao as their anchor, the Rockets have become the NBA's stingiest defense, and it was easy to see why Sunday. "The fact there's a 7-6 guy standing there certainly impacts the way you drive to the basket,'' Magic Coach Johnny Davis. "You don't get any free looks. His presence affects everything.'' Yao was so effective offensively, in part because the Magic were so slow in trying to double team him. On most possessions, the double team never arrived. When it did, he easily passed out of it. When he had the ball, it looked like men playing against boys. Mostly it was Andrew DeClercq, Zaza Pachulia and Howard alone trying to move him out of position. But that was like trying to move a truck. "I was giving him seven inches and 70 pounds,'' DeClercq said. "And I feel now like I was doing some full-body lifting out there. He can beat you in a lot of ways.'' Yao was so dominate that a bad game by all-star guard Steve Francis didn't matter. Francis didn't score until late in the third period after missing his first five shots. He finished with seven points. When Yao wasn't scoring, it usually was reserve Maurice Taylor, who had 20 points and eight rebounds. The Rockets shot 49.4 percent from the field, also holding a 43-35 rebound edge. They never trailed after early in the second quarter. They led 43-40 at halftime. The Magic stayed close through much of the third when Yao scored 21 of his points, but they fell behind quickly in the fourth and never seriously challenged. McGrady kept the Magic close in the third when he made four of his 3-pointers, but when he cooled, the Rockets pulled away. Tyronn Lue had 12 points, but he and McGrady were the only starters to reach double-figure scoring. Howard had nine points and made only four of 14 shots, clearly effected by Yao's presence. Gordan Giricek, the only other Magic player in double figures, had 10 points. Starting forward Keith Bogans played only 18 minutes, leaving the game with a bruised right quad after colliding with Yao. Bogans is questionable for tonight's game in Cleveland. The Magic did activate rookie Reece Gaines, who has been hidden on the injured list since early December. Gaines, their first-round draft pick, played the final three minutes and missed his only shot. Although the Magic had begun playing better in recent weeks, going 11-13 since their disastrous 19-game losing streak at the start, they regressed again Sunday with another loss at home. "We're going to Cleveland tomorrow in search of a win,'' Davis said. "That's the way you have to be. We're not giving up. I thought we competed throughout this game, but the big guy really makes a difference.''
unless names like tmac, kobe, sheed, or dirk are being thrown out, i hope it does. there's no reason to mess with this good thing we've got going unless someone just throws something out there we can't resist. basically, no trades just for a "better fit" better happen, b/c things are fitting nicely right now. man i hope we ust that trade exception this offseason, it's our last real chance to move up in talent without giving much else up.
Yao had more confidence and more assertive in this game. He think of going to shot as a first option. The result, is very obvious. Also gave SF and Cat credit to really try to feed Yao the whole game.
I'm right there with you f4p. Tonight's Magic strategy amounts to professional negligence or coaching malpractice. Granted they were overmatched, but they could have made it interesting with better coaching.
If you are talking MJ having great passing games all the time. I agree. He wont. But, over the long run (as long as he doesn't get to old on us), he'll surprise you. Just watch. He'll offer a consistency that doesn't wear off. It's a real skill. That's why shooing 20ft and 3 pointers drop off, from passes (sometimes the shooters are on, sometimes they are off). But when you are getting passes 1-5 feet from the rim for layups. Those don't drop off in percentage like shooting long rangers do. For example, one game he'll only have 3 assist (zero turnovers). But those assist will be perfect passes for lay-ups. We have a long season to go...I just hope that MJ's knees don't go bad on us.
Wow,McGrady love yao so much "Every time I answered, Yao Ming answered," McGrady said. "I had the hot streak in the third quarter, but it didn't matter, they'd just come down the court and do the same thing. Even Shaq can't stop him from getting position on the court. He's a beast."
I feel a bit sorry for him. This isn't at all what he signed up for. First Hill has a career ending injury. Then they trade his best friend for The Black Hole (Gooden). Now, everyone on the team sucks. He's been a good sport about it, mostly... but I bet he's instructed his agent to look for alternative accomodations.
Yup. I read December's SI and he said that it mainly depends on if Grant is coming back by next season or not. If Grant isn't well enough to play, he's out. He was pretty eeeh that they traded some players and never consulted him.
Yes, I noticed this also... out of the maybe 12-15 or so games I have seen this year, this was the first time I have seen Cat giving the ball to Ming consistently, without hesitation. Stuart
No way better than Isiah. Isiah was probably better in junior high. I predict Francis will never get it. He's getting by on athletic ability now and when he's 31-32 it'll be game over.
True. Now. But I was dreaming.... I was talking about IF Francis had MJ's passing ablity he'd be one of the top 10 PG ever. Not athletic ability alone. That's what we have now.
