ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Raptors 11/16/2003

God you moron, or did you trade your brains for EG's stash? YAO WASN'T EVEN GUARDING BOSH. We know he can't play 47 mins a game and I'm surprised he even lived in 2OT, and you're asking him to guard 2 MEN?

 

I think all this panic talk is ridiculous.


That said, I was amazed that Yao didn't get any touches for the last 15-20 mins. He had turned it on, was our best player in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and was getting huge ref respect. I like what JVG is doing in most respects, that call for Padgett was sweet...but not going once to Yao when Toronto was in borderline fould trouble inside in the 4th, not to mention OT...I don't get it.

 

Game over, Raptors win

Toronto's man: Bosh - 25 points (7/11 FG), 9 boards
Houston's man: Francis - 25 points (9/27 FG), 7 boards

Others:
Yao - 20 points (6/12 FG), 12 boards, 7 TOs
Mobley - 19 points (5/14 FG), 3 boards, 6 TOs

Vince Carter sucks, 4/20 shooting for 19 points, 9 TOs.

 

If I were Yao, I would SHOUT at JVG : "What the fvck was that? I run up and down there for 48 minutes there and you let these idiots to waste my effort?"

 

I've seen Steve Francis play some great games for the Rockets, but that has to be one of his worst performances since he came into the league.

He hogged the ball down the stretch, heaving up desperation threes at the end of regulation and OT. I can't believe Van Gundy drew up those plays. How many assists did he have?

Also, Vince Carter has 5 fouls on him from the beginning of OT. Cat showed throughout the game that he could beat him off the dribble. Why not go at him? Try to get him to foul out? He no longer becomes a scoring threat or decoy, just a bench warmer.

Finally, defensive breakdowns near the end of regulation and OT. Quick fouls after the Raptors inbounded the ball let the Raptors score with the clock standing still. That killed the Rockets and gave the Raptors an extra possession.

Extremely dissapointing game.

 

Steve 9/27 in 51 minutes, 1 assist.
Yao 6/12 in 50 minutes, 1 assist, 7 TO
Cat 5/15 in 52 minues, 4 assists, 6 TO

Nobody played well, but I blamed Steve 50%, Yao 25% and Cat 25%.

 

im sure AI shot and missed way more before. SO do you think AI sucks. And if it wasnt for steve, we would of not gone to double overtime, and loose in regulation.

 

Stevie definitely overshot toward the end of the game, but he was clearly the best Rocket player for the entire 4th quarter. He was making money shots possession after possession.

 

i would say he was the best Rocket palyer for the first OT.

 

Steve being the best player in the 4th, with which I agree, and Yao getting 0 shots in over 15 minutes are not the same thing. Yao was our best player for 2 quarters, but was never taking all the shots. It's one thing if a guy gets white hot...yeah, you feed him until he cools. But that was hardly the case, and he had cooled for over 2 OTs...

 

When Cart was not shooting well, he looked for assists. His assists equal the total Rockets' assist number

 

Totally agreed. In particular when I saw Yao hit his jumper in the final second. I don't mind going inside whether he shot like a girl or not as long as he shot .500 rather Steve and Mobley's .333. We would have won the game easily.

Also, the defensive lapse was terrible. Why did we ask Cato to double team Carter when Bosh was hot? Leaving Bosh wide open killed us for many times - at the end of the 4th quarter and OT.

 

This game was about the Rockets (and staff) not taking the Raptors seriously as an opponent.

"Oh, it's just the Raptors. They suck. It should be an easy game."

The Raptors won it with heart and because they have "nothing to lose."
The Rocket took them for granted.

Let it be a painful lesson.

 

You forgot to mention carter's 9 as and 5 boards and steve's 1 as. It seems to me Francis didn't do a better job than carter. CMon, you are a PG and only 1 as over 50 minutes. How pathetic!!

 

ok flame me all you want but Francis and Cat sux. They simply do not pass the ball or dont know how. I dont understand why the Rockets do not run the offensive thro Yao, like how the Spurs do w/ TD. You can say Yao is overratted or wht not but the man commands double teams. PERIOD! Francis as the POINT GUARD has one freaking asst? Thats LAME. Franchise and Cat jus dribble dribble and when they do pass its only because they r in trouble! And how sad is it that they can not even feed the post? It takes them 2 or 3 passes to pass in the post. Francis is a great player but not a pt guard. i love the guy, dont get me wrong. I just want what is best for the team. we need someone like bibby. a player maker who sets up his teams. A pt guard who gives the ball to his teammates where they r in the best position to score. I know ppl say yao has a hard time fending off his oppt. but how hard is it to keep someone off your back when ur teammates keep passing the ball around b/c they cant get it to you?

If i were jvg i would be pulling my hair out!

my suggestions
Francis for Bibby
of Francis for Ray Allen. ( Sonics might move him since they got Murry) I hate to give up Francis but he prolly has the most trade value. I wish we could trade Cat but he SUCK!

 

Exciting Game! Too much selfish play by Francis and Mobley again, especially when the Game is on the line.Steve was having a bad shooting nightand should have involved more players. The Guards dont drive and pass off to an open man except just before the end when an open Padgett scored, the Raptors used this play throughout the Game.JVG needs to look at the Tape many glaring mistakes and poor decissions. If it wasnt for the improved defence its just the same old story.

 

We showed absolutely no poise down the stretch. We had the game all but wrapped up and we choked...absolutely choked.

Steve tried to do too much out there (god someone needed to give him a butt kick); Yao seemed to have no clue about how to hold onto the ball (and I thought Cato had crappy hands); and Cat just plainly sucked.

Good god a loss in this fashion is just too damn hard to take.

 

See here's the thing. When AI shoots 27 shots, he usually gets COUNT IT 40 POINTS. He's also a GREAT CLUTCH PLAYER. He's also the ONLY OPTION ON THE SIXERS getting DOUBLE AND TRIPLE TEAMS. But what do I know, Steve Francis can do no wrong.

 

OMG is this really what happened? I didn't get to watch the game but if that's the case...I suggest JVG should hear about this. That is inexcusable for a PG.

 

What a lose!