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Yao vs. Clippers - 3/24/03

This large ad in China features The Man. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles the Houston Rockets hardly needed Yao Monday night since his teammates took care of business and defeated the Clippers 108-90. The Rockets were sparked by James Posey, who went 8-for-9 from the field (5-for-6 on 3-pointers) to score a game-high 23 points. (AP photo)

The Rockets played one of their most impressive road games of the season, giving the Sacramento Kings--the team who many predict will win the championship--a run for their money. But a Steve Francis 3-pointer at the buzzer was a little too strong, and the Rockets barely missed beating the team with the best home record in the league (31-6), falling one-point short 109-108.

Houston had their chances, like by blowing a 3-on-1 fast break with 2:45 remaining, and missing key free throws all throughout the fourth quarter. But they made up for it by scoring when they needed to keep it close, including two spectacular 3-pointers by Glen Rice and Francis in the final 15 seconds to set up the game-winning shot by Francis that could have shocked the league. Francis was incredible in scoring 38 points on 14-of-22 shooting, which included dazzling dunks that left the Kings' announcers wide-eyed. He also finished with 9 assists.

Yao got off to a slow start by only making 1 of his first 8 shots, but he finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Yao was a monster on the boards by racking up 19 rebounds. He also tallied 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block. Thanks to Franchise, this was one of those rare games where Yao didn't have to score a lot of points to give his team a chance to win.

With the loss, the Rockets fell back into a tie with Phoenix for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. However, if the Rockets continue to play with the confidence and grit they showed Sunday night in Sacramento, then making the playoffs is almost a given. Even if they don't make the playoffs, the Rockets have displayed uncharacteristic poise the past two games in very hostile arenas with sell-out crowds (Golden State and Sacramento), which bodes well for Houston's long-term mental toughness.

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Los Angeles Clippers 3/24/03

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.

9:00 Francis curls around a defender at the three-point line and on a perfectly timed play, "threads the needle" between two Clippers by bouncing a LONG pass to Yao who is cutting away from his man in the paint. Yao catches the pass underneath the basket and jams it home two-handed! A big part of the L.A. crowd roars in delight! The Rockets lead 11-4. Yao scores his first points of the game.

Clippers' color analyst Mike Smith comments, "How many 7'5" guys do you know down there who can make that catch? At about knee height?"

5:47 Yao gets the ball on the right edge of the lane, jumps straight up and launches a high arcing rainbow jumper, and on its way down re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and swishes through the net! The L.A. crowd roars in awe!

Mike Smith comments again, "Does he have to shoot it that height? Did you see how high he shot that ball? That's a pretty soft touch for a big man."

The Rockets lead 17-8. Yao is 2-for-2 from the field with 4 points.

3:11 Yao commits his second foul, and checks out of the game. Ironically, Wang Zhi-Zhi checks into the game for the Clippers.

2nd quarter - The Rockets lead 34-18 thanks to James Posey's 12 points (4-for-4 from three-point land). The Rockets also shot 57% compared to the Clippers' 29% shooting. In addition, Houston has 8 assists!

Halftime - The Rockets lead 63-39, with Posey adding 7 more points in the second quarter, who now has 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting (5-for-6 from three-point land). Glen Rice has 11 points in 9 minutes (3-for-3 on treys). The Rockets shot 58% from the field versus the Clippers 39%. The Rockets had another 8 assists in the quarter to total 16 assists by halftime, and they only had 6 turnovers. Yao really wasn't needed in the 2nd quarter, so the Rockets elected to rest him the entire period. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-2 shooting in 9 minutes of play.

3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.

11:13 On the left side just outside the lane, Yao posts up, pump fakes, dribbles once to create some space between himself and his defender, then hoists a fallaway right at the edge of the paint, and it's NOTHING BUT NET! Yao is now 3-for-4 from the field with 6 points. The Rockets lead 65-41.

Smith provides the following background after this play: "Before the game he shot a lot of those jumpers. Religiously, he went back and forth and did the same moves, the same touch, the same arc."

1:06 Free Throws Yao has the ball and jockeys for position against Sean Rooks to get position in the middle of the paint. Yao puts up a hook shot, but he's fouled by Rooks. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws for his 7th and 8th point.

:55.7 Yao checks out of the game while Wang Zhi-Zhi of the Clippers checks in.

4th quarter - The Rockets lead 85-65.

0:00 The Rockets maintain their lead throughout the fourth quarter, with the Clippers never getting closer than 15 points. The Rockets win 108-90, and they never really needed Yao because of the big lead they built due to Posey and Rice's 3-point barrage. In 20 minutes of action, Yao finishes with 8 points (3-for-6 shooting, 2-for-2 from the line), 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

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1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
9:00		Francis curls around a defender at the three-point line and on a perfectly timed play, "threads the needle" between two Clippers by bouncing a LONG pass to Yao who is cutting away from his man in the paint. Yao catches the pass underneath the basket and jams it home two-handed! A big part of the L.A. crowd roars in delight! The Rockets lead 11-4. Yao scores his first points of the game. *Clippers' color analyst Mike Smith comments, "How many 7'5" guys do you know down there who can make that catch? At about knee height?"*
5:47		Yao gets the ball on the right edge of the lane, jumps straight up and launches a high arcing rainbow jumper, and on its way down re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and swishes through the net! The L.A. crowd roars in awe! *Mike Smith comments again, "Does he have to shoot it that height? Did you see how high he shot that ball? That's a pretty soft touch for a big man."* The Rockets lead 17-8. Yao is 2-for-2 from the field with 4 points.
3:11		Yao commits his second foul, and checks out of the game. Ironically, Wang Zhi-Zhi checks into the game for the Clippers.
2nd quarter - The Rockets lead 34-18 thanks to James Posey's 12 points (4-for-4 from three-point land). The Rockets also shot 57% compared to the Clippers' 29% shooting. In addition, Houston has 8 assists!
Halftime - The Rockets lead 63-39, with Posey adding 7 more points in the second quarter, who now has 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting (5-for-6 from three-point land). Glen Rice has 11 points in 9 minutes (3-for-3 on treys). The Rockets shot 58% from the field versus the Clippers 39%. The Rockets had another 8 assists in the quarter to total 16 assists by halftime, and they only had 6 turnovers. Yao really wasn't needed in the 2nd quarter, so the Rockets elected to rest him the entire period. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-2 shooting in 9 minutes of play.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:13		On the left side just outside the lane, Yao posts up, pump fakes, dribbles once to create some space between himself and his defender, then hoists a fallaway right at the edge of the paint, and it's NOTHING BUT NET! Yao is now 3-for-4 from the field with 6 points. The Rockets lead 65-41. *Smith provides the following background after this play: "Before the game he shot a lot of those jumpers. Religiously, he went back and forth and did the same moves, the same touch, the same arc."*
1:06	Free Throws	Yao has the ball and jockeys for position against Sean Rooks to get position in the middle of the paint. Yao puts up a hook shot, but he's fouled by Rooks. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws for his 7th and 8th point.
:55.7		Yao checks out of the game while Wang Zhi-Zhi of the Clippers checks in.
4th quarter - The Rockets lead 85-65.
0:00		The Rockets maintain their lead throughout the fourth quarter, with the Clippers never getting closer than 15 points. The Rockets win 108-90, and they never really needed Yao because of the big lead they built due to Posey and Rice's 3-point barrage. In 20 minutes of action, Yao finishes with 8 points (3-for-6 shooting, 2-for-2 from the line), 3 rebounds and 1 assist.