YaoMingMania.com

Yao Ming slams one home against New Jersey Net center Alonzo Mourning on Tuesday night (for more detail on this play, read the Detailed Yao Analysis below at the 8:44 mark of the 2nd quarter). Although Yao had a rough time from the field, the Rockets came from behind to beat the Nets 86-75 to snap a 4-game losing streak in New Jersey. (Photos courtesy AP).

1st quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
10:25		Mobley passes the ball to Yao, who is stationed just outside the lane along the right edge with his back turned to the basket. Yao dribbles once, then immediately turns toward the baseline and launches himself skyward with a fallaway jumper from 10 feet...and it hits nothing but net! The New Jersey crowd surprisingly roars with approval! You can tell there are a lot of Yao fans in the audience tonight! Yao is 1-for-1 from the field with 2 points. Rockets lead 6-0.
3:09		After getting off to a hot start, the Rockets have gone cold and Yao hasn't been given the chance to take a shot since his last field goal over 7 minutes ago. As a result, the Rockets trail 15-17. Yao checks out for Maurice Taylor
2nd quarter - At the start of the second quarter, the Rockets hold a slim 22-21 lead, thanks to the hot shooting of Jim Jackson, who has 7 points. Houston shot 56% from the field, the Nets shot 45%.
10:02		Yao checks back into the game for Torraye Braggs. The Rockets still trail 22-24.
8:44		From the 3-point line, Boki Nachbar passes the ball to Yao way out high about midway between the lane and the three-point line. Guarded by Alonzo Mourning, Yao immediately spins toward the baseline and zooms past Mourning, leaving him wondering "what happened?" In a flash, Yao dribbles twice along the baseline and slams it home easily with his left-hand! That brings the Rockets' bench to its feet, and the crowd roars with awe that leaves the building buzzing! Color analyst and former NBA player Kelly Tripucka immediately says, "Wow, what about the quickness by Yao! Zo, an oustanding defender, I think he was a little stunned by that quick move along the baseline." Yao is now 2-for-3 from the field with 4 points.
4:31	Great pass!	Yao gets the ball along the baseline, but he is double-teamed by New Jersey's big men. This leaves Cato down low with a much smaller guy guarding him. Yao spots the mismatch and ZIPs a two-handed pass to Cato, who is fouled on the layup attempt. I don't think I've ever seen Yao throw a pass that hard before! Regardless, it was accurate, and it helps Cato go to the line for two free throws. Cato misses both free throws, though!
3:59		Kerry Collins of the Nets drives to the hole from the left elbow of the lane with Cato trailing alongside him. Yao, who is standing near the baseline, senses Collins is going to go to the rack for a dunk or layup attempt, so Yao comes over to help and blocks Collins' shot as he releases the ball! The New Jersey crowd roars in awe once again on the spectacular block!
1:30	Free Throws	On almost the same type of play last night, Jim Jackson brings the ball up on a semi-fast break and stops at the three-point line to wait for some of his players to come down court. Wouldn't you know it, Yao comes running down the court faster than his defender and gets into the lane uncontested. Jackson spots him underneath the basket and bullets a pass to him. Yao might have had a great alley-oop dunk if he hadn't been fouled from behind. Yao makes both free throws, and he is now 2-for-2 from the line with 6 points. The Rockets trail 37-40.
Halftime - The Rockets trail 37-44. Houston has too many turnovers (10) and are only shooting 37% from the floor. New Jersey is killing the Rockets with 12 fast break points compared to the Rockets 2. Francis is struggling after shooting 0-for-8 from the floor. Overall, this is an ugly game. Yao has 6 points (2-for-6 from the field), 5 rebounds and 1 block.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
8:55		We don't report Yao's missed shots much, but this time we need to report that he has missed his last 4 shots in a row. Yao is 2-for-7 from the field.
5:58		Coming out of a timeout trailing 45-53, the Rockets are struggling and need to get something going offensively. Yao has been a non-factor all game. Thinking smart, they call a play for Yao down low. Yao gets the ball about 3 feet outside the left edge of the lane. Guarded one-on-one, he spins toward the baseline, which draws his defender over to the baseline with him to try to cut him off from going to the basket. Knowing that the defense would try to stop the same baseline move he made earlier, Yao deftly reverse pivots quickly the other way to create some space between his defender on the baseline and himself. Yao then shoots a fallaway jumper just outside the edge of the lane, and this time it SWISHES THROUGH THE NET, AND HE'S FOULED! Yao is now 3-for-8 from the field. Unfortunately, it's still not all clicking for him since he missed the penalty free throw. He is now 2-for-3 from the line, and has a total of 8 points. The Rockets now trail 47-53.
2:44		Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. He has 8 points and 9 rebounds. The score is 57-54, New Jersey. After Yao checks out, the Rockets go with a smaller line-up.
4th quarter - At the start of the quarter, New Jersey leads 62-57.
8:42		Yao checks back into the game for Scott Padgett. The Rockets lead 66-65, thanks to the work of their small lineup of Moochie, Taylor, Mobley and Jackson
4:42	Assist	Maurice Taylor is at the top of the key, and he bounces a pass to Yao, who is standing just outside the lane on the left edge. Taylor's man, Brian Scalabrine, decides to leave him and double-team Yao. Taylor then breaks for the basket with a clear lane, and Yao whips a pass to Taylor on the run, and Taylor goes up and banks it off the glass! Great assist by Yao! Rockets lead 72-71!
2:10		The Rockets have managed to claw their way to a tough 80-74 lead, and are desperate to create an even bigger lead against the dangerous Nets. Yao has had a tough night thus far, shooting only 3-for-9 from the field and missing 5 of his last 6 shots. So naturally, we're a bit nervous for him when he gets the ball on the left side of the paint. Will he shoot the ball, miss and lose confidence? Or will he break out of his funk and score a big bucket? Guarded one-on-one by Collins, Yao dribbles a couple of times to position himself on the right edge of the lane with his back facing the basket. He then pivots toward the baseline and, a la Hakeem Olajuwon, falls away and launches a shot at the top of his jump with soft touch, and IT GOES IN!! YAO DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH! Yao pumps his fist with happiness that he made such an important shot in quite some time! Rockets lead 82-74! They have gone on a 10-0 run! Yao is now 4-for-10 from the field with 10 points.
0:00		By finishing on a 14-1 run, the Rockets win 86-75 in a tough game against the defending Eastern Conference Champions! This victory should really help the Rockets' confidence! Yao finishes with 10 points (4-of-10 from the field), 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.