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Wednesday April 8, 2009 1:20 AM

Rockets Get Defensive in Win Over Orlando

Stellar effort on 'D' propels Houston to 93-83 victory

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - It was billed as “The Clash of the Titans” – a matchup pitting the NBA’s preeminent players at the center position against each other. Yet the marquee could have just as easily been referring to the two teams’ defenses, as both Orlando and Houston have been dominant at that end of the floor all year.

The Rockets were decisive winners from either perspective Tuesday night, as Yao Ming did a number on Dwight Howard while Houston’s ‘D’ shut down Orlando’s potent offense, holding the Magic 19 points below their season average en route to a convincing 93-83 victory at Toyota Center.

With the win the Rockets secured a third straight 50-win season – something which had never before been accomplished in franchise history.

“50 wins is great - in any conference, in any year it’s a tremendous accomplishment,” said Shane Battier. “The way we’ve done it through adversity, trades and a lot of chaos makes you feel good. But to do it tonight when it counted against a really good team is a pretty nice feeling.”

The Rockets got it done primarily on the strength of their suffocating defensive effort which harassed Orlando into posting an anemic .380 shooting percentage from the field. Perhaps most impressive was the way Houston managed to put the clamps on Howard, limiting Orlando’s man in the middle to a relatively pedestrian 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“We were able to keep him off the boards which was key,” said Rick Adelman of the Rockets’ ability to keep Howard in check. “He only got two offensive rebounds. We were trying to come at him and give Yao a little help because he’s a handful. He’s very aggressive and strong, and I thought Yao had a really solid game.”

Indeed, Houston’s All-Star center delivered on both ends of the court, leading his club in both points (20) and rebounds (16) in addition to his solid defensive performance. That Yao would play so well should come as no surprise, though; he has consistently posted superior individual numbers in his matchups with his Orlando counterpart, while helping to lift Houston to an 8-2 record against the Magic since Howard entered the league. But Yao said Tuesday’s victory was especially meaningful for an altogether different reason.

“They are not just a playoff team, they are a top team in this league,” he said. “They are in the top three in the Eastern Conference. I think it was a very good win for us.”

Capping the Rockets’ big night was the much-anticipated return of Carl Landry, who had missed the previous eight games while recovering from a gunshot wound he received in his left leg March 17. Landry showed little in the way of ill-effects during his 21 minutes of playing time scoring 8 points, grabbing 5 boards and even blocking a pair of shots.

“I’m nervous before every game, but this was like, ‘Whew,’ it was different," said the second-year forward. "I hadn’t played in like three weeks. It felt good, especially that first jump shot. The butterflies were gone after that; I was just out there playing. I felt a little bit winded and a little bit heavy, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

“It’s been a long three weeks – probably the longest three weeks of my life. Just being out there with my teammates and seeing everybody happy and excited for me to be back, and the fans and everything, it was a great feeling."

A feeling which was no doubt shared by everyone in the Rockets' organization.

"To have Carl back was monumental," said Battier. "We missed him a lot and although we didn’t say it, we missed his spring, energy and enthusiasm off the bench. So it’s great to have Carl back and now we can really go forward with our full complement of guys."

And if Tuesday night's game was any indication of what the Rockets can do when blessed with a full roster, a few more titanic performances may be lurking just around the corner.

QUOTES

RICK ADELMAN

(On the game) “I'm really pleased with the win. I think our guys really played hard, defended them well. Just a solid win all the way through against a very, very good team, so I was really happy to get these last two against Portland and Orlando before we go on the road.”

(On the 2nd half defensive effort) “We played their people well and Deke gave us three minutes in the 4th quarter on Howard that really helped us because we didn't have to double so we could play him one-on-one. I thought offensively we did alright. We just made some plays when we had to. We kept it above 10 (points) or around 10 (points). I just thought it was a solid game for us really.”

(On the return of Carl Landry) “It was good to see him out there. He made some plays, got some confidence tonight and that gives him four more games before the playoffs to get himself going.”

(On the play of the team) “I thought we were solid all the way through. All the guys who played, they came in and gave us a lift. Kyle (Lowry) was good in the second half. Everybody played contributed and I think that's what you have to do when you play good teams.”

(on the defense on Howard): We were able to keep him off the boards which was key; he only got two offensive rebounds. We were trying to come at him and give Yao a little help because he’s a handful. He’s very aggressive and strong, and I thought Yao had a really solid game. He rebounded the ball well, didn’t get frustrated when they tried to front him – it was just a really solid game.

YAO MING

(On beating a playoff team) “They are not just a playoff team. They are a top team in this league. They are in the top three in the Eastern Conference. I think it was a very good win for us.”

(On guarding Dwight Howard) “Each year I feel it's harder and harder to guard him. He keeps getting stronger and he has quickness. He has learned a lot of offensive skills. I'm just going to hang in there and hopefully next year we can match up.”

CARL LANDRY

It felt good. It’s been a long three weeks – probably the longest three weeks of my life. Just being out there with my teammates and seeing everybody happy and excited for me to be back, and the fans and everything, it was a great feeling.

(nervous entering the game?): Definitely. I’m nervous before every game, but this was like, ‘Whew,’ it was different. I hadn’t played in like three weeks. Running up and down the court, I figured I was going to be a little bit winded and I was. It was just fun. At the end of the day we got a win and that’s the best thing.

(on sinking the first couple shots): Whew. It felt good, especially that first jump shot. The butterflies were gone after that; I was just out there playing. I felt a little bit winded and a little bit heavy, but it’s a step in the right direction. I made progress today and I hope to continue that.

SHANE BATTIER

50 wins is great; in any conference in any year it’s a tremendous accomplishment. The way we’ve done it through adversity, trades and a lot of chaos makes you feel good. But to do it tonight when it counted against a really good team is a pretty nice feeling.

Our defense was outstanding tonight. I thought we were a little lax on our offensive execution, but we made enough shots to win. We still need to clean things up a little bit and get a little cleaner on our offensive end.

We’re building and to have Carl back was monumental. We missed him a lot and although we didn’t say it, we missed his spring, energy and enthusiasm off the bench. So it’s great to have Carl back and now we can really go forward with our full complement of guys.

(on the difference between regular season and playoff intensity): These games are big and people will ask if these games are playoff intensity and I always say no. Playoff intensity is something you can’t replicate in the regular season no matter what your situation is; maybe if you need to win a game to get into the playoffs, that’s the only thing that can replicate it. But other than that, they’re tough games because everyone wants to win but the second the playoffs start, the intensity is ratcheted up about five notches.

(on Von Wafer): It’s great to see. No one doubts Von Wafer’s talent. Sometimes you wish he would harness his talent a little more efficiently, but he’s learning and his pop off the bench is invaluable for this team and if we want to win, we need Von to do what he does.

(on the emotional boost he provides): When he gets it rolling, we have a lot of confidence in Von. For us old guys, it’s hard to do that every game so it’s good to have some young guys rally the troops and the crowd.

RON ARTEST

(On the Rockets defense) “The defense was good. We helped out each other. We stuck to the game plan. The guys grew up tonight. I'm proud of Von (Wafer) and Aaron (Brooks) and Kyle (Lowry). They really stuck to the game plan and they really helped us win tonight.”

(On Carl Landry's return) “We liked seeing him out there. He's a really good finisher. He can shoot and he is a great offensive rebounder. He is one of the best finishers in the league around the basket so we need him. “

AARON BROOKS

(On the defensive effort) “Definitely, we did a great job. We followed the game plan pretty well. Yao (Ming) played big and Ron (Artest) had great assists. It was good to have Carl back. He came in and played very well, including Von Wafer.”

VON WAFER

(On the importance of the win) “It's important for us to try and get that home court advantage in the playoffs in the first round. That's going to make a difference. We've just got to try to win the remainder of these games because we play a lot better when we are here at home. I don't know what it is, if it is the fans and the energy. We need to try to duplicate what we do here on the road.”

LUIS SCOLA

(On the defensive effort) “I think we played with a good defensive effort tonight. They (Magic) had 83 points, we are talking about Orlando here, who is like the 3rd team in the NBA. The defensive effort was good. It was nice.”

MAGIC COACH STAN VAN GUNDY

(on the game) “We couldn’t get anything going offensively. Their size bothered us and the length of their guys made it hard to pass through. I thought their defense was outstanding all game. Our defense got better in the second half. We fought back in the third quarter and then our shots were not good. We never got any prolonged run and no offensive flow and I credit their defense for that.”

(on the Rocket bench) “ Houston’s bench was really key. Lowry hit two three’s and you knew when that happened you were in trouble. Wafer and Landry were also very good.”

DWIGHT HOWARD

(on the match up with Yao) “It’s a good match up. He shot the ball well. I got really frustrated with my game. Yao is offensively gifted and shoots the ball well. He is 7’6” and is very hard to defend.”

(on the game) “We just missed a lot of shots and didn’t bring our energy.”

(on the playoffs) “It’s good going into the playoffs as no one looking at us as a contender. The only way we are going to get respect is to win a championship.”

RAFER ALSTON

(on his return to Houston) “I had a great time but unfortunately my team didn’t win. It was great to come back and see my old teammates and coaches and all the Houston fans.”

(on the Rockets) “They are a very good defensive team. We didn’t sustain the pace we wanted to and didn’t establish Howard inside. Yao is not an easy cover for anybody. You have to do your work against him early or he gets in a comfort zone.”

(on his thoughts on Brook’s play) “It’s not really about how much you score. He won the game and that is what you want your point guard to do. It’s not about how much you score but if your team wins.”

RASHARD LEWIS

(on the game) “We didn’t make many of our outside shots. We didn’t play with much energy early and it made for a tough game. We didn’t play good defense and we played at their pace.”

HEDO TURKOGLU

(on Ron Artest’s defense) “Oh man! It’s tough not just defensively but offensively too. He’s strong and always moves around. He’s a beast. You have to work extra hard against him. There are other good players offensively, but Artest goes both ways. He’s an all around beast and you have to be ready to bring a different type game.”

NOTES

Tonight’s attendance of 18,389 ranks as the ninth-largest crowd in team history. It also marks the 23rd sellout of the season at Toyota Center.

Houston recorded a 93-83 win over Orlando tonight, moving the Rockets to 12-2 in the last 14 meetings with the Magic. The Rockets actually held the Magic 19.1 points below their season average of 102.1 heading into this game.

The Rockets now have 50 victories on the season, giving Houston a third consecutive 50-win season for the first time in franchise history (52-30 in 2006-07 and 55-27 in 2007-08).

Houston moved to 32-8 at home in 2008-09, which sets the best single-season win total at Toyota Center (prev. best: 31-10 in 2007-08). It also marks the most home victories since a 35-6 mark by the 1993-94 Rockets.

The Rockets notched their 14th 50-rebound game of 2008-09 with 52 boards tonight.

Houston had just eight turnovers tonight, which marked the first back-to-back games of single-digit turnovers by the Rockets this season. The Rockets also turned the ball over just eight times vs. Portland (4/5/09). Overall, it marked the fifth single-digit turnover contest of the season.

Yao Ming finished with 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-5 FT), 16 rebounds and two blocks tonight. He now has a double-double in each of his last six games. Yao registered a double-double in a career-high seven straight games he played in last season (1/19/08-2/2/08).

Ron Artest scored 16 points (6-21 FG) and matched his season-high seven assists. Artest also reached a season-best seven assists three times prior to tonight (last on 3/24/09 at Utah).

Luis Scola posted 12 points (5-9 FG) and nine rebounds tonight. Scola has now averaged 14.7 points on 20-of-29 (.690) shooting over the last three games.

Von Wafer registered 14 points (6-12 FG) off the bench tonight. Wafer has now reached .500 from the field in four of his last five games.

Carl Landry returned tonight after missing the last eight games (3/18/09-4/5/09) with a surface wound to his left calf and a dislocated finger on his left hand. Landry finished with eight points (4-7 FG), five boards and two blocks.

Rashard Lewis notched a game-high 22 points (8-18 FG, 4-11 3FG), 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocks tonight. It marked his fourth double-double of the season.

Dwight Howard had 13 points (5-11 FG, 3-9 FT), 10 rebounds and three blocks tonight. Howard topped six Orlando players in double-figure scoring with 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks last season at Houston (12/19/07), as all five starters for the Magic reached double digits in points.

Rafer Alston made his return to Houston with 15 points (4-11 FG, 3-6 3FG), six rebounds and three assists tonight. Alston was also 3-of-5 (2-2 3FG) from the field for a team-high eight points in the third quarter.

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