Rockets Collapse in Chicago

Saturday night, the Houston Rockets reached a new low in coming from ahead and losing a ball game. With 5:51 left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets led the Chicago Bulls 99 to 82. The Rockets were outscored 23 to 3 the rest of the game and lost to the Bulls 105 to 102. The loss snapped the Rockets' five-game winning streak and continues their sorry showings on the road.

The Bulls fronted Yao Ming in the second half and limited Yao to just one shot attempt in the second half.

Why in the world do the Rockets have such a difficult time dealing with fronting defenses?

Is it so tough to set a player at the high post to receive a pass then pass the ball down to Yao?

Here's a quote from Ron Artest on the Bulls' fronting defense:

“It (the problem with fronting defenses) is something that can be fixed. They played hard. Fronting Yao is going to work. Teams will do that.

“We have to make sure we have something to counter it to make them come out of it.”

Fifty-nine games into this season and the Rockets have yet to figure out an effective way to counting fronting defenses.

Sad.