ClutchFans Game Thread: Sonics @ Rockets 2/22/2005

Might be the worst assessment ever...

 

Didn't see the game, only the highlights, but damn, this one got away...should have won, but that makes tonights game vs. the spurs that much more important...

 

aside from the refs, the difference in the game had a lot to do with the depth of the sonics vs that of the rockets. the rockets have little depth, especially with sura out.

 

I normally don't like whiners, but Yao needs to start to blast it to the American media too. What does he have to lose? It's not like that he doesn't have the money to pay the fines. He gets zero respect from the refs partly because he is too nice on and off the court. The refs are people too and they can be pushed and manipulated.

 

Danny is actually one of the vet refs in the game. I always thought he called a fair game, sigh..

 

question for you R2K:

the last couple of things you have posted for the viewing pleasure of all involved have not been working. The link automatically goes into my Windows Media player, rather than WInamp (which I got specifically so I can watch R2K highlights). Anyway, I guess what I am asking is there something I can do to fix that or is it something I need in the media player thats not working or what? Thanks and I do mega aprricate all the work that you do to post this stuff because I am an out of towner and dont get to see a ton of games.

 

Instead of simply clicking on the link, you should click it with the right mouse button to download it (save target as), then you can open it up with any program you want. You can also download the codec to play R2K's files on WMP (Windows Media Player). I don't recall exactly the link, though.

 

but rockets are 4:14 (or something close to that) when being out-rebounded.
I really miss sura and his rebounds.

 

He is one of the 'name' refs, but from what I have seen of him in the games that I have gone to here in Houston, he either has it in for us, or is one of those powerhungry jerks who loves to screw over the home team. I have not been impressed at all with him.

About Yao's hooking: He is not gaining an advantage from it. There are really obvious hooks, where the offensive player clearly keeps the defender from recovering. But for Yao, most of the time he just uses his arm as a feeler to see where the defender is. Usually the defender is pushing so hard on Yao's back, that when he spins, the defender goes flying forward while losing his balance. You'd think the refs would be used to it by now, and almost all post players use the move. Reggie Evans used it on Howard. Yao used it earlier in the game. For them to foul out Yao on that play is bullcrap, as already noted.

Also, if the refs are gonna call it, then Yao should try to stop doing it. It doesn't help him that much, and it just gives the refs another opportunity to screw him. It's probably a natural reaction to stick the arm out there, but it might be for the best if he just didnt do it anymore.

 

For those that need the consoling, the only way I can make sense of yesterday was to think karma-wise, and though we obviously haven't been the official's darlings this year, I can remember that Clipper game back in November where T-Mac got bailed out with that foul call on his running J. Or when Patrick Ewing got that moving pick call in the 94 Finals. You see, I often use that Patrick Ewing moving pick call to cheer me up.

T-Mac's play yesterday was very disappointing. He hit some timely jumpers, but not enough. He went up for that jam late...and lost the ball, and there was that outlet pass to Ray Allen. He needs to step up, but unfortunately, and on the same token, Yao needs to learn how to do what he did yesterday while McGrady is hot. I'm giving it time, though.

It was nice seeing Yao rip it up, though, huh? He was finishing plays we all expect him to but normally doesn't.

 

I believe it was Adams that called the last foul on Yao. I like Crawford but overall I think the refereeing has suffered over the past several years, I think I read there are quite a # of refs with less than 3 years experience in the league. That probably has something to do with it.

 

Yao normally doesn't finish plays? Yao shoots better than 60% in Feb so far and 55% for the season. If that's not normally finishing plays, I don't know what is.

Yao needs to learn how to do that while McGrady is hot?
Yao usually doesn't get the chance to do that when McGrady gets hot or the team is winning big. So probably you need to wait for very long to see that happen.

 

Yao looked great.

I was sooooo sad to see that Sura wasn't playing. Didn't have audio so just assumed the worse. Apparently it's just a tad worse than I assumed.

Rod Strickland. I was mumbling "take him out... put in mo... anybody... good god... that is the worst I've seen any Rocket play since we had Moochie. I wonder if Moochie is still available?"

But Yao. He is going to have to have a monster game tonight and all I can say is good luck boys. Last night was a brawl and those guys are going to be exhausted. I'm not sure Yao is going to have that kind of energy tonight. It just might make T-Mac have one of those trandscendent moments however.

Those guys worked tonight. To have the game called the way it was freakin' sucked. I couldn't believe the call on that block by Motumbo. And the flagrant foul? Like I said I didn't have audio... I'm sitting there staring over my beer saying "wtf? WTF?"

then the offensive on Yao... terrible. then Wesley... jaw drops... I go home shaking my head. Knowing we would have won this game if our free throws were better from our two all-stars kinda' hurt too.

and sura... *cries like a baby*

 

You know I thought about that too. I think Yao sticks an arm out just to keep his balance. He's 7'6, and it's not easy for him to spin like that. The ref should just let it go.

 

"The officials calling a foul on that Mutombo block is an embarassment to the game of NBA basketball. James Naismith is rolling over in his grave as we speak." - Bill Walton

 

Late to this thread, but was at the game last night, so a few comments.

First, great game. Yes, the 2nd half sucked as a Rockets fan...or, I guess a fan of solid offense. But the game really did harken back to the old days of Sonic-Rocket feuds. This had that feel, and just when I had gotten around to start liking the Sonics again. I mean, how can you not like Ray Allen and Rashard. Plus, as with every loss that's been part of the Sonics / Rockets wars, it feels like you got cheated somehow, even though everyone would be all smiles if only a shot or two had fallen here or there.

That said, clearly it was a poorly officiated game. But complaining about it is really tiring me. It was horrible. It was beyond horrible. It's not even about one team getting the calls, another team not, though the Sonics were certainly treated like the home team last night. It's about calling the right calls, and still keeping the game entertaining.

Whether or not Yao hooks on that move is not the question last night. Why? Because everytime he did it, he was being shoved in the back before the hook...DEFENSIVE foul.

For that matter, the Sonics interior defense was both horrible looking and impressive. Let's be honest, they have no-one down there. But, let's be really honest, those nobody's certainly know how to throw their weight around. Granted, Sura would have brought that toughness, especially in rebounding, that the Rockets lacked, but those guys - specifically Evans and James, really got physical and it impacted the game. For a while there I thought Nate was trying to give the game away by putting Potapenko back in.

All that said, in reality, the Sonics are still very thin on the inside, and even though they missed a lot of shots they may have otherwise made, they were the clear beneficiaries of a number of VERY questionable calls.

A first round series between these two teams would be fantastic, and, winable. Hope to see it happen.

 

We had their numbers until the very end, we could not put them away early on.

It would be a great game if we win, tough one to swallow.

Clutch was right, in a close game like this, the refs bailed out the sonics. We deserved to get this game, the sonics did not deserve to win this game. The turning point is probably Yao's offensive foul (6th personal), they're robbing us blind in our own house. Unbelievable!

I wish we get the sonics in the playoff, we will surely kick the **** out of them.

 

You're telling me you're the only one that didn't notice for what, the first 2 1/2 years in his career, that Yao will either bobble a gimme pass or go up for a dunk to take a hard foul and not finish? Is that just me, or am I crazy? I love Yao, but I'm not delusional. He's starting to rebound more crisply and is taking better advantage of mismatches and times when he's got good position.

 

Do you think if Yao was still in the game we would have won?

J