YaoMingMania.com

Back to Home

100% dedicated to Yao Ming's life in the NBA


Yao vs. Bulls - 11/03/03


Yao Ming, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley have a light-hearted moment in the fourth quarter on their way to romping the Bulls in Chicago 98-66. Yao had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. (Photo courtesy of AP).

CHICAGO, 11/3/03 - As bad as the Rockets played in their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies Saturday night, the Chicago Bulls may have played even worse on Monday night against the Rockets, losing 98-66 against Yao and the Gang. The Bulls only shot 26.6% compared to a sizzling 52% for the Rockets, who shot 9-for-15 from three-point territory. The Rockets shot so well, they only had one offensive rebound the entire game and still won by 32 points!

Yao hardly played in the second half since Houston had built a 55-35 lead at halftime, thanks in part to his 10 points in the first half. He finished with 12 points (5-of-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from the line), 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Watching the first half, we were encouraged by many things, including the intensity from the bench. For some reason, the bench seemed to be more "into" the game by clapping for their teammates on relatively simple plays, including some free throws! We wonder if coach Van Gundy is encouraging his bench to be more involved and supportive of their players on the court? If I were a coach, I would do the same. It can't hurt, especially for road games when it's your team against a big crowd. You need all the encouragement you can get.

Just one game after stinking it up against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Rockets' Cuttino Mobley, Jim Jackson and Bostjan Nachbar shot lights out. Cat hit 3 treys in the first half, Jackson was hitting his shots (5-for-8), including two long-range jumpers that extended the Rockets lead in the first half. And Boki kept the pressure on the Bulls by hitting 4-for-4 from three-point land! If Boki continues to shoot like that, he might get picked up in some NBA fantasy leagues.

Defensively, Yao and Kelvin Cato (5 blocks) dominated Eddy Curry (1 point on 0-for-8 shooting), which forced the Bulls to shoot from the outside where they failed to make the Rockets pay.

Before the Rockets think too much of their dominance in this game, though, they should remember that the Bulls lost to Washington at home by 25 points in their opener, and then lost to Milwaukee by 30. If they continue to play like that, coach Bill Cartwright will be probably be fired by December.

The Rockets next game is against New Jersey in the Meadowlands on Tuesday night. It will be interesting to see if the Rockets stay focused under the guidance of coach Gundy, or if they let their guard down like they did against Memphis after a big win Opening Night versus the Denver Nuggets.

Note: in case you were wondering, I have decided to send out the email newsletter once a week rather than after every game. I will probably send it out on the weekend when I have more time to work on it. Putting the newsletter together after every game is actually more time-consuming than you would think. I think it's more important to spend time on the Latest Summary rather than the newsletter, which usually links to the Latest Summary anyway.

Detailed Yao Analysis
vs. Chicago Bulls  11/3/03

1st quarter - Yao wins the tip against 7'2" center Tyson Chandler.
11:32 Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the paint guarded by Bull center Tyson Chandler. Yao then turns toward the baseline, falls away and shoots a high-arching baseline jumper that swishes through the net! The Chicago crowd erupts, no doubt from a large Asian contingent in the stands just like last year when the Rockets visited the Bulls.
11:12 Intimidation Eddy Curry drives into the lane with Yao Ming guarding him, and he tries to put up a jump hook, but Yao makes him alter the shot so that it's an air ball!
10:52 Yao gets the ball from Jim Jackson on the baseline guarded by Curry. This time he spins baseline again, dribbles twice towards the basket and throws down an uncontested, one-handed dunk! The Rocket bench erupts off the bench in ecstasy!
9:04 On a fast break, Jim Jackson is bringing the ball up the court and spots Yao streaking toward the basket, and Jackson delivers a perfect pass on the run to Yao who slams down another dunk! Jackson rewarded his Big Man for hustling up the court! Yao has now hit 3 shots in a row for 6 points, and Jackson has two assists in a row to Yao!
7:44 Steal Yao is guarding Eddy Curry in the low post, and as Curry is about to catch an entry pass, Yao uses his height to tip the ball from behind and deflect it to himself for the steal!
3:55 On offense, Yao is being fronted by Tyson Chandler. From the three point line, Jackson passes the ball perfectly over Chandler's outstretched hand, and Yao catches it on the left edge of the paint (this play is becoming familiar isn't it?). Yao quickly jumps and fades away from Eddy Curry along the baseline, and the shot comes down gently and swishes through the cords! What a beautiful play! That's Jackson's third assist to Yao, who is now 4-for-6 from the field for 8 points.
3:32   Yao checks out for Maurice Taylor. The Rockets lead 18-14.
2nd quarter - At the end of the first quarter, the Rockets lead 29-22. Yao has 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting. The Rockets shot 57% from the field to the Bulls' 29%. The Rockets have 10 points in the paint compared to the Bulls' two points.
10:56   Yao checks back into the game for Torraye Braggs. The Rockets still lead 29-22.
10:10 Intimidation Eddie Robinson tries to shoot a jump shot from about 15 feet, but Yao comes out on defense to contest the shot. As a result, Robinson tries to compensate for Yao's menacing presence and ends up shooting an air ball! This play won't show up in the stat sheet, but it's another example of Yao's effect on defense.
7:47 Assist Yao has the ball on the left edge of the paint and is dribbling trying to position himself for a shot. However, he gets double-teamed, which leaves his good friend Bostjan Nachbar all alone on the three-point line. Like the veteran he now is, Yao dishes the ball to Boki, who drains the trey! Credit Yao the assist! The Rockets have now opened a 38-28 lead.
7:14 Yao is being fronted again, this time by the 6'10" Corie Blount. Yao is getting great position on the smaller Blount, and Francis, who is standing at the 3-point line, sees the mismatch. Quickly, Francis delivers a perfectly placed bullet pass to Yao just beyond the reach of Blount. Yao catches the rocket-like pass with his soft hands, turns, and slam dunks the ball uncontested! Great assist by Francis, and great hands by Yao! He is now 5-for-7 from the field with 10 points. Rockets lead 40-30.
4:59 The Bulls miss a long-range jumper from the corner, and the Bulls' Eddie Robinson times his jump perfectly so that he can tip the ball in at point-blank range, but Yao is there to get a finger on it to make him miss the shot. Credit Yao with an official block. However, just a half-second later, Tyson Chandler gets the missed shot and lays it in.
1:23   Yao checks out for Scott Padgett. Yao is 5-for-9 from the field with 10 points. Rockets lead 51-35.
:33 Having fun! On a nifty move, Padgett fakes out a defender and drives to the basket for a spectacular score! The entire bench lifts itself off the bench and is jumping up-and-down with glee, including Yao, who is bouncing with excitement like he's on a college team about to win a big game! You can tell he's really having fun out there! Great spirit is being shown by the Rockets' bench! The Rockets lead 55-35.
Halftime - The Rockets went on a 23-9 run in the second quarter to lead the game by 20 points, 55-35. They shot 56% from the field (including 6-for-10 from 3-point land). The Bulls shot only 24%.
3rd quarter - Yao starts the quarter.
11:44 Eddy Curry gets the ball down low on the right edge of the lane and tries to go up strong against Yao, but Yao holds his ground and blocks his shot easily. It is not Eddy Curry's night against Yao!
10:19 Assist Yao gets the ball on the left edge of the lane and manuevers into the lane where it appears he is going to put up a fallaway jump shot. THREE Bulls converge around him, and with his great court vision, Yao spots Maurice Taylor underneath the basket all alone and delivers a perfect pass to him. Taylor does a great job to position himself away from the collapsing defense and scores a nice 3-foot jump hook. Great pass by Yao for the assist! The Rockets now lead 57-39.
8:40 Free Throws From the left edge of the lane, Yao is double-teamed and fouled as he puts up a fallaway jumper. This is the only way the Bulls can stop him! Yao makes both free throws, and is now 2-for-2 from the line and has 12 points. The Rockets lead 61-39, their biggest lead of the night.
1:03   Yao checks out for Cato. The Rockets lead 72-48. Yao has 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field.
4th quarter - At the end of 3 quarters, the Rockets lead 77-48. The Bulls are shooting 23% from the field, and the Rockets are shooting 52%. The whole fourth quarter is garbage time, and the Rockets win 98-66! Yao finishes with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and two blocks.


Back to Home