Rockets Beat Jazz in Game 2
Utah, you have a problem.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz 98 to 90 Monday night in game 2 of the Western Conference first round playoff match-up to take a 2 games to 0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Utah's Carlos Boozer led all-scorers with 41 points. Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 31 points; but, he made only 9 of his 29 field goal attempts. McGrady attempted 14 free throws and made 12. Yao Ming scored 27 points; and, he also struggled from the field making just 9 of his 24 attempts.
Boozer dominated the Rockets; however, he could have scored more. He started the game with 15 points in the first quarter. Boozer shot 7 for 11 from the field on mostly jump shots. He missed all three of his jump shots in the second quarter; but, he did attempt four free throws in the period. He finished the first half with 19 points including 5 for 5 from the foul line.
The Rockets won this game because they were the aggressors in the second half. Trailing 41 to 39 at halftime, the Rockets outscored the Jazz 28 to 21 in the third quarter. Houston took 14 free throw attempts in the period to Utah's robust total of zero. The Jazz were whistled for nine fouls in the third period to just three third quarter fouls for the Rockets.
"We were able to get to the line," Rafer Alston said. "We were able to establish getting into the penalty early in the quarter. When you do that, that puts a lot of pressure on the defense to guard you as the quarter goes on."
After the game, Utah's head coach Jerry Sloan noted the difference in free throw attempts; however, Coach Sloan's team simply needs to be more aggressive and attack the basket instead of shooting jump shot after jump shot.
Houston's Chuck Hayes kept the Rockets in the ball game in the first quarter because of his activity. Hayes led the Rockets with 6 first quarter points and 5 first quarter rebounds.
The Rockets trailed by two at halftime mainly because of the 11 offensive rebounds they collected which led to 10 second chance points.
McGrady went into attack mode in the third period and scored 12 points (2 for 7 from the field, 7 for 8 from the foul line).
The Rockets took their first lead of the game (55 to 54) after McGrady swished three free throws. (He draw a shooting foul on Jazz guard Derek Fisher while attempting a three-point jump shot.) The Rockets finished the third period leading 67 to 62.
Houston scored 9 of the first 11 points in the fourth quarter to stretch their lead to 12 (76 to 64) with 9:19 left in the ball game. After a time-out, the Jazz scored six straight points; but, McGrady hit two free throws to keep the Jazz at arm's length. The Jazz pulled within four points two times during last few minutes of the ball game; however, making 10 of 12 from the free throw line and one made field goal allowed the Rockets to win the ball game 98 to 90.
Hayes finished the game with 12 points (perfect 5 for 5 from the field) and 12 rebounds. Shane Battier scored 10 points. Both Hayes and Battier scored more points than Utah's starting center Mehmet Okur (4 points, 2 for 9 from the field). Okur seems to have no legs on his jump shot after expending so much energy guarding Yao Ming. If Okur continues shooting poorly, this series won't last much longer.
"I don't know the reason but they are all good shots that I was making during the season," said Okur. "It's very tough to try to defend Yao (Ming) for 30 minutes a game. I need to work on my shot and I can't give up but keep working. I don't feel like I am in a slump."
Utah's Andrei Kirilenko was a non-factor once again. He finished the game with zero points (0 for 3 from the field); three rebounds; five fouls; two turnovers; and two blocked shots.
Houston's Rafer Alston scored 11 points (3 for 9 and 1 for 6 on threes); grabbed six rebounds; and dished out five assists.
Jazz guard Deron Williams scored 15 points (6 for 13 from the field); pulled down seven boards; and handed out seven assists. However, Williams attempted just two foul shoots which indicates he did not attack the basket nearly enough.
Utah's bench outscored the Rockets' bench 21 to 7.
Houston won the battle of the boards 50 to 42. The Rockets finished the game making just 30 of their 83 field goal attempts including a frigid 4 for 24 from the three-point line for an icy 36.1%. Houston shot 89.5% (36 for 38) from the foul line. Utah attempted 17 free throws and made 13 (76.5%).
"Obviously we didn't really have a shooting clinic tonight," said Shane Battier. "We tried to go to the rack a little bit more. Mac (Tracy McGrady) did a great job of cutting to the basket and getting to the free throw line. That's the only way that we can survive 36% shooting."
The Houston Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz 98 to 90 Monday night in game 2 of the Western Conference first round playoff match-up to take a 2 games to 0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Utah's Carlos Boozer led all-scorers with 41 points. Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 31 points; but, he made only 9 of his 29 field goal attempts. McGrady attempted 14 free throws and made 12. Yao Ming scored 27 points; and, he also struggled from the field making just 9 of his 24 attempts.
Boozer dominated the Rockets; however, he could have scored more. He started the game with 15 points in the first quarter. Boozer shot 7 for 11 from the field on mostly jump shots. He missed all three of his jump shots in the second quarter; but, he did attempt four free throws in the period. He finished the first half with 19 points including 5 for 5 from the foul line.
The Rockets won this game because they were the aggressors in the second half. Trailing 41 to 39 at halftime, the Rockets outscored the Jazz 28 to 21 in the third quarter. Houston took 14 free throw attempts in the period to Utah's robust total of zero. The Jazz were whistled for nine fouls in the third period to just three third quarter fouls for the Rockets.
"We were able to get to the line," Rafer Alston said. "We were able to establish getting into the penalty early in the quarter. When you do that, that puts a lot of pressure on the defense to guard you as the quarter goes on."
After the game, Utah's head coach Jerry Sloan noted the difference in free throw attempts; however, Coach Sloan's team simply needs to be more aggressive and attack the basket instead of shooting jump shot after jump shot.
Houston's Chuck Hayes kept the Rockets in the ball game in the first quarter because of his activity. Hayes led the Rockets with 6 first quarter points and 5 first quarter rebounds.
The Rockets trailed by two at halftime mainly because of the 11 offensive rebounds they collected which led to 10 second chance points.
McGrady went into attack mode in the third period and scored 12 points (2 for 7 from the field, 7 for 8 from the foul line).
The Rockets took their first lead of the game (55 to 54) after McGrady swished three free throws. (He draw a shooting foul on Jazz guard Derek Fisher while attempting a three-point jump shot.) The Rockets finished the third period leading 67 to 62.
Houston scored 9 of the first 11 points in the fourth quarter to stretch their lead to 12 (76 to 64) with 9:19 left in the ball game. After a time-out, the Jazz scored six straight points; but, McGrady hit two free throws to keep the Jazz at arm's length. The Jazz pulled within four points two times during last few minutes of the ball game; however, making 10 of 12 from the free throw line and one made field goal allowed the Rockets to win the ball game 98 to 90.
Hayes finished the game with 12 points (perfect 5 for 5 from the field) and 12 rebounds. Shane Battier scored 10 points. Both Hayes and Battier scored more points than Utah's starting center Mehmet Okur (4 points, 2 for 9 from the field). Okur seems to have no legs on his jump shot after expending so much energy guarding Yao Ming. If Okur continues shooting poorly, this series won't last much longer.
"I don't know the reason but they are all good shots that I was making during the season," said Okur. "It's very tough to try to defend Yao (Ming) for 30 minutes a game. I need to work on my shot and I can't give up but keep working. I don't feel like I am in a slump."
Utah's Andrei Kirilenko was a non-factor once again. He finished the game with zero points (0 for 3 from the field); three rebounds; five fouls; two turnovers; and two blocked shots.
Houston's Rafer Alston scored 11 points (3 for 9 and 1 for 6 on threes); grabbed six rebounds; and dished out five assists.
Jazz guard Deron Williams scored 15 points (6 for 13 from the field); pulled down seven boards; and handed out seven assists. However, Williams attempted just two foul shoots which indicates he did not attack the basket nearly enough.
Utah's bench outscored the Rockets' bench 21 to 7.
Houston won the battle of the boards 50 to 42. The Rockets finished the game making just 30 of their 83 field goal attempts including a frigid 4 for 24 from the three-point line for an icy 36.1%. Houston shot 89.5% (36 for 38) from the foul line. Utah attempted 17 free throws and made 13 (76.5%).
"Obviously we didn't really have a shooting clinic tonight," said Shane Battier. "We tried to go to the rack a little bit more. Mac (Tracy McGrady) did a great job of cutting to the basket and getting to the free throw line. That's the only way that we can survive 36% shooting."
posted by Kris G @ 12:14 AM
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