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Yao vs. Blazers - 4/08/03

Yao goes up to block Bonzi Wells' shot in the 3rd quarter. Wells gets charged for an offensive foul for pushing off. However, the Blazers beat the Rockets 81-66. (AP photo)

A cold front blew into Houston on Tuesday and ended up chilling the Rockets' offense. In their worst shooting performance (29.5%) and lowest scoring output in franchise history, the Rockets lost 81-66 to the Portland Jailblazers, er, I mean Trailblazers. In a wild Rocket season this year, we continue to be amazed at how unpredictable Houston can be.

Everyone shot poorly except James Posey (15 points on 6-of-12 shooting). Here's a rundown of the damage: Steve Francis was 5-of-20 (12 points). Cuttino Mobley was 3-for-12 (0-for-6 from three-point land) for 8 points, and didn't score until the 4:54 mark of the 3rd quarter. Mo Taylor was 3-for-11 for 8 points. Eddie Griffin scored 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting, and Yao was 2-for-13 with 6 points.

Certainly much was at stake with this game. Before play started, the Rockets were ½ game behind the Phoenix Suns for the final Western Conference playoff spot with only 5 games left to play. Phoenix ended up beating Denver on Tuesday night, so the Rockets are now 1 ½ games back with 4 games remaining. Phoenix has 5 games remaining, all against tough teams. If the Suns win enough of those games to hold off the Rockets, they will definitely deserve that playoff spot more than Houston.

Against the Blazers, the Rockets shooting was so unusually bad, it's hard to think the Rockets can have another bad night like this one the rest of the way. This is one of those games where they will just have to burn the videotapes, gear up for a tough and important game in Utah Wednesday night, and hope the good karma of playing on the second night of back-to-back games (12-7) kicks in (the Rockets are 4-15 on the first night).

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Portland Trailblazers 4/8/03
brought to you by John & Jeff

1st quarter - Yao starts the game.

11:09 Intimidation From the top of the arc, Trailblazers shooting guard Derek Anderson crosses over to his right, gains a step on Cuttino Mobley, and drives down the right side of the lane. Yao rotates quickly enough from the right side to seal off Anderson's penetration, and as Anderson jumps and collides into the "Great Wall," Yao intimidates Anderson into throwing up an airball. Yao easily catches the missed shot, and the Rockets gain possession.

6:46 At the upper left corner of the 3-point line, Yao sets a high screen on Trailblazers point guard Damon Stoudamire, thus freeing up Steve Francis. Franchise dribbles to the top of the key and launches a long 2-point shot that misses off the front of the rim. But out of nowhere, Yao, who had weaved his way inside, snatches the rebound away from Trailblazers power forward Rasheed Wallace, and quickly throws it down with a one-handed jam! Yao scores his first points of the game (1-for-4). The Rockets trail 6-10.

2:21 James Posey makes an entry pass to Yao who catches the ball with one foot in the left lane. Trailblazers center/forward Dale Davis pushes hard on Yao, and Yao almost loses his balance but recovers. The crowd is even yelling for a foul to be called on Davis. Yao then dribbles once edging his way to the middle edge of the lane, turns to the middle, and shoots. COUNT IT as Yao drains the 10-footer! The Rockets lead 21-19.

2nd quarter - The Rockets finish the first quarter on a 13-2 run, and they lead the Trailblazers 23-19. James Posey was the Rockets' primary offensive catalyst in the first quarter with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-5 shooting, and was able to grab an impressive 6 rebounds in one quarter of play. Yao stays in the game and starts the second quarter.

10:04 Kelvin Cato checks in for Yao. Yao leaves with 4 points and 7 rebounds. The Rockets lead 25-21.

4:05 On a Trailblazers fastbreak, Bonzi Wells goes in for the layup on the right side of the rim, and Kelvin Cato not only fouls Wells, he also inadvertently throws him down in the process. As a result, a flagrant foul is called on Cato, and after Wells makes both free throws, on the subsequent Trailblazers possession (due to the flagrant foul) point guard Jeff McInnis knocks down a mid-range jumper. What was a four-point lead before the flagrant foul is now a tie game, 38-38.

As much as we like Kelvin Cato's intensity on the court, we've seen him commit too many flagrant fouls these past several games. In this case, Cato's flagrant on Bonzi Wells really shifted the momentum of the game to the Trailblazers.

Halftime - In a reversal of fortunes, the Trailblazers end the second quarter with a 12-3 run, and now lead the Rockets 41-44. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-6 shooting and 7 rebounds. Houston has deviated from what helped them beat the Sixers and Magic -- passing -- and instead is relying on a lot of dribbling and one-on-one play.

3rd quarter - Yao starts the third quarter.

7:07 James Posey dumps a pass to Yao who is positioned just inside the middle of the left lane, 5 feet away from the basket. Yao dribbles once and turns to the baseline to take it strong to the hoop, but Yao doesn't see Derek Anderson waiting for him as he turns. As a result, Yao gets sandwiched by Anderson and Dale Davis, and he's forced to put a weak shot which Davis blocks! Credit the Trailblazers suffocating defense on that play!

6:23 James Posey takes a 10-foot baseline jumper on the left side that misses long and hits the right side of the rim. However, Yao is there to collect the offensive board, and as he goes up for the easy put-back, he overshoots it by a tad and misses hard off the glass! The ball is slapped away by Rasheed Wallace and the Rockets retain possession.

Yao can't believe he missed that easy shot as he swings his right hand down in disgust and walks away with his head down!

3:23 Right under the Rockets' logo on the left side, Francis shoots and misses a 19-footer, but Yao battles against two Trailblazers, tips the ball three times and brings down the offensive board! In the middle of the paint, with two Trailblazers on him, Yao dribbles once and takes a 6-foot hook shot, but it barely misses as the shot hits the back of the rim and flares out! The shots Yao normally nails are simply not falling for him tonight!

11:09 Free
Throws Behind the 3-point line on the left side, Yao sets a screen for Cuttino Mobley. As Mobley curls off the screen, Yao cuts to the basket, and Mobley hits him with a pass. With the defensive rotation being slow to react, Yao takes it strong to the rim with a one-handed dunk, but Dale Davis fouls Yao on the wrist. Yao steps up to the line, and knocks down the two free throws. The Rockets trail 50-52.

2:11 Cato checks in for Yao. Yao has struggled this quarter, missing all six of his shots. Yao has 6 points on 2-for-12 shooting and the Rockets trail 50-54.

4th quarter - The Rockets have turned in a horrendous third quarter, only shooting 15% from the field and scoring a franchise low of 10 points in the third quarter! Yao is now 2-for-12 from the field and has 6 points and 11 rebounds. The Trailblazers lead 51-59.

7:24 Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Trailblazers have extended their lead and the Rockets trail 56-67.

7:10 Trailblazers rookie forward Qyntel Woods cuts directly below the right elbow where he catches a pass. With Yao plugging up the middle, Woods pump fakes on Yao, pivots to gain inside position and puts up a shot. Yao, hardly moving on the play and now standing to the right of Woods, barely jumps and swipes the shot away!

0:00 Although the Rockets were able to crash the boards for an incredible 23 offensive rebounds, they still lose 81-66 due to the franchise field goal percentage low of 29.5%. Yao had a tough offensive night, scoring only 6 points on 2-for-13 shooting. Even though he didn't have his shooting touch, Yao was able to contribute by snaring 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and blocking 1 shot. With the Phoenix Suns' victory over the Denver Nuggets, the Rockets have now fallen 1 and 1/2 games behind Phoenix for the eighth and final spot for the Western Conference playoffs.

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1st quarter - Yao starts the game.
11:09	Intimidation	From the top of the arc, Trailblazers shooting guard Derek Anderson crosses over to his right, gains a step on Cuttino Mobley, and drives down the right side of the lane. Yao rotates quickly enough from the right side to seal off Anderson's penetration, and as Anderson jumps and collides into the "Great Wall," Yao intimidates Anderson into throwing up an airball. Yao easily catches the missed shot, and the Rockets gain possession.
6:46		At the upper left corner of the 3-point line, Yao sets a high screen on Trailblazers point guard Damon Stoudamire, thus freeing up Steve Francis. Franchise dribbles to the top of the key and launches a long 2-point shot that misses off the front of the rim. But out of nowhere, Yao, who had weaved his way inside, snatches the rebound away from Trailblazers power forward Rasheed Wallace, and quickly throws it down with a one-handed jam! Yao scores his first points of the game (1-for-4). The Rockets trail 6-10.
2:21		James Posey makes an entry pass to Yao who catches the ball with one foot in the left lane. Trailblazers center/forward Dale Davis pushes hard on Yao, and Yao almost loses his balance but recovers. The crowd is even yelling for a foul to be called on Davis. Yao then dribbles once edging his way to the middle edge of the lane, turns to the middle, and shoots. COUNT IT as Yao drains the 10-footer! The Rockets lead 21-19.
2nd quarter - The Rockets finish the first quarter on a 13-2 run, and they lead the Trailblazers 23-19. James Posey was the Rockets' primary offensive catalyst in the first quarter with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-5 shooting, and was able to grab an impressive 6 rebounds in one quarter of play. Yao stays in the game and starts the second quarter.
10:04		Kelvin Cato checks in for Yao. Yao leaves with 4 points and 7 rebounds. The Rockets lead 25-21.
4:05		On a Trailblazers fastbreak, Bonzi Wells goes in for the layup on the right side of the rim, and Kelvin Cato not only fouls Wells, he also inadvertently throws him down in the process. As a result, a flagrant foul is called on Cato, and after Wells makes both free throws, on the subsequent Trailblazers possession (due to the flagrant foul) point guard Jeff McInnis knocks down a mid-range jumper. What was a four-point lead before the flagrant foul is now a tie game, 38-38. As much as we like Kelvin Cato's intensity on the court, we've seen him commit too many flagrant fouls these past several games. In this case, Cato's flagrant on Bonzi Wells really shifted the momentum of the game to the Trailblazers.
Halftime - In a reversal of fortunes, the Trailblazers end the second quarter with a 12-3 run, and now lead the Rockets 41-44. Yao has 4 points on 2-for-6 shooting and 7 rebounds. Houston has deviated from what helped them beat the Sixers and Magic -- passing -- and instead is relying on a lot of dribbling and one-on-one play.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the third quarter.
7:07		James Posey dumps a pass to Yao who is positioned just inside the middle of the left lane, 5 feet away from the basket. Yao dribbles once and turns to the baseline to take it strong to the hoop, but Yao doesn't see Derek Anderson waiting for him as he turns. As a result, Yao gets sandwiched by Anderson and Dale Davis, and he's forced to put a weak shot which Davis blocks! Credit the Trailblazers suffocating defense on that play!
6:23		James Posey takes a 10-foot baseline jumper on the left side that misses long and hits the right side of the rim. However, Yao is there to collect the offensive board, and as he goes up for the easy put-back, he overshoots it by a tad and misses hard off the glass! The ball is slapped away by Rasheed Wallace and the Rockets retain possession. Yao can't believe he missed that easy shot as he swings his right hand down in disgust and walks away with his head down!
3:23		Right under the Rockets' logo on the left side, Francis shoots and misses a 19-footer, but Yao battles against two Trailblazers, tips the ball three times and brings down the offensive board! In the middle of the paint, with two Trailblazers on him, Yao dribbles once and takes a 6-foot hook shot, but it barely misses as the shot hits the back of the rim and flares out! The shots Yao normally nails are simply not falling for him tonight!
11:09	Free Throws	Behind the 3-point line on the left side, Yao sets a screen for Cuttino Mobley. As Mobley curls off the screen, Yao cuts to the basket, and Mobley hits him with a pass. With the defensive rotation being slow to react, Yao takes it strong to the rim with a one-handed dunk, but Dale Davis fouls Yao on the wrist. Yao steps up to the line, and knocks down the two free throws. The Rockets trail 50-52.
2:11		Cato checks in for Yao. Yao has struggled this quarter, missing all six of his shots. Yao has 6 points on 2-for-12 shooting and the Rockets trail 50-54.
4th quarter - The Rockets have turned in a horrendous third quarter, only shooting 15% from the field and scoring a franchise low of 10 points in the third quarter! Yao is now 2-for-12 from the field and has 6 points and 11 rebounds. The Trailblazers lead 51-59.
7:24		Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Trailblazers have extended their lead and the Rockets trail 56-67.
7:10		Trailblazers rookie forward Qyntel Woods cuts directly below the right elbow where he catches a pass. With Yao plugging up the middle, Woods pump fakes on Yao, pivots to gain inside position and puts up a shot. Yao, hardly moving on the play and now standing to the right of Woods, barely jumps and swipes the shot away!
0:00		Although the Rockets were able to crash the boards for an incredible 23 offensive rebounds, they still lose 81-66 due to the franchise field goal percentage low of 29.5%. Yao had a tough offensive night, scoring only 6 points on 2-for-13 shooting. Even though he didn't have his shooting touch, Yao was able to contribute by snaring 12 rebounds (5 offensive) and blocking 1 shot. With the Phoenix Suns' victory over the Denver Nuggets, the Rockets have now fallen 1 and 1/2 games behind Phoenix for the eighth and final spot for the Western Conference playoffs.