Can someone describe the last shot by Francis & Brandon? I was watching the game on espn gamecast and I want to know what happened?
Basically Kevin Willis had to pick up Terrell on a pick. Terrell was driving to the basket at an angle on the left side (Terrell's left) Willis was trying to stay in front, but as Terrell had Willis backpeddaling, he stopped on a dime and elevated to hit a wide open jumper from about 10 feet away.
Francis didn't take the last shot...Rice did. His shot was halfway in and spun out. It was remarkable that we still had a chance to win considering the poor 1st quarter, Garnett scoring 37, and several questionable calls.
Aside from Manny's whining about the officiating the Rockets had their chances to win this game within the last minute. They turned it over on back to back plays and although Minnesota couldn't convert, either of those possessions could have spelled a Rockets win. Rice had a good look on the last shot and it went down, but came back out. I think he is still trying to get his legs under him. Don't write him off as another Wiz just yet.
Minnesota did convert on one of the two steals by Brandon at the end. On the first Szczerbiak missed a jumber off the glass, but on the second Brandon's layup was swatted against the glass by Mobley, but the trailor, Szczerbiak, grabbed the board and layed it in for 2.
That was a tough loss. It would have been nice for Rice to make that shot. O well. We can't win them all. I am glad I was not in town because I hate losing the Tpups and at least watching it on gamecast isn't as tough as watching it on TV. Thanks all. I just think we should have given the last shot chance to Mobley.... He is the closest thing we have to Horry and Cassell last minute heroics.
Yeah Mobley or Francis taking the last shot would have been real nice, especially since Rice hasn't been able to make jack from long range so far this season...but we really didn't have a choice, since with 2.4 seconds all we really got was a rushed inbounds pass to Rice who had to force up a tough 3 over outstretched arms of several defenders.
There was no switch, like Francis ever switches on Terrell...Francis always goes under. Willis was not of Terrell. Terrell took Francis to 10ft and did a jump shot fade. Swish. Stevie couldn't even jump. this was bad team defense on overplaying Garnett for the last shot....imo...and Minn probably played it based on Steve would not guard Terrell very well...as always (from their point of view, we must admit). As for the Rice shot...it was not "backiron" like the cc.net Recap says. This was inside front iron carom off the back...very close...straight on. As for someone else shooting???? uh...it was as inbounds play with 2.4 seconds....who exactly was open?
On the replay on nba.comtv, it appears the game winning Garnett/Brandon P&R was being defended by Moochie and Willis. Moochie stayed with Garnett and Willis switched off to Brandon. Don't know why Moochie had Brandon, but he did.
