Finally Some Heart

There have been doubters all along the way this season for the Rockets, but there can be no doubting what the Rockets did last night. The Pacers and Rox were both coming off games the night before, yet the level of play thru 3 quarters was tremendous. The teams had but 8 turnovers combined, but the Pacers were shooting nearly 50% and as the third qtr was coming to a close the Rox were still reeling from the fact that T-Mac was unlikely to answer the bell the rest of the night.
He left the floor just 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter having scored 15 points and with the Rox trailing just 62-59. 8 minutes later the deficit was 16 and in between the 3rd & 4th qtrs, T-Mac left the bench and headed to the lockerroom for the night - and that's the fun began.

The Pacers fired up 25 shots over the next 12 minutes trying to hold off the hard-charging Rockets, but they made just 4. That's right 4 shots dropped through the twine from a team that had 88 pts thru 3 qtrs.

A line-up of Yao, Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Stromile Swift & Keith Bogans played together for almost the entire 4th quarter and simply refused to lose. It's as simple as that. Bogans ended up with the game winner, which came on the season-high tying 14th assist of the night. None of it would have been possible if not for the pergect second half from Yao. Yes he had a couple of tunrovers in the final 3 minutes, but he also nailed all 7 of his second half shots and was also perfect from the free throw line (10-10 on the night) on the way to his own season high 38 points. Not to mention 10 boards and 5 blocks.

Look I know it was just Indiana but you saw a lot from these guys in this one. A month ago that game is a loss. Heck a couple of days ago this would have been a loss. These guys do have heart, they do give a crap. They do want to win.
Here's what they were saying after the game....
DAVID WESLEY
(on the Rockets' being able to win after close, competitive game) "That was a fantastic game the last quarter and a half. That was gut check, some turnover, some mixed emotions, up (and) down, and to come out with that win is good stuff."
(on the importance of the win) "We know that our backs are against the wall. We know that we don't have time to be losing games. We have a tough schedule coming up, and it's still a long way to go but we've just got to find the way (to overcome it). Tracy's in, Tracy's out, Yao's in, Yao's out. Right now we don't have time for excuses. We have to do what we did (tonight)."

YAO MING
(on how the team has improved and is able to wintonight) "We started playing mentally tough. Even when things aren't going well, we keep playing and we know that somebody will step up. Everybody wants to step up and help the team."

(on if he was trying to lead the Rockets in the last two minutes of the game) "I know my job and I know what the team needs me to do. I need to score, I need to rebound, I need to block people. I know who I am.In the last two minutes (of the game) you have to make big plays, but it's not just the last couple of minutes that are important, but the whole 48 minutes as well."

PEJA STOJAKOVIC
(on Yao Ming) "Since he's come back he's been an unbelievable player. He's so much better this year.He's unstoppable right now. He reminds me of when Shaquille (O'Neal) was winning championships in Los Angeles."

The Rox are 4 games under, three games back of the Hornets and the Lakers for the final playoff spot with 20 games to go. Hopefully the win over the Pacers is not the highlight of the season.
By the way that's probably the best Rockets game I've been to since T-Mac came to town.
------- WEX