Houston Roundball Review Archive: March 2007 Rockets Nip Clips by Four

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

HOUSTON, TX (Toyota Center) -- The Houston Rockets may not be an elite basketball team; but, they are a good basketball team.

Good teams find ways to win ball games despite playing poorly.

Case in point, Wednesday night at Toyota Center before the 21st announced sell-out crowd of the 2006 - 2007 season versus the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Rockets (40 - 25) led the Clippers (29 - 35) by as many as 17 points in the ball game; blew the lead; and trailed by three points (103 to 100) with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.

Yet, Houston's defense (yes, defense) helped the Rockets beat the Clips down the stretch of the ball game.

The Rockets raced to a 12 to 0 lead on two three-point shots from guard Rafer Alston; two lay-ups from forward Chuck Hayes and a 14-foot jumper from big man Yao Ming.

Clippers' forward Elton Brand hit two free throws to break LA's scoring drought.

However, the Rockets' offense toyed with the seemingly lifeless Clippers' defense through much of the first quarter and led by as many as 16 points six times.

Tim Thomas drained a three-point to narrow the Rockets lead to 31 to 18 at the end of the first period.

Houston shot 60% (12 for 20) in the quarter while limiting the Clippers to just 30% (6 for 20) from the field.

Chuck Hayes scored 10 of his career-high 16 points in the opening period.

Hayes outscored Elton Brand 10 to 5; however, that trend did not continue throughout the game.

Houston's defense waned in the second quarter; and, the Clippers seemed to realize a basic fact: Elton Brand's is good.

LA ran the offense through Brand in the second quarter and outscored the Rockets 34 to 26 in the period.

Brand led all scorers with nine points in the quarter followed by eight points each from teammates Chris Kaman and Cuttino Mobley.

The Rockets led 57 to 52 at halftime; but, Houston connected on 21 of their 38 shots (55.3%) during the games' first 24 minutes which meant a five point lead should have been disconcerting.

Alston and Tracy McGrady began the third quarter by hitting consecutive three-point shots which kicked started the Rockets to a 14 to 5 run to begin the third stanza.

Then, Elton Brand went to work and the Rockets had no answer for him. Period.

Brand hit eight consecutive shots (four to end the third quarter and four to start the fourth quarter).

Though Houston led 87 to 76 at the end of three periods, a sense the game was far from over seemed to hang over the basketball court.

During Brand's unstoppable run, the Rockets' offense went stagnant.

Houston scored just nine points during the first eight minutes and forty-six seconds of the final quarter; and, the Clippers tied the ball game at 96 on a three point play from center Chris Kaman.

Los Angeles moved ahead on a three-point play from swingman Corey Maggette before McGrady drained an 18-foot jumper to bring the Rockets within one point (99 to 98) at the 3:14 mark of the quarter.

Maggette swished another jump shot; then, Yao Ming scored a lay-up.

Daniel Ewing (Houston area product, Willowridge HS) followed his own missed jump shot and scored a tip-in basket to give the Clippers a 103 to 100 lead with just 1:42 left in the ball game.

McGrady followed with a tough 23-foot jump shot; then Houston's defense stepped up.

While Ewing slowly dribbled the ball upcourt, Rafer Alston picked Ewing's pocket and converted a lay-up to give the Rockets a one point lead (104 to 103) with 1:12 remaining.

Brand took advantage of poor rotation by the Rockets defense and rolled through the paint for a vicious two-hand jam over Yao Ming to put the Clippers back on top with 1:01 left.

With 39.5 seconds in the game, Maggette drew an offensive foul on Yao Ming; but, the Clippers failed to capitalize on the turnover as Brand missed a tough 16-foot jump shot over Yao Ming's outstretched hand.

Alston rebounded the ball with 22.9 seconds left and the Rockets raced up the court.

Alston dished the ball to McGrady; McGrady penetrated the Clippers' defense; drove to the basket; and passed to a wide open Luther Head who was standing in front of the Clippers' bench.

Head launched a 23-foot jump shot which swished through the nets to give the Rockets a 107 to 105 lead with 12.2 seconds left.

Time-out Clippers.

Los Angeles in-bounded the ball; Brand received the pass; and set a pick for Maggette; Maggette rolled toward the basket; Shane Battier picked up Maggette; however, Brand tried to pass the ball over Yao Ming's seven-foot six frame -- with Yao's hands stretched out in good defensive position -- Yao Ming deflected the ball and picked up the steal.

Los Angeles was forced to foul; so, they fouled Rafer Alston with 5.9 seconds remaining.

Alston made both free throws to give the Rockets the 109 to 105 lead and seal the win.

Jeff Van Gundy: "...problem areas that need to be corrected..."

Six Rockets and six Clippers scored in double figures led by Brand's game-high 37 points (13 for 23 from the field).

Chuck Hayes scored a career-high 16 points.

Tracy McGrady scored 21 points and dished out nine assists while Rafer Alston scored 20 points (7 for 10 shooting including 4 for 5 on threes) and handed out seven assists.

Houston finished the game shooting 50.6% (39 for 77) from the field including 9 for 23 (39.1%) on three point shots.

The Clippers shot 46.9% (38 for 81) from the field and 96% (24 for 25) from the free throw line.

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