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Yao vs. Pacers - 12/18/02


Yao spins around Brad Miller in the fourth quarter Wednesday night. With Yao's dominance, the Rockets beat the Indiana Pacers in Houston 95-83.
as of 12/19/02
After watching Yao dismantle the Pacers with 29 points (10-for-15 shooting) on an array of shots that left the Pacers dazed and confused, this game was another epiphany for Yao and Rockets fans alike. Indeed, this game was reminiscent of his breakout game against the Lakers in L.A. where he scored 20 points, or the 30 points against the Mavericks, or the 27 points against the Spurs…you get the idea. After defeating the Pacers on Wednesday night 95-83, Yao's teammates must be shocked at how good he really is.…and he has only played 24 NBA games! Yao also had 10 rebounds and a career-high 6 blocks. When all the other Rockets were struggling with their shooting, they went to Yao, and he came through for them, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter on 5-for-6 shooting. Rather than go into detail here, please see our Detailed Yao analysis below.

We have said here on this site since the season started that if you give the ball to Yao, he will deliver, and he showed again on Wednesday this theory is correct. But even our jaws drop to the floor when he hits shot after shot, makes almost all his free throws, blocks shots when they need a block, throws crisp and clever passes, grabs important rebounds in traffic, etc.

We don't mean to diss Steve Francis whatsoever, who had a decent shooting night (7-for-14), but the Rockets now appears to be Yao's team. Yao (league leader in field goal percentage) shoots better than Steve and he seems to make the plays when they need to be made. But Francis is not too far behind. He makes the big plays as well, like the clutch three-pointers against the Grizzlies and the Heat. But if you need a clutch bucket, my money is on Yao.

We collected a few quotes from Bill Walton, the ESPN analyst for the game. He couldn't stop raving about Yao. Although he has a tendency to belabor his points, we respect Walton for his basketball knowledge (he's one of the Top 50 NBA players of all time) and feel his comments are worth posting on the site. So here are some of the comments Walton made about Yao during the Wednesday broadcast:

"This guy has got the complete package."

"He is going to break new ground that has never even been scratched by anyone else in the history of professional sports."

"You've got an incredible passer in Yao Ming. Why not give it to him early in the shot clock. Just move without the ball and he'll get you a layup every time."

"I haven't seen passing like this since Sabonis."

"This guy is light years ahead of so many players, and just 22 (years old)."

"One of the things that was so nice about Yao Ming…when everybody was on his case early, he didn't say a word. He didn't make any excuses, he didn't point any fingers. He just sat there and took it all in. This is a very special human being. We're lucky."

"We've seen him go every direction. We've seen hook shots, sky hooks, jump hooks, drop steps, dunks, rebounds, blocks, passes. Thank goodness this guy might mean the end of the age of specialization."

"My biggest concern for the Rockets. Yao Ming is playing a near flawless game and they have barely been able to win. When your main guy goes crazy, it's gotta be a blowout."

"The variety, the versatility, the completeness of his game. The mental aspect and approach to his game. How it's not self-centered, it's not about the numbers, it's about the thought process. It's about the likeability, the friendliness, the joy with which he plays."

"This guy is so far ahead of everything what's going on in the world, and he's an incredibly likeable person."

"Go back to the early days of Larry Bird when the Celtics couldn't sell a ticket until the fans saw him. The early days of Michael Jordan when the Bulls could not give tickets away. That's the way it's going to be here in Houston. You're not going to be able to get a ticket after a very short period of time."
Detailed Yao Analysis

1st quarter - Yao starts the game
11:47   Right after the tip, Jermaine O'Neal drives the baseline and goes up for a dunk--BUT YAO IS THERE FOR THE REJECTION!!! The Houston crowd goes crazy!! But the refs call a foul! Replays show that Yao blocked it cleanly, but Eddie Griffin fouled him from the side.
11:19 The next time down the floor for the Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal gets the ball underneath the basket with Yao towering over him. Realizing he needs to create some space, he takes one big step away from the rim and shoots a fadeaway over Yao...BUT YAO TIPS IT FOR THE BLOCK!! And this time the refs don't call a foul!
10:43   Yao gets the ball from Francis in his favorite spot on the just outside the paint on the left side. Steve cuts toward the basket AND WITH HIS BACK TO THE BASKET YAO FLIPS A PASS OVER AND BEHIND HIS HEAD, OVER BRAD MILLER, TO FRANCIS IN THE LANE ON A DEAD RUN!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!! Bill Walton, the color analyst for ESPN, belts out a long 'aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh' in admiration of the beautiful dish! Francis is fouled, so Yao won't get the assist, but he should! Rudy shows one of the most demonstrative displays of emotion I've ever seen from a coach in a first quarter play--he leaps off the bench like one of those old Toyota commercials while pumping his fist over his head!!! All the Rocket players on the bench are clapping in respect for the play. What's scary for other teams is that this pass is almost indefensible with Yao's height--no one can deflect it!
8:41   Yao catches a pass at the free throw line and upon receiving it IMMEDIATELY bounces a lead pass to Eddie Griffin who is standing close to the basket. But Griffin didn't anticipate the pass, and the ball goes out of bounds on a turnover. That's okay, though. We said it a couple of games ago--it's going to take awhile for Yao's teammates to be prepared for a pass anytime he gets the ball. But that timing should come in time for some spectacular, easy buckets. Yao smiles with the realization that this connection will come in due time.
8:36 Jermaine O'Neal faces up against Yao outside the paint, spins so his back is to the basket, the spins quickly again around Yao and tries to put up a difficult layup shot. O'Neal doesn't even hit iron on this shot, but Yao is credited for the block even though he didn't touch the ball. We'll take it, though.
5:36 Yao gets a defensive rebound and passes it to Francis, who brings it quickly up the court and passes to Rice at the three point line. Rice puts one up, and misses, BUT YAO COMES FLYING INTO THE LANE ON A FULL-SPEED RUN, AND IN ONE FLUID MOTION GRABS THE REBOUND IN MID-AIR WITH BOTH HANDS ABOUT TWO FEET FROM THE BUCKET, AND THROWS IT DOWN FOR A RIM-RATTLING DUNK! SPORTSCENTER TIME! The crowd erupts! WE CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH--YAO IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NEVER QUITS IN TRYING TO GET GREAT POSITION!! All of Yao's teammates on the bench clap in mutual respect, in awe of what they just saw. The Rockets lead 12-11, and Yao is 1-for-2 from the field for 2 points.
4:44 Free Throws Francis drives to the hole, but his shot misses off the rim. But Yao is there to grab the rebound, and goes up for the put-back, but he's fouled. Yao hits both free throws.
4:29   The Pacers try an entry pass to Brad Miller aimed about head-high, but Yao is able to reach over Miller and break up the pass for the deflection! The ball bounces to Juaquin Hawkins, who gives it to Mobley, who passes to Francis who then scores a beautiful layup.
3:06 Free Throws From the right side outside the paint, Yao faces up to the basket and tries to shoot a shot over Brad Miller, but he's fouled and will go to the line. Yao hits both free throws beautifully. He now has 6 points and is 4-for-4 from the line.
2:17   Yao checks out of the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets lead 21-18.
2nd quarter - The Rockets lead 25-20.
6:33   Yao checks back into the game. The Rockets lead 29-25, but they desperately need Yao because they are only shooting 27% from the field (Indiana is not much better at 36%).
6:23 Ten seconds after checking back into the game, Yao goes to work. From his favorite spot, he spins baseline and dribbles twice to get underneath the basket. Seeing no open shot there, he spins back the other way and puts up a shot--BUT NO, IT'S A FAKE. INDIANA DEFENDERS BITE ON IT, AND FROM UNDERNEATH THE BASKET YAO PIVOTS AGAIN AND PUTS A REVERSE LAY-UP OFF THE GLASS!!! Bill Walton only has two words to say to describe this play: "Hakeem Olajuwon." Walton goes on to say, "The crowd is coming alive. These fans are just learning what they have in this player."
5:35 Yao cuts across the lane and catches a pass at the edge of the lane. Guarded by the O'Neal, Yao spins into the lane, jumps straight up and shoots a hook shot with a flick of the wrist--SCORE IT! The crowd loves it, the coaches love it, Steve loves it! Yao now has 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting, and 4-for-4 from the line. The Rockets lead 33-26.
5:00 From his favorite spot on the left side, Yao turns baseline and shoots a 12-footer from the baseline--SWISH!! Yao's on fire!! He's killin' me! I need a rest from typing up all these great plays! (just kidding). Bill Walton echoes my sentiments exactly, "What can't this guy do?"
4:47 A few seconds later, Yao is down on the defensive end and tracks Brad Miller down low. Miller goes up for the shot, but YAO IS THERE TO SWAT IT WITH BOTH HANDS! He's like a octopus with the way he just swallows up his man with his long 'tentacles.' The ball comes down and bounces off Miller and goes out of bounds for the Pacer turnover.
3:34
Assist		 From his favorite spot, Yao faces up, pivots into the lane and goes up for a leaner in the lane, but it bounces high off the rim. BUT SOMEHOW YAO HAS GREAT POSITION AFTER SHOOTING TO SKY FOR THE REBOUND OVER ANOTHER PACER, BRINGS THE BALL DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY ZIPS A NO-LOOK PASS TO FRANCIS OUT ON THE WING, AND STEVE DRAINS IT! Rack up an assist for Yao! Even when he misses he does something great to make up for it!

Walton: "Yao Ming is playing at a higher level than anyone in this game by far. It's not even close. And we're talking about some very good players."
2:29   Yao checks out of the game for Cato. Walton asks, "Why do they keep taking him out?" The Rockets lead 42-30.
3rd quarter - The Rockets lead 44-34. The Pacers go on a 10-2 run to start the quarter.
7:40 Jermaine O'Neal gets the ball in the paint with Yao guarding him. For some reason, O'Neal goes up for a shot, pump fakes in mid-air, and tries to get off a shot. But Yao easily blocks it!
6:26 Free Throws Yao gets the ball at the corner of the free throw line, fakes a pass, then spins toward the basket, pump fakes to get the defense to commit, then goes up for a shot and he's fouled. Yao makes both free throws and is 6-6 from the line.
5:32 Ron Artest drives to the bucket and underneath the rim to try a reverse layup, BUT YAO IS THERE ALONG WITH EDDIE GRIFFIN TO SWAT IT AWAY AT THE TOP OF ARTEST'S SHOT. Great lateral movement by Yao to move along the baseline to track Artest.
4:40 Free Throws Yao is fouled by Brad Miller as Yao tries to establish position. It means free throws, though. That's it--just put Yao in a position to be fouled while the offense is struggling (2-for-10 this quarter), and he'll get you points at the line. Yao makes both free throws. He's 8-for-8 from the line with 16 points.
2:48   Jermaine O'Neal receives the ball in the lane, takes two steps toward the bucket...BUT YAO SLIDES OVER AND GETS GREAT POSITION, KNOCKS YAO OVER, AND DRAWS THE CHARGE!
1:51 From his favorite spot, Yao dribbles twice into the lane while leaning hard on Brad Miller, then spins the other way toward the baseline, jumps and lays it in easily off the glass! Yao now has 18 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field. The Rockets lead 58-56.

The Rockets shot 4-for-18 and had 8 turnovers. With the way the Rockets have been struggling, it's amazing Yao only has shot the ball 9 times thus far.
4th quarter - The Rockets lead 58-56 after an ugly third quarter for both teams.
10:14 Maurice Taylor passes a nice bullet pass to Yao in the middle of the paint. Yao turns to his right, jumps and extends his right arm for a hook shot, flicks his wrist, and SCORE IT! That's 20 points now for Yao. Mr. Reliable comes through. The Rockets now trail 62-63.
6:50 In his favorite spot with the Rockets only leading by 1, Yao faces up to the basket and fakes a jump shot on Jeff Foster. Foster bites on the fake, then Yao drives around him toward the middle of the paint, takes two dribbles, then goes up high for another hook shot, AND SWISH! WHAT BEAUTIFUL TOUCH on almost the same exact play as four minutes ago! The Rockets needed that bucket! Yao has 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.
6:15   In one of his rare mistakes, Yao has the ball in his favorite spot on the left side, but Jamaal Tinsley comes around the baseline in a flash and cleanly picks the ball out of Yao's hand. No way he saw that coming. Tinsley drives down the court and passes to Reggie Miller at the three-point line, who hits it to take the lead 71-70.
5:48   Steve Francis throws the ball out of bounds on a wild pass, and Bill Walton asks, "Why isn't Yao Ming handling the ball more?"
5:19 With the Rockets down 70-72, the Rockets swing the ball around the horn (FINALLY some ball movement), and it comes to Yao at the edge of the paint on the right side. With a shorter man guarding him, he automatically goes up for a jump hook and SCORES IT AGAIN! He's reminding me of Hakeem: when the Rockets needed a bucket, Dream was the go-to guy. The Rockets have tied it up. Yao now has 24 points on 8-for-13 shooting.
4:25 After Cuttino hits a three to put Houston up 75-72, the Pacers make a nice entry pass to O'Neal. Yao slides over to tower over O'Neal as he crouches low after gathering the pass. Having nowhere to go since Yao is towering over him, he could either pass out of trouble, or hope to get a foul called on Yao as he goes up for the shot. O'Neal chooses the latter, BUT YAO SWATS IT OUT OF THERE FOR A BIG-TIME REJECTION (I am typing this very, very hard for emphasis!)
3:01 I don't think there is anything else I can write about Yao after this play. I now think I have seen it all. Here goes: Yao posts up in his favorite spot. He dribbles to his right twice into the lane, pulls up, pivots back to his left to fake out Brad Miller, AND THEN TAKES A STEP TOWARD THE BASKET AND SCOOPS AN UNDERHANDED SHOT OFF THE GLASS AND OVER THE BLOCK ATTEMPT OF JERMAINE O'NEAL FOR THE BASKET!! Walton: "That was Pete Maravich." The Rockets lead 80-76. Yao has 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
2:23 Free Throws On a wild play, Yao is passed the ball in the middle of the paint, but it's tipped and Yao fights for the ball and controls it underneath the bucket. He's got a sure two-handed jam coming when Brad Miller comes over and APPLIES HACK-A-YAO on his neck and head. Yao crashes to the floor hard and holds his face. This is the same buffoon who Shaq took a swing at last year because of the Hack-a-Shaq treatment Miller was putting on him.

Walton: "What is Brad Miller thinking, coming down with the violent arm swing to the head? I'm surprised an ejection didn't take place there." Miller is called for a flagrant foul (his fourth of the year) Yao eventually gets up, but Jermaine O'Neal doesn't; he's writhing in pain on the floor while holding his knee. O'Neal is eventually carried off the court.

After the timeout, Yao misses the first free throw but makes the second. He's 9-for-10 from the line. The Rockets lead 81-76.
2:07 The Rockets get possession because of the flagrant foul, so who do they give the ball to? Thankfully, Yao. From his spot on the left side, Yao dribbles to the edge of the free throw line, pivots toward the baseline and shoots his unblockable fallaway jumper. NOTHING BUT NET!!! You gotta think he wanted to make a statement to the Pacers that they can hack all they want, they can't stop him. The crowd goes crazy!

Walton: "The classy response, not a violent play, no anger shown. We all have alot to learn from Yao Ming." Yao has scored 29 points, 11 in the fourth quarter alone.
:42.2   With the Rockets up by 8, Glen Rice inbounds the ball to Yao way out high. WITH THE ENTIRE PACER DEFENSE COLLAPSING ON HIM, YAO GRABS IT IN MID-AIR AND WHILE FALLING AWAY IMMEDIATELY PASSES IT BACK TO RICE, who drives to the bucket but misses the layup! What a beautiful Larry Bird pass by the Big Guy!
:32.3   Showing his smarts once again, Yao is going to inbound the ball after a Pacer score. The ball is on the ground and he's standing along the baseline. He's looking at the ball leaving the defense guessing when he's going to pick it up. Then within one second, he rapidly picks the ball up, quickly steps behind the line, and inbounds the ball to an open man, thus giving the defense no time to react! Larry Bird-like again. Walton starts laughing at how clever Yao is.

The Thomas-Posey trade

If you hadn't heard, the Rockets essentially traded Kenny Thomas for James Posey in a three-team deal. We have suggested here in the past the Rockets might need to do something to shake up the team since they were having problems at the forward and backup shooting guard spots, which has surprisingly become their Achilles heel. They also had a logjam at power forward, and since Kenny was going to be a free agent at the end of the year anyway, he probably would have been difficult to sign. And because they are locked into long-term contracts with almost everyone, Kenny was the odd man out. With the way everyone is playing, we would have preferred to see the Rockets keep Thomas over Maurice Taylor, but Taylor's long-term contract and health problems makes him almost un-tradeable at this time. You can bet Taylor is relieved he will get more playing time, but he also must feel added pressure to make the Rocket front office not regret the fact they traded Kenny away.

We're going to miss Kenny, but like the other Rocket forwards, he just didn't seem to be hitting on all cylinders this year. He had some good games, but seemed to hit a plateau as a Rocket and hadn't really shown the improvement we thought he would have made from his breakout season last year.

We think Posey will provide the extra offensive firepower they need. It was clear when Juaquin Hawkins subbed for Cuttino a couple of weeks ago when Cat was out with ankle and foot problems that Juaquin didn't have what it took on the offensive end of the floor. And since Glen Rice, Terrence Morris and Mo Taylor haven't consistently picked up the scoring slack, they are going with someone who hasn't been struggling (Posey led the Nuggets in scoring this season). It would have been interesting to see if Bostjan Nachbar could have shown his potential with some playing time, but the Rockets don't appear to be messing around--they want to win now.
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