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Yao vs. Grizzlies - 12/13/02

Yao attempts a Sky Hook over Pau Gasol Friday night against Memphis. The Rockets lost in overtime 114-109.

On Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, the fears we wrote about last night came true, like…

the Rockets' propensity to take weak teams like the Grizzlies lightly (which happened)
the Grizzlies would be inspired to go for their fourth win in a row, a franchise first (ditto)
Jason Williams would continue to burn the Rockets like he did last year when he scored a career high 38 points against them (25 points on Friday, 7-for-13 from the field in the fourth quarter alone)

The Rockets lost in OT at Memphis 109-114. This game hurt. There's a big psychological difference from being 13-8 and being 12-9, especially when your players are more seasoned than the other team's players. Instead, the Rockets looked like the more inexperienced team by blowing a 5-point lead with five minutes remaining, and making multiple mistakes late in the fourth quarter and overtime.

It was eerily similar to when they lost to the Clippers in L.A on November 24th after they seemingly had the game in hand, but blew it against a sub-par team. Although the Grizzlies have won four in a row, the previous two teams they beat were Miami (now 5-16) and Denver (6-16). Ouch. The Rockets are embarrassed they wiped out impressive consecutive victories against the Kings and the 76ers by losing to a 5-18 team (now 6-18).

We don't know what happened to the Rockets second-ranked NBA defense that holds opponents to 89.2 points a game. The Grizzlies scored on 7-8 possessions starting at the 5:21 mark of the fourth quarter, and had 105 points at the end of regulation.

When clutch time came in the final minutes of regulation and overtime, the Rockets didn't give Yao the ball often enough based on the strategy that teams would have no choice but to foul him and send him to the line (what we call "Hack-a-Yao"). If they didn't foul him, he would probably make the shot. Instead, Steve Francis (who had an overall great game) turned the ball over twice (traveling calls) in the final minutes of regulation and missed two big free throws. Francis did tie the score to put the game into overtime with a 3-pointer, but the Rockets missed four shots in a row and turned the ball over twice to start the overtime. Overall, they couldn't overcome the guns of Pau Gasol (29 points), Williams (25) and Wesley Person (21), who all hit difficult shots in OT to seal it away.

Too much rest?

What is it with the Rockets playing poorly after not playing for a few days? They hadn't played since Tuesday, and you would think they would have been sharp after having a chance to practice and rest. But for the second straight week, they underachieved. Last week they beat the Spurs on Tuesday, had three days off, and then lost to the Hornets on Friday night (which was a game they should have won). This week: déjà vu all over again.

How did Yao do?

Overall, Yao had a very good game. In 36 minutes, he scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting and was 4-for-4 from the line. He also had 15 rebounds. This was his fifth double-double game in a row. Although he turned the ball over 6 times, a couple of passes he threw went out of bounds because other teammates weren't looking for the pass or were moving the wrong way when he threw it.

Yao vs. Pau

It wouldn't be fair to compare Yao's numbers to Pau's (season-high 29 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 12 rebounds). Yao rarely guarded Gasol. Instead, Rudy T. put smaller forwards like Eddie Griffin or Kenny Thomas on Pau. Yao didn't always have last year's Rookie of the Year guarding him, either. Sometimes it was Stromile Swift. But Gasol was very impressive, making difficult shots and driving to the hole like a small forward, making difficult hook shots, and handling the ball extremely well.

Payback time

On Saturday night, the Rockets can get the frustration of this game out of their system when they play the Clippers in Houston. Look for the Rockets to put a walloping on the Clips, especially since they want to pay them back after choking their last game against them on November 24th. The Rockets are mad, and that's when they play their best.

Detailed Yao analysis

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1st quarter
12:00		Yao starts the game.
10:57		Cuttino Mobley passes the ball to Yao in his favorite spot (left side angle from the basket outside the paint). Mobley then cuts into the free throw line, and Yao bounces a pass to Mobley...who isn't looking for the pass! The ball goes out of bounds for a turnover. We've seen this same play run about 5 times this season, and it rarely works! Most of the time it's the guard's fault because they either haven't been looking or fumble it away. While Cuttino was out with injuries, they ran this play to Juaquin Hawkins (Cuttino's replacement) and it never worked. They also ran this play for Moochie, who was able to connect with the pass one time for a score. But that's about it. The guess is that Mobley is still learning how to work with Yao. While Mobley was out for those two weeks, Yao became much more a part of the Houston offense.
10:29		Yao gets the ball at his favorite spot again from Francis. Guarded one-on-one by Pau Gasol, Yao turns toward the baseline but doesn't have a lane to drive to the bucket. He then spins back the other way, and from about 3 feet away from the basket lofts a hook shot with his right hand. The ball rattles around the rim for a second, then goes in! The nice shooting touch by the Big Man always gives him a chance that the shot will go in.
8:08		Francis drives the lane from the left side and goes in for a difficult reverse layup, but in trying to lay the ball in off the glass he misses the iron completely. However, Yao (as always) has great position and gets the rebound cleanly and goes up for a shot. But Grizzly Lorenzen Wright slides his leg under Yao to throw him off balance, AND AS YAO IS FALLING TO THE FLOOR AND A FEW INCHES BEFORE HIS RUMP MAKES CONTACT, HE PUTS UP A SHOT...AND IT GOES IN!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!! What a great show of upper body stength to get this shot off from 3 feet off the floor. BUT THEN THE REFS WAVE IT OFF SAYING HE WAS FOULED BEFORE THE SHOT, AND THE BASKET DOESN'T COUNT!! That's B.S.! Yao was fouled in the act of shooting, so should be rewarded with the bucket and an extra free throw. Rudy jumps out of his chair and runs all the way to half court complaining to the refs, and for damn good reason! But the refs stick with this botched call, and Yao doesn't even get to shoot free throws! This called-off bucket will make a difference in the outcome of the game.
7:11		Like he did stupidly against the 76ers against Derrick Coleman, Kenny Thomas gambles on a pass intended for Pau Gasol, but misses. Even worse, Thomas' lunge for the ball puts him out of position. Showing smarts, Pau heads straight toward the basket. Yao slides over to try to draw a charge, but he doesn't get there early enough and is called for the foul. Again, Thomas shouldn't be gambling like this and putting his Big Man in a precarious position where he will probably have to foul to stop Thomas' man from scoring.
5:30	Intimidation	Showing unbelievably bad judgment in less than 2 minutes of play, KENNY THOMAS GOES FOR ANOTHER LUNGING STEAL OF A PASS TO GASOL (WHERE HE HAD NO CHANCE OF GETTING THE BALL), and Gasol has another clear lane to the basket! Fortunately, Yao comes over to contest the shot and makes Gasol change it to a difficult reverse layup. The ball pops out of the basket and Yao is able to get the rebound, thus saving Thomas' butt on this one. But it doesn't matter...PULL THOMAS OUT AND PUT EDDIE GRIFFIN INTO THE GAME! Thomas has been throwing up bricks anyway.
5:18		During a time-out, you can see Yao in the huddle speaking to his teammates in a very animated fashion IN ENGLISH. Translator Colin Pine is not involved. We don't know what he's saying, but it's very interesting to see him taking an active role in the huddle.
1:31		After the Rockets go on a 10-0 run to go up 20-13, the Grizzlies go on an 11-0 run in less than two minutes to take a 24-20 lead thanks in part to three 3-pointers (2 by Wesley Person, one by Jason Williams). For some reason, Yao's teammates have only given him the chance to shoot one field goal in 10.5 minutes, which he made.
1:02	Free Throws	Yao is fouled in the post (non-shooting foul), and he makes both free throws.
:42		Yao grabs a great defensive rebound by extending himself well, but as he holds the ball over his head, it's stripped out of his hands. Yao needs to hold on to these rebounds a little more tightly.
:18		Yao gets great low-post position and the ball is passed to him. He pump fakes along the baseline and under the basket, then extends himself to try to lay the ball in from underneath the reverse side of the basket. But his shot appears to be blocked, and the Grizzlies take possession.
2nd quarter - Cato checks into the game for Yao. Yao has 4 points on 1-2 shooting, and 2-2 from the free throw line. The Rockets trail 25-26 and are -1 with Yao in the game.
7:23		Although Yao is out of the game, we can't help but point out this play. Kelvin Cato gets the ball on the edge of the paint near Yao's favorite spot, fakes right, turns left and then shoots a fadeaway jumper to go in!! Where in the world did he get that shot? Cato has never had any offensive moves (other than dunking off of alley-oops) until this year. I guess after years of practicing against Hakeem and now Yao, some offense has rubbed off on him.
4:24		Yao checks back into the game. The Rockets are up 43-41. Without Yao in the game, the Rockets are +3.
4:08		Grizzly Stromile Swift gets good position in the middle of the lane on Yao, then pump fakes to get Yao in the air, and Yao comes down and fouls him. Yao knows he messed up here. Rudy even got off the bench to motion to Yao to just keep his hands up, and not to jump off the floor--his height is enough to contend with. Later during a timeout, we see Rudy using simple English and body language to Yao to keep his hands up. Yao responds by raising his hands in the air like Rudy has his hands up, smiles widely, and nods in a fashion that conveys, "Got it."
4:02		In a play we hadn't seen from Yao all season...Steve Francis rebounds the ball off the missed Stromile Swift free throw, and sees Yao streaking down the floor. FRANCIS THROWS ALMOST A FULL-COURT PASS TO YAO, WHO CATCHES IT ABOUT 9 FEET FROM THE BASKET, AND HE THROWS IT DOWN ONE-HANDED FOR THE DUNK!! Shouldn't this be the other way around--Yao throwing a long outlet pass to the guard for the jam? WE LOVE IT!! Yao is 2-3 from the floor with 6 points. The Rockets lead 45-42.
3:46	Intimidation	Pau Gasol gets the ball moving toward the bucket in the middle of the lane, and goes up for a one-handed facial on Yao. But Yao is able to intimidate the shot enough where Gasol misses the dunk badly, the ball flies off the backboard and comes down to Moochie Norris. Moochie sees Cuttino Mobley streaking down the floor and throws him a full-court pass to Cuttino for the jam! This was all set up by Yao's intimidation. The Rockets are up 47-42.
1:35		Yao checks out of the game for Terrence Morris. This is a customary move by Rudy T. to prevent Yao from picking up a foul before halftime. The Grizzlies are up 53-49. With Yao in the game since the time he last checked in, the Rockets are -6. Yao has 6 points and 6 rebounds.
3rd quarter - The game is tied 55-55. Yao checks back into the game. With Yao out of the game, the Rockets are +4.
11:42	Free Throws	Receiving the pass at the edge of the paint, Yao spins towards the basket with Pau Gasol guarding him, and he's fouled. Yao makes both free throws. He's now 4-4 from the line and has 8 points.
7:24		Yao gets the ball at the edge of the paint with Gasol on him, and turns baseline to go up for one of his fadeaway jump shots, but Jason Williams comes over from the weak side to double-team him and strips the ball out of Yao's hands for the steal. This starts a Grizzly fast break that ends in a dunk. Yao held on to the ball a little too long to give Williams the time to come over for the strip. The Grizzlies lead 71-68 thanks in part to Jason Williams going 4-4 from the field thus far in the 3rd quarter.
6:55		Off a Rocket miss, Kenny Thomas gets the rebound just outside the paint on the right side, quickly spots Yao in the paint about 4 feet from the basket, and throws a pass to him. Yao fights off Jason Williams for the pass, goes up over Gasol and lays it in softly off the glass! Yao now has 10 points, and is 3-6 from the field.
6:00		From the left edge of the paint, Yao turns toward the baseline quickly to avoid another Jason Williams double-team, and lofts his soft fadeaway jumper over Pau Gasol. Gasol, a 7-footer, jumps as high as he can to block Yao's shot, but no dice. SWISH! Yao is now 4-7 from the field with 12 points. The Rockets trail 71-73.
2:42		Yao checks out of the game for Cato. The Rockets lead 79-76. The Rockets are +3 since Yao started playing in the half, but Steve Francis had alot to do with it since he got really hot.
4th quarter - The Rockets lead 82-79. Cato remains in the game for Yao.
6:44		Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Rockets still have the same lead when Yao checked out earlier.
3:18	Intimidation	Lorenzen Wright drives the lane, but Yao intimidates him enough that he loses a grip on the ball. However, the ball goes out of bounds, and the Grizzlies maintain possession.
2:39		On a big possession, the Rockets TRAIL 98-99. Mobley dribbles the ball to the top third of the free throw line and bounces a pass to Kenny Thomas underneath the basket. But Thomas fumbles the ball....but YAO IS THERE TO PICK IT UP. He lays it up off the glass with his right hand, but it skims off the top of the iron; however, AS THE BALL IS COMING OUT OF THE CYLINDER, YAO FOLLOWS UP WITH A DUNK! The Grizzlies are furious because they think it's goaltending. But this time the refs give Yao a break, and the bucket counts. Looking at the replay, the dunk was legit, and NOT goaltending. The Rockets lead 100-99. Yao is now 5-9 from the field with 14 points.
2:20		On the ensuing Grizzlies possession, Wesley Person shoots a fadeaway jumper, but it clangs high off the iron...AND YAO IS THERE TO VIGOROUSLY SNAG IT OUT OF THE AIR AND BRING IT DOWN WITH A VICE-LIKE GRIP. MONSTER REBOUND! There's not going to be any stripping of the ball out of Yao's hands this time!
:32.3		With the Rockets down 103-100, Francis drives to the hoop and is fouled by Gasol. Francis misses the first free throw, and also misses the second...BUT YAO GRABS THE REBOUND IN FRONT OF THE HOOP, BRINGS IT DOWN WITH ONE DRIBBLE, SPINS TO HIS RIGHT, AND SHOOTS A HOOK SHOT JUST OVER GASOL'S OUTSTRETCHED HAND....AND IT GOES IN! BIG-TIME PLAY BY YAO!! Gasol also touched him on the hand on the lay, but there was no call. The Rockets are still down 102-103, though. Yao has 16 points.
:2.3		With only 7.4 seconds left on the clock and the Rockets needing a 3-pointer to tie the game, Glen Rice inbounds the ball to Yao Ming out high by the 3-point line. Yao then drops the ball off to Steve Francis, who curls around him. Yao holds his ground to screen off Wesley Person as Francis stops at the top of the 3-point arc, rises up and with his foot only an inch away from the line and his momentum carrying him to the left, DRAINS THE 3!!!!!! TIE BALL GAME! With all of Francis' miscues in the final minutes (2 turnovers on traveling calls, 2 missed free throws), he delivers in the clutch!!
Overtime - The score is 105-105. Of course, Yao starts the 5:00 minute overtime period.
3:27		With the score still tied 105-105, Francis shoots a jumper that misses, but Yao is there to grab the rebound. He goes up for the shot, but Lorenzen Wright is able to put his hand on the ball to get a jump ball called. As he comes down, Yao steps on Pau Gasol's foot awkwardly and crashes to the floor in obvious pain. Yao is holding his left ankle, but is able to get up for the jump ball. He loses the tip to Wright, though. This is Yao's third time to lose a tip in this game.
:57.3		Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the paint, turns baseline and shoots a fadeaway jumper, and SCORE IT! The score is now tied 109-109! But it's to no avail. Wesley Person hits a rainbow three, and the Rockets don't. Game over, man. One stat we calculated for this game is what kind of point differential did the Rockets have when Yao was in the game, and not in the game. Surprisingly (according to our calculations), when Yao was in the game the Rockets were -12. With Yao out of the game, they were +7. We don't really know how valid this stat is since so many variables come into play. But we'll try to keep tracking this stat so we can see if there's a trend here.

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