[Self-Flaggelation] Play-by-Play for 4th Qtr (1/27)

I sometimes make note of things I notice while watching the games, and I decided to do it play by play for the 4th quarter against the Jazz. The memory is imperfect, at least mine is, so it helps me to write this down so I can see where we might have really hurt ourselves.

Some things jumped out at me as I was reviewing this quarter:

• The Rockets went to a McGrady PnR or mid-post ISO virtually every possession after he entered the game (9:55 mark). Sometimes, it resulted in other players creating scores eventually (Brooks and Scola), but each possession started out with the Rockets getting T-Mac the ball.
• For Utah, they also relied heavily on Williams in PnR and ISO throughout the quarter. He was able to get penetration into the lane much more easily.
• Novak's all-around defense was just pitiful. It's amazing how many of the defensive breakdowns he was a part of, and the variety too.
• Our pick and roll execution didn't yield good shots around the basket. McGrady needs to aggressively look to get into the teeth of defense, either with the pass to the player rolling into the lane, or off the dribble.
• Just in general, poor close out defense, and we did a bad job getting after the loose balls and defensive rebounds.

[rquoter]
<b>Jazz</b>
Harpring scores on curl, catch and shoot over Novak
62-59

<b>Rockets</b>
Battier misses on drive

<b>Jazz</b>
Harpring cuts baseline when his man (Scola) doubles on Korver. Why double on Korver?!
Gets fouled and makes free throws.
64-59

<b>Rockets</b>
Brooks ISO dribble penetration passes to Shane for 3-pointer. Swish.
64-62

<b>Jazz</b>
Price misses on curl, catch and shoot. Landry loose ball foul on
rebound. Korver pop out for 3-pointer (Shane caught on down screen)
67-62

<b>Rockets</b>
Brooks PnR, draws foul on drive.
Scola high post hand off and screen for Battier who hits a 20-footer
off the dribble.
67-64

<b>Jazz</b>
Battier deflects a pass from Korver, Brooks picks up loose ball.

<b>Rockets</b>
Battier enters to Scola in post. Scola offensive foul.

<b>Jazz</b>
Millsap offensive foul as Brooks tries to fight through screen.

<b>Rockets</b>
Scola to McGrady in mid-post. McGrady hits step back jumper.
67-66

<b>Jazz</b>
Korver pops out for 3-pointer straight away (with Okur down screen).
McGrady doesn't close out well, but Korver misses.

<b>Rockets</b>
McGrady penentration off wing ISO. Passes to Scola in the lane who
gets fouled. Makes 1 of 2, <b>Rockets</b> get ball back. McGrady catch and
shoot off inbounds in the corner ... score.
67-69

<b>Jazz</b>
Harpring drives easily past Novak, who's recovering from a help on
Millsap PnR. No help from Landry or Scola.
69-69

<b>Rockets</b>
Again to McGrady in mid-post. Quickly gets doubled, passes out to
Brooks up top (<b>Jazz</b> recover), Brooks goes left (doesn't use Scola's
pick), and scores at the basket over Boozer.
69-71

<b>Jazz</b>
Scola defensive-3 violation (god damn it). Korver hits free throw.
Korver pops out for another 3-pointer. McGrady tells Novak to switch
instead of fighting past down screen ... Korver misses though. T-mac
on Korver is a dangerous matchup for us defensively.
70-71

<b>Rockets</b>
T-Mac high post from Brooks (who cuts through). Does a PnR with Landry
who flashes into the lane. McGrady elects to dribble out and take a
tough 3-pointer. Not a great shot ... miss.

<b>Jazz</b>
Korver curl, catch and shoot top of the key. Novak defending, and
can't get too him quickly enough. Score. It's time like this I wish we
had two Battiers.
72-71

<b>Rockets</b>
Back to McGrady in mid-post. Waits for double, and gets it to Scola
who's open in the lane. Fouled. Goes 1-2 from the line.
72-72

<b>Jazz</b>
Here it comes ... Williams-Boozer side PnR. Scola is just able to get
back, but Boozer hits a little fadeaway 8-footer.
74-72

<b>Rockets</b>
McGrady-Scola side PnR now. Not as successful ... looks like <b>Jazz</b> go
into a zone defense to counter. T-Mac drives baseline and is able to
draw a foul from Okur. Hurts his hand, apparently, and misses 2 free
throws. But <b>Rockets</b> get it back after Okur loose ball foul on Scola.
Scola makes both.
74-74

<b>Jazz</b>
Now William-Kirilenko high PnR. Williams doesn't really use it, but is
able to drive past Brooks anyways. <b>Jazz</b> spread the court with shooters
at the corners and Boozer up top to keep away help defenders. Novak
stands like a statue under the basket with arms raised, helpless.
Williams gets wraparound pass to Kirilenko, who flushes it.
76-74

<b>Rockets</b>
Again, T-Mac-Scola PnR and nothing. Now Landry comes out for high PnR.
McGrady drives right and passes to Brooks for side 3-pointer.
Miss.


<b>Jazz</b>
Williams misses on ISO drive against Brooks. Novak doesn't box out,
stumbling out of bounds as Kirilenko tips it back out. As Novak
struggles to back up to his feet, Kirilenko is wide open under the
basket which the rest of the <b>Rockets</b> are momentarily oblivious to.
Landry looked lost, looking for Okur up top instead of covering
Kirilenko. AK gets the layup.
78-74

<b>Rockets</b>
Now <b>Rockets</b> run high PnR with McGrady and Scola, while positioning
Novak next to them. This was the play that got Novak a couple open 3's
in the third quarter. This time Scola isn't able to get separation
from Boozer on the roll, T-mac passes to Novak who's covered and gets
it back to T-Mac and sets a pick for him. McGrady drives left and hits
the long 22 footer off the dribble.
78-76

<b>Jazz</b>
Williams is able to drive left past Alston (who's back in for Brooks),
Scola helps and Williams shovels it to Boozer in the lane. Novak
offers little help, and Shane comes over and tries in vain to block
the shoot. Layup.
80-76


<b>Rockets</b>
<b>Rockets</b> repeat same play. Again Scola doesn't get good separation on
the roll (Kirilenko, guarding McGrady, actually stuffs the roll by
going under the pick while Boozer switches out onto T-mac). Last time
McGrady passes to Novak, gets it back and drives left. This time, he
takes the 3-pointer and misses.

<b>Jazz</b>
Williams drives past Rafer from the top of the key. McGrady gets
deflection, but the <b>Jazz</b> recover. Kirilenko (top of the key) hit
Williams in the corner who makes the jumper just as the shot clock is
expiring (Novak weakly contests).
82-76

<b>Rockets</b>
Side PnR with McGrady and Scola. Scola slips pick, but gets a lazy lob
pass from McGrady that gives Boozer enough time to recover. Scola is
able to make a move into the lane, and gets fouled. Makes just 1 of 2.
82-77

<b>Jazz</b>
Williams-Boozer PnR, Williams finds Korver wide open in the opposite
corner. Defensive mixup there between McGrady and Novak. One of them
didn't know what he's supposed to be doing for the weakside defense.
Korver was Novak's man, so I would say it's mostly his fault (plus,
McGrady was pointing back to Korver, trying to signal Novak to stay on
him).
85-77

<b>Rockets</b>
McGrady on the wing with the pass from Rafer. Williams shades over,
and T-Mac gets it back to Alston for an open 3-pointer. Brick.

<b>Jazz</b>
Ugh ... Novak comes to trap Williams after Rafer deflects. But
Williams quickly recovers, and gets it to Korver in the corner. Novak
is slow to get back and Korver sticks another 3-pointer.
88-77

<b>Rockets</b>
Rafer to McGrady in high post, Rafer cuts through lane and then goes
to the corner. McGrady waits for Shane to cross over from the corner
to the top (no hand off), and then hits the step back jumper.
88-79

<b>Jazz</b>
<b>Rockets</b> play great defense, but <b>Jazz</b> catch a break as a pass grazes
the rim. They get it back with a fresh shot clock (2 minutes remaining
in game). Okur get it, drives on Shane, and hits a driving hook shot
in the lane over him. Nice shot.
90-79

<b>Rockets</b>
T-Mac and Novak side PnR. <b>Jazz</b> defend it well, Novak is covered. T-Mac
improvizes a 3-pointer off the dribble and nails it.
90-82

<b>Jazz</b>
Williams drives on Alston, gets into the lane and is fouled by him.
Tough, tough matchup. Hits both.
92-82

<b>Rockets</b>
Again, McGrady-Novak PnR. Kirilenko continues to go under the pick,
and Okur sticks with Novak. McGrady takes the 3-pointer top of the key
and misses.

<b>Jazz</b>
Williams ISOs Rafer, and sticks a 20 footer in his face. When was the
last time we got a freaking stop?
94-82

<b>Rockets</b>
Timeout, and <b>Rockets</b> inbounds to T-Mac in the corner from the side.
He's doubled, gets it back to Battier who hits the three from the
wing.
94-85

<b>Jazz</b>
Scola fouls Kirilenko. Makes 2 FTs.
96-85

<b>Rockets</b>
<b>Jazz</b> allow Scola to drive in for layup.
96-87

<b>Jazz</b>
Scola fouls. they hit 1 of 2.
97-87

<b>Rockets</b>
<b>Jazz</b> allow Rafer to drive in for layup.
97-89.

<b>Jazz</b>
Dribble out the clock. Game.


[/rquoter]