ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Timberwolves 3/5/2004

Pacers just sunk the j*zz's battleship... 3-ball w/:35 left,

Pacers lead 93-86... great Rocket win and Jazz loss in the same night..

i'm looking for Santa to come pouring down the chimney pretty soon..

dave
springfield, mo

 

It's good to see the Jazz lose. It gives some breathing room for the 7th spot.

 

Yep.Indy 7 up with 20 sec to go.

 

Indy beat Utah. 96-88.

 

Exactly haven...

That's why I took a "wait and see attitude" after his first two years. He was "young" they would say...."Give him time." So I waited....until 2002. Then it was "bash time!"

Now, I'm still waiting...

 

what a game to watch!

Yao is great in the first half; and steve take over the second half. When both of us do well, the rox is unstoppable!

AG, come back to shoot 1000 free throws Don't hesitate too much before shooting considering that you only need to get 1 of 2 done.

We still have some problems to defend sharp shooting team. The rotation must be quicker! However, the last two times of defend are great!

HOw sweet a win!

NOw is the mavs! If a spurs without duncan can win them, why not us?

Go rox!

-LIttlefish

 

I hope you are right. Because if he doesn't learn this "wisdom" he will surely be traded.

 

Mimmy and KG must be frustrated after losing to the Rockets by shooting 55% from the floor.

Any update on Kobe's injury? He is still not back for the game and the NBALP did not say anything about it.

We can take a Kobeless Lakers in the best of 7 series by 4:2 or 4:1.

I also like Mo's interview after the game with Bullard. Mo specifically mentioned that the PO favors teams that play slowdown and half court games and he likes Rockets, Spurs, and Lakers to come out of the west.

 

Should the Rockets intentionally foul Mark Madsen? Considering the Twolves are prolific from the floor with Sam and KG, I think it is actually a decent strategy to foul the heck out of Mark Madsen every single time down the court. This guy is going to be shooting airballs come playoff time from the free throw line. The Rockets will take the crowd out of the game, and slow the game down to a speed that will suit Yao well.

 

Madsen makes close to 60% of his FTs. Even with a sloppy FTer like Bruce Bowen, you don't intentionally foul him simply because it doesn't worth it ---- unless you are desperate like Dallas was in that particular Dallas-Spurs game. Plus, Rox becomes the second laughing stock (Dallas being the first) if we intentially foul Madsen every time he touches the ball.

 

Cato's jumper is really painful to watch! I want to see more weatherspoon, this guy is really nice!

-littlefish

 

Uh... because we are not the Spurs as their sweep of us showed.

 

Did anyone notice that Minnesota tried to zone us in the first quarter? We destroyed it with 12 footers from Yao and very crisp passing. I think Dallas is in for a rude awakening.

 

Yao Ming was a beast tonight and especially in the second half as he helped give our team a VERY important road win in the west. We was 2-13 prior to that win. Its pretty obvious that the best opponent for the Rockets in the first round are the T-Wolves. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised that the T-Wolves have another playoff disappoinment(spelling?) because lately, they've been kind've slggish in close games vs. the playoff teams of the west. They are pretty much a hot and cold team and if you go by history of that team, its a pretty good chance that they might stumble a bit once the playoffs come. We have a winning record against them since Yao has been on the team and if these teams were to meet, it will be a WAR. Yao can hold is own against KG on the offensive end. Lets see if we can win our two games at home against Dallas.

 

There sure are a lot of people jocking Steve in here considering he just got OUTPLAYED by Sam Cassell. It would be nice if Steve could mix a little defense into his game, or maybe that is why he played better on one end of the floor tonight.

 

Great news! I'm glad that Jazz lost, it means more possibility of us making the playoffs. But I have to admit that I'm quite impressed by what Sloan has done w/ the Jazz.

Btw, Dave, I used to live in Springfield, near National Ave. and Elm St. near SMSU.

 

Thanks for pointing that out, very useful. Not only that, but I heard that he didn't courtesy flush after taking a massive dump on the charter on the way home. What a b*stard.

 

1) Stevie wasn't guarding Sam all night

2) Stevie: 25 pts./6 rebs/6 assists (+ the W)
Sam: 25 pts./1 reb/13 assists

Sam obviously passed the ball better, but did he really (all caps) outplay Steve?

 

Is pointing out that Steve got outplayed really any less useful than the "great game!" comments? Pointing out that a player lost an individual battle is relevant, at times.

Against Cassell, I'm not really sure it means much. After all, Cassell playing well isn't really an indictment against Steve. But, still, I think you're reacting more to the fact that someone's attacking Steve rather than to the inherent properties of the comment.

 

^^^^^Thats Steve Francis numbers right there. He'll probably won't get to 20 points this season but he'll average around six rebounds and six assists by the end of the season and heading into the playoffs.