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Yao vs. Pacers - 1/23/04
 Yao Ming is embraced by Steve Francis after he scored on a big play late in the fourth quarter Friday night in Indiana. Yao was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to help the Rockets upset the Pacers 78-74. Yao finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. (Photo courtesy AP) |
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FRIDAY, 1/23/04 - As badly as Houston's guards turned over the ball down the stretch, the Rockets can pat themselves on the back for beating one of the hottest teams in the league. Going into the game, Indiana had the most wins of any team in the NBA (33) and had won 12 of their last 13 games. At Conseco Fieldhouse, they were 17-4, had won 6 in a row there, and had not lost to a Western Conference team there all season. But on Friday night, the Rockets changed all that and defeated yet another "hot" team, beating Indiana 78-74 in their own crib.
The Rockets are clearly no fluke and their defense came through again, this time limiting Indiana to its second-lowest point total of the season. Although a place in the playoffs is not a given (the Rockets are currently 4.5 games ahead of Seattle, holders of 9th place in the Western Conference playoff seeding), they will probably be one of the most feared teams to face in the first round of the playoffs because of the way they can shut down other teams offensively. ESPN commentator Bill Walton also believes the Rockets should be feared. "When they are on their game, as they are right now, they can beat anyone in the NBA. (But) consistency is their biggest problem," Walton remarked. Yao scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and made all five of his free throws (including two free throws in the final minute with the Indiana crowd yelling and screaming louder than hell). He also racked up 12 rebounds. Although Yao took 12 shots, we would like to see him shoot more. We agree with Walton when he said, "I'd like to see Yao Ming take 15-20 shots a game. 10 to 11 to 12 shots - that's just not getting it done." Yao fouled out of the game with less than a minute remaining because he racked up some personal fouls on plays where he got faked out by much smaller defenders and hacked them. That's something that Yao will need to work on. He doesn't really need to jump to have a shot at legitimately blocking an opponent's shot. This was a great basketball game to watch, except for lots of bad calls by the officials against both teams. The refs robbed Reggie Miller of a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer and only gave him credit for a two-pointer when his feet were clearly behind the line. They also gave the Rockets a break when they called a foul on the Pacers' Al Harrington in the game's final minute, which sent Yao to the free throw line to make two big free throws. They also called a ticky-tack foul on Miller for pushing off on Cuttino Mobley as Miller was trying to break free on an inbounds pass. The Rockets also were unfairly called for fouls. But the point is the Rockets were probably lucky to win this game, but they will take it. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal was also impressive to watch. In addition to scoring 31 points, in the fourth quarter he showed no fear by going one-on-one with Yao and scoring over him on a beautiful driving layup. We gotta respect that. We also loved the play at the end of the game when the Pacers had a chance to tie the game in the game's final seconds. But the Rockets double-teamed O'Neal for the first time the entire game, which clearly surprised him and made him heave up a desperate three-pointer. Jeff Van Gundy showed his coaching genius on that play. We have also got to give props to Jim Jackson, who has shaken off a rusty start of the season and is giving the Rockets everything they could have hoped for when they signed him after letting James Posey go to Memphis during the off-season. Jackson scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 4-for-8 from behind the arc, and had 10 rebounds. Steve Francis (19 points), Cuttino Mobley (12 points) and Yao made all of their free throws in the clutch, something that had been lacking in close games before. However, Francis and Mobley need to cut down on turnovers when the game is tight. At the 3:51 mark in the fourth quarter, Francis threw the ball right to Al Harrington. Then on the next possession, Francis turned it over again. And with 29 seconds left, Mobley drove the baseline and threw the ball away, surprising Cato with a pass that would have been difficult to catch. Even Walton had to comment about how shaky the guard play was: "Guards in the lane jumping into the air with no idea what to do and throwing it to guys who were there 10 seconds before! (Poor) Jeff Van Gundy. The way he's pulling his hair out tonight, he may not have any left by the end of the evening!" With all the bad mistakes they made in this game, though, I have to give credit to Francis for admitting right after the game that Mobley and himself need to do a better job of not throwing away the basketball. We'll see if there is any improvement on Sunday afternoon in Orlando. |
| 1st quarter | ||
| 8:27 |  |
Steve Francis drives down the middle of the lane and sees Kelvin Cato underneath the basket, so Francis goes up like he's going to shoot a shot when he is really just "shooting" a lob pass to Cato. Cato grabs it underneath the rim, but rushes his layup attempt and overshoots it so that it doesn't even hit the rim, BUT YAO IS ALSO UNDERNEATH THE BASKET, AND HE GRABS THE MISSED SHOT AND LAYS IT IN OFF THE GLASS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE! Yao did a great job of cleaning up the mess! The Rockets now trail 9-11.
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| 7:41 | Assist |
Mobley shoots a fallaway jumper in the lane which bounces off the right side of the rim, BUT YAO HUSTLES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LANE TO GRAB THE REBOUND WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AND WITHOUT HESITATION WHIPS A NO-LOOK OVERHEAD PASS TO CATO 10 FEET AWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIM, AND CATO SLAMS IT HOME! THAT PLAY BRINGS TO MIND A LARRY BIRD-LIKE PASS, SOMETHING WE SAW FREQUENTLY LAST YEAR FROM YAO BUT NOT MUCH THIS YEAR! That play also brings the Rockets bench to their feet!
Right after I thought of Larry Bird on this play, ESPN analyst Bill Walton also says the following: "As I look across Conseco Fieldhouse, I see Larry Bird (who is in the arena with) a real smile on his face with Yao Ming." |
| 7:19 |  |
From the top of the three-point arc, Cato sees Yao in front of the basket all alone and is astute enough to zip a pass to him, and YAO GOES UP AND THROWS IT DOWN WITH BOTH HANDS! Yao is now 2-for-2 from the field with 4 points. The score is tied 13-13. That's the Rockets' fourth assist in this game already. |
| :06 | Yao checks out of the game for Scott Padgett. Yao has 4 points on 2-of-2 shooting. The Rockets trail 23-25. | |
| 2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets trail 23-25. The Rockets shot 56% from the field, but they also had 7 turnovers. Indiana shot 48% and had only 1 turnover. Yao rests on the bench at the start of the second quarter for Scott Padgett. | ||
| 8:20 | Yao checks into the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 33-32. | |
| 6:55 |  |
Yao misses a right-handed jump hook in the lane. He is now 2-for-3 from the field. |
| 4:05 |  |
The Rockets offense is struggling, and they need some points. Cuttino Mobley has the ball behind the three-point line on the left side of the court, and Yao is being fronted by Al Harrington. Mobley passes the ball over Harrington's head to Yao, who catches it at the left edge of the lane. Rather than drive to the basket and risk charging into Pacer defenders, Yao just stops, pops and shoots a jumper off the glass...AND SCORE IT! Yao is now 3-for-4 from the field with 6 points. The Rockets trail 35-39. |
| 1:35 |  |
From the left baseline, Jim Jackson misses a three pointer, but from behind Jeff Foster, Yao tips the ball and grabs the rebound in front of the rim, then jumps and launches a beautiful right-handed hook shot 4 feet in front of the bucket over the outstretched arm of Jermine O'Neal...AND BANG! Yao's height was definitely an advantage on that play because Foster had better position, but Yao was still able to get a hand on the ball. The Rockets take the lead 40-39! And Yao is now 4-for-5 from the field with 8 points. |
| :30 | Yao checks out of the game for Scott Padgett with 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. | |
| Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets lead 43-41. The Pacers went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take the lead 39-33, but then Houston when on a 10-0 run with Yao chipping in 4 points during that run. Unfortunately, Francis shot too early at the end of the second quarter, which gave Indiana enough time to bring the ball down and score on a Reggie Miller shot (which was actually a three-pointer but only counted as a two-pointer) to close the Pacer deficit to 41-43. The Rockets shot 48% in the first half, and Francis has 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. | ||
| 3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter. | ||
| 11:01 |  |
Yao misses a fallaway jumper from the left baseline. He is now 4-for-6 from the field with 8 points. |
| 9:19 |  |
Yao misses a 12-foot jumper in the lane. He is now 4-for-7 from the field. |
| 6:12 |  |
On an inbounds play from Jim Jackson, Yao cuts around alot of players to get underneath the basket and Jackson spots him perfectly with a pass. Yao goes up for a dunk, but Jamal Tinsley is able to get his hand on the ball and strip it out of Yao's hands. That was more of a steal than a block/missed shot, but whatever. Yao is now 4-for-8 from the field. |
| 5:28 |  |
After hardly getting the ball in this quarter, Yao finally gets the ball in the paint on the left edge of the lane and is guarded one-on-one by Jermaine O'Neal. Yao dribbles once, then spins to the inside of the lane, jumps off his right foot in the center of the lane and extends himself toward the basket and FINGER ROLLS IT IN! WE HAVE NEVER SEEN YAO TRY THIS TYPE OF MOVE BEFORE! HE CONTINUES TO AMAZE!
Bill Walton says, "It doesn't get any prettier, more graceful, more effective than that. That's literally the Wilt Chamberlain finger roll, stepping in with that right shoulder, so much size and strength." The Rockets lead 54-50. Yao is now 5-for-9 from the field with 10 points. |
| 4:56 | Free Throws |
Yao is fouled by Jeff Foster on a jumper from the right baseline. Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. The Rockets now lead 56-50, and Yao has 12 points (5-for-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from the line). |
| 3:35 | Yao checks out of the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets lead 56-50. | |
| 3:08 | Yao checks back into the game for Cato. The Rockets lead 56-54. | |
| 1:32 |  |
Yao emphatically blocks Ron Artest's shot in front of the rim, but the ball flies to the right baseline corner where Anthony Johnson gets it and launches a three-point attempt...and it's good. What bad luck for Yao after such a great block! |
| 1:08 | Yao checks out of the game for Padgett. | |
| 4th quarter - At the end of three quarters, the Rockets lead 63-60. Yao does not start the quarter. | ||
| 6:54 |
Yao checks into the game for Clarence Weatherspoon. The Rockets have a slight lead, 68-64.
After the Pacers' Anthony Johnson misses a shot, Yao grabs a huge rebound vigorously, which prompts Bill Walton to say, "Rebounds above the rim! How many guys have ever done that in NBA history?" |
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| 6:33 |  |
Yao misses a jumper just outside the lane on the right side of the court. He is now 5-for-10 from the field with 12 points. |
| 6:04 |  |
Mark Jackson bounces a behind-the-back pass to Yao, who is wide open along the left baseline. Yao shoots but misses, which is rare for him when he is so open like that. The Rockets still hold a slight lead, 68-64. |
| 5:41 | Good Defense! |
Jermaine O'Neal spins around Yao and has decent position in front of the rim for a shot, but Yao sticks with him and is able to alter his shot to make him miss! |
| 4:12 |  |
With the Rockets only leading 68-67, Yao gets the ball about three feet outside the left edge of the lane. Guarded one-on-one by Jermaine O'Neal, Yao backs to the edge of the lane dribbling a couple of times, then steps back and shoots a fallaway jumper...AND SWISH!! YAO REALLY HAD TO FALLAWAY TO GET THAT ONE OFF, AND HE'S FOULED BY O'NEAL!! BIG BUCKET!! THE ROCKETS BENCH JUMPS WITH EXCITEMENT!
Yao goes to the line and makes the free throw, and the Rockets lead 71-67. Yao now has 15 points (6-for-12 from the field) and 10 rebounds. |
| 1:21 | Free Throws! |
With the score tied at 73-73, Yao gets the ball down low and is about to make an offensive move, but Al Harrington is called for a foul on Yao by "pulling the chair" from underneath him. With the Indiana crowd yelling at the top of their lungs, Yao goes to the line and MAKES BOTH FREE THROWS! CLUTCH SHOTS BY YAO! THE ROCKETS LEAD 75-73. Yao has 17 points and is 5-for-5 from the line. |
| :41.4 | Fouls Out |
Yao fouls Jermaine O'Neal on a baseline jumper, which is Yao's sixth foul of the game. Yao finishes the game with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, is 5-for-5 from the line, and has 12 rebounds. Bill Walton says, "That's where Yao really has to grow in terms of his contributions defensively. He's already a dynamic force out there. But he should be able to send that (kind of shot) back every single time."
O'Neal goes to the free throw line and makes the first free throw, BUT MISSES THE SECOND! The Rockets lead 75-74 with 41.1 seconds remaining. |
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