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Yao is hassled by Vlade Divac in the first half Sunday afternoon in a game between the Rockets and Kings. The Rockets won going away 105-89.

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Things are getting scary for Rocket fans, but in a good way. For the second consecutive game, the Rockets blew out a very good basketball team, this time defeating the Sacramento Kings 105-89 in Houston. The Rockets' offense was running and gunning, but more importantly they seemed to purposely run the offense through Yao when in their half-court offense. Somewhere, somehow, it finally might have gotten through to the Houston coaching staff that Yao needs to touch the ball more. If that is the case, then what took so long? The Man responded in the first half by getting his teammates open shots (4 assists at the half), and he himself was en fuego on 7-of-8 shooting from the field for a total of 14 points at halftime. The Rockets broke open the game to hold a 28-point lead, which even the Rockets couldn't blow this time (unlike the Dallas game last week where they dominated in the first half and lost their composure in the second). Against the Kings in the fourth quarter they deviated from running the offense through Yao, and instead settled for more jump shots. But I guess that is bound to happen to the Rockets when they have a seemingly insurmountable lead. As a result, Yao only had 4 points and 2 assists in the second half to finish with 18 points. He also finished with 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 6 assists (a career high). Coincidentally, he shot 8-for-12 from the field for the second consecutive game, with both games being blowout wins for the Rockets. Sounds like the Rockets should let Yao shoot the ball at least 12 times a game, huh? We should mention that the Kings have not been themselves recently. They had lost four of their last five games coming into Sunday's game. They were also without All-Star center Chris Webber and backup point guard Bobby Jackson, but the Rockets appeared determined to get off to a quick start as they did against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Their offensive attack was devastating as they made 14 of their first 18 shots, and went on to hold a 32-12 first quarter lead. When Yao and the other first teamers checked out of the game at the start of the second quarter, reality set in and the Rockets bench players shot 1-for-13 from the field. But the offense got cooking again on 8-of-9 shooting, which corresponded to many of the starters being put back into the game. It wasn't all just offense, though. Yao's teammates had 9 blocks of their own to finish with a team total of 13. Overall, the Rockets offensive and defensive attack was so powerful, Sacramento TV analyst and former Kings coach Jerry Reynolds commented great things are in store for the Rockets: "They will be a championship contender in another year. Actually, the way Yao Ming is improving it may be by the end of the year. I really think it's going to take another year to get all the pieces." Now that's saying something from someone who watches the Kings play all the time! Who would have thunk those thoughts a few games ago when the Rockets had lost four in a row? Is this for real...this time? We're still not sold the Rockets can maintain their exceptional play lately because this metamorphosis has occurred so quickly, but we're keeping our fingers crossed. We'll see on Tuesday night when the Rockets play the Timberwolves again in Minnesota how much "fool's gold" these two big victories against very good teams has been. If the Rockets play flat against the T-wolves on the road Tuesday night, then we'll know this rollercoaster ride will continue to have more ups and downs.

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Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Sacramento Kings 2/2/03

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
9:20		Yao gets the ball on the right side of the lane just outside the paint. With Vlade Divac guarding him, he spins toward the baseline and puts up a fallaway jumper--COUNT IT! The Rockets lead 7-2.
9:00		Doug Christie drives baseline toward the bucket, goes underneath and tries a reverse layup off the glass, BUT YAO IS THERE TO BLOCK IT! Great reflexes by Yao to make the last-second adjustment as Christie made the unpredictable drive.
8:47		From the top of the arc, Eddie Griffin delivers a pass down low into Yao, who is guarded one-on-one by Vlade. Yao spins to his right and puts up a leaning right-handed jump hook over Vlade: SCORE IT! That's 3 great plays in a row by Yao in 33 seconds! Yao is 2-for-2 with 4 points.
7:37	Assist	On a give-and-go play, Mobley passes the ball to Yao in his favorite spot on the left side, then cuts toward the basket. Yao then bounces a perfect pass across his body, past Vlade, past Christie and into Mobley's hands on the run in the middle of the lane. Mobley finishes with a shot off the glass for the deuce! We've seen all of Yao's bounce passes this year from that position, and that was absolutely the best one we have seen him throw. Unbelievable. The crowd is going bonkers! The Rockets lead 13-2.
7:01	Assist	Yao is given the ball on the right edge of the lane. He starts to make an offensive move toward the middle of the lane, and 3 Kings collapse on him. As a result, Yao spots Mobley at the free throw lane and dishes a pass to him. Mobley fires and drains the jumper! Yao is dominating this game! Sacramento TV analyst and former Kings' coach Jerry Reynolds says: "You can see how comfortable Houston is becoming in running their offense through Yao Ming."
5:14		Doug Christie drives the lane from the right side and puts up a leaning jump shot a couple of feet from the basket, BUT YAO IS THERE TO PIN IT AGAINST THE GLASS! The ball comes down to Mobley, who pushes it up the court and throws a beautiful lead pass to Francis on the left wing, and Stevie goes in for the one-handed jam! This offense is looking like the dominating fast break of the Rockets of the mid-1980's. The Rockets have a 21-6 lead!
4:08		Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the lane, dribbles the ball once toward the free throw line, goes up for a jumper over Vlade and drains it! Yao has 6 points on 3-for-4 shooting. The Rockets lead 23-9.
3:46		From the right edge of lane, Yao pivots to the baseline once again, puts a head fake on Vlade to get him up in the air, jumps, then on the way down releases the ball toward the basket...SWISH! Yao has made 4 shots in a row and has 8 points. Houston leads 25-9. Reynolds says, "He's just putting on a clinic."
2nd quarter - Starting the quarter, the Rockets lead incredibly is 32-12. Yao had one of the most productive quarters of his career with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Jason Collier is in the game for Yao.
8:02		Yao checks into the game for Jason Collier, which is a good thing since Vlade is abusing Collier. The Rockets lead by fifteen, 37-22.
5:52		Moochie throws the ball to Yao on the right side of the lane. Yao then pivots toward the baseline and puts up a hook shot from the right side of the bucket and hits it! Yao is 5-6 from the field with 10 points, and is continuing his incredible accuracy from the first quarter. The Rockets lead 46-26.
5:16		Moochie dribbles the ball way too long, and is trapped along the baseline with nowhere to go. With only 4 seconds on the shot clock, he thankfully doesn't put up a wild shot like he has done in the past. Instead, he passes it to Yao, who is standing near the right elbow of the free throw line. Yao turns and faces up to the basket and shoots a jumper over Vlade...and BANG!! Yao's on fire! He has made 6 shots in row. The Rockets lead 48-26.
4:43		The Rockets keep feeding the ball to Yao, who has the hot hand. This time he gets it near his favorite spot on the left side. He spins baseline on Vlade, but is sealed off, so he pivots the other way and puts a Kareem-like Sky Hook on Divac..and MONEY! The Compaq Center crowd is ecstatic! We are running out of words to describe this guy! 7 shots in a row for 14 points! Other than the Laker game on November 17th where he went 9-for-9 from the field, we're pretty sure this is the most shots in a row he has made since that game. The Rockets lead 50-28. Reynolds: "He is just showing me everything. Scary how good this young guy is....oh my, what a player."
1:48	Assist	Yao is passed the ball on the left edge of the lane, and the Kings immediately collapse on him. Smart as Yao is, he sees Mobley all alone in the corner since Stojakovich has left him wide open in order to help out defending Yao. Yao immediately zips the pass to him, and Mobley calmly drains the three-pointer! When the Rockets run their offense through Yao, they can be so good! They should never forget that! The Rockets extend their lead to 53-30.
:39		Yao checks out of the game for Jason Collier. The Rockets lead 57-31.
Halftime - The Rockets lead 59-32. For the Kings this is a season-low for points at halftime. Yao has 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:00		Yao shoots a fadeaway jumper from the right baseline, and the ball bounces off the front of the rim for Yao's first miss in 8 shots...but Eddie Griffin catches the rebound while in mid-air and shoots a fallaway jumper for the score! The Rockets lead 63-37.
7:04		Peja drives the middle of the lane and has a sure-handed dunk on his hands, BUT YAO CATCHES HIM FROM BEHIND AND BLOCKS HIS SHOT TWO FEET FROM THE RIM! Not many other players could do what Yao just did; his long body and reach made that possible (as well as his hustle!)
4:43		Vlade cuts through the lane and puts up a shot on Yao, but Yao is there to block it! It looks like Yao had adapted very well to Vlade's crafty moves!
2:52	Free Throws	Yao gets the ball on the right edge of the paint, and Vlade fouls him trying to go for a steal. Yao makes both free throws for his 15th and 16th points.
:39		Eddie Griffin shoots a three-pointer close to the right sideline that is an airball, but IT COMES RIGHT DOWN IN YAO'S HAND BY SURPRISE UNDERNEATH THE BASKET, AND HE GOES UP FOR THE TWO-HANDED JAM! That's the beauty of Yao's hustle--he'll be in position many times for gifts like this one! Yao is 8-of-11 from the field for 18 points.
4th quarter - The Rockets lead 88-66. Yao is on the bench resting.
6:17		Yao replaces Maurice Taylor.
2:47	Assist	Francis gives Yao the ball on the left side just outside the paint, then Francis cuts into the lane unimpeded since his man decides to double-team Yao. Smart as he is, Yao throws a hook pass over his man (Keon Clark) to Francis, who catches the ball in mid-air and lays it off the glass! The crowd oohs and aahs at Yao's skills! Rockets lead 103-84. Yao has a career high in assists: 6!
1:26		Yao checks out of the game with 18 points (8-for-12 shooting), 11 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. The Rockets still lead 103-84, and go on to win 105-89.