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Yao vs. Grizzlies - 1/19/04


Yao slams one home with Memphis' Pau Gasol looking on. However, the Rockets lost to the Grizzlies 88-83. Yao finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 33 minutes of play. To see more photos from the game, click here to view the topic in the YaoMingMania.com discussion forum. (Photo courtesy Sina.com)
MONDAY, 1/19/04 - Going into Memphis for Monday night's game against the Grizzlies, we knew it was going to be a tough game for the Rockets to win despite having a three-game winning streak and growing confidence. Although Memphis was in a tie for last place in the Midwest division, they only trailed the Rockets by two games. They also had won their last four games, and coach Hubie Brown plays a 10-man rotation to wear out opponents. On top of that, Memphis is just dang athletic and talented. Without too much surprise, the Grizzlies prevailed, beating the Rockets 88-83.

Wouldn't you know it, former Rocket James Posey haunted his former team by lighting them up in the fourth quarter with 13 points (17 points overall). And his great play is no fluke: Posey is starting to play very well for the Grizzlies and stand out among his very athletic teammates, something that is not easy to do.

The Rockets chose not to match a contract offer from Memphis during the off-season, a contract that reportedly pays $23 million over four years. Letting go of Posey was an extremely questionable decision on the Rockets' part, especially in light of the fact the Rockets traded power forward Kenny Thomas to get him, and now have nothing to show for it.

The Grizzlies are also a scoring machine, and they went on a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to take an 83-77 lead with four minutes remaining. But Yao made two baskets in a row to cut the deficit to two points. Then Posey hit a huge 3-pointer to push the lead to 5 points with 2:47 remaining. Then Steve Francis converted two free throws to cut the deficit to 3 points.

But the difference in the outcome of this game was not shooting. Both teams incredibly shot 33-of-77 from the floor (42.8%). The difference was Memphis' speed, desire and hustle for the loose ball. The final scramble for a rebound and loose ball turned out to be the Rockets downfall.

With the Grizzlies holding that three-point lead in the game's final minute, they missed three shots in a row, and on the last shot attempt by Gasol, the ball came down to Yao. But Yao wasn't able to hold on to this very crucial rebound. Instead Mike Miller grabbed the ball while he (and the ball) were going out of bounds, and he threw it toward half-court in desperation. That's when Francis picked the ball out of mid-air, came down with a clear path to the basket, but he stumbled (miscue #2 for the Rockets in this sequence), and the ball came loose. Yao ran toward the ball, but Miller came back from out of bounds and outdove Yao (miscue #3) for the ball to push it to Posey, who was then fouled by Jackson (miscue #4). Posey went on to hit two free throws to ice the game.

Less Yao and Cato

Houston ended up having to go small in this game because of the quicker Memphis lineup. It was tough for Yao and Cato to keep up and defend quicker Grizzlies like Pau Gasol. As a result, Yao played 33 minutes, but only scored 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting. He also only had 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Cato scored only two points in 11 minutes of action.

Not having their starting front line in the game changed the complexion of the game. Houston played Scott Padgett, who played very well in the first half with 12 points, and Maurice Taylor (8 points) more minutes than normal, and they played well. But with the height of Houston's starting front line out of the lineup, the Grizzles out-rebounded Houston 50-35, with 20 offensive rebounds contributing to 25 second-chance points.

It was an exciting game with a playoff-like atmosphere. Houston fell behind in the first quarter, and just when you thought they were going to get blown out, they managed to tie the game at 45-45 by halftime. However, Memphis went on a 16-4 run to start the third quarter. So we were thinking blowout once more. But the Rockets fought back once again and went on a 12-0 run to get back into it, and led by 8 points going into the fourth quarter. But that's when Houston hit a dry spell and Memphis went on 16-2 run in the fourth quarter.

Let's start another one

Now the Rockets have to regroup and try to start another winning streak. It sucks they lost for the second time to a Midwest division rival like Memphis, because these losses will likely have a bearing on who makes the playoffs this season, and who doesn't. Believe it or not, we're only one game shy of the halfway point in the season (versus New York in Houston on Wednesday night).
Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Memphis Grizzlies  1/19/04

1st quarter
11:02 Yao misses a fallaway jumper from the right baseline.
10:22 From near the top of the circle, Kelvin Cato throws a high pass to Yao in the middle of the paint area. Yao goes up high to get it over Lorenzen Wright, comes down, dribbles once, pivots around Wright, AND THROWS IT DOWN HARD WITH THE RIGHT HAND! The Memphis crowd roars impressed, and the entire Rockets' bench gets up out of their chairs with excitement! Yao knew exactly what he was going to do right when he went up for the ball -- go up strong! Yao is 1-for-2 with 2 points, and the Rockets lead 4-3.
5:04 Steal Pau Gasol grabs a rebound to the right side of the rim, but Yao smothers him and is able to knock the ball from his hands and take the ball away for a steal! Great D by Yao! You rarely see a steal like that from Yao.
4:46 Yao goes up for a little shot off the glass to the left of the rim, but is blocked by Stromile Swift. Yao is now 1-for-3 from the field with 2 points.
1:41   Yao checks out of the game for Scott Padgett. In 10 minutes of play, Yao is 1-for-3 from the field with 2 points, and he also has 3 rebounds. The Rockets trail 12-19.
2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets trail 17-22.
5:58   Yao checks into the game for Padgett, who played well in Yao's place. The Rockets trail 28-33.
4:29 Free
Throws		 Stromile Swift tries to defend Yao by fronting him, but fouls him. Yao goes to the line and misses the first free throw, but makes the second. Yao now has 3 points (1-of-2 from the line). The Rockets trail 30-37.
3:57 Maurice Taylor gets the ball on the right edge of the lane from Cuttino Mobley, then sees Yao wide open in the middle of the lane and zips a pass to Yao, who catches it in front of the rim AND SNAPS IT DOWN RIGHT-HANDED! Great ball movement from Mobley, to Taylor, then to Yao all within a 2 second timeframe. We also love how Yao snaps his wrist when he dunks, jettisoning it through the net! That dunk got the Houston bench to rise out of their seats again! They really love to see Yao show his power! Yao is now 2-for-4 from the field with 5 points. The Rockets trail 32-37.
3:19 Free
Throws		 Maurice Taylor zips a pass into Yao perfectly down low, and Yao goes up to throw it down, but he is fouled by Swift again. The offense is doing a good job of getting the ball to Yao in this quarter compared to the first quarter. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. Yao is now 3-for-4 from the line with 7 points. The Rockets trail 34-39.
:58.2 Free
Throw		 As Maurice Taylor makes a jump shot from the outside, Yao is fouled by Jake Tsakalidas while jockeying for a rebound. Tsakalidas had a hold of Yao's neck and whipped him around like he was trying to slash his neck or something! That's uncalled for! Yao steps to the line an makes the penalty free throw. He now has 8 points (4-of-5 from the line, 2-for-4 from the field). The Rockets trail 41-45.
Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets and Grizzlies are tied at 45-45. The Rockets went on a nice run, including 4 points by Francis at the end of the 2nd quarter. Francis has 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The Grizzlies shot 51% from the floor and had 12 second chance points, and the Rockets shot 45% with only 1 second chance point. The Rocket bench has outscored Memphis 20-10.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:13 James Posey cuts into the lane and gets a pass to the left of the rim, and he immediately goes up for a shot, BUT YAO IS THERE TO EASILY SWIPE IT AWAY!
6:45 Free
Throws		 After the Grizzlies went on a 15-4 run to start the second half, Yao is fouled by Lorenzen Wright while dunking the ball. Yao goes to the line and misses the first free throw, but makes the second. The Rockets trail 51-60. Yao has 9 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the line.
3:42 Stromile Swift gets the ball right in front of the rim, and like Posey, he tries to go up to try to posterize Yao, BUT YAO SWATS HIS SHOT AWAY, TOO! Jim Jackson grabs the ball to gain possession!
2:50   Yao checks out of the game for Scott Padgett. The Rockets trail 61-62. Yao has 9 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the line, 2-for-4 shooting from the field.
4th quarter - At the end of three quarters, the Rockets lead 73-67. Yao only scored 1 point in the quarter, but Mobley scored 10.
8:11   Yao checks into the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 75-74.
3:44 Yao makes a layup. Unfortunately, I cannot describe the play because my videotape ran out of tape since the game started 20 minutes late because of a lighting problem inside the arena. The Rockets trail 79-83, and Yao has 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting.
3:13 Yao makes a dunk. I cannot describe it for the same reason as outlined above. Yao is now 4-of-6 from the field with 13 points.
2:06 Yao misses a jump shot. The location of the icon on the shot chart is approximate. Yao is now 4-of-7 from the field and 5-of-7 with 13 points. He finishes with these scoring stats, along with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Rockets go on to lose a tough game, 83-88.

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