Yao and the Rockets hold steady to defeat Charlotte

March 14, 4:06 AMAsian-American Sports ExaminerMichael Street

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Emeka Okafor tried, and failed,
to contain Yao (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The Rockets, 19 games over .500, shouldn't have trouble with the Charlotte Bobcats, 8 games under .500.

But they did tonight, staying close most of the game, but mostly trailing, before taking a good lead in the third quarter.

They gave that lead back in the fourth, but managed a late burst that gave them the win, 91-86. 

Yao Ming has a formidable opponent in Emeka Okafor, who is 6-10 and 255 lbs., but Okafor is still learning how to guard craftier centers like Yao.

Okafor is powerful, and did a good job of muscling Yao out of low-post position, but that either opened up the floor for Luis Scola, or led to Yao slipping behind him for a dunk.

Early fouls limited Okafor's effectiveness, but the rest of the Bobcats kept them in the game, even taking a six-point lead partway through the second quarter, when Yao and Okafor were on the bench.

They'd narrowed the lead to three by the time Yao returned, and got within two by the half. Yao had scored 12 on 5-6 shooting and pulled down 3 rebounds by the half, but his scoring output was tied by point guard Raymond Felton.

Houston was playing its game offensively, feeding the ball through Yao or taking advantage of turnovers for fast break points. They weren't playing defense well enough, however, something they changed in the third.

Yao's intimidating presence in the paint caused Okafor to miss two straight from point-blank range—he even picked up a charge of his own against Gerald Wallace. Okafor got it down deep again later on in the quarter, but couldn't overcome Yao's significant height and reach advantage. He became frustrated enough to pick up his fourth foul, leading to a spot on the Charlotte bench.

Houston harassed and intimidated Charlotte into taking tough shots and scrapping for every point, and it started to wear on them, particularly after Okafor left. Houston went on a quick 10-4 run in the closing minutes of the quarter, giving them a seven-point lead.

The Rockets also did something they have struggled with: feeding Yao down low throughout the game. Despite the tight third quarter, they continued to run their offense through Yao, and it paid dividends.

Not only did this lead to Okafor sitting down, it also allowed them to maintain their rhythm and momentum, and continue scoring. He had 18 points on 7/8 shooting through three quarters, and would add to this in the fourth.

The Rockets had a five-point edge at the close of the third frame, and maintained their composure in the face of a nice Charlotte comeback. The Bobcats stole the ball three times in less than a minute of game time, converting two of them into points, keeping them within three.

Two and a half minutes later, Charlotte took a one-point lead on an Okafor tip shot off a missed three-pointer from Vladimir Radmanovich, but Kyle Lowry answered back by hitting a three of his own. Lowry scored two more from the free throw line, then assisted on a Shane Battier trey as the shot clock expired.

Houston led at this point by five, and continued to keep the defensive pressure on Charlotte, who seemed tired from the effort they've expended and starting taking jump shots without setting them up; they looked a little panicky.

Yao blocked a Felton drive to the hoop, keeping them from thinking about future penetration. Less than a minute later, Brooks passed to Yao outside the three-point line with the shot clock ticking down—and Yao hit it, his first three-pointer of the season.

They wouldn't expect Yao to keep hitting from deep, so Houston stayed within their offense to feed him in the low post, and he rewarded them by hitting another shot, this one from much closer into the basket.

A three-pointer from Raja Bell and two successive turnovers brought the Bobcats within striking distance, and then Bell scored again, this time on a rebound after Yao blocked a shot by Okafor.

Houston regained the lead after Gerald Wallace fell down trying to guard Artest, who hit a deep two-pointer to make the score 87-86. With 22 seconds remaining, Bell couldn't come through one more time, and Houston took possession.

Brooks hit both of his free throws after Raja Bell chased him down in the Houston backcourt, and the game was all but over. Radmanovich jumped up to attempt a three-pointer that would have tied the game—and Artest blocked him from behind. He took the loose ball and laid it up for Houston's final points of the game.

The best part of tonight's game was how they stuck to their game plan and didn't panic, despite the surging Bobcats and their swarming defense. Houston continued to feed Yao, who rewarded them by scoring and making defensive stops. The hometown Charlotte crew showed Yao with Brooks several times, coaching him on strategy and the Rockets offense.

Brooks seems to be learning the ropes, even as the rest of the team gels together. Had they lost to Charlotte, it would have been a disappointment, but overcoming the great game that Charlotta threw at them can only make them better with the playoffs approaching.