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Sunday January 18, 2009 12:21 AM

Rockets Roll Past Miami


Yao's perfect night keys 93-86 victory

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ROCKETS PLAYER OF THE GAME INTERVIEW WITH CARL LANDRY - AND CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ROCKETS POSTGAME HIGHLIGHTS SHOW.

Houston - The offense is clicking, records are falling and the Rockets look to be on a roll once again.

Yao Ming shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the field, setting the franchise mark for most field goals made without a miss in a single game, en route to leading Houston to a 93-86 victory over Miami – the Rockets fourth win in five games.

And though Yao’s teammates couldn’t quite duplicate his perfect shooting effort, they weren’t half bad themselves. The Rockets shot 56.5% from the field Saturday night in a clear sign that some much-needed practice time and lineup continuity have helped the club’s offensive execution.

“We’re moving the ball and our bodies, setting good screens to free guys up,” said Rafer Alston, who added a season-high 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting. “And if we don’t have that, we know we have a guy who is so dominant in the low block in Yao that we can always go to him. So we have something to fall back on if all else fails.”

Indeed, Houston’s All-Star center served as the ultimate trump card Saturday night, as Miami’s dearth of interior size was victimized time and time again. The Heat tried to combat the problem by throwing constant double and triple-teams Yao’s way, but that only served to open things up for Houston’s perimeter players to attack.

In the first half, Von Wafer handled the honors, torching the Heat for 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Then Alston took over from there, especially during his third quarter duel with Dwyane Wade (29 points, 9 assists, 5 steals). Both players took turns attacking the other, and Alston was up to the challenge, matching Miami’s superstar with 14 third quarter points.

“It was great,” said Alston. “We’re two former teammates. I know he’s a tough cover, that’s why I forced him to shoot the jumper over me, but he kept yelling that I was too little (laughs). So on the other end, I knew he might be too slow to stay in front of me, so I had to go get to the lane on him. But it was fun – I think that’s what competition is all about.”

Alston’s offensive outburst was even more surprising due to the shooting slump in which he’d been mired of late. Saturday’s 9-of-17 effort marked just the second time Alston had shot better than 50% from the field since December 9th.

“It’s coming around,” said the 10th year point guard out of Fresno State. “I think even the last couple of games when I haven’t had great shooting nights, the ball felt great coming out of my hand. I’ve been staying in the gym working on it and I understand that I’ve been through this many, many times, and it will come back. And tonight was a good start of the offensive rhythm coming back.”

Saturday night’s offensive performance was strikingly similar to the one produced by the Rockets during their heartbreaking loss to the Lakers four nights earlier. In both games, Houston’s shooting percentage hovered near the 60% mark after three quarters of play, only this time the Rockets made sure there would be no late-game heroics from the opposition’s superstar to put a damper on an otherwise excellent evening.

“I think we learned some things in that game about what it takes to win in this league and how you have to compete,” said Brent Barry. “And I think we had some great carryover from our last two practices into this game tonight against a Miami team that is starting to figure some things out as well.

“I just think emotionally our team is growing up. When you start to do that, I think you start to grow up professionally as well. We’ve taken some steps in that direction, we know what we’re going to be getting, and we can stick with that lineup for a little while until we can see our other guys back in uniform.”

QUOTES

ROCKETS COACH RICK ADELMAN

(On the game) “I was really happy with the way we played. We moved the ball well for the most part, - we turned it over way too many times - but we really moved the ball pretty well. Shane did a good job of dogging Wade. He's a really tough cover but I thought our guys really followed what we wanted to do. They're a solid team and they've been on a long trip and I think that certainly helped us. It was their sixth game of the trip, so it was a win we really needed. So, I'm very happy with it.”

(On the play of Rafer Alston) “He got to the basket, he made some good plays, he made it all the way to the rim and made the right decision. He was a real key of the second half for us.”

(On the play of Yao Ming) “They were really trying a lot of different things. They were fronting him, they were doubling him right away, they were doubling him off of Marion from the weak side. Sometimes they had three guys coming at him. I thought that the only time was in the third quarter it was like he thought they weren't going to keep coming. When he caught the ball, he didn't really catch it with a firm catch and then turn and find them. He was kind of catching it and then he was going to look, but they were coming too quick. That was the only time , but I thought he made some good decisions and I thought the team did a better job of if it's not there, taking it away from him and then coming back to him after some pick and rolls or some movement and now it's a one on one situation. If they're going to double from the big guy at him, then our four men had to be active and I think Luis did a really nice job of that. I thought the team did a good job of finding him. In the first half he was terrific with finding his teammates.”

They didn’t have anybody to really challenge him. He’s going to make shots over those guys and I thought he was very composed, took his time and made strong moves – he just turned and took what they gave him.

(continuity leading to be better offense?): That’s part of it. We had a good two days of practice where we really concentrated on what we wanted to do. I think this group that we have right now, for us to be successful, the ball has got to move. Von took advantage of it in the first half and Rafer in the second. If we do that, then we have a chance to win. We can’t just go to Yao and stand around; we’ve got to have ball movement.

VON WAFER

(On his confidence in play) “There's no doubt if my shot is not falling from behind the arc then I can't just settle. I've got to make something happen, create other shots. That's all I try to do out there. The shot felt a little weird. I got a little fatigued in the second half but I'll be alright.”

(On Yao Ming) “He was unstoppable tonight. He's been big for us and he's been playing humongous. You've got to put his name in the ring for MVP. We're down without two of our best weapons (McGrady and Artest) and we're still playing good basketball. You've got to tip your hat to Yao.”

RAFER ALSTON

(On the increased energy in the last two games) “The energy has been there. I think it's needed. Again, when we are depleted with two star players out, we need it. I think that's the way that we have to play. You will have to understand who we are and how we play without certain guys in the lineup. I think we understand with the energy and intensity and the will factor to get it done on both ends of the ball is much needed until those guys (McGrady and Artest) get back.”

YAO MING

(On his perfect shooting night) “I think besides Jamaal Magloire, they don't have any guys taller than 6'9. I was able to get the ball in the post and I had energy. I was close to the basket. Obviously 12 for 12 doesn’t happen every night, but that's the way I was played.”

I still had five turnovers, so you can count those as a miss.

Rafer had a great game, too. He penetrated into the paint and he knows sometimes my man would never leave my body, and he used that very well to get a couple layups.

(On the Rockets play tonight) “I felt better. Tonight we moved the ball from side to side very quick. Von (Wafer) had a couple of penetrations and we were hitting our outside shots which gave me opportunities.”

CARL LANDRY

(On the follow-up dunk of Wafer's shot) “He shot the ball when there was one second left. I was hoping it would hit the rim. It looked like it was coming short so I just went up and threw it down.”

(On his improved shooting range) “I'm definitely confident. I'm putting in the work. I'm coming to practice early and leaving late. Every time I shoot it, I feel it has a good chance of going in just because of the reps that I put up everyday. So, I'm feeling really confident about it and I hope I can continue to feel this way the rest of the season.”

BRENT BARRY

Obviously, I can’t speak highly enough about the way Von has carried us offensively. We’ve needed that boost and we’ve needed that point production. It helped us in the Laker game even though we lost. I think we learned some things in that game about what it takes to win in this league and how you have to compete. And I think we had some great carryover from our last two practices into this game tonight against a Miami team that is starting to figure some things out as well.

I just think emotionally our team is growing up. When you start to do that, I think you start to grow up professionally as well. We’ve taken some steps in that direction, we know what we’re going to be getting, and we can stick with that lineup for a little while until we can see our other guys back in uniform.

HEAT COACH ERIK SPOELSTRA

(on the game ) “They create a lot of problems on the court. We tried everything we could, but we couldn’t stop Yao, obviously since he was 12 of 12 from the field. He is so big and he is poised and with his shooting touch, sometimes he just shoots over us.They have great shooting and they spread the floor. Their 2 point guards are very underrated.”

(on the Rockets) “ Houston is heck of a team even without McGrady and Artest. They defend well and have a lot of weapons. They are a very good defensive team and very well coached.

DWAYNE WADE

(on Yao Ming’s play) “He was perfect from the field? That’s unbelievable! He is so big and we just didn’t have anybody to guard him. If they needed a bail-out, then they go to Yao and we couldn’t anyway to stop him.”

SHAWN MARION

(on the game) “We had good looks, but they weren’t going in. It was an uphill battle all game. In the first half I thought we did a good job on Yao. Yao was a handful and was very effective inside. We didn’t have anyone to stop him.”

UDONIS HASLEM

(on defending Yao) “It’s hard for anybody in this league to guard him because of his skill level. You can’t foul him because he is such a good free throw shooter. He’s just a tough match-up for anybody to defend.”

(on the Rockets) “ Houston is a very good team overall. When your stars are out (McGrady and Artest) then it allows other players to get an opportunity. Their guard play is outstanding.”

JAMMAL MAGLOIRE

(on Yao Ming) “He is a great player with soft hands and he demands so much attention. He does both the tangible and intangible things to change the game. He commands a lot of attention. (on Yao’s 12 of 12 shooting) “I didn’t know that. That’s incredible!

NOTES

Rick Adelman (832) tonight matched Cotton Fitzsimmons (832) for 12th on the NBA’s all-time list for regular season coaching wins.

Tonight’s attendance of 18,369 ranks as the tenth-largest crowd in team history. It also marks the 13th sellout of the season at Toyota Center , which includes the last seven consecutive home games.

Houston was 39-of-69 (.565) from the field and handed out 24 total assists in a 93-86 victory tonight. The Rockets also shot .538 (42-78 FG) from the floor and dished out 32 assists in a 112-100 win vs. Miami (2/21/08) in last season’s second meeting at Toyota Center .

The Heat had held opponents to under ..500 shooting from the field in a franchise-record-tying 35 straight games (11/5/08-1/14/09) prior to tonight.

The Rockets made just 3-of-15 (.200) from downtown tonight to finish 36-of-54 (.667) from inside the arc. Houston went 10-of-19 (.526) from 3-point range in previous meeting at Miami (11/24/08).

Houston won tonight’s game despite finishing a -10 (18-8) in the turnover differential.

The Heat connected on just .538 (7-13 FT) from the line tonight, setting Houston’s opponent low this season for free throw percentage. The previous low .543 (19-35 FT) from the stripe by the Sixers at Philadelphia (1/6/09).

Yao Ming scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting to go along with his 10 rebounds tonight. Yao set the Rockets franchise record for most field goals made without a miss in a single game. The previous best was a 10-for-10 outing by Joe Meriweather at Atlanta (4/11/76). Last season vs. Miami (2/21/08), Yao posted 21 points on 10-of-11 (.909) shooting, which at the time marked his highest field goal percentage in any career game in which he had at least 10 attempts. Yao also scored 20 points on a 9-for-9 performance during his rookie season at the L.A. Lakers (11/17/02).

Rafer Alston recorded a season-high 22 points (9-17 FG, 2-6 3FG), including 14 in the third quarter to mark his third 20-point performance of the season. Alston also had 21 points vs. the L.A. Clippers (12/3/08) and netted 20 at Cleveland (12/23/08). Alston’s third-quarter output matched the fourth-highest scoring quarter for a Rockets player this season.

Von Wafer finished with 17 points (7-18 FG), six rebounds and a career-high-tying three assists.

Dwyane Wade posted a game-high 29 points (11-25 FG, 4-7 3FG), nine assists and five steals. He scored 14 of his points in the third quarter tonight, equaling the fifth-best point total in a quarter by a Houston opponent this season. Wade also became just the second opponent to grab five steals in a game against the Rockets in 2008-09 (five by Russell Westbrook on 11/17/08 at Oklahoma City ).

Shawn Marion completed his night with 20 points (10-15 FG) and 10 rebounds, marking his fourth 20-point game of the season and his 12th double-double.

Mario Chalmers was held scoreless in 33:41 of action tonight. Chalmers finished with a career-best 23 points (5-10 3FG) against the Rockets at Miami (11/24/08).

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