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Yao, Rockets roll to fourth straight win
Houston 101, New York 92
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Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
NEW YORK -- Before Wednesday night's game was finished, Rick Adelman was certain the New York Knicks would eventually try surrounding Yao Ming with multiple defenders.
He was just hoping that his team would respond well when it happened.
"We wanted to go to (Yao) whenever we had the opportunity," Adelman said. "We didn't really think they had anyone that could guard him. But we knew they were going to (eventually double him). We just needed guys to make plays when it happened."
The Rockets' supporting cast did -- again.
Behind a big night from the All-Star center and another timely performance from Houston's other collection of talent, the Rockets pulled away from the New York Knicks Wednesday night for a thrilling 101-92 victory at Madison Square Garden.
The Rockets (19-17) rolled to their season-best fourth straight win, thumping the Knicks for the second time in five days. They even improved their record without Tracy McGrady to an impressive -- if not surprising -- 6-2 over the last eight games that the star has missed with a knee injury.
Yao was dominating from start to finish. He scored a season-high 36 points and pulled down 11 rebounds by taking advantage of New York's questionable move to guard him with only one defender in the first half.
But when the Knicks finally realized they couldn't keep letting Yao beat them, the center's teammates responded to the double teams inside by picking up the scoring slack. Rafer Alson sank a trio of three-pointers on his way to 20 points and eight assists and Luis Scola provided 19 points off the bench.
The production from Yao's teammates ensured that New York wouldn't be turning the second half into a dramatic Broadway performance.
"The best teams in this league get production from other places," Rockets forward Shane Battier said. "Different nights, different stars. If you can find some consistency in that other scoring option, we'll be a tougher team to beat."
Yao didn't need much help in the first half.
With Eddy Curry and David Lee taking turns guarding the center one-on-one, the Rockets center put on a show. He overwhelmed New York's defense, pounding his way inside for easy looks.
Yao threw down several dunks over New York's helpless defenders, including a thunderous dunk over Curry after catching a back-door pass from Bonzi Wells in the second quarter. He made 10 of his first 13 shots, finishing the first half with 22 points.
Yao enjoyed the single coverage while it lasted.
"I wish they did it even longer," Yao said.
He could at least count on his teammates to step up when the easy entry passes started to vanish.
Despite taking a 53-50 advantage into the break, the Knicks decided they couldn't keep allowing Yao to get such easy looks. New York opted to front the center in the second half with defensive help coming from the weak side.
The move did manage to slow down the center a little. Unfortunately for the Knicks, it didn't slow down the Rockets.
Following a back-and-forth third quarter, the Rockets seized control by opening the fourth with a 12-2 run. Alston had seven points over that spurt, pushing Houston to an 87-76 advantage.
Jamal Crawford brought the Knicks back by canning a couple of three-pointers that trimmed Houston's lead to 90-85 with 4:28 remaining.
But that's as close as it got. Luther Head responded to Crawford's run by swishing a three-pointer that gave Houston some breathing room. The Rockets never led by less than six points after that bucket.
"That shot was huge," Adelman said.
Adelman, of course, knew Head and others would have to hit such shots in the second half.
Despite New York's surprising plan to use only one defender on Yao early in the game, the Rockets coach knew the double teams would eventually surround the center.
He's pleased with how his team is learning to handle it.
"Everyone is doing it now," Adelman said. "Everyone is taking a chance (to double Yao) because you can see what he can do when you let him go one-on-one. He is going to score. He is just so solid in there. But we are becoming better at attacking it."
