ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Mavericks 11/13/2003

I think our defense will slow down the Mavs to under 95pt, but we don't have the offense to put that many points to win. I hope I'm wrong, but here is my prediction.

Mavs -- 94
Rox -- 81

BTW, I'll tape the game, list each & every time when the guards choose to go 1on1 than passing to an open teamates, with a timing mark, Just like a summarized play by play.


--daoshi

 

BLING! just messin' around! haha!

 

Umm, how did you get a spot on the team?

 

Hmmm... this should be an interesting game. Last year, the Rockets were completely vulnerable to the Mavs' game (namely us playing a zone vs. a good perimeter shooting team, and our lamentable shooting, making their own zone highly effective), which led to horrendous mismatches every single outing.

Now we've made a seemingly miraculous transformation, erasing our primary weaknesses against the Mavs; excellent perimeter game and man-to-man defense to keep the shooters in check. The Mavs look somewhat weaker this year, though part of that obviously was linked to Nash's injury. All things considered, I expect to see a completely different game from last year's abominations, with the keys to our success rebounding and keeping our turnovers down. We can't put up another poor rebounding effort like the one at Miami.

The Rockets, if the team has really been heading in the direction that we've seen, should at least be able to give them a game this time around. Not saying that a win is guaranteed, of course, but any loss should be a close one, unless we just have a complete collapse.

 

This is going to be a great litmus test for our defense, I'm interested to see how well we hold them. I'm concerned for our offense. Rockets have relied heavily on outside shooting to win and they haven't yet nailed down how to work on the inside with Yao. We win if our defense holds strong, we light it up from outside, and Dallas shoots poorly. I don't think we'll get much offense from Yao in the paint; I'm not sure about his conditioning and I think after his first game against Dallas last year, they've figured out how to play him.

Dallas 97, Houston 92

 

Link:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...l/mavs/stories/111303dnspomavslede.2a35c.html

Rockets expect bigger things from Yao
Former Knicks great out to make Houston's star 7-footer better

12:45 AM CST on Thursday, November 13, 2003
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News

HOUSTON – Patrick Ewing was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history before he became an assistant coach.

During his career, he confronted a who's who of centers ranging from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O'Neal.

In his new position with the Houston Rockets, Ewing has tested 7-6 Yao Ming a couple times in one-on-one battles.

The result?

"He's a big man," Ewing said, pausing for effect. "A big man."

And gifted, with mobility, a shooting touch and skills not seen in anyone so tall.

Enter new Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy, whose offense historically emphasizes inside players. With Van Gundy came Ewing, whose duties include tutoring Yao and turning an unfinished talent from China into one of the best 50 players of the next 50 years.

"Before this year I knew he was one of the best centers in the NBA," Yao said through an interpreter. "Now I have to find out if he's a good teacher. We've only just started so I'll have to tell you later."

During the preseason, Yao averaged 19.7 points while shooting 65 percent from the field.

In five regular-season games, he's third in scoring on the 5-1 Rockets at 15.3 ppg, behind Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and recording 8.3 rebounds a game.

The numbers are better than Yao's debut last season, but only scratch the surface of his potential.

He's playing an average of 31.5 minutes a game, up 2 ½ minutes from last season, but his endurance remains a question.

"I don't really have a schedule for him," Van Gundy said. "I would say he's played well. Like everybody, he can improve. I think his disposition to be a dominant player in this league has to improve for him to become that type of player."

The Rockets said Yao has to be more aggressive and proactive.

They want to see him impose his will on the game, not vice versa, and call for the ball in the low post. Ewing, whose aggressiveness and intensity defined his 17 NBA seasons, could be the perfect antidote for perceived pacifism.

"When Yao gets the ball, what I've told him right now is that no one in this league should be able to play him one-on-one," Ewing said. "He's too big, he's too good. He has to dominate. When they double-team him, he has to find the open people. We have great players in Steve and also Yao. We have to take advantage of it."

Van Gundy believes a pleasant personality in normal life can mesh with a gladiator mentality on the court.

He cites Rockets icon Hakeem Olajuwon as a perfect example, someone who "seemed to be a nice gentle guy until he was on the court dropping 50 on people."

At least people are talking about what Yao, the basketball player, in his second season.

Yao, the curiosity, has blended into the background. The media that thronged around Yao much of last season has relocated to the Los Angeles Lakers or LeBron James.

Many of the awkward moments from last season have similarly disappeared.

At one point last year, with Yao in earshot, interpreter Colin Pine was asked, "What does he eat?" as if the subject was a zoo exhibit.

Yao displayed patience, a sense of humor and a decent understanding of a new language. When a broadcast journalist in Washington asked Yao to say his favorite English words, Yao shouted, "Last question."

With that season of learning and culture shock behind him, Yao says he is finally comfortable. His confidence has built on last season's foundation, he says.

"I feel a little bit like how I felt when I played for the Shanghai Sharks," Yao said after the Rockets' season opener last month. "When I'm in Shanghai, I'm at home."

Briefly ...

While 6-8 Danny Fortson is coming off his best game as a Maverick, coach Don Nelson said he will also use 7-6 Shawn Bradley against Houston's similarly sized Yao Ming. ... Antawn Jamison said he was sore and in need of a massage Wednesday after an awkward tumble over New Orleans' Robert Traylor. "I didn't want to come in and use it as an excuse not to practice," said Jamison, who expects to play Thursday.

 

I am getting more and more nervous about the next two games. It's reality check. As of today, the win-loss record of the teams we defected is 13-26. I guess the players are thinking the same things as our fellow fans which is "How good are the rockets?". If we can win the next 2 games, it will be huge confidence boost for our players. Otherwise, it could build some doubts on their mind.

I hope they can at least win one of them. I prefer the suns games as they are our major playoff spots' opponent and I HATE the SUNS personally.

 

We've gotta hope that some of the Big time Mavs get into early foul trouble. Also, we do have to feed the ball into Yao tonight. He has to be tough in this game.

We can't allow Nash to run all over us sproadically. We must contain the easy shots, no wide open looks tonight.

Nash, Dirk and Finely will get their numbers. Let's hope Walker and Jameson don't take over also.

 

Link:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...avs/stories/111303dnspomavspreview.2cb66.html

Mavericks-Houston Rockets preview
09:48 PM CST on Wednesday, November 12, 2003
By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, American Airlines Center

TV/RADIO: TNT; ESPN-FM 103.3, KESS-AM 1270, Spanish

SERIES: Rockets lead, 69-47

KEY MATCHUP
Nellie's offense vs. Van Gundy's defense

The Mavericks led the NBA in scoring last season and added Antoine Walker and Antawn Jamison. They are 3-0 when they've shot at least 50 percent. But new coach Jeff Van Gundy has brought Eastern Conference defense to Houston with dramatic results. The Rockets lead the NBA in fewest points allowed (76.8) and field-goal percentage defense (.355). Center Yao Ming blocked seven shots in a win over Miami. Whichever team controls the early tempo will have a significant advantage.

INSIDE THE ROCKETS
Mighty Mobley: No Houston player has been hotter the past three games than guard Cuttino Mobley. He is averaging 23.7 ppg in that span, including 30 in Tuesday's win over Miami. He's made 28-of-44 shots in those three games, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range.

Hear no evil: Bill Van Gundy, a coach himself, didn't need anyone telling him how sons Jeff and Stan were doing in their head-to-head match-up Tuesday. The Houston Chronicle reported that he watched Houston's 90-70 win over Miami with the sound off.

INSIDE THE MAVERICKS
Back in the lineup: Center Danny Fortson made his second start of the season and first since opening night, posting season-highs in points (nine) and rebounds (11). His 23 minutes equaled his combined playing time in three previous games.

Home cooking: After Tuesday's 125-97 win over New Orleans, the Mavericks are averaging 118.3 points a game at American Airlines Center, where they are 3-0 this season. Conversely, they've managed 86.0 points a game and a 2-3 record on the road.

PROBABLE STARTERS
Rockets Pos. Mavericks
Jim Jackson F Dirk Nowitzki
Kelvin Cato F Antoine Walker
Yao Ming C Danny Fortson
Cuttino Mobley G Michael Finley
Steve Francis G Steve Nash

 

Rockets 101
Dallas 87
Attack: combined reasonable play inside and outside the paint,Rockets will win the game.
points reb as blks
Yao Ming 21 16 3 3
Steve 23 9 12 2
Cat 25 6 5
Cato 10 13 3
Bench 25

 

Those to losses were also without their MVP Steve Nash. Most people like to lablel dirk that cause of all his scoring, but Nash makes the offense go and without him the offense is discombobulated. When he came back, they went on to beat the spurs and hornets.

 

Me too! I'm going to try and get my camera in... ticketmaster says no cameras, but we'll see.

Rockets win... 115 to 87.

Franics with a triple double with 26 pts. 10 Rebs. and 16 assists, Yao Ming drops in 24 gets 10 boards and 6 swats, Jim Jackson gets respect from Dallas that they tried to take away when he entered the league and drops in 19, gets 2 blocks, 2 steals... Mobley goes for 13 pts. 3 steals, Boki huge from the pine hits 4-4 from trey land, Padgett big off the bench with a dime, Mooch for 8, and Braggs breaks out the rebound machine with 9, and gets a putback and one for 3.

Antione Walker has a "brick fest" trying to force heroics from the 3 pt. line. Nash disappears. Dirk has to shoulder the load, but not hardly enough. Jamison scores the most for Dallas... They "try" and play Yao with Bradley... hee, hee.

 

i'm pretty sure you can bring your camera. i called the toyota center and asked them if i could bring my camera, they said no, i brought it anyway and they didn't say anything. a lot of people bring their cameras. i'm sure it's the same in dallas. have fun at the game and be loud!!

 

I have high hopes. We aren't going in arrogant like last year and are hungry and humble.

 

Is Yao guilty of taking too many shots

With the ROXvsDallas game around the corner, I'm still concerned how many touches Yao will have in this game, which in my opinion will be ultimately determines the outcome of the game. Here's what I've got to say.
People have been talking about that Yao should take more shots and demand the ball more. But they haven't really addressed the issue of how Yao feels if he does take that many shots, and maybe, effectively becomes the first option in shooting the ball on the team. Well, given his culture , that is, how he's brought up to be, I guess he has more issues to deal with besides 'demanding the ball more' or ' be more assertive and aggressive'.
As I assume, Yao will probably think,'what if I do take as many shots as coach told me? What if my teammates feel about me taking away their chances(to shoot the ball) and glammor? What if they complain about that? Worse still, what if I have some off nights after making teammates disgruntled?' Judging from where he came from, this could be the darn truth.
I guess nobody will disgree that too much thinking creates hesitation on a basketball player's part and disrupts his rythm. In other words, Yao would never be 100 percent while taking shots, especially after he has already got some attempts.
The solution might be to train Yao to get used to taking many shots. In other words, he should take 'taking so many shots' for granted and never be aware of that. Otherwise, the humble guy would never feel totally at ease playing the ball.

 

i know we'll lose but i'm hoping i'm wrong again, the Rockets knows and even says that this is where their test begins, to see if they improved or not..stevie said it..so i hope the rockets play thie best tomorrow

 

Surely we can't beat these superheroes.

 

A man without belief is a trash. I know it's probably not easy, but I also know they CAN do it as long as they have an even better team play! Fortune favour the BRAVE, let's hope they could show us that winner's character in this game!

 

At least, they're not wearing those really silly looking superhero tights. Well, I'm pretty sure Mark Cuban wears those to bed . . .

 

Rocket win
yao 33+pts 14+reb