Houston's Yao poses big problems for Nuggets
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published December 16, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.
Photo by Associated Press
The Nuggets' Chris Andersen dunks over the Rockets' Chuck Hayes during the first half Tuesday night in Houston.
Photo by Associated Press
The Nuggets' J.R. Smith runs into the Rockets' Yao Ming on his way to two of his 17 points Tuesday night.
Yao Ming is a hulk, and the Nuggets aren't known for their bulk.
Put the two together, and it was a trying night for Denver.
The 7-foot-6 center scored 32 points to lead Houston to a 108-96 win Tuesday at the Toyota Center. Afterward, ample Nuggets players were soaking body parts in ice.
"He's long. He's big," said 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nuggets center Nene, who was dwarfed by the 310-pound Yao.
If the Nuggets (17-8) have a big weakness, it's matching up against big teams. They regularly have trouble with the Lakers, and they had plenty of trouble Tuesday.
Granted, Yao had plenty of help. Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had his fourth career triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and forward Ron Artest returned after missing two games because of a sprained ankle and scored 20 points.
But when the Rockets (16-9) really needed a big basket, up stepped Yao. He scored 13 points in the third quarter when the Rockets outscored the Nuggets 29-18 to turn a 61-56 deficit into an 85-79 lead.
"He caught the ball too deep for us to come and double team," Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups said.
Even when Nuggets players were there, Yao was knocking them over like bowling pins.
"Truth of the matter, we never got a whistle in the second half," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who also couldn't deny the Rockets shooting 55.3 percent and his team playing its worst defensive game of the season played a role. "Call a charge or something. You got bodies on the floor and nothing is called."
So perhaps this Western Conference race will be tougher than the Nuggets thought. They still have the West's second- best record, but their four-game winning streak was snapped and their record dropped to 16-5 since Billups first suited up after his Nov. 3 acquisition from Detroit.
While the Rockets' top players took off, the Nuggets' big names had trouble getting off the launching pad.
Forward Carmelo Anthony scored a team-most 22 points but shot only 8-of-19, and Billups shot only 3-of-10 for eight points and was outplayed by Houston point guard Aaron Brooks, who had 18 points subbing for injured Rafer Alston.
Forward Kenyon Martin, who totaled six points and eight rebounds, didn't play in the fourth quarter because Karl said he needed an offensive lineup to play catch-up. And Martin also wasn't having a lot of luck against Yao.
"In the second half, we protected our team better and we rebounded better and that's how we got back in the game," Yao said.
Yao, who grabbed a pedestrian seven rebounds, didn't have to do much rebounding. The load was handled by McGrady, who tied a career high by grabbing 12 on the defensive end.
But Yao spoke with most reverence afterward about Artest. He came off the bench and shot 4-of-9 on three-pointers and had a key steal for a layup midway through the fourth quarter that put the Rockets up 92-85 and put them out of danger.
"I can't wait until he comes back to the starting lineup and plays with us," Yao said.
Many expected the Rockets to be one of the top teams in the West. And the way they looked with their big three Tuesday, predictions might not need to be amended.
"Yao came up big," said Anthony, who shot 3-of-6 on three-pointers as the Nuggets shot 10-of-22 but watched the Rockets go 11-of-24. " 'T-Mac' hit some timely shots and Artest hit some."
Even with Artest on the bench, the Rockets jumped out to a 13-2 lead. Karl, though, called timeout and did something that worked.
The Nuggets took over and led by as much as 58-49 late in the second quarter. But then a certain sequoia got going.
"That big tree down there got great position," Karl said of Yao.
Indeed he did. And nobody was more disappointed after the game than Nene, who came in leading the NBA in field-goal shooting at 62.2 percent but shot only 5-of-14 with a certain large obstacle standing in the lane.
Considering the Nuggets, who had no blocked shots to Houston's seven, have trouble against big teams, they'll no doubt be paying close attention to injury reports this week. Denver on Friday plays Cleveland, which features 7-3 center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
The good news for Denver is Ilgauskas has missed the past two games because of a sprained ankle. The bad news is he's talking about returning Friday.
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December 16, 2008
11:33 p.m.
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jsppro1 writes:
Like I said in previous post, anything less then 5 wins in this 9 game jonuery is sad, 1 - 1. Let's keep count Nugget fans
December 17, 2008
12:26 a.m.
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Weeman writes:
Again, no Balkman....Why???? Our rebounding is pathetic...We need another big man. We improve on offense, we improve on defense, but our rebounding is one of the most mediocre in the NBA...
We're not going to be no contenders with givin as much many offensive rebounds to other teams as much as we do...I hope we get a big man soon. A 6'11 or higher bigman.
December 17, 2008
7:41 a.m.
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lsider writes:
our schedule is just crazy this year. the nuggs just need to look at where they can get better with the players they have. this one should be good to coach from. stan should tell karl not to whine about the calls he needs to just preach getting better I think it does our young guys a disservice to put any loss on the refs. stop praising the other team for a minute and coach your own. it is just one loss in an 82 game season and a back to back at that, but take responsibility for the losing effort.
December 17, 2008
8:29 a.m.
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wj_nugs writes:
Worst defensive game we have had this year, which is too bad. However, Balkman needed to be in the game last night. The Nugs are #3 in the NBA for field goal percentage against which means there will be a lot of rebounds available. We have to do a better job with defensive rebounds and it's not just the Bigs.
4-2 during this stretch will be a major success but I would like to see a more balanced rotation with more time going to Balkman and Bird...
December 17, 2008
8:53 a.m.
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jersey writes:
Well so much for the Texas trifecta. Great effort from a tired team which is always encouraging. No disgrace in losing to the Rockets who are a tough bunch on their home floor to begin with and even tougher when facing a spent team from the night before. What's up with Georgie boy giving K-Mart the green light with the 3 pointers all of a sudden? I hate to see the first launch go in because he begins to think he is the "Rifleman" and starts hoisting them up as if he was in the "Shootout" at the Allstar game. His "Heat check" range should never go beyond 5 feet from the rack! Get some rest the next two days boys because LeBron will exploit you to no end if you don't. The "Manchild" will have the house rocking!
December 17, 2008
8:59 a.m.
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jersey writes:
Weeman: Good big men in the NBA are a rarity and are prized possessions just like a great Closer is in MLB. Teams that have them are not about to give them up for less than a king's ransom if at all. Too valuable.
December 17, 2008
9:25 a.m.
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mark79trans writes:
Why is the league minimum backup point guard playing starting minutes especially when one of the best point guards in the NBA is on the floor? Putting Billups at #2, and having AC bring up the ball is absolutely stupid not to mention the guy can't shoot worth crap. In the fourth quarter, I just cringed when I saw AC guarding McGrady. That is absolute nonsense. Does Karl like mismatches...can't get enough of them? Why was Balkman and/or Martin on the bench with Billups, Smith, and AC on the floor...together? As it is, the Nuggets aren't big enough for a team like the Rockets. Granted, the Nuggets were out of gas in the second half, but the rotation is simply stupid, and the Nuggets will go nowhere with Karl's current rotation. Balkman would have a been a good change-up in the second half...more energy injected into an exhausted team. Karl, I supported you when I lived in Seattle and now in Denver, but your fetish with AC is asinine. He provides a good relief point when Billups is resting, but for God sakes take him out and use Billups, Smith, and Jones. There is a reason you, the Nuggets, and the fans were looking for a real point guard!!!!!!!!!! What the H*LL is AC doing out there when he should be on the bench?
December 17, 2008
9:55 a.m.
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stevenice writes:
jersey- "Great effort from a tired team which is always encouraging.".... it was the same case when you guys defeated the rockets in denver a couple of weeks ago- we were on the 2nd nite of a back to back..... except we played it without mcgrady and battier.....just wanted to point that out. you guys should be alright though with chauncey.
December 17, 2008
9:57 a.m.
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wj_nugs writes:
I can't say I disagree with you mark79. I have suffered from the same frustrations with GK and his rotation schedules over the years. We were lacking defense and energy last night in the 2nd half and why Karl played AC and did not play Balkman and/or Jones, is beyond me.
December 17, 2008
10:22 a.m.
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jersey writes:
If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. We win in spite of Georgie boy rather than because of him! Biggest sham of a coach to ever make out a lineup. Six others fired so far this season with far better credentials and the "Doughboy" is still employed. Go figure. A sad reflection of the qualifications of ownership and their willingness to accept the team being mediocre at best.
December 17, 2008
10:50 a.m.
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Coffee_Mug writes:
Hey jersey, are you a Nuggets fan or just someone who likes to whine? They win because the players, but they lose because of the coach. Which way is it? The coach doesn't play the game, he puts out the best 5 he thinks will win the game, including JR Smith. As for the other 6 coaches with better credentials, why have they been FIRED this season? Maybe they are sham coaches too. The Nugs are still leading their division and you call them "mediocre at best" what a FAN you are. Go figure.....
December 17, 2008
11:01 a.m.
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ONEman writes:
Again our weak spot is Gearge Karl. Notice how he get's outcoached by the likes of Phil Jackson,Greg Pop,Jerry Sloan, and Rick Adleman time an time again, not to mention his tiffs with the players. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the defensive improvement since Chauncey got here. But we need a coach who does more than sit on his butt and suk on candy the whole game. Take the candy out and get involved in the game , get a T if necessary, fire up the team. Show you've got a pair . We need to dump this chump. He does'nt even call timeouts when he should. With all Karls credentials I think he coaches like an amateur. Fire Karl after this year!!!!!
December 17, 2008
11:02 a.m.
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wjrudy writes:
Good point, coffee_mug. I don't understand the constant complaining either about Karl. Of course, no one knows WHY he makes his decisions... what issues, injuries, problems, etc. he is faced with on a game by game basis. Armchair coaching is so easy... thank goodness the aremchair critics aren't actually on the bench making decisions.
December 17, 2008
11:05 a.m.
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avsfan71085 writes:
Crappy game, Karl I always supported you, but your lineups sometimes are moronic, pull your head out. Nuggets NEED someone like bowen (SA) or some defender for guys like T-Mac. We also need another TRUE center, a big man, maybe Camby? lol. But maybe if Nuggets are commited too playing team D, Camby wouldn't be so bad standing around in the middle.
December 17, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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ONEman writes:
I take that back fire him this year and Let Dantley coach. He can't be any worse. As for Karls lineup management, I would have to say that he a chump at that also. Why is Atkins even on the tam anymore? 2 old PGs, not mention one can't stay healthy (Atkins). Carter and Chauncey should never be on the floor together, not with players Dantay Jones and J.R Smith available.
December 17, 2008
11:34 a.m.
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Coffee_Mug writes:
Give me a break "man." Smith had 30 minutes last night, with 17 points to show for it. I do agree about Atkins though, and Jones got some minutes, only 2 points for his efforts. Maybe more time MIGHT mean more points, but who knows for sure. The only thing the Nuggets NEED is to have the PLAYERS pull their heads out and play better period. They don't NEED a defender for guys like T-Mac, they are already there, they just NEED to MAN UP. Besides, there was nothing wrong with this same line-up when they would win was there? Give it a rest already.
December 17, 2008
11:47 a.m.
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Weeman writes:
Jersey -
We need a big man regardless....Our defense and offense is of no worries...We need REBOUNDING....We got outrebounded in the spurs game and we got outrebounded last night....Whether if it's 42 year old Mutombo, or just some slow tree stump, we need a big man thats goin to help with getting rebounds....Nuggets are lookin at Samuel Dalembert, and to me, he'd be just what we need, because he's 6'11 and rebounds.
December 17, 2008
11:58 a.m.
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Weeman writes:
Coffee_Mug...
Karl is one sided....He either plays Balkman and doesn't play J.R. SMith...Or he plays J.R. SMITH and plays balkman with limited or no minutes.....
We need everybody to play....These players aren't gettin paid bein bench ornaments.....There was no injury report on Balkman, so I can assume that he was good to play last night...
Now Balkman didn't play in the Dallas game, which results in him bein more energized then any player that played in Dallas the night before....And he possibly could've brought that energy off that bench.....He's always an irritatin threat to teams when he's on the floor, because he's always gettin open for easy baskets and always in yuor face with defense.....But Karl still did not play him.....I was questionin Karl not playin him in dallas, even tho they won....
I question why Karl always messes up whats goin good for us....Balkman has played above average in any game that he's got minutes in....Karl sits him down for these two games, why???? And J.R. scored 32 pts again N.O. on thanksgivin, but he sat him down the next game because of bein late???? Sure he's playin J.R. now, but Karl needs to play everybody!!!! Balkman coulda been that catalyst to give us a boost last night.
But I agree....The refs were not calling anything....There was so many mised calls, that you would have to be dumb or blind not to complain about the refs in last nights game....They were terrible.
December 17, 2008
12:08 p.m.
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ONEman writes:
True the players aside from Chancey and Nene don't have much heart for the game and the way it's supposed to be played.
But Karl is'nt a good coach he does'nt do the key things right, not so much the linep but more the direct affect he has on his team. He does'nt have any passion or fire in him, he is 'nt the kind of guy that these players will play for. This is a good team with good players, but with no major game plan or concept of who or what they are. This is a coaches job to masterfully use what you have to hang your hat on something. Let the points and they will. There is a reason why the Lakers, Spurs, Rockets, Jazz and Pistons are good no matter who is on the floor every year. They are well coached and all players understand how to play into that scheme. George just let's the cards fall where they may and acts like he just has a bunch of bad eggs to deal with "so what can I do about it?" Grow some balls and take control like a coach should and coach with some pride and be a "MAN" (que the scene from the Godfather where he slaps his famous singer nephew and says "Be a Man!" Give me a break Mug!
December 17, 2008
1:18 p.m.
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ccorrea writes:
Nuggs can't just have Melo and Billup being the only
outside shooters starting. Dahntey and K-mart cannot shoot
from the out side consistently. While the Rockets had Artest
T Mac, Scoli, Battier that Point guard they all can shoot, with
Yao in the paint and also has a decent jump shot. Sorry to say
but the truth is JR Smith needs to START and the Nuggs need
to get some O-fence off the bench. Make some Changes Start
JR and Trade. Trade for a Big O-FENSEVE player PF/Center
that Score and has a MID range shot, Or pick up a free agent BIG
and trade for a Shooting Guard that could come in for JR.
Kleiza will always be a Small Forward that shoot some threes
and not a SG. Chucky and Hunter is dead weight, and if Kleiza (SF)
trade Value is good, for a good BIG or a good Shooting Guard do it!
The Nuggs Bench is all D'' and thats great but they need O-fence.
Hey Nuggs what happen to the Screens high & low and the
pick & Roll In the 3 & 4 querter ???
Hey Karl why not put Balkman on Artest or McGrady ???
December 17, 2008
3:02 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Coffee-mug: Unlike you I'm not a fan that has tunnel vision in giving what I consider an inept coach credit just because he's coaching a Denver team. The "hey" with that crap! His rotations are "D" league, his timeout selections borders on closing the barn door after the horses have escaped and he couldn't put together a unit that clicks if his life depended on it. I know darn well, having played the game and having coached as well, you can't fired the players but you damn sure better figure out how to get the best out of them especially given the time he has had. The Nuggs leading the west? So what. I want more than that trinket. How about having a serious chance at the O'Brian trophy. He is living on past reputation which just like father time catches up to players it catches up to coaches as well. See Doug Moe. Weeman: Where in my post did I ever say we are not in need of a big man? I merely said teams are holding on to the few good ones that are in the league given their value and rareness. You can keep the Jawan Howards of the world and other journeymen just like him. At least they saw the light and sent that "Stiff" packing. Maybe there is hope for the paycheck signers afterall!
December 17, 2008
3:16 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Stevenice: If you read my post to which you are referring you will see that I gave your boys their just do. They did what they were suppose to do in their house in facing a team coming of a back to back. What I mean't by encouraging as to the Nuggs effort was, I've been following these guys for a long time now and that effort was not always in play given the same scenario. Shots may not fall, rebounds will be missed etc. but effort should never take a timeout. A part of COACHING!!!!!!
December 17, 2008
5:50 p.m.
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Mark13 writes:
Do the reporters ever ask George any questions like... Why did you not play Balkman or why do you love having Anthony Carter on the floor so much? The fans seem to be the only ones asking these things.
December 17, 2008
9:04 p.m.
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Weeman writes:
Jersey -
Where did I imply that you did say we are not in need a of a bigman???
The fact is, you said "GOOD BIG MAN ARE RARITY" and all this other stuff, and I simply said we "NEED A BIG MAN REGARDLESS"....We don't need no dam allstar...Just a player who is focused on gettin them rebounds for us, and possibly scoring when he have no other option....Nuggets are lookin at Samuel Dalambert, and a few others....But it remains, we need someone that 6'10 or higher, because our reboundin has to be the worst....We give teams too many second chances to score.
December 18, 2008
8:42 a.m.
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Coffee_Mug writes:
Marcus Camby had 27 rebounds last night. There is your rebounds that were given away in August.
December 18, 2008
9:15 a.m.
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Weeman writes:
Coffee_Mug...
It was either keep Camby, and not extend JRs contract and not be able to trade for Billups....Or it trade Camby, extend JRs contract in hopes that he will discover his game, and trade for Billups.......You make the choice on what would've been better.
December 18, 2008
9:41 a.m.
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jersey writes:
Weeman: That stiff of a big man Jawan Howard is at least 6'10' or TALLER. Yes I would like to see a DAMN Allstar to help in our REBOUNDING. Even though the Nuggs may be LOOKING at Damembert I don't feel he is the answer. I rest my case of the good "bigs" being a rarity!
December 18, 2008
12:27 p.m.
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Weeman writes:
Jersey:
What kinda of an all-star do you expect to get with Kleiza,Atkins,and Stephen hunter???? Get real.....And Juwan Howard is 6'8-6'9...We need a ROLE player not an all star, get right with your thinkin.
December 18, 2008
3:19 p.m.
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jsppro1 writes:
I'll be the first to eat crow! I'm beginiing to understand the AC experiment. We all know he cannot shoot and should be nothing more then a back-up point guard. However, this guy is the best defensive guard we have. When he enters the game, the defensivie intensity picks up. Dare I say it, defensively he looks better then Billups. Now let's not get it twisted, he's not in Billups area at all, but the Nuggets next game watch him against oppenents quicker guards. Who mentioned the S. Dalembert interest? That would be a great addition to the team. Who would you give up??? Go Nuggets????????????/
December 18, 2008
3:24 p.m.
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jersey writes:
weeman: Towel tossed in and white flag raised. I'm reading one book and you're reading another with a snowball's chance in hell of our ever being on the same page. You do your THINKIN and I'll do my THINKING! Live and let live. Is that real enough for ya?