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Yao vs. Knicks - 1/8/04
 Yao lofts a beautiful hook shot over the Knicks' Dikembe Mutombo on Thursday night as the Rockets shocked New York and spoiled Stephon Marbury's debut by defeating them 111-79. Yao rebounded from a poor performance Wednesday night in Detroit and scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting (5-for-6 from the line) and had 9 rebounds. Click on this topic to see more photos from the YaoMingMania.com discussion forum. (Photo courtesy AP) |
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THURSDAY, 1/8/04 - Okay folks, this is going to be short because I've got to wake up in a couple of hours and get to work tomorrow since I've been working hard on some important work-related projects tonight (and this morning). But I just HAD to at least do a Detailed Yao Analysis and shot chart because the huge game the Rockets had last night against the Knicks.
Most of you probably saw it on national TV, but for those of you who didn't already know, the Rockets shot lights out and won by a huge margin, 111-79, against the New York Knicks on Thursday night. Steve Francis was huge by scoring 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting and 10-of-12 from the line. Jim Jackson also played well, scoring 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting (4-of-6 from three-point land). If those guys keep playing like that, watch out. Maurice Taylor and Yao shared almost the exact same box score: 15 points each (5-of-9 shooting for Taylor, 5-of-10 for Yao), 5-of-6 free throws, and 9 rebounds. And if you look at the shot chart below, all of Yao's shots came from the outside. There's a lot more I could say about this game, but I've got to retire and get some sleep. Of course, you can read more about it in the Houston Chronicle's write-up by clicking here. |
| 1st quarter | ||
| 11:45 | Free Throws |
Yao gets the ball on the left side of the court just a couple feet outside the lane. He is being guarded one-on-one by Dikembe Mutombo. Yao spins baseline and goes up to shoot a jumper, but Mutombo fouls him on the wrist. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. The Rockets lead 2-0.
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| 11:20 |  |
From the right baseline, Francis bounces a pass back to Yao who is standing about one foot inside the three-point line all by himself. Yao then squares up AND HITS A LONG BOMB! Much of the Madison Square Garden roars impressed!
TNT analyst says Mike Fratello says, "That was even a step or two beyond what I thought his normal range was." TNT analyst and former NBA player also states, "It's amazing to see that kind of touch from a big guy." Yao is now 1-for-1 from the field with 4 points. The Rockets lead 4-2. |
| 9:34 |  |
Receiving the ball a couple of feet outside the left edge of the lane, Yao is guarded one-on-one by Mutombo. Yao quickly turns toward the basket and quickly shoots a jumper over Mutombo, AND HE HITS IT AGAIN! And once gain, the New York crowd roars! Yao is 2-for-2 from the field with 6 points, and the Rockets lead 11-2! |
| 6:53 | Free Throws |
Yao spins baseline and shoots a fallaway jumper from the left baseline, and he is fouled by Kurt Thomas. Yao makes both free throws and is now 4-for-4 from the line and 2-for-2 from the field with 8 points. The Rockets lead 19-2! What a run! |
| 4:25 |  |
Yao misses a jumper near the right elbow of the lane, which is his first miss of the game. He is now 2-for-3 from the field with 8 points. |
| 4:01 | Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. Yao has a great quarter, scoring 8 points on 2-of-3 shooting from the floor. | |
| 2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets lead 31-14 after going on a 23-2 run to start the game! The Rockets shot 11-for-20 from the floor after making their first 7 shots. Yao does not start the second quarter. | ||
| 8:44 | Yao checks into the game for Scott Padgett. The Rockets lead 33-16. | |
| 6:44 |  |
Yao misses a jumper from the right elbow of the lane. He is now 2-for-4 from the field with 8 points. |
| 3:28 |  |
Yao gets the ball wide open about 3 feet inside the three point line, squares up AND DRILLS IT ONCE AGAIN! Yao is now 3-for-5 from the field with 10 points! The Rockets lead 44-24. |
| 2:04 |  |
Yao shoots a jump hook over Mutombo in the middle of the lane, but he misses. The shot was on line, but just a little too strong. Yao is now 3-for-6 from the field with 10 points. The Rockets still lead 47-29. |
| Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets lead 54-37. Mobley hit three treys in the quarter, the Rockets shot 7-for-11 from behind the arc, and 50% from the floor! | ||
| 3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter. | ||
| 11:38 |  |
Yao blocks Kurt Thomas' prayer of a shot underneath the goal, and the ball goes out of bounds. |
| 11:21 | Free Throws |
Yao grabs a rebound of a missed Cato jumper in front of the rim, goes up for the put-back shot, and he is fouled. Yao makes the first free throw, but misses the second. The Rockets lead 55-37. Yao has 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the line and 3-of-6 from the field. |
| 9:26 |  |
From the right baseline, Yao misses a right-handed baseline hook shot. He is now 3-of-7 from the field. |
| 7:54 |  |
Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the right edge of the lane, guarded one-on-one by Mutombo. Yao then turns toward the baseline and lofts a fallaway jumper...AND DRAINS IT! Yao is now 4-of-8 from the field for 13 points, and the Rockets lead 66-44, their biggest lead of the night! |
| 5:42 |  |
Francis gets the ball to Yao at the top of the three point line. Yao then dribbles once toward the basket, then SPINS 360 DEGREES TO HIS RIGHT, SQUARES UP AND SHOOTS A FADEAWAY JUMPER FROM 16 FEET...AND NAILS IT! THE NEW YORK CROWD ROARS WITH RESPECT! YAO IS ON FIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE TONIGHT! AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN HIM SPIN ALL THE WAY AROUND AND SHOOT FROM SO FAR OUT LIKE THAT! YAO IS BEING ASSERTIVE AND TAKING SHOTS! YEAH!!! He is now 5-of-9 from the floor and has 15 points! The Rockets lead 69-49! |
| 2:26 |  |
Yao misses a fallaway jumper from just outside the right edge of the lane. He is now 5-of-10 from the floor and has 15 points. The Rockets still lead 78-55. |
| 1:40 | Yao checks out of the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets lead 78-57. | |
| 4th quarter - At the end of three quarters, the Rockets lead 86-60. Francis had 14 points in the quarter in one of his best scoring quarters of the season.
The Rockets end up winning going away, 111-79. Yao finishes with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field (5-of-6 from the line), 9 rebounds and 1 block! |
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