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[NBA.COM}Rockets move into first in Southwest without fanfare

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by lwqbulb, Mar 22, 2009.

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lwqbulb Member

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http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/art_garcia/03/22/spurs.rockets20090322/index.html

Rockets move into first in Southwest without fanfare

By Art Garcia, NBA.com
Posted Mar 22 2009 9:48PM

SAN ANTONIO -- So why didn't ABC want this game?

One of the Rockets wondered as much aloud in the locker room before Sunday afternoon's high-stakes showdown with the Spurs. Though the question came wrapped with a good-natured smile, the lack of respect --real or imagined -- has been a season-long inside joke in Houston.

What can't be argued is how these resilient Rockets keep plugging away. It's almost funny that Houston (47-25) has taken hold of the Southwest Division lead and sits second in the Western Conference after rallying past San Antonio 87-85 (Box Score | Recap) in the last regular-season meeting between these instate rivals.

"It's quite astounding, I think, for a lot of us," said Brent Barry, a reserve Rockets guard and Spurs exile. "There's kind of a quiet agreement that we can be a much better team than what we are now. We really feel like we have room to grow.

"That's the opportunity we have in the last 10 or so games before the regular season ends. Maybe we can still make strides in that direction, so come playoff time we're playing our best basketball of the year. We really think that's what our goal should be."

One of those strides is figuring out how to win without total reliance on Yao Ming and Ron Artest. The Rockets struggled throughout the second half to get good shots -- credit San Antonio's defense -- but they continued to fight and improvised with seasoned precision with the game hanging in the balance.

Twice in the last 30 seconds, Yao played the part of 7-foot-6 decoy. A relative non-factor at both ends with 13 points and eight boards, Yao still commands attention. So when the ball found his hands 18 feet from the basket, the Spurs predictably gravitated his way.

In both cases, Yao found a cutting Luis Scola at the basket. The second pass, dropped over charging Spurs forward Kurt Thomas, awarded Scola an easy layup and proved to be the game-winner with 11.2 seconds left.

"Yao found me and got the ball to me," said Scola, a former San Antonio draft pick. "I just saw the ball coming toward me and saw that the basket was open."

The play isn't exactly in Houston's repertoire. Asked how many times Yao-to-Scola has been run this season, Rockets coach Rick Adelman quipped: "Twice. Twice. That's about it." It turned out to be two too many for the Spurs, who weren't without an unsung star of their own.

Reserve swingman Ime Udoka put on his own show for the non-national TV audience with a nine-point blitz early in the fourth. During the run, he had a fastbreak layup with the ball hanging on the rim for an extra drama-building second, a put-back off a Tony Parker airball and a 3-pointer that left Adelman shaking his head in disbelief.

And then there were the lowlights. Tim Duncan scored 23, the most he's had since Feb. 17, but went scoreless in the fourth, missing all four shots. Parker made just 3 of 11 in the final period. Michael Finley took one shot ... in the game.

With the three-point loss to Boston on Thursday, the Spurs (45-24) may be questioning their ability to finish games after dropping two straight at home. San Antonio had led the division outright since Jan. 3 and was second in the West since Jan. 19.

"We're concerned with playing well and closing out games," Spurs guard Roger Mason, Jr. said. "We're concerned about being ready for the playoffs. At the end of the day we want to put ourselves in the best position, but we don't care about standings."

Just as the Rockets don't care about exposure. They were slotted for only 13 national TV dates when the season started and before the plug was pulled 1,500 miles away in favor of two teams (Miami and Detroit) in the bottom half of the East playoff picture.

Eight other teams had more prime-time engagements than Houston, including two -- Phoenix (25) and Dallas (21) -- at the bottom of the West playoff race. The Rockets are the ones in position to host a first-round playoff series.

And they could also fall to seventh by the end of the week. Houston's margin of error is as fragile as the conference is tight. That's why Barry said these games are more important for his new squad than his team of the previous four seasons.

Even as the Spurs lament the chances lost, they have been through this before and come out the other end with jewelry. Adelman alluded to San Antonio's experience, adding that his team isn't there yet.

"We are a good team and I feel that our best basketball is still yet to come," Rockets forward Shane Battier affirmed. "I would say it's surprising that we are in first place in the division at this point in the season. Few people thought we would be here."

And fewer people watched it happen.
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#1 lwqbulb, Mar 22, 2009

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good article. It's a shame this wasn't on ABC. Though I would imagine they could all care less about "exposure" it sure would have been nice to see maybe JVG call this one.

#2 Hayesfan, Mar 22, 2009
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Good then, it seems like ABC not playing this helped proved to our players that no one is respecting them.

They beat the Spurs and nothing is said, i'm sure Tuesday Charles will go on and on about how the three best teams in the West are the Lakers, Spurs, and Jazz and then say the Rockets can't hang with those three because of Tmac or PG play or something else...Rox just keep winning.

#3 JayGoogle, Mar 22, 2009
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You know what's depressing.

I just went to NBA.com and under that picture of ron and next to the article, there is a link to todays game photos.

Not a single one of them were Rockets. They had Dwayne and a piston and some toronto crap, one spurs picture and not a single rockets photo.

That bugs.

Edit... i take it back. The very last photo is of yao shooting.

#4 Hayesfan, Mar 22, 2009
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I'm sorry, this is off topic, but this is too good to pass up! This photo looks like AB is kicking Artest in the junk.

#5 Seven, Mar 22, 2009

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The facts speak load

#6 Lonestar, Mar 22, 2009
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Seven said:

I'm sorry, this is off topic, but this is too good to pass up! This photo looks like AB is kicking Artest in the junk.
Click to expand...

artest: I'm strong everywhere, try kicking at these and see for yourself.

#7 yao123, Mar 22, 2009

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yao123 said:

artest: I'm strong everywhere, try kicking at these and see for yourself.
Click to expand...

LMAO!

Btw, is that picture from today's game? If so, the Ghost of Landry appeared.

#8 ItsMyFault, Mar 22, 2009
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Rockets: Creepin' on a come-up.

#9 IROC it, Mar 22, 2009

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JayGoogle said:

Good then, it seems like ABC not playing this helped proved to our players that no one is respecting them.
Click to expand...

Well, the Detroit game was on ESPN and they'll show 3 more games this season. The Utah game on Tuesday is on TNT. So that's 5 out of our last 12 games on national TV. Hopefully they don't lose that "no respect" edge.

#10 Cannonball, Mar 22, 2009
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IROC it said:

Rockets: Creepin' on a come-up.
Click to expand...

led by "Thuggish Ruggish Ron"

#11 Patience, Mar 22, 2009
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Blame Tracy said:

LMAO!

Btw, is that picture from today's game? If so, the Ghost of Landry appeared.
Click to expand...

Nope. The cheerleaders in the back are Rocket cheerleaders. The game today was in San Antonio.

#12 tmactoyao, Mar 22, 2009
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Like a mirror image of last year. We always like to pull the no respect card, only to do nothing in the playoffs.

Want some respect? Prove it when it really matters.

#13 Artesticles, Mar 22, 2009

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tmactoyao said:

Nope. The cheerleaders in the back are Rocket cheerleaders. The game today was in San Antonio.
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they are in red unis so its on the road, also the people in the back are wearing white and orange, so im gonna guess it was at phoenix.

#14 DreamRoxCoogFan, Mar 22, 2009
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DreamRoxCoogFan said:

they are in red unis so its on the road, also the people in the back are wearing white and orange, so im gonna guess it was at phoenix.
Click to expand...

I dunno. Here's the image address.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/2009/news/features/art_garcia/03/22/spurs.rockets20090322/rockets608-032209.jpg

Makes it look like it is from today's game. I don't know why they Spurs dancers would be wearing orange though.

#15 Cannonball, Mar 22, 2009
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Author of this game must not watch this game. It is stupid for me to say Yao is no-factor in both ends.

#16 tangshuo, Mar 22, 2009
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I am guessing the photo is from the recent game at Charlotte.

#17 BucMan55, Mar 22, 2009
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Seven said:

I'm sorry, this is off topic, but this is too good to pass up! This photo looks like AB is kicking Artest in the junk.
Click to expand...

In related news AB is out for the year with a shattered foot.

#18 Ziggy, Mar 22, 2009

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Seven said:

I'm sorry, this is off topic, but this is too good to pass up! This photo looks like AB is kicking Artest in the junk.
Click to expand...

LOL! This is hilarious! The look on Landry's face is also priceless.

#19 A_3PO, Mar 22, 2009
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Lol Brent is like "Oh ****...he shouldn't have done that."

#20 JayGoogle, Mar 22, 2009

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