Feb

3

“Rivalry” Takes Back Seat To McGrady As Rockets Zoom Past Bucks 91-83

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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It was actually billed as the “Chinese Super Bowl.” Chapter Two of the “Yao/Yi Rivalry“?must have been very disappointing to the Peoples Republic Of China, because neither Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, or Milwaukee Bucks forward Yi Jianlian were really the focal point of Saturday night’s game between the two teams. No the man who made the difference in this game was Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady who recorded a double-double a game high 33 points, and grabbed 11 rebounds, as?the Rockets defeated the Bucks 91-83.

I?have never?bought into the “Yi/Yao Rivalry?” in fact I wrote a column on it? http://www.slamdunkcentral.com/2007/11/06/rivalries-cant-be-manufactured-they-just-happen/?before the first time the two players met. As I wrote then, I appreciate the pride that the Chinese people have for their two world renowned athletes. But this is not a rivalry, they are two players who meet twice a year in the regular season, and play two different positions. They also possess two totally different skill sets, it truly is like comparing apples to oranges. But never the less not only is the Chinese Government trying to promote this rivalry, the NBA is trying to also. NBA Commissioner David Stern has never heard of a way to promote the Association, that he has turned down, and a way to market the game to a burgeoning society, must have the Commissioner smiling ear to ear. But neither game has lived up to the hype, and I’m wondering if next season it will get the same kind of?play.

The two teams stayed close all night, as Houston had a razor thin margin at the end of the first period, leading 21-20, and had a 42-37 advantage at the half. The Rockets lead was down to just 3 points heading into the final period, as? they led 64-61, and the Bucks would make the game even tighter in the fourth quarter. Milwaukee would take the lead at 69-68, as Charlie Villanueva tipped the ball in the the cylinder with 9:45 remaining in the game. But Houston went on a 15-5 run and had built the lead up to 83-74, and the Bucks could never get back over the hump.

McGrady along with his game high 33 points, and 11 rebounds, had 6 assists, 1 block, 1 steal. Yao also recorded a double-double 12 points, 12 boards, 3 blocks 2 assists, Rafer Alston had a nice night 10 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block. Bonzi Wells came off the bench scoring 10 points, 7 boards, 3 assists, 1 block.

Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut paced hi team shooting 10-20 from the floor, 1-3 from the line for 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks. Bobby Simmons scored 14?points, 5 rebounds, Villanueva came off the bench scoring 14 points, 6 boards, 1 steal. Mo?Williams scored 13 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, Yi had a disappointing night, scoring just 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block. Houston is now 27-20 Milwaukee is 18-30.

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