boutons_
12-10-2006, 07:43 AM
Wizards Are Stuck In the Middle
Yao Has Big Hand In Houston's Win: Rockets 114, Wizards 109
By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 10, 2006; E01
There were a few moments during last night's game against the Houston Rockets when Washington Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan could be forgiven for glancing over toward Gheorghe Muresan and wondering whether the 7-foot-7 former Bullet, who was in attendance, could grab a uniform and help out against 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.
In a bizarre contest that featured game-ending injuries to Wizards centers Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas and Rockets star Tracy McGrady, a nine-minute delay after a bank of lights at Verizon Center went out in the second half and an improbable clutch three-pointer by Wizards reserve Calvin Booth, Houston emerged with a 114-109 victory because the Wizards could not stop Yao.
Yao went through four Washington centers and finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. He also made the biggest shot of the night: a right-handed jump hook over Booth that gave the Rockets a three-point lead with 11 seconds remaining.
The Wizards (9-11) had a chance to tie but Gilbert Arenas, who had already matched a season-high with seven three-pointers, was short on a three-point attempt from the corner and Houston's Shane Battier made two free throws to put the game away.
The Wizards lost Haywood to a thigh bruise after he collided with Yao's knee in the second quarter. They lost Thomas when he rolled his left ankle while defending Yao with 11 minutes 5 seconds remaining in the game.
With those two unavailable, the task of defending Yao first went to seldom-used James Lang and then to Booth, who had played in three games this season. Yao scored 23 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and made 11 of 12 free throws to offset a sizzling shooting performance by Arenas, who finished with 41 points on 13-of-30 shooting.
The Wizards appeared to be out of it after Yao caught a feed from Luther Head and made a layup over Booth to give the Rockets a 110-106 lead with 45 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, however, Booth found himself with the ball at the top of the key as the shot clock wound down.
Booth, who had made 1-of-7 three-point attempts in his career, looked to pass, hesitated for a split second and then uncorked a left-handed shot that hit all net. As the crowd exploded in delight, Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy gathered his team in the huddle and drew up a play for his star.
Yao set up on the right block, caught a post feed from Battier, turned and released a smooth-looking hook shot that easily made it over the outstretched hand of the 6-foot-11 Booth.
"He's so tough because you try to get up into him and crowd him but then you always have to beaware of him spinning on you and going baseline," Booth said. "He just turned and hit that turnaround."
McGrady scored 28 points but left the game in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly. McGrady, who was limited to 47 games last season because of a back injury, was clutching his lower back as he limped to the Houston locker room.
Jordan does not double-team Yao because he fears that Yao's ability to see over the defense and pick out an open teammate makes him more dangerous.
The Wizards did have a second defender "dig" down on Yao, slapping at the ball and otherwise pestering him into rushing shots and passes before returning to their own man, but the technique had limited success.
"I don't think anybody has an answer," Jordan said. "You have to do the best you can. If you have personnel to look him the eye a little bit, just a little bit, that helps but the guy has an arsenal that I haven't seen before. He's as equally dominating on either box. Now you tell me who in the history of the NBA you can say that about?"
For perspective, consider that Jordan won a championship while playing with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Yeah, but Kareem was dominating on the left box and darn good on the right," Jordan said. "This guy shoots turnaround jump shots, gets post-ups, he makes free throws, he does everything."
Wizards Note: Haywood is listed as day-to-day while Thomas will have to undergo further evaluation but appears to be worse of the two.
Yao Has Big Hand In Houston's Win: Rockets 114, Wizards 109
By Ivan Carter
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 10, 2006; E01
There were a few moments during last night's game against the Houston Rockets when Washington Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan could be forgiven for glancing over toward Gheorghe Muresan and wondering whether the 7-foot-7 former Bullet, who was in attendance, could grab a uniform and help out against 7-foot-6 Yao Ming.
In a bizarre contest that featured game-ending injuries to Wizards centers Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas and Rockets star Tracy McGrady, a nine-minute delay after a bank of lights at Verizon Center went out in the second half and an improbable clutch three-pointer by Wizards reserve Calvin Booth, Houston emerged with a 114-109 victory because the Wizards could not stop Yao.
Yao went through four Washington centers and finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. He also made the biggest shot of the night: a right-handed jump hook over Booth that gave the Rockets a three-point lead with 11 seconds remaining.
The Wizards (9-11) had a chance to tie but Gilbert Arenas, who had already matched a season-high with seven three-pointers, was short on a three-point attempt from the corner and Houston's Shane Battier made two free throws to put the game away.
The Wizards lost Haywood to a thigh bruise after he collided with Yao's knee in the second quarter. They lost Thomas when he rolled his left ankle while defending Yao with 11 minutes 5 seconds remaining in the game.
With those two unavailable, the task of defending Yao first went to seldom-used James Lang and then to Booth, who had played in three games this season. Yao scored 23 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and made 11 of 12 free throws to offset a sizzling shooting performance by Arenas, who finished with 41 points on 13-of-30 shooting.
The Wizards appeared to be out of it after Yao caught a feed from Luther Head and made a layup over Booth to give the Rockets a 110-106 lead with 45 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, however, Booth found himself with the ball at the top of the key as the shot clock wound down.
Booth, who had made 1-of-7 three-point attempts in his career, looked to pass, hesitated for a split second and then uncorked a left-handed shot that hit all net. As the crowd exploded in delight, Houston Coach Jeff Van Gundy gathered his team in the huddle and drew up a play for his star.
Yao set up on the right block, caught a post feed from Battier, turned and released a smooth-looking hook shot that easily made it over the outstretched hand of the 6-foot-11 Booth.
"He's so tough because you try to get up into him and crowd him but then you always have to beaware of him spinning on you and going baseline," Booth said. "He just turned and hit that turnaround."
McGrady scored 28 points but left the game in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly. McGrady, who was limited to 47 games last season because of a back injury, was clutching his lower back as he limped to the Houston locker room.
Jordan does not double-team Yao because he fears that Yao's ability to see over the defense and pick out an open teammate makes him more dangerous.
The Wizards did have a second defender "dig" down on Yao, slapping at the ball and otherwise pestering him into rushing shots and passes before returning to their own man, but the technique had limited success.
"I don't think anybody has an answer," Jordan said. "You have to do the best you can. If you have personnel to look him the eye a little bit, just a little bit, that helps but the guy has an arsenal that I haven't seen before. He's as equally dominating on either box. Now you tell me who in the history of the NBA you can say that about?"
For perspective, consider that Jordan won a championship while playing with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Yeah, but Kareem was dominating on the left box and darn good on the right," Jordan said. "This guy shoots turnaround jump shots, gets post-ups, he makes free throws, he does everything."
Wizards Note: Haywood is listed as day-to-day while Thomas will have to undergo further evaluation but appears to be worse of the two.