T-Mac Lifts Rockets Over Jazz

Houston 98, Utah 90
HOUSTON, April 23 (AP) -- Each of the Houston Rockets have to make 10 consecutive free throws before they are allowed to leave the practice floor every day.
The often frustrating drill paid off Monday night, as the Rockets used an exceptional game from the line to offset Carlos Boozer's 41 points and beat the Utah Jazz 98-90 to go up 2-0 in the first-round playoff series.
Tracy McGrady scored 31 points for the Rockets, who hit 34 of 38 free throws to win for the 10th time in 14 games.
Boozer matched a career-high point total, tossing in jumpers from all angles over 7-foot-6 Yao Ming. He finished 17-of-30 from the field and had 12 rebounds and six assists.
It wasn't enough, though, as Houston shot poorly from everywhere but the foul line and still managed to win.
"We find some way to keep ourselves in a game, despite shooting the ball extremely bad,'' said McGrady, who went 9-for-29 from the field. "But we hit big shots when we needed them. We're doing a great job of getting to the free throw line.''
Yao had 27 points and hit all nine of his free throws. McGrady went 12-for-14 from the line.
The Rockets shot 36 percent from the field (30-for-83), including going 4-for-24 from 3-point range.
The Jazz were charged with 29 personal fouls, most of them failed efforts to contain Houston's All-Star duo. Boozer said Utah has no choice but to defend Yao and McGrady that way.
"If that's how the series is going to be called, we have to adjust a little bit,'' Boozer said. "But that's how we have to play them. They're two superstars.''
Chuck Hayes, whose wife gave birth on Saturday, had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won seven of eight playoff series when they led 2-0.
Hayes grabbed seven offensive rebounds, a catalyst for the Rockets' 15 second-chance points.
"The first half we were really struggling to score and Chuck gave us some great second-chance opportunities,'' Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Tremendous hustle.''
Game 3 is Thursday night in Salt Lake City.
Since 2001, only six teams have rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a series. The Rockets were one of the teams that blew a 2-0 lead, losing four of five to Dallas in 2005.
The Jazz have never come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series. They have lost 16 of their last 17 road playoff games.
"We're going to have to be better to beat this team, we know that,'' Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. "We need everybody on our team to perform well in order to try to beat them.''
The Rockets struggled to get open looks against the stingy defense that's become Utah's trademark under Sloan.
But the strategy backfired this time and Houston, a 75 percent free throw shooting team during the regular season, made 29 of 32 free throws in the second half. Utah went only 13-for-17 from the line.
"When there is such a disparity in free throws,'' Sloan said, "it is very difficult.''
The Jazz have dropped eight of their last 13, a late swoon that cost them homecourt advantage in this series.
Boozer looked right at home on Monday night, scoring 15 of Utah's first 17 points. He had only 11 points in Game 1.
"He was more aggressive than in the first game,'' Yao said. "I was putting my hand almost right there and he would still make the shots. I think I need to move quicker and try to get close to him. But he played a great game.''
The Rockets missed 15 of their first 21 shots, while the Jazz started 12-for-20 to build a nine-point lead.
Rafer Alston made Houston's first 3-pointer three minutes into the second quarter after the Rockets missed their first eight attempts. After the hot start, Boozer missed four straight shots, part of Utah's 4-for-16 second quarter as the Rockets got within 41-39 at halftime.
Houston opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 spurt to stretch the lead to 76-64.
The Jazz made it 84-80 on baskets by Mehmet Okur and Boozer, but McGrady made two free throws with 3:13 left as chants of "MVP! MVP!'' echoed through the Toyota Center.
"Mac did a great job cutting to the basket and getting to the free throw line,'' Shane Battier said. "That's the only way we can survive 36 percent shooting.''
The Rockets hit 10 of their last 12 free throws to secure the victory.

McGrady's Big Third Leads Rockets Past Jazz

Houston 84, Utah 75
HOUSTON, April 21 (AP) -- Tracy McGrady was so nervous driving to Houston's first round playoff game against Utah his palms were sweating.
The seven-time All-Star had bigger problems than excessive perspiration when he got on the court as he missed his first six shots and had just one point at halftime.
He finally shook off his jitters to score 16 points in the third quarter and lead the Rockets to an 84-75 win over the Jazz on Saturday night in Game 1 of the series.
"I told myself at halftime to calm down," McGrady said. "I had to take a couple of deep breaths and gather myself together because I was on a high ... coming out in the third quarter I was more relaxed."
McGrady finished with 23 points. Before his outburst, the Rockets relied on Yao Ming, who finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds.
"Sometimes when you want something so bad, it works against you a little bit," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "That's what happened with him in the first half."
Utah led by nine at halftime and was ahead 49-41 before Houston went on an 8-2 run, fueled by 7 points by McGrady to get within two. A jump shot by Deron Williams made it 53-49 before a 3 by Shane Battier put Houston within striking distance.
The Rockets took a 54-53 lead late in the third when Derek Fisher missed a fast break layup and Rafer Alston got the rebound and found Yao alone at the other end of the court for a one-handed dunk.
"I wish I'd have made that basket," Fisher said. "My leg gave out as I went up and I just didn't get enough lift. Maybe I could've slowed their momentum down a little bit if I'd have hit that shot. I don't like to focus on one play, but I would love to have that play back."
McGrady's 16 points in the third quarter came on 7-of-8 shooting. After Yao's dunk, he made a long two before sinking a 3 on the next possession to push Houston's lead to 59-53. After the three, McGrady backpedaled while repeatedly yelling 'Yeah' at the frenzied crowd.
"When I made my first couple jumpers, I knew I was going to get rolling," McGrady said. "I couldn't let them deny me for two halves. My team needed me more than ever, because I didn't give them anything in the first half."
The Jazz made just four shots in the quarter and Carlos Boozer missed three of six free throw attempts. Boozer finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Matt Harpring had 14 points.
"We knew this would be a dogfight and a defensive battle," Williams said. "They made a nice run and we seemed to hang our heads a little bit."
Utah cut the lead to two points several times early in the fourth quarter, but each time the Rockets answered. Consecutive 3s by Alston and Luther Head stretched Houston's lead to 71-63 and the Jazz didn't threaten again.
McGrady hit a 3, followed by a pair of free throws late in the fourth to make it 78-65.
"We got too big a gap and couldn't close it," said Utah coach Jerry Sloan.
Williams had 15 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for Utah. Fisher added 15 points.
After missing the postseason last year, the Rockets are looking to win a playoff series for the first time since 1997 behind McGrady who is winless in five career playoff series. The Jazz, in the playoffs for the first time since 2003, won three of four regular season meetings.
Game 2 is Monday night in Houston.

APOCALYPTICISM

I was taught to play that way when I was in high school and even before I got to high school. Just fundamental things –---- I played guard and I played forward, so you get into a postion where you are pivoting out on the court. You get the ball 12 feet from the basket and a man is on you , so you have to create space to get off a shot. You can’t just turn around and shoot because he might block it. But if he is really playing you that close, you can get by him easily. If he is playing off you, then you that just shoot the shot. It's just something that I learned form playing in high school. All the guys from where I was from play where I was from played that played that way, I thought. You look at today, it’s a different situation.
-----------------Oscar Robertson

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