Yao shoots over Sacramento’s Brad Miller in a stunning game where the Rockets came back down from 14 points in the third quarter to ultimately win 102-95. Yao had 21 points and 9 rebounds to help the Rockets win their second game in a row. For more photos from the game, click here.

by John

THURSDAY, 12/08/05 - When the game started between the Rockets and Sacramento Kings Thursday night, I was feeling pretty bad because of some type of bug I caught today. As I watched the Rockets fall behind by 14 points in the third quarter, I was feeling even worse. The Rockets were stinking it up.

But then something incredible happened. The Rockets revived themselves, made a huge comeback, and came away with a huge win. I felt a little better after their explosive 106-95 win, but since it was a late game on the West Coast, I am fading fast and have to file a short report.

I was down on a lot of the Rocket players until they made their huge comeback. Derek Anderson was making all kinds of mistakes offensively and defensively in the third quarter. I couldn’t believe Jeff Van Gundy was keeping him the game. Yao was turning the ball over way too much (he had six TOs overall).

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John Lopez of the Houston Chronicle had some good things to say about Yao after Wednesday night’s season opener. I agree with everything he says about Yao in this article.

Additional commentary from Lopez can also be heard by clicking here (requires the Real Player to be installed).

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.

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Sacramento’s Mike Bibby runs into the Great Wall of Yao on Sunday in Sac-town. The Rockets continue to stun the West, beating the Kings 111-96 in their own gym. Yao scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting and hit 7-of-8 clutch free throws. Click here for more photos from the game.

by John

SUNDAY, 3/13/05 - Not having won a game at Arco Arena this century, the Rockets came into Sacramento having beaten three of the top four teams in the West: the Mavericks, Sonics and Suns.

Surely the Rockets were due for a loss. That’s what Houston teams are typically known for doing: when they play well and win several in a row, they get complacent and lose games they should win, right? Especially in an arena like Sacramento’s where they have folded multiple times, and with a national television audience watching to boot, right?

Not this Houston team. They are something special to behold in Rocket-lore.

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