ClutchFans Game Thread: Wizards @ Rockets 2/17/2004

Insider Translation: Chad Ford is a jackass.

 

Now, we know the STATS don't mean a s**t if not scaled to 48 minutes!

Mobley 28min 4-8 12 pts 3assists
Y. Ming 24min 7-11 16 pts 6rb


--daoshi

 

I have to completely disagree with you here. as a person who watches his fair share of games on the television, i have to say, I have beared the unbearable and have managed to gut out two halftime shows this year, but damn i would be lying if i said it wasnt on a weekend and i didnt have a few beers to help me get throught the process - point being, cooper is an embarrassment to Houston right now. she's not right for the economy, and shes not right for the young people. I dont know what you have it against lisa though man, but i really adored that women, and i think you owe deanbecurtis and me and the rest of her fan club who know a good telecast woman when we see one, an apologoy.


lisa malosky we love you, and it aint the brews talking.

 

Washington Post recap:

Wizards Hit the Road -- Hard
Rockets Pull Away Early In 1st Game After the Break: Rockets 107, Wizards 81
By Steve Wyche
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 18, 2004; Page D01


HOUSTON, Feb. 17 -- After being called for traveling in the midst of the second quarter of Washington's 107-81 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, Wizards center Etan Thomas barreled over Houston center Yao Ming, sending the 7-foot-6 all-star to the floor.

Yao unfurled himself, stood up and started laughing, as if asking, "That's all you've got?" Then he went downcourt and scored on a layup to extend Houston's lead to 19.

It was a snapshot that encapsulated the Wizards effort in a loss that equaled their largest margin of defeat this season. There the struggling Wizards were trying to flex their muscles, only to have the Rockets find it amusing.

"We couldn't score, we couldn't get it done," said guard Gilbert Arenas, who had 11 points on 3-of-15 shooting but led the Wizards with eight rebounds. "We were hanging with them at the beginning. I can't explain what happened. They beat the [stuffing] out of us."

The Wizards' blowout loss at Toyota Center came in both teams' first game after the all-star break but for Washington, the result extended a familiar trend established over the first 50 games. The Wizards (16-33) lost for the 14th time in 15 road games, adding to their NBA-worst 5-21 mark away from home.

This was the second straight game Washington has been hammered by at least 25 points. The Wizards stumbled into the all-star break with a lackluster loss in Philadelphia last week, and Tuesday allowed Houston to drop three-pointers and alley-oop dunks featured in the defenseless All-Star Game that Rockets Steve Francis and Yao played in Sunday.

Houston (31-22) shot 54 percent and accumulated a season-high 34 assists on 44 field goals -- a staggering ratio that exemplified team play -- while Washington made just 41 percent of its shots, managing 16 assists. The Rockets also converted nearly all of the Wizards' 23 turnovers into points (38) as Washington lost for the ninth time in 10 trips to Houston.

"Very few nights in this league is it easy," Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy said diplomatically. "For whatever reason, it wasn't as difficult as most nights."

After a competitive first six minutes, during which Washington led 16-14, things unraveled. Houston closed the opening period with a 16-2 run, held the Wizards to four points in the first five minutes of the second quarter and went into halftime up 57-37.

Each member of its starting front court had scored in double figures by halftime; the Wizards' starting forwards, Kwame Brown and Jerry Stackhouse, had as many turnovers as points (five) in the first half.

"We were playing good at first, then we turned the ball over a lot and that gave them a lot of energy," said Wizards center Brendan Haywood, who had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocked shots and was the only starter without a turnover. "They got a lot of easy looks and things just snowballed from there. You can't point to anything that went well for us."

Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan said that when things got bad, no player on the team stepped up on the court or in the locker room. The lack of leadership was troubling.

"We just didn't have the leadership that we needed," said Jordan, who did not single out anyone. "We needed a little bit more confidence and more team morale and camaraderie. We've got to learn how to do that, especially this time of the year. We're not going to allow this to slip."

The Rockets, who had six players score in double figures, inflicted most of their damage inside, scoring 48 points in the lane to Washington's 30.

Forward Jim Jackson led Houston with 17 points, Yao had 16 and four blocked shots, and forward Kelvin Cato had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Francis added 11 points and back-court mate Cuttino Mobley added 12.

Thomas, who did much of his scoring when the game out of hand, led Washington with 13 points. Backup guard Steve Blake added 12 points. Forward Jarvis Hayes, who played 20 minutes on a sprained right ankle, had eight points and a team-high five assists. Brown and Stackhouse had seven points each.

Juan Dixon started in place of injured guard Larry Hughes and finished with nine points and a game-high six turnovers.

 

Yes, it's time for the Rox to make the broadcast 'Air' Bull.

Is Coop's place a way for Les to get more from his 'investment' in her, a pfulfillment of a promise to her if she came back she'd get air time, or just a really poor decision? I say that while NOT watching the wrap shows. Hagedorn is poor, and a bright light in comparison.

Calvin is someone my wife enjoys, so I am a huge Calvin fan. If he helps her watch the games then BINGO, Calvin you are my man! Besides, he isn't bad -- when he sticks to the game. (And Bill is fine on Rox, brutal on 'stros...what is up with that???).

 

Gotta put in my vote for replacing Coop with AirBull!

Is it a coincidence that they have been doing more and more aftergame segments and Rockets Roundtable segments with Bull?

I think not...they realize how popular and how good Bull is...now if we could get them to permanantly replace Coop with him...we would be set.

now..to the game.

most telling stat...

34 assists on 44 shots??

this is teamplay gentlemen.

If they can manage this kind of ball sharing...we can beat Dallas.(as long as the defense remains strong)....defense hasnt been our problem...it has been the offense....and if they have truely got the idea that sharing the ball=wins...we could be in for a pleasant surprise against the better West teams.

and it looks like Boki is finally getting his touch back....I hope he can keep it up...

 

Did the audio link work?

 

Only 2 points off for both. I should do this professionally.

34 assists? The Rockets? I didn't get to see the game but it sounded more like practice than a game. Are we sure that wasn't Rice or UH playing instead of the Wiz?

 

jerk store... jerk store! that's it! YEAH WELL THE JERK STORE CALLED AND THEY'RE OUT OF YOU!

 

Yeah it worked. Thanks a lot Blatz. The Wiz announcer ain't too bad.

 

Yup.

It's no surprise we beat a lottery team with a record 5-20 on the road this season. What's excited me most was our 34 season high assists.

Assist Stats

Stevie 7 assists

M.Jackson 9 assists in 23 min

Weatherspoon 5 assists

Cat 3 assists

Cato 3 assists

Taylor 3 assists

... ...

Wow. That's GREAT!

Go on Rockets! Be consistent Rockets! Go, Rox Go!

 

anemone

Junior Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Feb 2004
Member: #15879


Did Clutch open the gate for new members again? Welcome aboard, anemone. Good first post. Or are you one of those former members registering with a new name?

 

That's good.

 

At Last! It was good to see the Team play for the most part as a Team.Now for 29 repeat performances!

 

why should they worry? You're their all-time best seller!

 

Boy, Pike must REALLY be in Van Gundy's doghouse if he can't get playing time in a 30-point blowout.

 

Yao said on Rockets' start (They made four of their first five shots but, with six turnovers in less than six minutes.)

"I think it's a warning to us," Yao said. "At the beginning of the game, we had a lot of mistakes -- at least I did. If we're against a tougher team, we can't afford to have those kinds of mistakes."

"A tougher team"?

How about Dallas?

Kick Mavs ass! Go,Rox Go!

 

Great pic. Sweet! I missed it just now.

Steve Francis: NO way take us apart. We're gonna fight together forever... ...