For me, the turning point was near the end of the game when we were exchanging baskets with the Suns, and were looking for just one stop. We finally get it and Yao makes a lazy pass to Brooks that was stolen by Nash. That really took away the momentum. Of course, the game shouldn't have come down to those possessions in the first place. Too many unfocused plays all around against a team fighting to make the playoffs. Blame this game on the long break and move on.
How was Yao rusty? He looked good against the Clippers...well nevermind...it was the Clippers. Rockets could wash this horrible win away against the Lakers, Lakers have been playing bad so they are vulnerable....but with how Battier was abuse out there on defense I'm not feeling so good.
The people blaming Yao are ridiculous. Without him in the game, the Rockets looked like children playing against men. With him scoring a bunch in the 3rd is when the Rockets came back. The fact he gets any blame in this game is absurd and people like Scola and Brooks are getting defended doesn't make any sense.
When the Rockets score 109 points and shoot 50% from the field, they should win almost every time. Brooks had a bad game but let's be fair for a minute. Nobody played good defense tonight. We were collectively schooled on defense. Not just Brooks. Almost every Suns starter shot lights out. That's on Brooks, Artest, Battier, Scola, Yao, etc... Lowry didn't have any success covering Nash either. Nobody was able to stop Hill or Barnes or Richardson. Not Artest or Battier or Wafer or Barry, etc... The Rockets ultimately lost the game on the defensive end and on the boards. There was bad execution on both ends throughout most of the 4th quarter by almost every player on the team.
*****!!! Nobody pass the ball to Scola, Scola, our second bigguy just have 5 shots intotal. Scola should have more offense opportunities, SUNS have the short Barnes to defense him. BUT we forget the on of the MVP of Rockets
Turning point was when Yao had to rest after playing since halftime and the team abruptly decided to play like they never played basketball before. Yao rested like 4 minutes and the Suns went on a 15-0 run.
Battier did a lot of work on the offensive side. Made some effort to go after offensive boards, shoot up 3's, etc. He was the only one passing to Yao as well. That's why I blame it on Yao and the PGS.
They tried to in the first half, Scola was outmanned by Barnes and couldn't seal him. Sound familiar? Then Scola didn't crash the boards at all this game, I really don't know what he was doing the entire time he was on the court.
If we keep playing like this I see us ending up 52-30. Up by 7 in the fourth and we couldn't finish them... Rox have alot to work on before playoffs start
Yao is averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds on 65% shooting after 3 day rests this season... That's better compared to 18 and 10 on 51% shooting after one day rest.
When Yao has the ball in that situation looking to pass it out, I almost always half expect him to turn it over. I don't know if he's particularly turn over prone on that pass after a rebound, but it's always something I'm tense about. Especially in a tight game. I'm just not confident in his decision making when he needs to make a pass.
Wafer should of have played more 8-10 for 17 points- 18 min he was feeling Wafer needs more PT I notice, that no matter what Artest will always take the last shot. Even if 2 players are open he will still take the 3 I dont like that idea.. He needs to learn how to pass the ball more often Even tracy ...not always took the last shot.
I know what you mean. But putting him on Barnes might work. I would've tried it for at least a few possessions. Here's my take on it. The Suns will start force feeding Barnes making him take Brooks 1 on 1. Despite the height difference there is still a good chance that he'll miss the shot and lead to a bad possession for the Suns. Barnes ain't a great offensive player out there. He only shoots open shots. This will force the Suns out of their usual gameplan by giving Barnes iso opportunities. Basketball is a game of fluidity and repetition. Once you waver from that by asking a player to do more than he is capable of, you get bad possessions. That's why I would have tried it. Just look at what the Spurs do. They put Bowen on Nash sometimes to change things up. And Parker is asked to guard the bigger player.
Yao played well overall, but he made some mistakes as well. He also had a hard time defending the pick-and-rolls of Nash and O'Neal. The entire team looked out of sorts, including Yao.
that was ****ty pass leading to a turnover. I think Yao tends to make more mistakes when he is tired...and tired he was. I hope he learns from this and it doesn't happen in the playoffs.
