Houston at Utah: Game Four Recap
Mehmet Okur gets it done on both ends as the Jazz even the series
By Emry DowningHall
Mehmet Okur is billed as a center with outside touch. He is known primarily as a finesse guy with a sweet stroke and just enough defensive prowess to get the job done. Okur’s uninspired play was a huge reason the Jazz dropped the first two games of the series in Houston.
Saturday night Okur brushed his shoulders off and matched a career playoff high with 16 points and 6 rebounds. The fact that his J was falling was certainly a relief for the Jazz, who have relied on his range all season, but to measure Okur’s impact you need to go beyond the boxscore.
Okur was once again able to frustrate Yao on the block, knocking him off his pivot and making him pay when the ball would come low enough to swipe at. A lot was written this season of Yao’s improved strength training and conditioning (He now bench presses 310 pounds, quite a feet at 7’6) which has led to his improved play. No doubt he has made giant strides, but it was clear in the second half of Saturdays game that he still has a long way to go. Okur is a sizeable player but far from a Goliath. He shouldn’t have this much success frustrating Yao in a playoff atmosphere. In the post-game interview Okur spoke of simple wanting to, “play good defense” on Yao. Thus far that mission has been accomplished.
Honestly, this was a tough game to watch. I’m a lifelong Knicks fan so I have love for Van Gundy’s style of play but this is grindin’ to the fullest. I had predicted the Rockets in five and Jerry Sloan’s targeted defensive attack is making me look foolish. The biggest surprise for me thus far is how Sloan’s troops are outworking Van Gundy’s. Consider that before game four the Jazz had seen mediocre scoring performances from Deron Williams, Mehmet Okur, and AK-47 (Andrei continued to struggle Saturday offensively). Booze Cruise had stepped up for some monster numbers but he was getting support only on the defense end. In games 3 and 4 they have done a better job containing T-Mac and Yao and shutting down the other Rockets.
With the series tied at two games apiece the big story now shifts to how T-Mac will respond from blowing another 2-0 series lead. We’ve been down this road before with McGrady and he has never come up with a W. McGrady asked for his teammates to step up after Thursday night’s debacle with only four Rockets scoring. Saturday night 10 people scored but no one, including Yao or McGrady, put in anything to raise playoff eyebrows.
There was an AK-47 citing on the defensive end Saturday as Andrei came through with four blocks. He also added four rebounds and four assists but only attempted one field goal in 29 minutes. That boy is MIA and I’m not talking where the Heat play. (Keepin’ it gangsta?)
I still predict that Houston wins the series but in order to do so they will need more from Tracy McGrady and Yao. It’s a good thing for a team leader to ask and expect his supporting cast to step up in the postseason but there comes a time where you have to strap the team on your back and drop 30+ on your opponent. For the Rockets, that time is now.
We’re about to get a unique glimpse into the mental toughness of a NBA superstar. McGrady is going to be feeling the pressure in this situation and that makes game 5 a must win in Houston. I expect a big game from T-Mac. As I said, nothing against the Jazz, I have a lot of respect for what they do, I just got to go with Houston in this one. I think game 5 brings a breakout game for T-Mac and a Rockets victory at the Toyota Center.
14 Responses to “Houston at Utah: Game Four Recap”
Apr.30 at 2:26 pm
jj says:
If houston wins game 5, then they’ll take the series either in 6 or 7… but they will win for sure Now… if utah somehow manages a win @HOU, there won’t even be a game 7. Momentum has shifted. My personal prediction? Houston wins game 5, utah game 6, and then, and only then, will T-Mac appear.
Apr.30 at 2:37 pm
dez says:
TMac should be appearing in every game of this series. Nobody has more to prove than him
Apr.30 at 2:41 pm
deestarbuckz says:
Oh, there are still contested series in the NBA playoffs?!?!
Apr.30 at 2:55 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
We’re still allowed to put it all on his shoulders, right?
Apr.30 at 2:56 pm
deestarbuckz says:
That is alot of weight to carry Russ, especially if no one 6-12 on your team wants to put that orange leather thing through that hollow circle 10 feet above the rim.
Apr.30 at 2:59 pm
shu says:
Like I said in the other thread, which team is more likely to win away from home? Definately Utah. It was said that Fish can’t stop TMac. Why wasn’t AK guarding him? But that’s not the original plan, because Andrei gets most of his blocks through help defense rather than on his man. Did you see him FLYIN in against Yao and TMac? He probably had 6 deflections that lead to a hurried Houston shot, almost as good as a steal. He had at least 3 near blocks on TMac and Yao, through help which turned into a miss. Who the hell was AK guarding then? NO IDEA, because they weren’t doing jack. The energy was definately there, even if the scoring wasn’t. He had more than a few “hockey assists” too. The passes that lead to assists? And quick hitters too. The O was on. My favorite observation of the game, was when Williams had the ball on a pseudo fast break, but Rockets would get back, as expected. However, Williams would still drive the ball, not waiting for his teammates or the Houston defense to comepletely set, and DEMAND a foul to be called. He sank all 5 of the FT’s he shot. Now how more many issues will Utah go without a cover? 1 if they win the whole thing, but they GOTTA GOTTA GOTTA be on a cover soon. The remix issue even prayed for it. Booz? Okur? AK? All stars?? DWill? Or the whole team. Paul Milsap? All Rookie team. UTAHCOVERUTAHCOVERUTAHCOVERUTAHCOVER!!
Apr.30 at 3:16 pm
Michael says:
T-mac is shotting 36%. I’m going to keep harping on it until the dude remembers how to shoot.
Apr.30 at 3:35 pm
Max Airington says:
Word, Michael. It seems like Utah wants to run to Yao outta the game and Mac is allowing it by jacking up some questionable shots. Whats really wild is that Yao has taken nineteen more free throws despite sixteen less shots. Mac never got out of the first round cause he didnt have teammates. He needs to use em now that he has em instead of trying to shoulder it all. Laker fans should be quite familiar with this scenario…
Apr.30 at 4:10 pm
Emry says:
I used to think it was ok when T-Mac would take those ill advised shots because he would hit enough of them to keep the defenders honest, as his % slips obviously they become more and more questionable. It’s the postseason, the Rockets need more from T-Mac. I think AK’s assignment is Battier but he will def. leave him and live with that three ball from the corner off a swing pass if he can get in there and do damage changing shots. I actually have noticed an improvement in his game in all four of the games thus far in the series … ALso, the 36% that Mac is shooting would be better if he was scoring more but his overall production is way down. His career playoff averages are beastly. Look at game 2. Hayes scored 12, and they win. They need that third guy to step up whether it’s Alston, Battier, Hayes, Head or Howard. I know I have been giving more ink to Houston and maybe that is my bad cause Utah is really showing something thus far. I think Boozer and Deron Williams are both cover worthy at this point. Boozer came outta no where to become an impact undersized PF and Williams is doing his thing this season and was arguable the fantasy steal of the year. (Even though he was drafted, no one expected what they got from him)
Apr.30 at 4:20 pm
jj says:
Williams should have won the most improved player award. I mean, perhaps stats-wise his improvement wasn’t that big, but the dude put up almost stockton-like numbers this season, and ran the team VERY well. All of this after last year, in which many people in Salt Lake thought he would be a disappointment…
Apr.30 at 4:41 pm
shu says:
How about a “Yall mfers betta recognize” cover with Sloan in the middle and all his players surrounding him holding AK47s(get it? AK? 47? Kirilenko?) I mean 19 years and 2 Finals apperances w/o Coach of the Year? A bunch of absolute nobodies to 42 wins in 2004? Booz with injuries and the free agency fiasco? Memo being let go by DET in favor of Sheed? Williams not getting love because so many national media types want to fillate Paul? Fisher no longer considered necessary and was a salary dump by GSW? Andrei is… Andrei. Millsap in the second rounder out of Karl Malone’s alma mater playing significant minutes under Sloan? He’ll average 10 RPG if he gets minutes. There’s gotta be a story in there some where. Shit, I wrote half of em already. I know, small market teams don’t sell, how about for the come-up issue? With an alternate cover of… which ever team lands Durant! Or Golden State? PHX got love when they just scared SA in 03 right? I know, Steph made it a lot easier. They deserve one too. You can thank me later.
Apr.30 at 5:30 pm
Emry says:
Shu, sounds like a well deserved cover. And JJ, I agree with you about Williams. His value can’t be measured by stats even though his stats are nothing to laugh at.
Apr.30 at 6:58 pm
Dennard C says:
Houston is in trouble.
Apr.30 at 10:32 pm
Max Airington says:
Sixteen assists from the Mac? Well, that settles that….