Rockets win season opener; Yao records double-double
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005
by John
Yao and his teammates crack up before the start of their season opener against Sacramento after Jon Barry made fun of coach Jeff Van Gundy to the entire Toyota Center crowd. To read more about Barry’s comment, please read below. In the game, Yao scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 98-89 victory. For more photos from the game, click here.
by John
WEDNESDAY, 11/2/05 – The “special” potential (a term used a lot by Rocket players lately) that the Rockets hold entering this season was thankfully seen on Wednesday night in Opening Night against Sacramento at Toyota Center. Sure, the Kings got blown out in New Orleans the previous night, but that made a pretty talented team even more dangerous. The Rockets started off slow, but special players and plays helped them pull away in the second half and win 98-89.
Yao lived up to all expectations with a dynamite double-double: 22 points (10-of-16 shooting), 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. He followed the trend from previous years by getting into foul trouble, limiting him to just 25 minutes of action. But some of the fouls were questionable, which I’ll explain in more detail below.
T-Mac got of to a slow start, but ended up scoring 23 points (9-of-21 shooting, only 3-of-7 from the free throw line), grabbing 5 boards, and doling out 4 assists.
But the player of the game, and the only other Rocket who scored in double-figures, was 13-year veteran reserve Jon Barry. It was Barry who kicked off the new season before the game by addressing the crowd, and imploring the fans to do what they did with the Houston Astros’ recent success and get ready for the “Rocket Ride.”
Even more interesting was Barry telling the crowd, “I hope you are as optimistic and excited as our coach,” an obvious jab at Mr. Pessimism — Jeff Van Gundy. When Barry joined the pre-game huddle on the sideline a few moments later, you could see lots of chuckles from almost all the Houston coaches and players on the joke Barry had pulled.
Yao and his teammates crack up before the start of their season opener against Sacramento after Jon Barry made fun of coach Jeff Van Gundy to the entire Toyota Center crowd. To read more about Barry’s comment, please read below. In the game, Yao scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 98-89 victory. For more photos from the game, click here. by John
WEDNESDAY, 11/2/05 – The “special” potential (a term used a lot by Rocket players lately) that the Rockets hold entering this season was thankfully seen on Wednesday night in Opening Night against Sacramento at Toyota Center. Sure, the Kings got blown out in New Orleans the previous night, but that made a pretty talented team even more dangerous. The Rockets started off slow, but special players and plays helped them pull away in the second half and win 98-89.
Yao lived up to all expectations with a dynamite double-double: 22 points (10-of-16 shooting), 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. He followed the trend from previous years by getting into foul trouble, limiting him to just 25 minutes of action. But some of the fouls were questionable, which I’ll explain in more detail below.
T-Mac got of to a slow start, but ended up scoring 23 points (9-of-21 shooting, only 3-of-7 from the free throw line), grabbing 5 boards, and doling out 4 assists.
But the player of the game, and the only other Rocket who scored in double-figures, was 13-year veteran reserve Jon Barry. It was Barry who kicked off the new season before the game by addressing the crowd, and imploring the fans to do what they did with the Houston Astros’ recent success and get ready for the “Rocket Ride.”
Even more interesting was Barry telling the crowd, “I hope you are as optimistic and excited as our coach,” an obvious jab at Mr. Pessimism — Jeff Van Gundy. When Barry joined the pre-game huddle on the sideline a few moments later, you could see lots of chuckles from almost all the Houston coaches and players on the joke Barry had pulled.
