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100% dedicated to Yao Ming's life in the NBAYao vs. Celtics - 1/13/03
The Celtics' Vin Baker tries to take it to Yao, but Yao records his 3rd block of the game instead. Yao went on to record 5 blocks and 10 points as the Rockets defeated Boston 101-92 in Houston. |
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It was a shootout at the 'Compaq' Corral Monday night as the Rockets played a Boston Celtic team that actually shoots more 3-pointers than they do! Houston was hitting everything in the first quarter with an aggressive offense and accurate shooting (12-of-17 for 71%) to create a 12 point lead. It was one of the most explosive quarters seen from the Rockets this year, and they continued to push it by extending their lead to 15 in the 2nd quarter. The Rockets probably thought they were going to have an easy night of it and cruise to a victory, but their shooting cooled off, and Boston came back to tie the score in the 3rd quarter, thanks to attempting an incredible 33 three-pointers (they made 14). In the end, the Rockets held on to win 101-92.
It seemed every time the Rockets were going to put the game away in the third and fourth quarters, the Celtics showed heart and made shot after shot. Thankfully, the Rockets were able to match the Celtics firepower with almost every Rocket having a great shooting night (team shooting was 50% from the floor, 91% from the line). Steve Francis was 8-for-15 (26 points), Cuttino Mobley was 9-for-18 (24 points), and Kelvin Cato was 3-for-3. They still resorted to lots of long jump shots, which history has shown will not always be this easy to hit. What about Yao? Yao was all over the place in the 1st quarter by scoring 5 points on 2-for-2 shooting, but he also notched 4 spectacular blocks in that quarter. He finished with 10 points total, 6 rebounds and 5 rejections. Although the points and rebounds might not seem that much, the relatively small 10 points can be attributed to the Celtics' gamble to cover Yao like a blanket at the risk of having the other Rockets burn them, which they ended up doing. And because Francis and Mobley were hitting from long-range, they didn't look for Yao as much in the 3rd and 4th quarters as they should have, but ended up getting away with it this time for the victory. However, it's clear the Rockets loosey-goosey offense is still the scorn of TV analysts. This time it was Celtic play-by-play man Mike Gorman and color announcer (and former Celtic head coach) Tom Heinsohn. Gorman: "Wow. I just watched Yao Ming set a pick on the top of the key, roll to the basket and was ALL alone. I mean, how can you be 7'5" and wide open.…the Rockets never looked at him." Heinsohn: "There is no bigger target on a pick-and-roll play than Yao Ming, and if you don't utilize him, you're a dumb basketball team." Rice's replacements We continue to be impressed with James Posey's play, who played lots of minutes because of Glen Rice's shoulder injury incurred during the Nugget game on Saturday night. Posey scored 12 points and 9 rebounds, falling one board short of a double-double. Reserve guard Juaquin Hawkins also got to play for the first time in a long time, who looked very good on 3-for-6 shooting and dished out 3 assists in 20 minutes. Terrence Morris also looked solid hitting two consecutive baseline jumpers in the fourth quarter to maintain the Rocket lead, and overall shot 3-for-6 from the floor and had 6 rebounds. Terrence has really improved his shooting this season, so you gotta give him credit for working hard during the summer. And although we're sorry for Rice that his season may be in doubt, we think the Rockets have plenty of talented players to fill the void. And we haven't even mentioned Yao's fellow rookie and friend Bostjan Nachbar, who we hope gets some playing time soon. |
Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Boston Celtics 1/13/03
| 1st quarter - Yao starts the game. | ||
| 9:07 |  |
Celtic super forward Paul Pierce penetrates the middle of the lane to try a layup attempt on Yao, who is standing along the right side of the lane. Yao follows him and forces Pierce to put it too high off the glass, but it appears Yao may have been able to tip the ball. The official scorekeeper gives Yao a blocked shot that's debatable, but we'll take it. |
| 7:20 |  |
Celtic Antoine Walker drives the left baseline and decides to go up against 3 Rockets (Mobley, Yao and Griffin) standing underneath the basket. All 3 Rockets contest it to form a Great Wall, and Walker's shot misses off the rim. The loose ball comes down to Celtic Eric Williams, who tries to put it up BUT YAO REJECTS IT CLEANLY, AND THE CROWD GOES CRAZY! |
| 5:35 |  |
For the first time, Yao is able to touch the ball in scoring position. Receiving the ball on the edge of the free throw line, Yao is guarded by the much smaller Celtic center Tony Battie. With his back to the basket, Yao dribbles once while taking a step backward toward the goal, spins right toward the bucket, and goes up strong. Battie tries to slow him down by putting an arm on his body and on his shooting arm. It doesn't deter Yao, though, as he shoots a soft floater that SWISHES THROUGH THE NET! AND 1! The crowd is pumped tonight! Yao makes the free throw, and the Rockets lead 18-10. |
| 2:13 |  |
The Celtics' Vin Baker has the ball at the top of the key and is being guarded by Yao. For some reason, Baker decides to take it to Yao and drive down the lane on him. Baker gets about midway down the lane and shoots a shot over Yao, BUT YAO REJECTS A THIRD SHOT! What was Baker thinking? |
| 1:48 |  |
Francis dribbles the ball up the left side of the court and passes the ball to Yao, who is standing just to the right of the top of the key. Battie obviously respects Yao's ability to get into the paint and doesn't play him close. So Yao just spots up and shoots a traditional 18-foot jump shot AND DRAINS IT! The crowd loves it! Battie must have thought there's no way Yao could hit that shot, but he proves once again he can hit almost any kind of shot. |
| 1:28 |  |
Paul Pierce of the Celtics drives into the lane from the left corner and goes up for a shot right in front of the rim, BUT YAO COMES FROM BEHIND AND SWATS IT VIGOROUSLY DOWN ON HIM FOR THE BLOCK, and the ball bounces off Pierce to go out of bounds. Rockets ball! That's the 4th block this quarter for Yao |
| :17.2 | Yao checks out of the game for Cato. Yao is 2-for-2 from the field with 5 points, and those 4 blocks! | |
| 2nd quarter - The Rockets lead 29-17. | ||
| 5:35 | Yao checks back in for Cato. The Rockets lead 41-32. | |
| 4:30 |  |
Yao gets the ball on the right side just outside the midpoint of the lane. He then pump fakes, spins baseline and launches himself straight into the air about 3 feet from the baseline. With only his right hand on the ball, Yao shoots it as he's coming down...and the ball rattles in for the bucket! Beautiful rhythm and soft touch! |
| 3:22 | Assist | The Rockets have their offense spread out across the floor. Yao is at the top of the key and gets the ball, and he sees a wide-open Juaquin Hawkins in the right corner just inside the three-point line. Yao zips a two-handed bullet over to Juaqin, who drills a 20-foot jump shot! Yao has such great vision and can really hum that ball! |
| Halftime - The Rockets lead 50-46. Yao has 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field, and has 4 blocks. | ||
| 3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter. | ||
| 3:46 |  |
Somehow the Rockets have let the Celtics back into the game after seemingly having this game in control. The game is tied 61-61 after an Antoine Walker trey. Francis drives the lane from the right corner and gets to the hoop, but there's a wall of Celtics there to meet him, so he he dishes to Yao on the right side of the rim (who is open because Francis was able to draw Battie to him). Yao immediately goes up and puts a one-handed baby hook into the bucket for the score, and he's fouled by Battie! Yao makes the free throw and has 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Boston Celtic TV analyst Tommy Heinsohn says, "This guy should have 25 points already." |
| 3:23 |  |
Rocket James Posey grabs a defensive rebound along the baseline, but Celtic Walter McCarty strips it from him and goes up for a jam under the basket, BUT YAO IS THERE FOR AN AMAZING BLOCK AT THE RIM AS McCARTY WAS THROWING IT DOWN! Paul Pierce grabs the loose ball under the rim and HE goes up for a layup off the glass, BUT YAO IS STILL THERE TO INTIMIDATE and the ball clangs off the rim. Mobley steals the loose ball from Pierce and takes it back the other way. |
| 1:34 | Cato checks into the game for Yao. | |
| 4th quarter - Cato remains in the game for Yao. | ||
| 3:52 | Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Rockets hold a slim 87-85 lead over the Celtics, who have refused to give up. | |
| 3:23 | Big Rebound | Paul Pierce has a point-blank layup to tie the score, but it just misses after hanging on the front of the rim for a second or two. Right when it falls off the rim, Pierce is about to tap it in for the bucket, BUT YAO IS THERE WITH HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARMS TO TIP IT AWAY FROM PIERCE AND GRAB THE REBOUND! HUGE BOARD BY YAO to retain the lead! |
| 2:49 | Steal | With the Rockets leading 89-85, the Celtics have it on offense. Paul Pierce bounces a pass into the lane for Tony Battie who has an open lane to the basket, but Yao is there to deflect the pass and steal it. The crowd is euphoric!
The Rockets hold on for the victory, 101-92, but the game was much closer than the final score indicates. Yao finishes with 10 points (4-for-7 from the field), 6 rebounds and 5 blocks! |
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