YaoMingMania.com

Back to Home

100% dedicated to Yao Ming's life in the NBA

Yao vs. Spurs - 3/2/03

Yao blocks David Robinson's shot in the 3rd quarter, but the Spurs beat the Rockets 97-88 in Compaq Center Sunday afternoon.

as of 3/4/03

Yao has been named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for February. Yao led all rookies for the month in scoring (16.5 points per game) and was second in rebounding (8.8 per game) and first in blocks (1.46 per game). Way to go, Yao!

as of 3/2/03

The Rockets once again got outclassed by their long-time divisional rivals, San Antonio, 97-88 in Compaq Center Sunday afternoon. Although the final score may indicate it was a close game, it wasn't. The Rockets were down by 20+ points several times and managed to fight back to reduce the gap to 8 or 9 points a couple of times, but they could not overcome the big deficit.

This all happened after Houston had 2 days of rest since their last game on Thursday, while the Spurs played the previous day against Sacramento. The Spurs have now won 13 out of its last 14 games, while the Rockets have headed in the opposite direction losing 9 out of their last 13.

Perhaps no other statistic reveals how much San Antonio outclasses the Rockets than in the assist category. In the first half as the Spurs opened up their big lead, they had 15 assists to the Rockets 4. San Antonio finished with 24 assists to Houston's 14. Despite flirting with the idea of being a good passing team several times this year and vowing to make it a pervasive goal, the Rockets continue to forget the benefits of moving the ball around to the open man. Frustrating! Who is to blame for this?

Slow start

Although the Rockets trailed by 12 points after the first quarter (13 points at halftime), it was tough to believe they could make a full comeback. The Rockets had expended a lot of energy to come back from a 21-point deficit to narrow the gap by the half. The Rockets' defense allowed the Spurs to shoot 59% in the first half, while Houston only shot 41% (1-for-5 from 3-point territory). This continues a disturbing trend by the Rockets' porous defense, which allowed the Wizards on Thursday to shoot 65% in the first half, and 55% for the game (highest percentages of the season). Clearly, the Rockets defense is regressing, not getting better.

The 3-point shooting continued to be woeful as the game continued (25% on 4-for-16 shooting). In the past 21 games, Houston has shot less than 30% from 3-point range 12 times, and they have lost all 12 games.

The players

In the second quarter, reserve guard Emanuel Ginobili scored 9 points in 8 minutes, and he finished with 20 points (a career high) on 6-of-7 shooting. What's discouraging is that Ginobili had only averaged 8.6 points in his last 5 games before this game. It's too bad the Rockets rookie reserve guard from another distant land, Bostjan Nachbar, has not been given the same opportunity as Ginobili. It's funny how the Spurs, a team with a much better record, has given Ginobili playing time, while the mediocre Rockets have not done the same with Nachbar.

Tony Parker also schooled the Rockets by scoring 12 by halftime (16 for the game). It's amazing how quickly this 20-year old guard has adjusted to the NBA, who scored 32 points against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

On the Rockets side, Cuttino Mobley was an awful 3-for-12 from the field (0-for-4 from 3-point territory) with 8 points. This poor performance was quite a surprise since Cuttino had been shooting very well over his past 5 games: 53% from the field and 50% from three-point land (14-of-28) for a 25-point scoring average.

The Yao report

Yao continues to shoot consistently well from the field (6-for-12 for 14 points). As much as the Rockets struggle offensively, it's amazing they don't give him the ball more frequently. It's hard to believe the Rockets have played 59 games this season, and we have to continue saying the same thing! In the third quarter, Yao scored 6 points in the third quarter to help the Rockets make another run, but he didn't get the chance to score more.

The Rockets now are only 1 game above .500 at 30-29. Although one couldn't realistically expect the Rockets to beat the red-hot Spurs on Sunday, it's still depressing if you're a Rocket fan (or Yao fan) to see the team fade from the playoff picture when you would expect them to get better, not worse.

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. San Antonio Spurs 3/02/03
brought to you by John and Jeff

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.

10:21 Yao gets the ball near the center of the lane. He drives to his left towards the basket and puts up a soft baby hook shot with his left hand! The shot falls in, over the outstretched hand of Spur center David Robinson. Nice leftie Yao!

9:18 Mobley passes to Yao who catches it a few feet outside the paint on the right side of the court. Yao makes a little shoulder fake to the right, turns to his left and drains a right-handed hook shot over Robinson! Yao is 2-for-3 from the field, and the Rockets trail 7-6.

1:08 Yao checks out of the game for Cato. He leaves with 4 points on 2-for-6 shooting.

2nd quarter - The Rockets trail the Spurs 30-18.

6:56 Yao checks into the game for Cato. The Rockets' deficit is now 41-24.

4:10 Glen Rice struggles with his dribble along the the upper left side of the court. Rice eventually finds Yao, who's in the left edge post position. Yao backs Robinson down and pump fakes. Robinson bites on the fake and as he goes into the air, Yao moves smoothly to his right for the pretty leaner off the glass! Yao is now shooting 3-for-7 from the field with 6 points.

3:46 David Robinson gets the ball down low, but Yao is there not only to intimidate and alter his shot, but to battle The Admiral for the rebound. Yao's efforts finally prevail as he is able to tip the ball to himself for the defensive rebound.

0:08
Cato checks in for Yao. The Rockets are now losing by the score of 51-38.

Halftime - The Rockets trail 51-39. Yao has 6 points on 3-for-8 shooting.

3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.

10:56 David Robinson drives to his right and tries to go up strong for the easy two footer. Did he forget who's guarding him? Yao cordially reminds him by stuffing it back in his face!!!

8:22 Assist From the left elbow of the free throw line, Yao zips a pass to Steve Francis as he is curling off a screen. Steve pump fakes, pivots, and goes in for the layup. Those were the Rockets' first points of the quarter. Rockets trail 61-41.

7:38 Assist On the subsequent Rockets possession, from the left edge of the paint, Yao makes a pass across the paint to Eddie Griffin, but it's deflected by a Spur who came over to double-team Yao. Fortunately, the ball ends up near Griffin, and Eddie does a good job catching the pass and makes a nice two-foot shot. That's back-to-back assists for Yao!

6:02 Free
Throws With time running down on the shot clock, Yao gets the ball in the left low post, a couple of steps from the lane. He pump fakes twice, the second time drawing Robinson in the air. Robinson bumps into Yao as he goes up for the shot, and Yao gets fouled. Smart play by Yao, as time was running down. Yao hits both free throws, and he now has 8 points.

5:22 On the left side of the court, James Posey sees Yao posting up on David Robinson, but instead of passing to Yao, Posey drives to the hole. Robinson decides to help out, and Posey finds an open Yao along the baseline, who shows his range by nailing the 16 footer! Yao is 4-for-9 from the field with 10 points.

2:51 Yao gets the ball near the on the left block, and this time he's guarded by the Spur's All-Star power forward, Tim Duncan. Yao pump fakes once and Duncan goes airborne! Seeing the opportunity to exploit the MVP for his mistake by leaving an open lane to the basket, Yao dribbles past Duncan, drives aggressively to the hole, and shows his authority with a MONSTER jam!! This closes the deficit to 10 points. The crowd goes crazy!! This is one of the most aggressive drives to the hole we have seen from Yao.

1:38 Cato comes in for Yao. Yao has 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, but the Rockets are still trailing. The Spurs lead 68-56.

4th quarter - The Rockets are behind, 74-59.

6:38 Yao checks into the game for Cato. The Rockets trail 82-70.

2:25 Yao drives to the baseline on Robinson, stops, pivots away from the baseline, turns toward the baseline again, then goes straight up and shoots a nice 4-foot shot high off the glass for TWO! Yao has put some pretty nice moves on Robinson in this game!

00:00 The Rockets end up losing by the final score of 97-88. Despite playing well in the final quarter, it was too little too late. Why they can't play the previous three quarters like did in the fourth (where the offense and defense made their best run at the Spurs), I don't know. Yao finishes the game with 14 points (6-of-12), 2 assists, and 1 block.

Back to Home

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
10:21		Yao gets the ball near the center of the lane. He drives to his left towards the basket and puts up a soft baby hook shot with his left hand! The shot falls in, over the outstretched hand of Spur center David Robinson. Nice leftie Yao!
9:18		Mobley passes to Yao who catches it a few feet outside the paint on the right side of the court. Yao makes a little shoulder fake to the right, turns to his left and drains a right-handed hook shot over Robinson! Yao is 2-for-3 from the field, and the Rockets trail 7-6.
1:08		Yao checks out of the game for Cato. He leaves with 4 points on 2-for-6 shooting.
2nd quarter - The Rockets trail the Spurs 30-18.
6:56		Yao checks into the game for Cato. The Rockets' deficit is now 41-24.
4:10		Glen Rice struggles with his dribble along the the upper left side of the court. Rice eventually finds Yao, who's in the left edge post position. Yao backs Robinson down and pump fakes. Robinson bites on the fake and as he goes into the air, Yao moves smoothly to his right for the pretty leaner off the glass! Yao is now shooting 3-for-7 from the field with 6 points.
3:46		David Robinson gets the ball down low, but Yao is there not only to intimidate and alter his shot, but to battle The Admiral for the rebound. Yao's efforts finally prevail as he is able to tip the ball to himself for the defensive rebound.
0:08		Cato checks in for Yao. The Rockets are now losing by the score of 51-38.
Halftime - The Rockets trail 51-39. Yao has 6 points on 3-for-8 shooting.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
10:56		David Robinson drives to his right and tries to go up strong for the easy two footer. Did he forget who's guarding him? Yao cordially reminds him by stuffing it back in his face!!!
8:22	Assist	From the left elbow of the free throw line, Yao zips a pass to Steve Francis as he is curling off a screen. Steve pump fakes, pivots, and goes in for the layup. Those were the Rockets' first points of the quarter. Rockets trail 61-41.
7:38	Assist	On the subsequent Rockets possession, from the left edge of the paint, Yao makes a pass across the paint to Eddie Griffin, but it's deflected by a Spur who came over to double-team Yao. Fortunately, the ball ends up near Griffin, and Eddie does a good job catching the pass and makes a nice two-foot shot. That's back-to-back assists for Yao!
6:02	Free Throws	With time running down on the shot clock, Yao gets the ball in the left low post, a couple of steps from the lane. He pump fakes twice, the second time drawing Robinson in the air. Robinson bumps into Yao as he goes up for the shot, and Yao gets fouled. Smart play by Yao, as time was running down. Yao hits both free throws, and he now has 8 points.
5:22		On the left side of the court, James Posey sees Yao posting up on David Robinson, but instead of passing to Yao, Posey drives to the hole. Robinson decides to help out, and Posey finds an open Yao along the baseline, who shows his range by nailing the 16 footer! Yao is 4-for-9 from the field with 10 points.
2:51		Yao gets the ball near the on the left block, and this time he's guarded by the Spur's All-Star power forward, Tim Duncan. Yao pump fakes once and Duncan goes airborne! Seeing the opportunity to exploit the MVP for his mistake by leaving an open lane to the basket, Yao dribbles past Duncan, drives aggressively to the hole, and shows his authority with a MONSTER jam!! This closes the deficit to 10 points. The crowd goes crazy!! This is one of the most aggressive drives to the hole we have seen from Yao.
1:38		Cato comes in for Yao. Yao has 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, but the Rockets are still trailing. The Spurs lead 68-56.
4th quarter - The Rockets are behind, 74-59.
6:38		Yao checks into the game for Cato. The Rockets trail 82-70.
2:25		Yao drives to the baseline on Robinson, stops, pivots away from the baseline, turns toward the baseline again, then goes straight up and shoots a nice 4-foot shot high off the glass for TWO! Yao has put some pretty nice moves on Robinson in this game!
00:00		The Rockets end up losing by the final score of 97-88. Despite playing well in the final quarter, it was too little too late. Why they can't play the previous three quarters like did in the fourth (where the offense and defense made their best run at the Spurs), I don't know. Yao finishes the game with 14 points (6-of-12), 2 assists, and 1 block.