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Yao vs. Spurs - 3/27/03

Yao and David Robinson collide probably for the last time as Robinson played his last game against the Rockets Thursday night. The Spurs won easily 98-85. (AP photo)

The Houston "Head Cases" are back. Before their game Thursday night against the Spurs in San Antonio, the Rockets had won two out of their past three games, having had a legitimate shot of beating the Lakers the previous night. Sure, Yao and the Rockets big men were run over by a Mack truck, or should I say "Shaq truck," to make the loss against the Lakers even more demoralizing. But the Rockets have always bounced back after losing tough games this year, and acting coach Larry Smith seemed to be making nice strides in getting his players to play to their potential. That didn't happen Thursday, though. In one of their most important games of the year, and in front of a national TV audience, the Rockets didn't show up and lost in embarrassing fashion 98-85.

Who can figure out this team? To make matters worse, the Rockets appears to be in turmoil at the wrong time of the year. First, coach Rudy T. is out indefinitely to undergo treatment for his bladder cancer. Second, rookie guard Tito Maddox basically set back his career big-time (like the Rockets might be blowing their season) by not showing up for the team flight to San Antonio Wednesday night. Then Maddox missed a commercial flight Thursday. Maddox is alive, but he has not given a reason for his absence. Even though he is a bench warmer, his absence was a distraction.

Superstars benched

There also appeared to be some kind of dispute between Steve Francis and coach Larry Smith during the third quarter when Francis shouted at Smith as he was taken out of the game and returned to the bench. Francis did not return to the game the rest of the way, obviously disciplined for his meltdown, and finished with only 8 points. Finally, Yao had another bad night, going 1-for-9 from the field (2 points) after going 3-for-13 against the Lakers. As a result, Yao only played 4 minutes in the second half and did not play the entire fourth quarter, which was quite a surprise because the Rockets were down 15 points and had shown earlier in the season they could come back on San Antonio from an even larger deficit. So perhaps Smith is being more hard-nosed than Rudy ever was and is trying to motivate underperforming players by limiting their playing time.

No excuses please

So basically, we don't know what's going on. We certainly don't want to hear any excuses about the Rudy or Tito situation. These guys are grown men, and other players have had to overcome situations like this in the past, so we don't want to hear it. Don't you hate it when they say something like, "We're not going to use it as an excuse, but we definitely miss Rudy..." What do you mean? You just DID use it as an excuse! It's also interesting how we've got a lot of troops over in Iraq who are away from their families experience lots more stress than a basketball player would ever go through, but those guys are sucking it up and getting the job done. I haven't heard too much whining yet from the players, but if you listen to TV announcers, they surely like to bring up the Rudy situation as one of the reasons why the Rockets are playing flat.

We also have faith that Larry Smith can be successful coaching this team. Everyone you ask close to the team about Smith's coaching abilities will tell you they think he can do a great job, including former Rocket Kenny Smith who stated such a belief on Inside the NBA on TNT Thursday night. But we believe if there's a problem between Larry and Steve, then the rest of the season is not going to be pretty.

More on the game

Speaking of not pretty, the Rockets played awful and didn't show any heart in trying to break a 10-game losing streak to the Spurs in San Antonio. Yao, Steve and Mobley were a combined 4-for-18 from the field in the first half. They also didn't attempt one free throw in the first half, either. They were also getting ripped on national TV by TNT commentators John Thompson (who is terrible himself, I might add) and Danny Ainge for good reason. Here are some of Ainge's comments:

"I just don't feel any inspiration by anybody. They are just playing going through the motions. They don't understand how difficult it is to win here in San Antonio."

"You know this Houston team, they've got to play a completely different style. The last few years they have been playing with Franchise, and Mobley...isolation games. Now all of a sudden they are trying to play an inside/outside game, and there's going to be a lot of changes. But I still think they've got all the ingredients to be a team. I just believe they are a year or two years away from being a contender."

"They are a lot like Phoenix. One game you watch them, and you go 'Wow, this team is really good and talented.' Another game you watch them, they are lazy and they are sloppy. They can't score and they can't defend. Both Phoenix and them have a lot of things in common. Both go as their great point guards go."

Don't go there

We feel it's important to point out that we hear the excuse sometimes that the Rockets are still young and haven't had much time to jell with each other. I say that's a bogus argument. Many of San Antonio's players who inflicted damage on the Rockets Thursday night haven't been together long, yet they don't seem to have a problem winning a lot of games. Sure, they have Duncan in the middle, but Tony Parker is only a second-year guy, Stephen Jackson is a three-year veteran who just joined the team last season, Manu Ginobili is a rookie, Speedy Claxton just joined the team this season, Bruce Bowen joined the team last year, and Kevin Willis is a recent Rocket reject who joined the Spurs just this year. Yet these guys are world-beaters while the Rockets continue to toil in mediocrity. What gives? The Rockets' talent is the same as the Spurs, if not better. Could the problem be coaching? Sounds like one of the main places one would look to solve the underachievement going on.

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. San Antonio Spurs 3/27/03
brought to you by John & Jeff

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.

10:58 James Posey passes to Yao, who is a step away from the left edge and is guarded by Spurs center David Robinson. Yao turns to his left, faces the basket, and shoots a fallaway 13-foot jumper that rattles home! The score is tied 2-2.

7:31 Cuttino Mobley knifes through the right side of the lane and puts up a layup that rolls off the right side of the rim. Yao is there for the one-handed tip in, but David Robinson blatantly slaps Yao's right arm to prevent the put-back! No whistle is blown, and the Spurs get the loose rebound. C'mon refs...where's the call?

6:28 Assist On the left edge post, Yao gets double-teamed by Robinson and Spurs shooting guard Stephen Jackson. As Yao fights off the double-team, he almost loses his balance, but he recovers and lobs a cross-court pass over two Spurs to Cuttino Mobley, who is sitting behind the 3-point line on the right side. Mobley squares up and buries the 3-pointer! The Rockets trail 9-16.

2:19 The Spurs' Bruce Bowen drives to the middle of the paint, but Yao rotates quickly enough to obtain excellent position. Bowen collides with Yao, and Yao gets whistled for the cheap foul to our frustration! Yao can't believe the call on the play! With 2 fouls now, Yao is forced to an early exit, and Kelvin Cato checks in for Yao. The Rockets trail 17-21.

2nd quarter - After hitting his first shot, Yao went cold and missed his next 4 shot attempts. Yao has 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Fortunately for the Rockets, the Spurs were only 4-for-11 from the free throw line this quarter, and they only lead 22-23.

5:11 Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Rockets trail 33-42.

3:54 Intimidation From the 3-point line on the right side, Stephen Jackson drives down the middle of the lane and spins off Glen Rice. As Jackson finishes his spin move and goes up for the 7-footer, he is met immediately by Yao. As they crash into each other, Jackson launches an airball! Yao tips the loose ball to Rice, and the Rockets gain possession. The Rockets trail 33-42.

2:51 Interim coach Larry Smith decides to go with a small unit, as Maurice Taylor subs for Yao. The Spurs lead 33-42.

Halftime - For the second time this season, the Rockets end the first half with 0 free throw attempts (the Spurs have committed only 3 fouls in the first half)! Yao continues to struggle from the field, with only 2 points on 1-for-8 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. The Rockets trail the Spurs, 37-48.

3rd quarter - Yao starts the third quarter. He does not score in only four minutes of action.

4th quarter - The Spurs lead 61-79. Cato starts the final quarter. With the Spurs maintaining their lead throughout the fourth, Larry Smith allows Cato to finish the fourth quarter. Yao remains on the bench for the rest of the game.

0:00 The Spurs beat the Rockets by the score of 85-98. Yao had another tough offensive night with 1-for-9 shooting from the field. Yao ends the game with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. With this loss, the Rockets have fallen 1/2 game behind the Suns for the final seed in the Western Conference playoff race.

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1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
10:58		James Posey passes to Yao, who is a step away from the left edge and is guarded by Spurs center David Robinson. Yao turns to his left, faces the basket, and shoots a fallaway 13-foot jumper that rattles home! The score is tied 2-2.
7:31		Cuttino Mobley knifes through the right side of the lane and puts up a layup that rolls off the right side of the rim. Yao is there for the one-handed tip in, but David Robinson blatantly slaps Yao's right arm to prevent the put-back! No whistle is blown, and the Spurs get the loose rebound. C'mon refs...where's the call?
6:28	Assist	On the left edge post, Yao gets double-teamed by Robinson and Spurs shooting guard Stephen Jackson. As Yao fights off the double-team, he almost loses his balance, but he recovers and lobs a cross-court pass over two Spurs to Cuttino Mobley, who is sitting behind the 3-point line on the right side. Mobley squares up and buries the 3-pointer! The Rockets trail 9-16.
2:19		The Spurs' Bruce Bowen drives to the middle of the paint, but Yao rotates quickly enough to obtain excellent position. Bowen collides with Yao, and Yao gets whistled for the cheap foul to our frustration! Yao can't believe the call on the play! With 2 fouls now, Yao is forced to an early exit, and Kelvin Cato checks in for Yao. The Rockets trail 17-21.
2nd quarter - After hitting his first shot, Yao went cold and missed his next 4 shot attempts. Yao has 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Fortunately for the Rockets, the Spurs were only 4-for-11 from the free throw line this quarter, and they only lead 22-23.
5:11		Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Rockets trail 33-42.
3:54	Intimidation	From the 3-point line on the right side, Stephen Jackson drives down the middle of the lane and spins off Glen Rice. As Jackson finishes his spin move and goes up for the 7-footer, he is met immediately by Yao. As they crash into each other, Jackson launches an airball! Yao tips the loose ball to Rice, and the Rockets gain possession. The Rockets trail 33-42.
2:51		Interim coach Larry Smith decides to go with a small unit, as Maurice Taylor subs for Yao. The Spurs lead 33-42.
Halftime - For the second time this season, the Rockets end the first half with 0 free throw attempts (the Spurs have committed only 3 fouls in the first half)! Yao continues to struggle from the field, with only 2 points on 1-for-8 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. The Rockets trail the Spurs, 37-48.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the third quarter. He does not score in only four minutes of action.
4th quarter - The Spurs lead 61-79. Cato starts the final quarter. With the Spurs maintaining their lead throughout the fourth, Larry Smith allows Cato to finish the fourth quarter. Yao remains on the bench for the rest of the game.
0:00		The Spurs beat the Rockets by the score of 85-98. Yao had another tough offensive night with 1-for-9 shooting from the field. Yao ends the game with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. With this loss, the Rockets have fallen 1/2 game behind the Suns for the final seed in the Western Conference playoff race.