YaoMingMania.com

as of 11/21/02 (early P.M.)

Charles Barkley paid off his bet to Kenny Smith early Thursday evening. We knew there was no way that Charles would actually kiss Kenny's butt after losing a bet to him that Yao would not score 19 points this season (he scored 20 last Sunday against the Lakers). So what happened? Kenny, who said it would be more humiliating to himself than Barkley if he kissed his rear end, was clever enough to bring a donkey into the studio at the end of Barkley's Listen Up! show on TNT. Kenny said he had bought the donkey for the day to make it technically his "ass." Charles tried to change the subject and get out of paying off his bet, but said he was "a man of his word," and finally proceeded to peck the donkey's behind. As we predicted, Charles was man enough to admit he was wrong, more than some broadcasters and sportswriters (like for the Arizona Republic) we know.

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Detailed Yao Analysis

1st quarter
2:38		Eddie Griffin is double-teamed in the right corner by Nash and Nowitzki, and is able to pass the ball to Yao who is standing right underneath the basket. Yao then jumps with the ball in his right hand and gracefully lays it in with a sweeping motion, and is fouled by Adrian Griffin (who didn't stand a chance). Yao hits the free throw. Rockets trail 21-14.
2:06		On the next possession, Steve Nash drives to the basket, with Cuttino Mobley defending him well to force a difficult shot about 3 feet from the basket. Yao comes over and rejects the ball with authority! This block starts a fast break with Mobley leading the charge. Mobley goes to the hoop but lays the ball up too hard against the glass. The ball is tipped by a Maverick, and comes directly to a HUSTLING AND TRAILING YAO who gets the ball in the middle of the lane on the run. Yao stops, jumps and sweeps the ball into the bucket with his right hand--all in less than a second. What control of the ball and his body! And what hustle: Yao did it on both ends of the floor in less than 8 seconds! TNT analyst Mike Fratello states, "This guy is going to be an impact player in this league!" The national TV audience is impressed. Yao has now made 23 of list last 25 field goal attempts.
1:45	Free Throws	On the next Dallas possession, Yao has great position for a defensive rebound, and elevates and extends himself very high to snare it, with a loose ball foul called on Maverick Eduardo Najera. Before Yao came to the Rockets, this rebound would surely have ended up with the Mavericks. Yao makes the two ensuing free throws perfectly, and the Rockets trail 21-18. Yao has scored 7 straight points in 53 seconds to shrink the deficit to three points.
:41		Eddie Griffin is double-teamed in the left corner and throws an alley-oop pass to the rim, where Yao in mid-air softly controls the ball with his right hand and finger rolls it in the bucket. His fingers are so delicate in tipping it in, it reminds us of the fingers depicted in the famous Michelangelo painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. BOTH ARE PICTURES OF BEAUTY!
2nd quarter
10:28		With only a second remaining on the shot clock, the ball is passed poorly to Yao on the right baseline, who gains control and has to heave up a difficult shot from behind the backboard. The shot doesn't draw iron, and the shot clock expires. This missed goal shouldn't be blamed on Yao.
9:10		Mo Taylor gets the ball in the left corner and passes to Yao in great position about 3 feet from the basket on the left side. Yao brings the ball down, pump fakes, gets a Maverick in the air, and lays it easily off the glass for the bucket. Yao has scored 13 of the last 18 points for the Rockets.
8:04	Free Throws	On almost the exact same play, Mo passes the ball to Yao from the left baseline. Yao catches the ball and goes up for what's going to be a really easy shot, but he's hacked by Nowitzki. Are we already starting to see what we predicted a few games ago--"Hack-a-Yao?" The Mavs are realizing the only way he can be stopped is to foul him. Yao makes both free throws. The Mavs respond by checking 7'6" Shawn Bradley back into the game to try to stop Yao.
7:09		Yao gets the ball in the right corner and goes up for one of the longest shots he has attempted all year, but Bradley comes over and blocks it. Bradley is about the only guy in the world who could block this shot!
7:02		On the following possession, Bradley posts up in the middle of the lane. Yao has good defensive position, but he sticks his hand in from behind when Bradley receives the entry pass and fouls him. Yao doesn't need to worry about tipping the ball away from Bradley--he's not that potent of an offensive force.
6:10		Moochie Norris puts up a jump shot that misses, and Yao grabs the offensive rebound in front of the basket. He then takes one step, and with his right hand throws it down more forcefully than we have ever seen him dunk it! Yao happened to be wide open for the rebound since his man, Nowitzki, started breaking away for what he thought was going to be a fast break (he loves those). You can't do that any more, Dirk. Yao has 15 points, and is 5-7 from the field. The Rockets trail 31-37.
5:47		Bradley is positioned well for an offensive rebound underneath the bucket, but Yao is tall enough to tip the ball away and out of his grasp. Shawn must be asking himself, "WHO was that?" The Rockets gain possession.
4:18	Free Throws	From the right baseline corner, Rocket Juaquin Hawkins drives toward the basket to draw his man toward him, and he quickly passes it to Yao, who gets the ball in the middle of the lane as he is moving toward the basket. Without dribbling, Yao's momentum takes him toward the basket, and he goes up for a right hook shot. Yao is fouled hard in mid-air on the arm by Dirk. Yao makes both free throws (now 7-7 from the line), and TNT analyst Marv Albert comments, "What a beautiful touch." Yao has scored 17 of the Rockets last 26 points in only 11 minutes of play.
3:01		Guarded by Bradley, Yao is passed the ball by Moochie in the right post just outside the paint with his back facing the basket. He dribbles the ball once and starts a move left, then turns toward the baseline, and elevates for a Dream-like jump shot over Bradley's outstretched arm. The ball goes high up in the air and beautifully swishes through the cords. Oh my Lord. He's not only on FIRE; he's ALWAYS on fire. The Dallas crowd oohs and aahs! We don't think he's missed this shot all year! The Rockets tie the game at 42-42.
1:42		Yao gets the ball deep in the left post with Bradley all over him. Yao powerfully lowers his shoulder and steps toward the basket to get into the lane, elevates off his right foot 2 feet in front of the rim, and lays the ball in with his left hand! What a beautiful display of using the other hand! And who said Yao only has a finesse game? TV analyst and former NY Knick coach Jeff Van Gundy says, "That one brought me out of my seat! That's post-up basketball! (Yao) takes somebody right through the basket. He just drove Bradley right under the hoop...I can see why everyone wanted this guy! This is my first time to see this guy play live. This is some show he's putting on!" Yao is dominating! He has scored 21 points in 15 minutes of playing time.
:28.8		Yao checks out of the game while Bradley also checks out. In 15 minutes of play, Yao has 21 points (7-9 from the field), 7-7 from the free throw line, 7 rebounds and 1 block.
3rd quarter
11:15		Words cannot accurately describe to you what we are about to attempt to do. With the Mavericks knowing they can't stop Yao, he snags a high pass that no Maverick can even try to knock away. Getting the ball only two feet away the basket, he establishes himself in the paint by using his body to create some space between he and Bradley, goes up and hammers the ball with an authoritative snap of the wrists, and falls to the floor because of the power behind it! Bradley fouls him on the arm, to boot. The Rocket bench erupts out of their seats, proud of their man who has learned very quickly to dunk with authority! We hate to say it, but this play was as Shaq-esque as it gets. Jeff Van Gundy says about the play: "He got that one! That dunk, you would call a facial!" Marv Albert about how Yao has made 29 of his last 33 shots over the past five games: "I would think you would have to go back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain when a player has put together that type of run."
10:43		They can't stop him. The very next time down the floor, Steve Francis drives toward the basket to draw the defense toward him. He then dishes to Yao about 8 feet from the basket, who takes one giant step toward the basket, soars with the ball over his head in his right hand, and hammers it down again!!!!! The Dallas crowd roars again in respectful awe. Yao is now becoming so dominating, every time he is coming down the floor he cannot be stopped. It reminds me of the fear that Michael, Shaq, Kobe, or T-Mac strikes in opponents hearts. Mike Fratello states: "You can just see how players gain confidence in their teammates...suddenly they are looking for him as they penetrate to the basket."
8:28	Free Throws	Francis gets good penetration and puts up a shot, but the ball bounces off the rim. Yao is able to grab the ball away from Bradley above the rim, he brings it down, goes up for the shot, and is fouled. Yao makes 1 of 2 free throw, is 8-9 from the line, and has 27 points. After the free throw, Yao has to check out of the game because of a bad cut on his right hand. He must have cut it on the rim, but he is able to join the team without missing any action.
7:41	Assist	On a classic give-and-go play, Steve Francis gives the ball to Yao in the high post, and Yao bounces a pass perfectly to Steve who cuts around Yao to the basket and slams it home! Credit Yao an assist, and for screening off Francis' man (Nash) as he delivered the pass. The Rocket bench rises off their seats again. The Rockets are playing with the most confidence we have seen in a very long time.
3:44		After the Rockets have been outscored 12-3, the Rockets come out of a timeout and run a play to try to get closer shots. Yao gets the ball in the lane about 4 feet from the basket, and Mr. Reliable does a pump fake to get Bradley committed in the air for an attempted block, then he steps forward with a leaning jump shot. Score it! The Rockets trail 67-74.
2:43		After Shawn Bradley picks up his fifth foul jockeying for defensive position against Yao, our man also checks out of the game for a rest. Later, Rudy T. stated, "My coaches were telling me he was a little tired. We thought it was a good time to rest him."
4th quarter
8:53		Yao checks back into the game with the Rockets down 77-87. All of the Rockets have gone ice cold, except for Glen Rice who has four 3-pointers. The Rockets have also been giving up easy baskets inside, so they need Yao more than ever both offensively and defensively. Unfortunately, the Rockets struggled the rest of the way by shooting very poorly. The Mavericks shot much better this night, which gave them the 'W'.
1:20		In garbage time with the Rockets down 86-101, Yao rejects another shot in the lane by Steve Nash.
:33.1	Free Throws	Yao is fouled in a penalty situation, and hits 1 of 2 free throws. In 33 minutes, Yao finishes with 30 points, going 10-12 from the field and 10-12 from the line, with 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

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