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Wright: They play better when he's (Francis) not out there

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by dragon167, Feb 23, 2003.

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  1. dragon167

    dragon167 Member

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    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=230222010

    HOUSTON (AP) _ Playing without star guard Steve Francis didn't seem to bother the Houston Rockets.

    Cuttino Mobley scored 29 points and the Rockets held off a late Memphis Grizzlies rally for a 93-82 victory Saturday night, despite Francis being sidelined with a strained lower back.

    ``I knew I had to pick up the slack without Steve,'' Mobley said. ``There are roles that you've got to take on and I had to take on that role tonight. Moochie (Norris) was great. He got the ball around to everybody and he ran the team well.

    ``He was the general out there.''

    Mobley had 20 points in the first half as the Rockets snapped a three-game home losing streak. Yao Ming had 18 points and seven rebounds while Norris, starting in place of Francis, had nine points and nine assists.

    ``I just wanted to come in and make plays,'' Norris said. ``I'm not going to shoot the ball and try to score 20-plus points like Steve. I'm more of a playmaker. I think I did my job tonight. I did my job, we got the win and the coaches were happy.''

    Francis will be reevaluated on Monday prior to a game at Boston but Grizzlies forward Lorenzen Wright thought the Rockets might have even been better off with Francis nursing his injuries.

    ``They play better when he's not out there,'' Wright said. ``That lets the other guys show what they can do. The other guys pick up their game. He carries so much of the scoring, when he's not out there, everybody else can play and divide it evenly.''

    The Rockets held a 25-point lead at 84-59 early in the fourth but the Grizzlies outscored Houston 23-10 in the final quarter to make the game close.

    Wright led Memphis with 24 points and tried to slow Yao.

    ``I'm normally not that aggressive, but tonight I wanted to come out aggressive, because he's so big, I can't shoot over him, I had to go around him,'' Wright said.

    Leading 56-45 at the half, Houston used a 21-5 run over the final 6:52 of the third quarter to take an 83-59 lead. Memphis was playing its second game in as many nights, after losing to New Orleans 125-123 in overtime Friday night.

    Mobley scored 11 first-quarter points and Glen Rice scored 12 in the second as the Rockets used a 13-3 run to take a 56-45 halftime lead.

    ``Cat (Mobley) had a big game,'' Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. ``He loves these situations. He did it all the time last year. Cat carried us tonight.''

    The Rockets used a 15-4 run to take a 23-12 lead in the first quarter. The Grizzlies scored the next four baskets before Maurice Taylor's basket ended a 3:50 scoreless run for the Rockets and gave them a 25-21 lead heading into the second quarter.

    ``It was one of the poorest efforts we've had in a long time and, despite that, we were able to get close in the second half,'' Grizzlies coach Hubie Brown said. ``Unfortunately, we didn't get it done.''

    Tomjanovich watched Yao closely in the closing minutes of the game.

    ``He's tired,'' Tomjanovich said. ``He's mentally tired more so than physically. I've told him through his interpreter some techniques I used when I played to try to rest your mind.''< ^Notes:mad: Prior to the game, the Grizzlies activated guard Brevin Knight and placed forward Ryan Humphrey on the injured list with a sprained left ankle. Knight had been on the injury list since Feb. 12 with a sprained right wrist. ... Rockets starting forward James Posey strained his left knee in the third quarter and did not return.
     
    #1 dragon167, Feb 23, 2003
  2. lancet

    lancet Contributing Member

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    Talk about irony! Moochie Norris showing the "Franchise" how to play the point. When your opponents are pointing out that, it got to sting...
     
    #2 lancet, Feb 23, 2003
  3. Free Agent

    Free Agent Member

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    Why doesn't Moochie show it when Francis moves over to the 2 when Mobley is resting?
     
    #3 Free Agent, Feb 23, 2003
  4. xiki

    xiki Member

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    Lo Wright is a great player -- once or twice a year. His opinion is worth squat. I loved the game his PG plays/played -- and Hubie must be so pleased with his whole squad.

    In other words, Lo baby -- shut the hey up.
     
    #4 xiki, Feb 23, 2003
  5. Rocketsss

    Rocketsss Member

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    ``I just wanted to come in and make plays,'' Norris said. ``I'm not going to shoot the ball and try to score 20-plus points like Steve. I'm more of a playmaker. I think I did my job tonight. I did my job, we got the win and the coaches were happy.''


    I like this Moochie's quote
     
    #5 Rocketsss, Feb 23, 2003
  6. RIET

    RIET Member

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    Lorenzen Wright should be a general manager. He's the supreme leader of all knowledge.

    Before spouting off, maybe he should bring his A game more than once a season.

    :rolleyes:
     
    #6 RIET, Feb 23, 2003
  7. lalala902102001

    lalala902102001 Member

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    What was our record last year again? :rolleyes:

    We wouldn't be much better than that without Steve.
     
    #7 lalala902102001, Feb 23, 2003
  8. SmeggySmeg

    SmeggySmeg Member

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    So Yao is now qualified to coach the team i guess ;)
     
    #8 SmeggySmeg, Feb 23, 2003
  9. Puedlfor

    Puedlfor Member

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    Well, either Lorenzen Wright is telling the truth . .. or he's trying to exceuse the fact that his team got plastered by a team without its best player.
     
    #9 Puedlfor, Feb 23, 2003
  10. DieHard Rocket

    DieHard Rocket Member

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    Don't know about you, but why should we believe this guy knows what he's talking about when he admits that he doesn't play with aggression every game.
     
    #10 DieHard Rocket, Feb 23, 2003
  11. DavidS

    DavidS Member

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    Francis is going to be a great SG! :D
     
    #11 DavidS, Feb 23, 2003
  12. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

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    This team is much different than last year. We have 2 new starters. Glen Rice and Mo Taylor have both returned. Yao Ming is a little bit different as a post presence than Kelvin Cato. I don't think Steve should be cut or anything, but comparing this team to last year is rediculous.
     
    #12 StupidMoniker, Feb 23, 2003
  13. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    I am impressed with Moochie. 9 asists great came Mobes!! MObes is so happy he didnt get traded, since the break when he was worried about it and was shooting poorly, he has been on fire. Over 50% shooting, and averaging something like 23pts a game!!
     
    #13 Uprising, Feb 23, 2003
  14. HtownRocks3

    HtownRocks3 Member

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    LOL! I loved that Xiki, keep up the good responses!
     
    #14 HtownRocks3, Feb 23, 2003
  15. montelwilliams

    montelwilliams Member

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    It's Memphis. Can a Steve-less Rox team beat Lakers, Kings, Timberwolves, or other quality teams? Nope.
     
    #15 montelwilliams, Feb 23, 2003
  16. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    I wonder how well Lorenzen Wrong thought Steve ran the team when he dropped 22 points and nine dimes against them last month...Maybe he conveniently forgot to watch how effortlessly the offense ran when we were kicking the crap out of the Wolves, Kings, and Jazz? Heck, that Lakers game was on National TV, wasn't it? Does he have cable? Damn, Rockets fans hate him enough, no reason for some bench warming scrub to pile on...
     
    #16 A-Train, Feb 23, 2003
  17. rockyymf

    rockyymf Member

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    Well, Wright just mentioned something a lot of people raised in this forum. You don't have to be a great player to make the right comments.
     
    #17 rockyymf, Feb 23, 2003
  18. heech

    heech Member

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    Yao's mentally tired? I assume that means he's losing his focus a little out there... I wouldn't be surprised, the wear-and-tear of just getting out there and forcing yourself to compete day after day's gotta be hard.

    It's for times like this that it's a good thing his parents are out here. Let's hope he finds a reserve and get it done...
     
    #18 heech, Feb 23, 2003
  19. RocketfanfromLA

    RocketfanfromLA Member

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    Yao's mentally tired just because his suck team leader.
     
    #19 RocketfanfromLA, Feb 23, 2003
  20. snowmt

    snowmt Member

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    The team is much different from the team last year.
    Our front court constantly outrebounds our opponents
    and Yao always draw double or triple team to create
    open shots. If our shooters can get their job done,
    we can beat many teams. Remeber Wednesday night
    Rox beated Suns with only 5 pt contribution from Steve?



     
    #20 snowmt, Feb 23, 2003
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