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Yao vs. Grizzlies - 3/13/04
Yao prepares to fire over Memphis' Pau Gasol in a big game in Houston on Saturday night, which the Rockets won 88-80. Yao scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. The Rockets snapped the Grizzlies 7-game winning streak and extended their own winning streak to 5 games, the longest streak in the Western Conference right now. Click here to see more photos from the game. (Photo courtesy AP). |
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SATURDAY, 3/13/04 - The Rockets' Big Red Machine continues to roll. Sorry for the old Cincinnati Reds' team comparison, but this is getting fun to watch and I may have a little hyperbole in me right now.
On Saturday night the Rockets defeated a Memphis team who everyone has been saying is this year's Cinderella story, and for good reason. The Grizzlies are good. They have the best record since the All-Star break (11-2) and the second-best record since January 1st (26-7). But the Rockets clamped down with a defensive "bear trap" that held the Griz to 39% shooting, including 1-for-15 from three-point territory (their worst percentage of the season). As a result, Memphis' 7-game winning streak -- the league's longest active winning streak -- came to an end. With the Rockets' 88-80 win, now all the NBA news reporters can give the Rockets some attention for having the West's longest active winning streak. Chances are they won't win 14 in a row like New Jersey did under new coach Lawrence Frank. Sure, it's only 5 games right now, but they can enjoy it while they have it since they haven't had a streak this long in 5 years. Yao had stats very similar to his last game against the Hornets, scoring 17 points again. But against the Grizzlies he had two more rebounds (11 total) and one more block (3 overall). Those 3 blocks are important to note since the Rockets are now 13-2 when Yao blocks 3 shots or more. He also had several intimidations that don't show up in the boxscore, and had two plays at the end of the game that coach Jeff Van Gundy absolutely loved. Check out a description of those plays and Van Gundy's comments in the Detailed Yao Analysis below. Jim Jackson led all scorers with 20 points. He only made 2-of-8 three-pointers, but he made everyone forget any problems he encountered in this game with a flying dunk that had all of his teammates laughing and high-fiving him when he came back to the bench. Apparently Jackson is considered to be an "old man" on the team at 33 years old. He also hit the game-clinching shot in the game's final minute to put the game out of reach. Jackson also has made a lot of people forget the Rockets' mistake of not matching the offer that Memphis gave James Posey during the off-season. After Houston opted not to keep Posey, they had to scramble to find a big guard/small forward, and luckily Jackson was available. Although Jackson struggled at the beginning of the season and Posey was playing well, Jackson has hit his stride since then. It was ironic in this game that Yao blocked Posey a couple of times, and also drew a charge on him (see the DYA below). We should also give credit to Scott Padgett, who subbed for Clarence Weatherspoon because of a calf injury. Padgett, who had played only 12 minutes in the past 17 games, hit all 3 of his shots in the second quarter, including two 3-pointers, to score 8 points and help the Rockets build an 11-point halftime lead. The Grizzlies cut it down to a 6-point deficit before the two big plays by Yao in the game's final 1:13. That's when Yao added to his growing reputation as a big-time player in the clutch. The Rockets next play Phoenix on Monday night. This will give the Rockets the chance to get payback for a 99-79 loss to the Suns on February 2nd, and for Yao to show who really should have been last year's Rookie of the Year. |
| 1st quarter | ||
| 11:43 |  |
Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the left edge of the lane, then pivots toward the baseline on Jake Tsakalidis and launches a fallaway jumper that SWISHES THROUGH THE NET, AND HE'S FOULED FROM BEHIND by Bonzi Wells who came over to double-team him! Yao makes the free throw, and the Rockets lead 3-0. Once again, Yao scores on the first possession of the game. |
| 7:47 |  |
Just like the first play of the game, Yao gets the ball a couple of feet outside the left edge of the lane. Yao then faces up to the basket and pump fakes on Tsakalidis, dribbles one time to the edge of the lane, takes a big hop, jumps off his left leg, suspends himself in mid-air and launches a shot from the middle of the lane, and SCORE IT! That's the first time I have EVER seen Yao score like that...very Michael Jordan-like! Yao now has 5 points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field. The Rockets lead 11-10. |
| 7:04 |  |
Along the right side of the court, Yao pivots to the baseline and puts up an awkward shot over Tsakalidis and misses. He tries to get the rebound, but goes over Tsakalidis and is called for a loose ball foul. Yao is now 2-for-3 from the field with 5 points. |
| 6:09 |  |
James Posey gets the ball in front of the rim and goes up for layup, BUT YAO COMES OVER FROM BEHIND AND SLAPS HIS SHOT AGAINST THE BACKBOARD FOR THE BLOCK! |
| 4:28 | Free Throws |
Cuttino Mobley throws the ball into the paint to Yao, who appears to have a clear path to the basket along the left baseline. Yao catches the pass, takes one big step toward the hoop to throw it down, BUT HE'S FOULED HARD BY STROMILE SWIFT, WHICH SENDS HIM SPRAWLING TO THE COURT! Yao is okay, and he gets up and makes both free throws. He now has 7 points, which includes 3-of-3 shooting from the line. The game is tied 17-17. |
| 4:04 |  |
Yao misses a right-handed hook shot along the right edge of the lane. He is now 2-for-4 from the field with 7 points. |
| 3:44 | Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets trail 17-19. | |
| 2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets lead 23-21. Houston made 10-of-21 shots while the Grizzlies made 8-of-17. Steve Francis had a good quarter, shooting 4-for-5 from the field for 8 points. | ||
| 7:05 | Yao checks into the game for Steve Francis, which I don't believe has ever happened this season. Mark Jackson and Jim Jackson are playing in the Houston backcourt. The Rockets lead 33-28. | |
| 6:37 |  |
Yao shoots a tough fallaway jumper over Tsakalidis from just inside the free throw line, and the ball ALMOST goes in! Yao is now 2-for-5 from the field with 7 points. |
| 6:19 | James Posey jumps right into Yao on the left edge of the lane, and Yao draws the charge! Posey just ran into a "brick wall" on that one, which sent Yao to the floor. | |
| 6:08 | Free Throws |
Mark Jackson backs down into the lane from the left side, and once he gets into the middle of the lane, he bounces a quick pass to Yao underneath the rim. Yao goes up for a two-handed jam, but he is fouled by Tsakalidis on the play! Yao goes to the line and makes both free throws. He now has 9 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the line, and is 2-for-5 from the field. |
| 4:17 | Intimidation! | Bonzi Wells drives to the hole from the left side of the lane and goes up for a two-handed jam, BUT YAO IS THERE TO CONTEST IT AND INTIMIDATE HIM TO MAKE HIM MISS THE DUNK! Although Yao didn't touch the ball and get credit for a block, he certainly made Wells think about it and miss! |
| 2:26 |  |
While Yao is jockeying for position in the lane, Jim Jackson throws a perfect lead pass to him (from behind the three-point line) on the left side. Yao sheds off his man, catches the pass in front of the rim, AND THROWS IT DOWN TWO-HANDED! The Rockets lead 47-39, and Yao is now 3-for-6 from the field with 11 points. |
| 1:22 |  |
Cuttino Mobley whips a pass into Yao from the top of the key, and Yao has to extend himself to gain control of it along the baseline about 5 feet from the rim. Yao then goes straight up to lay it off the glass, but Pau Gasol gets a hand on it and blocks it! The loose ball is tipped by Gasol, and the Grizzlies get possession. Yao is now 3-for-7 from the field with 11 points. |
| :45.3 | Yao checks out of the game for Scott Padgett. Yao has 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting, and is 5-for-5 from the line. The Rockets lead 52-41. | |
| :03.9 | Since the Rockets are inbounding the ball for the last possession of the first half, Yao checks back into the game for Padgett. Yao doesn't touch the ball. Instead, Francis misses a three-point attempt. | |
| Halftime - At the end of the second quarter, the Rockets lead 52-41. In the quarter, the Rockets outscored the Grizzlies 29-20. The Rockets shot 11-of-20 from the field, whereas Memphis shot 7-of-19. Houston's Scott Padgett surprised everyone by scoring 8 points on 3-of-3 shooting (2-for-2 on three-pointers). Cuttino Mobley shot 3-of-4 from the field and scored 7 points. | ||
| 3rd Quarter - Yao starts the quarter. | ||
| 10:41 | Intimidation! | Pau Gasol drives the left baseline and puts up a shot off the glass, BUT YAO IS THERE UNDERNEATH THE RIM TO MAKE HIM ALTER HIS SHOT BADLY! |
| 8:17 |  |
From the right side of the court, Yao drives to the left edge of the lane and puts up a shot over Tsakalidis, but he misses. Yao is now 3-for-8 from the field. |
| 6:32 |  |
Jim Jackson gets the ball to Yao on the right edge of the lane near the baseline. Yao then bounces the ball once and hops into the lane, elevates, and with the left hand puts up a little 4-foot hook shot, AND IT'S PERFECT! That left-handed shot is not easy to make, but Yao made it look easy on that play! Yao is now 4-for-9 from the field, and the Rockets lead 60-52. |
| 5:24 | Yao checks out of the game for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 62-54. | |
| :48.9 | Yao checks back into the game for Kelvin Cato. The Rockets lead 70-60. | |
| 4th Quarter - At the end of three quarters, the Rockets lead 72-62. The third quarter was closely contested, with Houston outscoring Memphis 20-19. Houston was 8-for-19 from the field, and Memphis was 9-for-20. However, Houston only made 1-of-8 three-pointers. | ||
| 11:44 |  |
With the Rockets leading 72-62, Steve Francis bounce passes the ball to Yao from the top of the key. Yao gets it on the right edge of the lane and immediately goes up for a right-handed hook shot, AND COUNT IT! Yao is now 5-for-10 from the field with 15 points. The Rockets now lead 74-62. |
| 10:32 |  |
From the top of the three-point arc, Jim Jackson passes the ball to Yao along the right edge of the lane. He then pump fakes, elevates, and shoots another right-handed hook shot from the baseline, AND IT'S GOOD AGAIN! Yao has now hit his last three shots in a row and is 6-for-11 from the field with 12 points. The Rockets lead 76-64. |
| 6:08 |  |
James Posey grabs an offensive rebound in front of the rim, then dribbles around Yao to the baseline along the right edge of the lane, then tries to jump toward the hoop and put up a shot off the glass, BUT YAO STUFFS HIM BEFORE HE CAN EVEN RELEASE THE BALL! Yao is able to hold onto the ball for the rebound, too! The Rockets lead 80-72. |
| 1:13 |  |
Steve Francis misses a jump shot and the ball bounces high off the rim, and Yao along with Pau Gasol jump to tip the ball. Gasol actually tips the ball away from the basket, and Yao jumps to go after it, but Yao falls down on the court hard and smothers the ball! Nice hustle play by Yao!
However, James Posey falls down on him, and the refs call a jump ball! That's bogus! In addition, THE OFFICIAL SCORER COUNTED THE TIP BY GASOL AS A SHOT ATTEMPT BY YAO! THAT'S LUDICROUS! So Yao is now "officially" 6-for-12 from the field with 17 points. With the Rockets leading 82-76, the ref throws up an important jump ball. Fortunately for the Rockets, it's a poorly thrown toss that goes toward Yao's way, and Yao is able to tip the ball to Francis. It's amazing the official scorer didn't call that tip by Yao a shot attempt! ;-) During this Rocket possession, Jim Jackson eventually gets the ball and scores, which puts the Rockets ahead 84-76! That was a huge possession for the Rockets! |
| :44.3 |  |
On the ensuing possession for Memphis (who trails 76-82), Pau Gasol catches the inbounds pass at the three-point line and dribbles all the way to the left edge of the lane on Maurice Taylor. Gasol then reverse pivots into the lane and goes up for a little 2-foot shot to the side of the rim, AND YAO COMES OVER FROM THE WEAK SIDE TO SWAT THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS, AND TOYOTA CENTER GOES BERSERK! Steve Francis even comes over to thump chests with him!
The Grizzlies fail to score on this very important possession, and the Rockets go on to win the game 88-80. Yao finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks! After the game, coach Jeff Van Gundy had the following to say about the last two plays described here: "Those are the plays that decide games. The block on the out-of-bounds play, just generally making an impact even when you don't have the ball to shoot it. The great players play both ends. The great players play their best when their best is needed. That's what separates, along with consistency. And those two plays were great plays." |