Rock4life, that last clean look (with under 2 minutes in OT) by J-HO is the exact reason why I didn't want to see him get significant minutes at the beginning of the season. I was happy when he fixed his little jumper, but the guy has been broken for the past few games.
YESSS a win. Even though Juwan played horribly today, he completely made it up with that offensive rebound and pass to Yao. Boy that was big. Big freethrow shooting night by the whole team. We won by free throws and rebounds.
What a crazy game. Huge plays down the stretch with Tracy, Juwan, and Yao. And how about those clutch free throws? Kobe Bryant is simply amazing. Holy cow. Rockets sent a timely double team that rattled him just enough to travel (ever so slightly).
I can't believe some Laker fans think that a traveling violation on Kobe should be let go, becaue it took away a chance for them to tie the game. Like common, it's not even questionable like a hand check foul or something. That was a totally legit call, IMO.
<div class="quote_poster">dexxa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">can someone tell me wut happened after tmac made that 3 free throws?? i missed it!!!!! T_T</div> Im not sure the exact sequence of events. He made 3 freethrows. I think kobe then missed a shot. Tmac chucked up a shot and missed badly. Juwan made a clutch o-reb and passed it off to Yao who was then fouled. Yao hit both free throws. Kobe dribbled upcourt and traveled big (and argued it). Rafer got the ball and he was fouled. He hit both. We are up by three. Kobe got the ball and shot again and missed. Not sure if these events are entirely accurate. Mostly from memory.
Before tonight's game, I never knew how great of a free throw shooter Yao Ming is because I don't get to watch Houston that much. He is automatic from the line and he really impressed me from the line tonight. It's rare for a big man to be a great free throw shooter (see Dwight Howard ) but it's great to see that Yao has put time in to become a better all around player. When his career is said and done, he'll have done at least one thing better than Shaq and thats shooting free throws.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Before tonight's game, I never knew how great of a free throw shooter Yao Ming is because I don't get to watch Houston that much. He is automatic from the line and he really impressed me from the line tonight. It's rare for a big man to be a great free throw shooter (see Dwight Howard ) but it's great to see that Yao has put time in to become a better all around player. When his career is said and done, he'll have done at least one thing better than Shaq and thats shooting free throws.</div> Yao missed 4 free throws, though. That's rare for him.
Don't know you, but I'm not happy at all even if we won. We were so close to another disaster and this proved once again that if we can't take a huge lead in the first 3 quarters, Rockets are gonna suffer every single team on this planet. What that means? First: I'm afraid we aren't going anywhere in the palyoffs. Second: our players have no attributes. T-Mac got his ass kicked comparing his game to Kobe's game, and didn't have the power to step up. 30 points may means nothing when someone else scores 50 killing your team in the final minutes. While we continue to have some black outs during almost every game, the only positive thing is we didn't lost our mind in the final minutes of the last two games. But hey, Clippers and Lakers, not Spurs, not Suns, not Mavericks, nor even Utah Jazz.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yao missed 3 free throws, though. That's rare for him. </div> Yeah 17-21, how horrible. Had it been Dwight Howard, he would have only made four free throws rather than miss four. It's so frustrating watching him on the line. He just chucks the ball and right now his free throws are looking a lot like Shaq's. It's like his goal is just to hit the rim rather than sink the shot. I never understood why all NBA players can't perfect their free throws like Yao has. If I can become a great free throw shooter while practicing an hour or two a day, you'd think NBA players who work all day and get paid to play would be great from the charity stripe.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah 17-21, how horrible. Had it been Dwight Howard, he would have went only made four free throws rather than miss four.</div> Man, be optimistic dawg. Dwight's a beast. I wish Yao played like that sometimes, but it just isn't him.
A lot of those free throws Yao converted on should have been And-1's. Yao still isn't a strong finisher, particularly when there's contact.
great game. as exciting as i thought it would be. i was at wings-n-more for the viewing party, and props to everyone for keeping the energy goin. damn it felt good to go home with a smile as oppose to blaming my girlfriend for a loss..
<div class="quote_poster">DaRocket Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Don't know you, but I'm not happy at all even if we won. We were so close to another disaster and this proved once again that if we can't take a huge lead in the first 3 quarters, Rockets are gonna suffer every single team on this planet. What that means? First: I'm afraid we aren't going anywhere in the palyoffs. Second: our players have no attributes. T-Mac got his ass kicked comparing his game to Kobe's game, and didn't have the power to step up. 30 points may means nothing when someone else scores 50 killing your team in the final minutes. While we continue to have some black outs during almost every game, the only positive thing is we didn't lost our mind in the final minutes of the last two games. But hey, Clippers and Lakers, not Spurs, not Suns, not Mavericks, nor even Utah Jazz.</div> I somewhat agree with what you've said. The Rockets were leading 88-76 with 4 mins. left in the 4th when suddenly Kobe lights up and the Rockets became spectators to to his scoring spree. When the Lakers got too close that's the only time the Rockets did something. Another thing is bench scoring. Tonight they got only 2 points from Snyder. It's understandable that Luther was out but the bench has been performing badly in terms of scoring support nowadays. BTW where's Bonzi? It was already reported 2 weeks ago that he's ready to play. JVG should prime him up for the playoffs. It's important to have good supporting role players from the bench if the Rockets want to advance first round of the playoffs. Anyway good to have the win. FTs did save the Rockets from a bad shooting night from almost everyone except Yao and maybe Battier.
Man, those BSPN announcers were so damn biased. It was okay at first, but it got very tired and annoying after a while. Comments like, "The Lakers can come back," or "Kobe is gonna go off and finish the game." I dont mind, but the ones where they take cheap shots at the Rockets like: "MAN! The Rockets scored over 30 in a quarter..." "Yea, I think they're only going to scre 15 if not 16 in one of the next 3 quarters." "The Rockets scored 6 points in 2 possessions, you don't know how huge that is for them." -BASTARDS! T-Mac hit a 3, and Rafer hit a 3 what's the big effing deal? They had plenty of those cheap shot comments like that. I mean, for the past few seasons, teams like Detroit/Spurs who were defensive powerhouses holding teams under 80 and scoring 85 ppg would get so much respect. Then teams that just scored like DAL, SAC would always be talked down on because they lacked good defense. The Rockets have the best D team in the league, and all they talk about is how we can't score....when we average like 91ppg
How come Luther didn't play? Flu or something? Don't mind those ESPN scum, they'll know who they're dealing with come playoff time. Am I too cocky?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't know you, but I'm not happy at all even if we won. We were so close to another disaster and this proved once again that if we can't take a huge lead in the first 3 quarters, Rockets are gonna suffer every single team on this planet. What that means? First: I'm afraid we aren't going anywhere in the palyoffs. Second: our players have no attributes. T-Mac got his ass kicked comparing his game to Kobe's game, and didn't have the power to step up. 30 points may means nothing when someone else scores 50 killing your team in the final minutes. </div> I agree that we need to learn how close teams out, but T-Mac not scoring 50 is a good thing......30 on a night where Yao goes off for 40 is something that I can live with, plus you have to take into account all the assists he racked up also....as amazing as Kobe's performance was that guy still takes A LOT of bad shots, throughout the game his shot selection wasn't good, but the play that made me chuckle is when he had 3 defenders on him late in O.T. and yet he still selected to shoot a fall away 20 footer even though 2 teammates were wide the hell open.....at times TMacs shot selection wasn't all that great last night either.
A majority of the times that we go on droughts is when Yao doesnt get the ball. I think in this particular sequence you're talking about, Yao coughed up the ball once and made a bad pass once to a cutting player. Anyways usually in these scoring dorughts, Tmac, Alston, Luther (anyone know why he wasnt playing?) and other 3pts shooters JACK... very unefficient for our offense. I say if we cant get something going, drop it inside to Yao. Its pratically automatic and if not, at least its a way higher percent shot than jacking up threes. As for the game. It was a great game. Yes we lost a lead, but this game shows why TEAMS are better than individuals: KOBE : 53pts Yao: 39pts / T-mac: 30pts ----> 69pts total. Theres no "I" in team! Great team effort by the Rockets.
Yep sometimes we also have some shooting problem, but the main problem is our recurring black outs. And when we have black outs the problem is our defense, losing mind and dozen of points in an amen. And I think it is time to start talking about Battier performarce because IMHO he's not playing that good as he usually did since Yao returned.
