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Yao vs. Hawks - 12/20/02
as of 12/21/02
Detailed Yao analysis
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Yao vs. Hawks - 12/20/02
Yao makes his second consecutive block within a several second span in the 1st quarter against the Hawks Friday night. Yao and the Rockets defeated Atlanta 101-82, with Yao scoring 17 points. |
as of 12/21/02
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The Rockets were like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde Friday night in Houston. After scoring only 38 points in the first half against Atlanta, losers of 4 games in a row, the Rockets trailed by 11 at the intermission. We started to think, "Here we go again--underachievement time." But then the Rockets scored almost the same amount of points in the third quarter (37) as they did in the first half. And this time everyone got in on the act, not just Yao or Steve Francis, to beat the Hawks 101-82. We can't help but hope this was the game that got the Rockets on the same "team concept" track as the Dallas Mavericks, one of the deepest and most-balanced teams in the league. It all has to start somewhere, so perhaps Friday night was it. The numbers In the critical 3rd quarter, the Rockets went on a 21-6 run in just 3:55 minutes, with one stretch being a 12-0 run. The quarter included hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers (Mobley with two treys, and three straight treys by Glen Rice in 1:29 minutes). And with Yao anchoring the middle, the Rockets switched to a zone defense to slow down the Hawks' attack (33 points in the 2nd half) and control Glen Robinson, who had 22 points at halftime (18 in the first quarter) but only scored 6 points the rest of the way. Very encouraging was the 24 assists the Rockets had (season average of 18.1 is second-to-last in the NBA), along with turning the ball over 7 times (none in the second half), much better than their season average of 16.2. The Rockets also outrebounded the Hawks 49-39. Incredibly, Houston ranks second in the NBA in rebounds per game although no Rockets player is in the Top 25 (Yao is ranked 30th in the league with 7.7 boards per game) Yao was only 4-for-12 from the field (17 points), but he continued his incredible free throw shooting (9-for-10 Friday, 55-of-63 over his past 10 games for 87%). He also scored 9 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter. With Yao's presence on the court, the Rockets were +20 points. Without him, they were -1. Even though Yao only had four baskets, that doesn't mean he didn't have several highlight reel plays as he usually does. In the Detailed Yao analysis below, check out his two consecutive blocks in the first quarter, and his two beautiful assists. Actually, all of his plays we documented should be an interesting read. Are they back on track? After tripping up against weaker teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Clippers, the Rockets have put together a nice run of three wins in a row. Now with a record of 15-10, it's the first time the Rockets have been 5 games over .500 in five years. The Rockets fly to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves. Minnesota is right behind the Rockets in the Midwest division with a 14-12 record, and lost to the Celtics in Boston Friday night. So look for the T-Wolves to try make amends to their fans. |
Detailed Yao analysis
| 1st quarter - Yao starts the game | ||
| 11:15 |   |
The Hawks' Ira Newble grabs a loose rebound underneath the Hawk basket and goes up for a shot, BUT YAO EASILY GETS HIS HAND ON IT FOR THE BLOCK. Shareef Abdur-Rahim grabs the loose ball on the other side of the basket, and shoots a jump shot by jumping as high as he can and releasing the ball at the top of his leap, BUT YAO IS THERE TO BLOCK THAT SHOT, TOO! That's 2 blocks in less than 4 seconds, and he hardly needed to jump on both blocks! That should make the Hawks think all night long when putting a shot up with Yao around (and he's always around!) |
| 10:17 | Free Throws | Yao gets the ball in his favorite position on the left side of the court about 3 feet outside of the paint. Guarded by Theo Ratliff, Yao pivots and dribbles to Ratliff's right toward the basket, but Ratliff is called for pushing him as Yao goes out of bounds. That means free throws. He makes both of them, and the Rockets lead 4-3. |
| 9:43 | From his left side spot, Yao pivots toward the basket, pump fakes on Ratliff, then goes up for a jump shot...but Ratliff blocks it! Yao must be surprised. But Ratliff is an extremely effective shot blocker (5th in the NBA), so it's not to be unexpected. As smart as Yao is, he'll figure out Ratliff's strengths (this is the first time they have faced each other), and will eventually compensate for it. | |
| 3:35 |  |
Yao gets the ball at the top of the three point line and passes the ball to Francis on the right side along the arc. Francis then dribbles to where Yao was standing while Yao cuts to the basket. Then FRANCIS DELIVERS A PERFECT BOUNCE PASS ON THE GIVE-AND-GO. YAO GETS THE BALL ABOUT 5 FEET FROM THE BASKET, SEES ABDUR-RAHIM COMING OVER TO CONTEST THE SHOT, AND YAO DELIVERS A ONE-HANDED FACIAL JAM IN ABDUR-RAHIM'S MUG!! TAKE THAT! THE CROWD LOVES THE POWER! THAT GETS THE ROCKETS BENCH OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS! The Rockets trail 16-19. Yao is 1-for-3 from the field with 4 points. |
| 3:07 | Assist | Glenn Robinson drives and shoots a leaning jump shot just inside the free throw line, but Cuttino Mobley is able to block it from the side! Yao grabs the loose ball in the middle of the lane over the flailing arms of a Hawk, AND WITHOUT HESITATION THROWS A LONG OUTLET PASS TO A STREAKING STEVE FRANCIS, WHO CATCHES IT AT HALF COURT AND SCORES AN EASY LAYUP! Can you say "Jabbar" or "Olajuwon?" |
| 1:04 | Yao checks out of the game for Kelvin Cato. Yao has 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. The Rockets trail 20-24. | |
| 2nd quarter - The Rockets trail 20-28 after the first quarter. Atlanta's Glenn Robinson has lit it up with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. | ||
| 6:07 | Yao checks into the game. The Rockets trail 27-38. | |
| 4:08 |  |
With the Rockets trailing 30-42 and struggling offensively, they need to give the ball to Yao to let him do his thing. Finally, he gets the ball in his favorite position near the edge of the free throw line, Yao turns baseline, falls back for a fadeway jumper, and SWISH! Boy, the Rockets needed that! Yao is 2-for-4 from the field with 6 points. |
| :45 | From his favorite position, Yao faces up to the basket and is double-teamed. That leaves someone open. Leave it to Yao to find him. Seeing Moochie wide open on the baseline under the basket, YAO ZIPS A BULLET TO HIM, who puts it up and is blocked by a Hawk, but Mooch gets the loose ball and puts it in off the glass for the layup! | |
| 3rd quarter - The Rockets trail 38-49. | ||
| 10:24 |  |
Yao gets the ball in his favorite spot with his back to the basket. A Hawk gambles for a steal, AND WITH AN OPEN LANE TO THE BUCKET SPINS TOWARD HIS LEFT, DRIBBLES IT ONCE WITH BOTH HANDS, AND POWERS IT DOWN WITH A MASSIVE TWO-HANDED DUNK! Yao has 8 points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. The Rockets trail 42-53. |
| Unbelievably, the transmission of my game went out until about four minutes were remaining in the 3rd quarter. Something must have happened at Compaq Center with the television feed. The TV announcers apologize, but that doesn't help make my job any easier. The Rockets go on a 21-6 rampage to take the lead 63-61. Rice hit a jump shot (2 points), Yao hit 4 free throws, Francis scored on a layup and was fouled (3 points), Rice scored again on two 3-pointers (6 points), Yao made another free throw, Rice hits another trey, and Francis hit a jump shot.
During this stretch Yao scored 5 points to rack his point total to 13. |
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| 3:45 | Free Throws | Cuttino jumps into the air at the edge of the free throw line and passes to Yao, who is standing about 4 feet from the basket. Yao is fouled as he goes up for the shot, and makes both free throws. He's 9-for-10 from the line for 15 points. The Rockets lead 65-61. |
| 1:08 | Yao checks out of the game for Cato. The Rockets lead 75-65. | |
| 4th quarter - The Rockets lead 75-68. | ||
| 6:36 | Yao checks back in for Cato. The Rockets lead 85-72. | |
| 4:11 |  Assist |
With Terrence Morris guarding him, Abdur-Rahim makes a nice spin move to the basket and gets great position on the baseline and puts up a shot. Morris goes for the block, but YAO COMES OVER OVER THE REJECTION! COMPAQ LOVES IT! With the game well in hand (92-76 Rockets leading), it's stat-padding garbage-time (a rarity for the Rockets).
On the ensuing Rockets possession, Yao gets the ball on the right side with Alan Henderson guarding him. Yao dribbles once, then ZIPS A TWO-HANDED PASS OVER HENDERSON'S HEAD TO MOBLEY WHO IS CUTTING ALONG THE BASELINE TO THE BASKET, AND 'CAT' LAYS IT IN!! The crowd is feelin' it! That's Yao's 3rd assist. The Rockets lead 94-76. This gives the Rockets the opportunity to play James Posey, their new addition to the team after trading Kenny Thomas on Wednesday. |
| 3:06 |  |
On a play that's a blast from the past, Yao receives the ball along the left edge of the free throw line. He then dribbles twice into the lane, jumps off his left foot and DOES A CLASSIC RENDITION OF JABBAR'S SKY HOOK! BANG!! Even the speed at which he moved was reminiscent of the 'goggled' one. |
| 2:43 | With the Rockets leading 96-80, Yao checks out with 17 points on 4-for-12 shooting, 9-for-10 from the line, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals.
The Rockets go on to win 101-82. |
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