YaoMingMania.com

as of 11/19/02

Battle of the giants Yao was instrumental in helping defend 7'3" Cleveland Cavalier center Zydrunas Ilgauskas Tuesday night in Houston's Compaq Center. When Yao was out of the game, Ilgauskas did quite well, which is not a surprise since 'Z' towers over almost everyone, has great moves and a nice shot (kind of like Yao). And sure, he even did well against Yao...with the help of 2-3 post plays where he used his elbows to hook around Yao that the referees didn't call. But overall Yao was able to give the Cavaliers' most potent weapon enough fits at the right times to help keep the Rockets in control throughout the game. Yao finished with 9 points (4-5 from the field), 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 18 minutes of play. Overall, we were surprised that starting center Kelvin Cato didn't play considering he is now back in Houston after being out-of-town for his grandmother's funeral. Instead, Jason Collier played 20 minutes and scored 11 points. Moreover, Yao played in the somewhat close portions of the 4th quarter, which is the second straight game he has played in the fourth. We think Yao's height matchup with Ilgauskas had something to do with Yao getting more playing time than Cato. But I guess we'll know more after the next game how active Cato will be involved. However, as we stated the other day, after Yao's performance against the Lakers, we believe it's a whole new era. Interstate 45 rivalry resumes Thursday Next up for the Rockets is a matchup with undefeated rival Dallas (11-0). Houston has a chance to keep Dallas from breaking the Rockets' NBA record for most wins to start a season--the Rockets tied the record in 1993 with 15 straight wins. Both teams are very similar with their athleticism and deep benches. It should also be a great match-up between Shawn Bradley and Dirk Nowitzki against Yao. The game should be close, but we're going to have to predict that Dallas will win because Nowitzki can hit 3-pointers like layups, and not even Yao can stop a 7-footer who can hit treys. But we'll see. The game is on TNT so everyone in the U.S. will have a chance to see it. We'll also get to see what happens at halftime between Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith (see article link below if you don't know what we're talking about). If you're not able to watch the game, come back to YaoMingMania.com for a full report! Time to rant against the media If you happened to listen to Matt Goukas announce this game for the Cleveland television market, we feel for you. We've never seen an announcer make so many gross misrepresentations about a player (we've seen so-called sportswriters write it, but never someone who showed their face on camera--except for Barkley). For example, he said that "Yao is not a good rebounder. He doesn't like to mix it up inside," and "Yao is slow to react." Sorry, but how can you make statements like that when you're on the road traveling all the time and Yao (until Sunday) had only played very few minutes? By the end of the game, Goukas had done some serious backtracking after seeing Yao play up close and personal. We apologize to go off on the media again, but the one thing we've learned about following Yao so closely is that the media (outside of Houston) doesn't seem to do much research on Yao before these games. They basically don't seem to care about the facts, but rather more interested in saying things that make them sound like experts. Now we have a better understanding why coaches (like Bobby Knight) and players have a lack of respect for some sportswriters.

Detailed Yao analysis

  Is this information useful? Let us know at feedback@YaoMingMania.com

1st quarter
3:06		Yao checks into the game for Jason Collier, who has surprised everyone with 7 points in nine minutes. Collier is probably fatigued because he's not accustomed to playing these types of minutes.
2:46		Yao gets a defensive rebound by grabbing an air ball.
2:20		Yao quickly comes over to help out on a driving Palacio (a guard), who double pumps about 3 feet from the basket, but Yao easily blocks the shot. However, Carlos Boozer easily picks up the loose ball and lays it in.
1:48		The Big Man does a great job of cutting off Palacio at the baseline. He's so big, there wasn't even a crease for him to get around him.
:54		Yao gets the ball along the right baseline just outside the paint. With his back to the basket, Yao dribbles left toward the baseline and his man holds good position. Yao picks up his dribble, pump fakes, and jumps into the air. As he is coming down, he gets a shot off with his right hand, which goes in. The crowd loves the graceful ballet-like move. Unfortunately, Yao shuffled his feet slightly before jumping, and is called for a travel.
2nd quarter
11:40		From the right baseline, Rocket Maurice Taylor delivers the ball to a wide-open Yao, who is standing 2 feet from the basket. A Cavalier comes over quickly and jumps to try to block Yao's shot, but Yao does a great job of hesitating to shed off the man as he flies by, pivots directly underneath the basket and hammers it home easily with one hand. We've noticed in the past two games how unselfish Taylor is in passing the ball to Yao. We like Mo. Heads-up ballplayer.
11:11		On the next possession, Yao gets good position underneath the defensive glass. A Cav shoots a long jumper, which bounces high off the rim. With his right hand, Yao grabs the ball and controls it while holding off a Cav with his left arm. Although Yao has short arms, his hands don't appear to be too small to palm a basketball.
7:53		Mo Taylor does it again! On a helter-skelter quick-passing sequence, Yao drives the lane from the free throw line, but is cut off by 7'3" Ilgauskas. Yao dishes to Taylor who is out on the left wing. Taylor mishandles the pass as he tries to drive to the basket. The ball goes up in the air, and there's a scramble for the ball. Mo snags the ball out of the air over a Cav, brings it down and dishes to Yao who is about 3 feet from the basket in the middle of the lane. Yao quickly jumps as Ilgauskas tries to block his shot. But Yao's height and 'touch' on the ball are no match. Score the bucket. After this play, Goukas the announcer backtracks on an earlier statement and says, "Tonight he is very comfortable in traffic."
7:02		On the next possession, Ilgauskas receives the ball in the right post after Yao plays great defense to keep him from getting deeper position in the pain. The defensive intensity continues by Yao doing a great job of making him shoot a tough fallaway jumper, which Yao tips, and catches nothing but air. Unfortunately, Jumaine Jones catches the air ball and lays it in. Great D by Yao, though.
6:41		Next possession: Yao gets the ball in his favorite spot--the left block. With his back facing the basket, he dribbles, pivots left, and without hesitation goes up for that beautiful jump shot of his. Yes, Mr. Automatic delivers once again. Score it. At this point, over the past several games, Yao has made 20 of his last 21 field goals! It's apparent this man plays a game with which we're not familiar. Last time we saw this type of shooting consistency was from a North Carolina man wearing #23 on his jersey.
6:01		Yao works hard to get position in the paint and receives a bounce pass on the run about 3 feet from the bucket. He has a clear path to the basket and it looks like he's going to have a massive dunk, but Cavalier Carlos Boozer comes over from the side and makes a great block on Yao as he brought the ball up in dunking position.
4:31		Yao checks out of the game during a timeout. Jason Collier replaces him.
4th quarter
12:00		Yao checks back in. Rockets are up by six, 69-63.
10:43		Out high by the 3-point line, Yao has the ball. Francis runs by him to get the ball and immediately starts to drive the lane. Yao runs parallel with Steve, who delivers a perfect bounce no-look bounce pass through traffic to Yao, who receives it, fakes out flying defenders coming over, and from underneath the basket dunks it home--this time behind his head! Beautiful play!
10:24		Ilgauskas, who had been red hot in the 3rd quarter because no one could match his height, gets it down low in the post. As Ilgauskas turns to try to get closer to the bucket, our man Yao is there to give him all kinds of fits by keeping good position and keeping his hands up. You can tell the 7'6" pressure flusters Ilgauskas as he puts up a quick brick, which clangs off the rim and bounces to the Rockets.
9:56		Ilgauskas gets the ball down low in the paint, and he tries to back it in on Yao. Yao is there with good position behind him, but Ilgauskas bulls his way backward and pushes Yao back, but Yao is called for the foul. Total B.S. call. It's not a shooting foul, though. On the inbounds play after the foul, Ilgauskas gets it down low again, and by hooking his elbow against Yao as he quickly pivots, is able to spin free and get a layup. No offensive fall is called. Instead, Yao is called for a foul as he tries to swat at the ball. Ilgauskas hits the free throw, and the Cavs trail 66-72.
6:56		Maurice Taylor is double-teamed out near the right baseline about 12 feet from the basket, and bounces a pass as Yao penetrates the middle of the lane. Yao catches the ball, stops on a dime and goes up for a scoop shot as Ilgauskas gets there too late and is called for a blocking foul. Let's give a hand to Mo! This is his third great pass to Yao this game. They are becoming a nice frontline combination. Give credit to Yao for playing like a small forward and finding an opening in the lane while the defense went to sleep. Yao makes 1 of 2 free throws. Rockets lead 79-72.
5:28		Yao shows his quick passing skills by running to a loose ball on the defensive end and lobbing a pass to a streaking Juaquin Hawkins. Hawkins races to the offensive end on a fast break and gives it to a trailing Cuttino Mobley. A couple of men converge on Cat, so he lobs an alley-oop pass to a trailing Yao, who can't hold onto the laser-like pass. Yao tips it a couple of times before it goes out of bounds. Although Yao couldn't hold on, he seems to smile a bit, realizing just how spectacular that play could have been if he had been able to hold on to the pass. A timeout is called, and Yao runs over to Cat and gives him a high-five. They both laugh at the prospect of Yao almost getting his first alley-oop dunk in the NBA, and becoming part of the club in which every other Rocket seems to be a member.
4:41		Yao checks out of the game for Eddie Griffin. Yao heads to the bench and puts some ice on his hand. It doesn't look serious, though. Guess when you have as many dunks he has had over the past few games, your hand is going to be a little sore. ;-)

---

Back to Home