I understand the excitement of Yao's breakout game, but excitement over eeking out a narrow victory over the Shaq-less Lakers doesn't fly. Like the Phoenix game, the Rockets failed to execute in the closing minutes. This time they got lucky.
If thats horrible play......only then I would take that luck anyday. Last year we lost so many games within 3 points. THis year we have pciked 2 out of 3. I could live with that, trhough I know we need to get better at closing out.
A win is a win is a win. Lucky or not, they put themselves in the situation where they were able to eke it out. Being down 8 in the third, and then missing defensive rebound after defensive rebound, the game was pretty much done ... for them to pull together, go on a run and position themselves to get a W is impressive. Even if Kobe had gotten that shot to go in, we still had 8.2 secs to get a shot off. The play was so very sloppy, and ugly ... but still, we're 5-3 Is it just me, or did Yao look a little lost on the offense. Maybe Rudy hasn't completely incorporated him into the offense, but there were many times in the 4th where, had he been in the right spot under the basket, he would have gotten easy buckets. Again, glad to have the win Wooohoooo! Bring on Dallas!
It may be a hollow victory...but it was one of those games that we needed to show that we can win. I'm sure if we lost, the doubters would be saying "see, you cant even beat them without Shaq"
Hey, at least Cuttino sealed the deal with those free throws in the final minute. That's progress considering he missed two against the Suns, which ultimately cost us the game.
Was Phoenix’s win over us just as hollow? After all how many times during the course of Cats career do you think he will miss two straight free throws in the closing minutes with the game on the line. Poor Phoenix, their win is just as hollow as ours is
I'm glad to take the victory myself. Not much to celebrate though. With a healthy Shaq in the lineup, this could have been a 20 point Rocket loss.
I don't remember anyone feeling guilty about beating us last year with so many of our players on IR and Steve either out or suffering with migraines. As a matter of fact I don't recall Indy feeling bad about beating us when we were with out several players in the opening game. Are you telling me that a team that won 3 straight NBA titles is no more than one person? With out Shaq that team is not even a decent win? Horry, Fox, Fisher and Kobe all suck? Hmmmm. I think I can check my guilt at the door long enough to consider this an excellent road win for us on a night that Kobe and Fisher were hot.
Coulda been, but Shaq wasn't in the game ... and we can't really predict what would have happened. The rematch is Dec 20, and Shaq should be healthy by then, let's wait for that game. You can't really taint a victory because of who was on the court. Besides, it's not like Kobe is a pushover or anything. It's like arguing 'Oh well, Jordan wasn't facing the Rockets, so those 2 championships don't really mean much, he could have destroyed them' Yeah maybe, but then again, he wasn't good enough to get his team to the finals those years So, maybe we'll lose, or maybe not.
Phoenix had all their top weapons in the game and executed down the stretch. No, not a hollow victory for them. Lakers were missing Shaq!
Could have been IT WASN'T ...move on. With shaq in you have no clue as to how it turns out...for one thing kobe wouldn't have taken 40 shots.
They did not execute that well since both teams were bricking shots for the last two minutes of that game. It is just as Hollow I am afraid since it is a complete anomaly that Cat missed two free throws that he makes 85% of the time that would have sealed the victory. Poor Phoenix, they must be beside themselves.
hollow?? it's one more win we're gonna need to make the playoffs...against a team on the schedule we have had a hard time beating in the past... as for yao...come on! the guy had a breakout game last night! was shaq there? no...but even when shaq is playing, he only plays for ONE team...the other 27 teams have to find a way to stop Ming, too. tell you what...i'd LOVE to get some more hollow victories like that. sure didn't seem that hollow on the rockets' faces after the game. when you don't play your best game, but you still win, that's cause of optimism! GO ROCKETS!
I am excited about Yao's game. The victory, however, just doesn't have me jumping up and down. And no team wins a championship in a hollow way. It comes from executing down the stretch.
Glad to have the win. Although it was ugly, we got it. I too am very concerned about our ability to close out a game. We should have won in Phoenix the other night and almost gave this one away too.
