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Yao vs. Clippers - 12/14/02

Yao shoots a beautiful off-the-glass jumper after faking out the Clippers' Michael Olowokandi Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Rockets, they lost their second straight 94-83.
The Rockets laid down and died for the Clippers Saturday night, losing 94-83 at Compaq Center. This team has some serious gut-checking to do. On a high after beating the 76ers and Kings, the Rocks have lost two in a row to teams they should have beat: Memphis (6-18) and the Clippers (9-14). They also failed to erase the memory of choking their last game against the Clippers on November 24th. In addition, the Rockets had won their last 7 games in a row at home. If they are going to have that streak broken, do they have to lose to the Clippers? How about the Mavericks or somebody great?

The Rockets can't give the excuse that the Clippers had fresher legs this night. The Clips played last night just like the Rockets did, losing against the Spurs in San Antonio.

Yao had a good game with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks (more on that later), falling one rebound short of extending his double-double streak to 6 games. Essentially, the Rockets big scorers didn't get it done. Steve Francis was only 5-for-18 from the field, going 1-for-9 in the second half. Mobley was 2-for-9 in the second half. Although Glen Rice scored 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the third quarter, he also went cold in the fourth quarter making only 1-of-5 shots. The entire team seemed to take ill-advised shots in the critical fourth quarter, including five 3-pointers (making none of them) when they didn't really need to take shots like that to close the 9-11 point gaps they faced. There was no ball movement in the fourth quarter as we had seen in games where finding the open man helped them to victory.

Forwards Kenny Thomas (sprained ankle) and Maurice Taylor (flu) did not play. Although these guys don't shoot lights out, any kind of inside offensive presence to complement Yao might have helped.

Not playing smart

This team over the past couple of games has shown a lack of discipline in its offense any time Yao doesn't get the ball. Inexplicably, Yao only was able to take 9 shots, and made five of them. He also was fouled three times on field goal attempts, and made all 6 free throws. How can the Rockets not use such a reliable weapon? It's like the team has turned back the clock to those games where they would only give the ball to Yao a handful of times, and lose as a result. We think Yao needs to just take over like Charles Barkley and demand the ball and shoot it when Francis and Mobley are struggling. Good things happen when he does.

The Rockets' defense has also hit a snag. They let the Clippers shoot 68% from the field in the first quarter, giving up the most amount of points (33) in the first quarter to any team they have faced this season, and trailed the entire way.

Next up:

The Rockets travel to play Miami, Atlantic division cellar-dwellar, on Monday night. If the Rockets lose to the 6-17 Heat, then something's got to give. Perhaps they would need to give someone on the bench a chance who might be able to provide more scoring punch from the small forward spot, like Bostjan Nachbar or Terrence Morris. Morris looked decent against the Clippers, going 2-for-5 from the field. He also has hit some long jump shots the past couple of games, and has the ability to cut to the basket for easy slams.


1st quarter
12:00   Yao starts the game, but loses the tip. That's four straight losses of the tip for Yao. Not a big deal, but it is kind of strange one of the tallest guys in the league can't win the tip.
4:25 Having not been involved in the offense very much so far, Yao gets the ball near his favorite spot on the left side about 10 feet away from the basket. With 7-footer Olowokandi guarding him, Yao fakes left, then turns right and shoots a high-arching fadeaway jumper near the baseline. COUNT IT! Although this isn't a hook shot, it is Yao's version of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Sky Hook in that it is unblockable. Yao is 1-for-2 with 2 points.
3:55   Again from his favorite spot, it looks like Yao will be going to work offensively. But this time Mobley curls around him, Yao drops it off to him while remaining in his spot to set a screen, and Mobley drives the baseline for a dunk! Although this is a simple play, it is very effective. Houston's guards are so quick, it's virtually impossible for anyone defending them to get around Yao and stay with their man.
2:08 This time Yao gets it low in the right post, pivots right toward the baseline like he's going to shoot his fallaway jumper. OLOWOKANDI BITES BIG TIME AND LEAVES HIS FEET TO BLOCK THE SHOT, but Yao pivots again to his left, leans toward the basket AS OLOWOKANDI FLIES PAST HIM, THEN CHANGES HIS SHOT IN MID-AIR AS HE SENSES ANOTHER CLIPPER COMING OVER TO BLOCK IT, AND BANKS IT OFF THE GLASS FOR THE DEUCE! INCREDIBLE SHOT!! This is something you would see Kobe or Jordan do! Yao is 2-for-3 with four points. The Rockets are down 25-18.
:53.1   Yao posts up on Olowokandi and then is double-teamed. From this left post position, Yao sees Francis open along the baseline on the other side of the paint and bounces a pass to him. It appears Yao thought Francis was going to cut to the basket since he had an open lane for a layup, but Steve didn't move to the ball as Yao had anticipated. Sometimes when Yao makes passes like this, he appears more forward-thinking than his teammates are. Over time, we expect Yao's teammates to get in synch with what Yao is thinking when he has the ball.
2nd quarter - The Rockets trail 22-33. Cato checks into the game for Yao, who has 4 points.
5:31   Yao checks back into the game. The Rockets trail 33-43.
4:33   Yao is called for goaltending on Elton Brand, but that's okay. Yao is just making a statement, like "Think about me before you take every shot."
3:37 Free Throws From his favorite spot on the left side, Yao has Olowokandi guarding him again. This time he fakes left, but Olowokandi doesn't bite like last time. Then Yao pivots and goes up for his shot....and this time Olowokandi jumps to block it...BUT NO, IT'S ANOTHER FAKE, AND HE FALLS INTO YAO FOR THE FOUL. Yao has so many moves, he's got The Kandiman flustered! Yao hits both free throws, and now has 6 points.
3:05 Juaquin Hawkins misses a jumper, and Yao rises for the offensive rebound about half-way in the paint. Yao doesn't hesitate a second after getting the rebound. He pivots left like he's going to shoot a fadeway jump shot, AND OLOWOKANDI GOES UP FOR THE BLOCK, BUT AGAIN YAO FAKES HIM OUT. As Olowokandi flies by Yao, he leans in toward the basket and banks it off the glass for the bucket! This is almost a carbon copy of what happened about 11 minutes earlier in the first quarter!! Yao now has 8 points on 3-4 shooting from the field.
1:25 Free Throws Yao is fouled by Olowokandi as he is moving without the ball. Yao makes both free throws. He is 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and has 10 points.
:41   Wang Zhi-Zhi receives a pass on the right side of the court with Yao guarding him. Wang drives toward the basket with only Yao in his way. Yao slides over quick enough to stay in his way, and Wang barrels into Yao underneath the basket to send him crashing to the floor...and Wang is called for the charge!! Great defense against his old rival!
:27.7 This time guarded by Wang, Yao tries his fadeaway baseline jumper on him...and SWISH!! The interesting thing is that Wang didn't even try to block it! I guess he knows Yao well enough from his playing days in China that he just seemed to say, "What's the point?" Yao has 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
3rd quarter - The Rockets trail 45-54.
11:01
Intimidation		 Michael Olowokandi curls around Yao along the baseline and tries a scoop shot from underneath the backboard. But Yao holds his ground well, doesn't try to jump to block the shot, and is able to deflect the shot for the rejection. Elton Brand gets the rebound and tries to put up a shot, but Yao is there to make him arc it higher than he wanted, and Yao gets the rebound. Great sequence for the Eraser in the middle.
2:27   Yao checks out of the game. He only took three shots in the quarter, and missed all of them.
4th quarter
8:35   Yao checks back into the game to replace Terrence Morris. The Rockets are down 72-86.
7:33 Yao gets a long rebound about halfway to the free throw line outside of the paint. He brings the ball down and bounces it once, spins to his left toward the basket and shoots his fallaway jumper--TWO! The Rockets needed that basket. They have been struggling, and this basket closes the deficit to 74-86. Yao is 5-for-9 from the field with 14 points.
5:26 Free Throws Yao gets the ball in his favorite spot, faces up to the basket, pump fakes once on Olowokandi. Once again The Kandiman bites on the fake! Yao then puts the ball on the floor and drives to the bucket and shoots a baby hook which misses short, but he's fouled by the trailing Olowokandi. Yao goes to the free throw line and makes both free throws. He's 6-for-6 from the line and has 16 points.
3:44 Olowokandi gets the ball, ironically, in Yao's favorite spot. He tries one of Yao's trademarked fallaway jumpers from the edge of the free throw line, but Yao is able to tip the ball for his second block! The Rockets are quickly running out of time though. They trail the Clippers 79-90.
1:14 With the Rockets down 83-92, Clipper Andre Miller has a clear path to the basket and drives down the lane. But Yao is able to come over and make a beautiful block!


The Rockets go on to lose a game they should have won, 94-83. Yao finishes with 16 points on 5-for-9 shooting (6-for-6 from the free throw line), and 9 rebounds. Yao misses his fifth-straight double-double by only 1 rebound! With Yao in the game, the Rockets were -4. Without him, the Rockets were -7.




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