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Yao shoots over the Minnesota Timberwolves' Rasho Nesterovic in the second quarter Friday night. Yao went on to score 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 121-101 Rocket victory.

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The never-ending saga continues in figuring out who the real Houston Rockets are. One game they play like they all just met each other, and the next game they can look like the Sacramento Kings (who they play Sunday). Fortunately for the people who paid money for Friday night's game against the Timberwolves, they got their money's worth as the Rockets arguably played their best game of the season and defeated Minnesota 121-101. Going to a Rockets game is a lot like buying a lottery ticket: you never know what you're going to get, but someday you might hit the jackpot. Pumped up the jam There must have been more dunks in this Minnesota game for the Rockets than in any of those old University of Houston "Phi Slamma Jamma" games. The Rockets probably run more ally-oop plays than any team in the league, and they ran most of them to perfection Friday night. Francis was on-the-money with so many different passes toward the rack to teammates like Mobley, Cato and even Yao. But there were also traditional dunks by almost everyone else on the team. With so many shots so close to the basket, the Rockets shot a season-high 58% from the field and scored their highest point total for the season. They also had 30 assists, which is hard to believe after only shelling out 20 assists combined in two consecutive games last week. Maurice Taylor looked like the guy the Rockets signed two years ago. He attacked the basket and scored 18 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Collectively, Francis (27) and Mobley (22) were huge and showed us the greatness we hope they achieve on a game-by-game basis. I'll be the first to say this game probably is not the start of a change in how the Rockets start playing this season: I've hoped that was the case too many times this season, only to be let down. But at minimum, perhaps it offers them a vision of what it feels like to be in the "zone" together so they can refer back to it after the next underachieving loss (sorry to be so cynical, but it's my defense mechanism ;-)). Yao back on track Yao had his 14th double-double of the season (now the team leader), scoring 24 points (8-for-12 from the field, 8-for-9 from the line), snagging 13 boards, and blocking 3 shots. It looks like Yao is getting back to his "old" self. Yao had his second game in a row where he scored more than 20 points, and he is shooting the ball closer to the rim or while attacking the basket. Not so many shots are occurring through fadeaway jumpers, which isn't as accurate of a shot for him as it once was. For more detailed information on how Yao did, check out the Detailed Yao Analysis below. And before I go, check out what coach Rudy T. had to say about Yao on this day as he gave us an idea of Yao's love for the game of basketball: "That passion is what impressed me the most when I first saw him play for extended time at the World Championships. He carries it with him on the floor." "You'll think I'm crazy on this one, but I think he's a lot like Charles Barkley. They both love to play the game, and that's obvious when you watch them for just a few minutes. I remember one of the first times I went to Philadelphia as a scout and Charles was a kid. He was standing at the foul line near the end of a game for two big free throws. So he gets the ball, he dribbles it a couple of times, then he looks straight into the TV camera and winks and smiles. Then he made the shots." cYAO John

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Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 1/31/03

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
4:28		Troy Hudson drives down the middle of the lane, but Yao trails him nicely. When Hudson puts up a layup attempt, YAO BLOCKS THE BALL FROM BEHIND! Kevin Garnett picks up the loose ball and takes a shot from the top of the lane for a shot, but Francis swipes at the ball and knocks it away from Garnett and toward the Rockets' basket, and Cuttino picks up the loose ball and goes in for the uncontested slam! Great D by Yao and the Franchise.
3:32		Francis drives down the right side of the lane with Yao running beside him in the middle of the paint. As Francis gets about halfway down the side of the lane, he goes up for a running jumper, but then fakes everyone out and actually lofts the ball to Yao, who catches it at the front of the rim and finger rolls it in! We've seen this play run several times before, and it's very effective! No one can stop Yao being this close to the rim with his height.
2:18		Mobley drives down the right edge of the lane and puts up a tough running one-hander high off the glass, but it bounces off the front of the rim...BUT YAO HAS GREAT POSITION RIGHT UNDERNEATH AND TAPS IT IN FOR THE SCORE! Yao is 2-for-2 from the field and has 7 rebounds already in the first quarter! The score is tied 21-21.
2nd quarter - At the start of the quarter, the Rockets trail 25-27. Yao has 4 points (2-for-2 shooting) and 8 rebounds. Yao sits out the start of the second quarter.
7:36		Yao checks into the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets lead 39-29.
4:04	Free Throws	Mobley shoots a three-pointer from straight away, but it misses. However, Yao is in front of the rim and tips the ball to himself, goes up for a layup and is fouled! Yao makes both free throws, and the Rockets hold a 52-41 lead.
0:00.1		With 12 seconds left in the quarter, the Timberwolves strip the ball from Steve Francis and start a fast break that can close their deficit to three points if they score. With 6 seconds remaining, Moochie Norris hustles to keep up with Troy Hudson on the break and manages to knock the ball away in the Wolves' front court, then dives as he's going out of bounds to knock the ball back to James Posey. Posey dribbles the ball a couple of times quickly and with 2.6 seconds remaining passes the ball to Francis along the left sideline halfway between the baseline and mid-court. In a heads-up move with 1.8 seconds remaining, FRANCIS LAUNCHES THE BALL TOWARD THE BUCKET AND YAO GRABS THE ALLY-OOP PASS AND SLAMS IT HOME TWO-HANDED WITH .1 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK! UNBELIEVABLE PLAY! This was probably one of the top 5 most exciting plays of the season for the Rockets. Great hustle and court awareness (and clock awareness)! The Rockets lead 58-51.
Halftime - Yao has 8 points
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:04		James Posey drives the lane and throws a no-look pass to Yao at the elbow, and Yao calmly swishes a 12-footer! This is a rare face-up shot to the basket for Yao. He shows he still has his outside shooting skills. Yao has 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
10:52		Troy Hudson drives the lane and puts up a shot, but Yao is there at the rim to block it!
10:26	Assist	Yao battles for position on the right block, and James Posey passes the ball to him from the three-point line, then cuts toward the basket AND YAO MAKES A PERFECT BOUNCE PASS TO POSEY ON THE RUN, AND J.P. SLAMS IT DOWN! The Rockets lead 65-43.
9:33		From the right baseline, Yao is guarded by Rasho Nesterovic and doesn't really have anyone to pass the ball to, so he goes up for a fadeaway jumper. The ball rattles around the rim, bounces off the glass, rattles some more on the rim and falls through! Nice shooter's bounce! That's 12 points for Yao on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. The Rockets lead 69-55.
5:04		Francis goes up for a jump shot from the right wing, and at the top of his jump passes the ball to Yao, who has deep position in front of the rim. Yao catches the high pass in mid-air, twists, pump fakes then shoots a baby hook shot for the score! Nice body control by Yao! The Rockets lead 80-62. Yao has 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
3:31	Free Throws	Francis pass a lead pass to Yao, but Yao is held up and fouled by the defense. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. Yao has 16 points.
2:27		From the left wing, Cuttino passes the ball inside to Yao, who dribbles baseline and puts up a point-blank shot off the glass, and it's goaltended by Joe Smith. Score the bucket! Yao is racking up all kinds of stats this quarter, scoring 10 to make it 18 points overall. He also has 11 rebounds. The Rockets lead 86-68.
:39		Wally Szczerbiak shoots a fadeaway jumper from the right baseline that bounces off the rim. Joe Smith is there to grab the rebound as it comes off the rim and is going to jam it down two-handed, BUT YAO IS THERE TO BLOCK THE JAM AND THE ROCKETS GAIN POSSESSION! Yao is on fire on both ends of the court this quarter!
4th quarter - The Rockets lead 90-74. At the start of the quarter, Yao is on the bench resting.
7:33		Yao checks into the game for Eddie Griffin.
6:13	Free Throws	James Posey shoots a 3-pointer from the deep corner, but it misses. The ball is tipped by Marc Jackson, but comes right down to Yao in front of the bucket. Yao goes up for a jam, but is fouled by Anthony Peeler. Yao is able to get the shot off, but it bounces around the rim for a couple of seconds and then falls off. Dejected he's not getting the three-point play, Yao hits the stanchion with his fist in disappointment. Be careful, Yao, don't break your hand. ;-) Yao makes both free throws and has 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. The Rockets lead 105-91.
4:52	+ Free Throw	With the Rockets leading by 15, Francis passes the ball to Yao in his favorite spot on the left side just outside the paint. Guarded one-on-one, Yao spins baseline and blows by Rasho Nesterovic, dribbles the ball once and FLIES TO THE HOOP FOR THE ONE-HANDED JAM! Yao's out for blood tonight! He sinks the penalty free throw, and has 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
2:59	Free Throws	Yao is fouled on the offensive end, and will shoot free throws. He misses the first one, but makes the second. Ten seconds later, Yao checks out of the game with 24 points (8-of-12 shooting; 8-for-9 from the line), 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. As he sits down on the bench, Yao is shaking his wrist in obvious pain. Hopefully nothing serious happened.