<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Even though Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets finally proved they could win without Tracy McGrady in their last outing, they would prefer to have the All-Star back in the lineup when they visit the Orlando Magic. Yao scored 22 points and had a season-high 21 rebounds to lift the Rockets to a 91-88 win over the Golden State Warriors on Friday. It was Houston's first victory in 14 games this season when McGrady hasn't played. McGrady, who followed up his 36-point performance in the All-Star game by scoring 26 in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, missed Friday's contest because of a death in the family. Houston's leading scorer has struggled all season with personal issues, and the team is uncertain when he will return. "When Tracy is out of the game, it's really hard for us to get open shots," Yao said. "That puts more pressure on me and I had to play much harder." Yao shot 8-for-19 from the floor and had 17 of his 21 rebounds on the defensive end. It was the third time in his career that he recorded 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. "I don't think Yao gets the credit defensively for the improvements he's made in lateral quickness and mobility," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's made great strides, and it's a nuance of the game that very few want to recognize." </div> Preview Courtesy of Yahoo.
Wow. It looked like Yao got away with an illegal screen at the end. If the refs called that, I think they would have gotten a free throw and the ball back. Rockets got a gift there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dallasdude:</div><div class="quote_post">Is Swift out of the rotation for good? You guys should've traded him for something.</div> He's injured, supposedly. I'm quite happy with Howard/Hayes right now, to be honest. I don't think JVG should put Swift back in the rotation unless he proves himself worthy in practice.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Esco416:</div><div class="quote_post">Why is tmac wearing a headband?!! </div> Why not? It fits him nicely. Good win for the Rockets, even though we struggled. Swift sprained his ankle inbounding the ball...Yes thats right, he sprained his ankle just trying to pass the ball in against the PHO Suns.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Why is tmac wearing a headband?!! </div> To absorb sweat perspiring from his forehead.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Esco416:</div><div class="quote_post">Why is tmac wearing a headband?!! </div> He's superstitious and he wants to break out of his pre-Allstar game funk.
The Rockets again showed how good and bad they could be, and why they are not an elite team yet. No killer instict to put a team away. Thats usually TMac's job who still has not gone into one of those knock out shooting sprees in a while. L.Head progression as a PG hit a road bump. He got ripped, taken advatage of, then committed an offensive foul(obvious flop) within 10 sec and promptly was sat down. Its going to be of great importace for L.Head to fill that back up PG spot for the Rockets. Yao showed dominance inside against a great young talent in Howard.
