Mar 29, 2002 11:55 AM EST
By the time the buzzer mercifully put an end to 48 minutes of basketball futility, the Rockets were left with no words to explain a 101-74 drubbing and the worst shooting night in the 35-year history of the franchise.
The Rockets set a franchise record by shooting 29.9 percent (26-of-87), breaking the record of 30.0 percent set Jan. 12, 1968, during their inaugural season in San Diego.
"We were horrible," said Tomjanovich, whose team committed 16 turnovers. "I have no reason. I can't understand why. It was about, without using profanity, the blankety-blank-blank as I've felt about this team, because that's just not the guys I know who have fought all year.
"Today they weren't the guys that I thought I knew."
Via Houston Chronicle
Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings
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Tonight's game could have offered a rare showdown of two of the NBA's youngest players, teenagers Eddie Griffin of the Rockets and Gerald Wallace of the Kings.
But that matchup might not make it to the court.
Griffin is probable after suffering a sprained toe in Seattle last week, although Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich is often hesitant to bring players back from injuries before they practice.
Wallace, who was the last player off the bench last week against the Rockets in Sacramento, started on Tuesday with Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stojakovic out.
Turkoglu is expected back, however, sending Wallace back to the bench.
Via Houston Chronicle
Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings
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Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes that the Rockets had another team meeting as their dismal season closes out. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich told the team many times before that they need to concentrate of defense and on passing, two categories in which the Rockets trail the league. This time, however, he spoke specifically with his team leaders, Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, and put the onus on them to lead.
Tomjanovich charged his starting guards individually with the duty to enforce ball movement and defensive intensity, hoping that, if they lead, the rest will follow.
"We've been preaching that (defense and ball movement) like a broken record," Tomjanovich said. "It's got to be a part of talk when the coaches aren't there. It's got to be a part of the way we think and the way we approach basketball. It's got to be a part of our life."
Perhaps in the Rockets last dozen games, the pair can show some of that leadership to set the tone for starting next season.
Via Houston Chronicle
Houston Rockets
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Rockets Mar 2002 Archive
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Deseret News | Mar 27, 2002
Rich Evans writes the Jazz's notebook for Tuesday's win.
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Deseret News | Mar 27, 2002
Tim Buckley reports on Utah's win over Houston.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 27, 2002
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Rockets ran through the reasons they believed the Utah Jazz caught them from behind, but really they were stumped.
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| Mar 27, 2002
Tom McEachin writes about Steve Francis and his Jazz-killer game.
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Standard-Examiner | Mar 27, 2002
Tom McCeachin recaps the Jazz's 109-105 win over the Rockets.
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ESPN | Mar 27, 2002
The Associated Press writes, "It was a happy birthday for John Stockton, all right, with a surprise gift from a most unexpected source: Greg Ostertag.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 27, 2002
Jonathan Feigen writes about how Utah continued their domination over the Houston Rockets in the Delta Center citing Utah's stellar defensive play and Houston's poor execution.
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Standard Examiner | Mar 27, 2002
Tom McEachin writes about the Enforcers that may be back for Utah.
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Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 27, 2002
Steve Luhm writes about Utah's come-from-behind victory over the tough Houston Rockets and, as always, the Houston Rockets complain about the officiating.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 26, 2002
Rockets guard Steve Francis began to pull out of his shooting slump Sunday, making eight of 18 shots, including three 3-pointers, to score 24 points.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 26, 2002
The Houston Rockets pursuit to become hosts of an All-Star weekend received a jolt this past week when NBA Commissioner David Stern told the Rockets chief operating officer George Postolos to back off.
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| Mar 25, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 25, 2002
But after blowing all but the last three points of a 16-point lead, Kenny Thomas put together a scenery-chewing performance in the final act that sent the Rockets to a 116-104 win over the Warriors on Sunday before 15,039 in The Arena in Oakland.
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| Mar 24, 2002
Should the refs be able to gain assistance from replays?
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 22, 2002
The SuperSonics, whom the Rockets face tonight at KeyArena, no longer use the trapping and rotating defense left behind from George Karl's days of running the team.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 21, 2002
In an article for the Houston Chronicle about Kenny Thomas' bid for Most Improved Player, Jonathan Feigen writes that the return of Maurice Taylor may not mean the end of Thomas' stay in Houston.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 20, 2002
The Sacramento Kings jogged.
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LA Times | Mar 19, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 19, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 19, 2002
Brand had roamed far from the paint he normally patrols, but he smacked away one Williams 3-pointer, then forced Williams into a turnover before he could launch another, allowing the Clippers to pull away for a 93-86 win Monday night before 19,208 at Staples Center, the Clippers' ninth consecutive sellout.
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| Mar 18, 2002
It is well know that Larry Bird helped Jalen Rose to develop his game.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 18, 2002
The Western Conference playoff spots are long out of reach.
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Clutchcity | Mar 18, 2002
Jalen Rose has just become the first NBA player to hit a shot in triple overtime to win a double overtime game.
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Star Tribune | Mar 16, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 15, 2002
As deceiving as statistics can be, 29th in a 29-team league is pretty hard to argue.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 14, 2002
There were flagrant fouls and technical fouls, one full-bore temper tantrum and untold numbers of smaller fits.
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| Mar 14, 2002
The Timberwolves imploded Wednesday night in the final minute of a 96-95 loss to Houston at Target Center.
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Star Tribune | Mar 14, 2002
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Pioneer Press | Mar 14, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 13, 2002
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that USA Basketball has finished choosing their roster for the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championships, and Steve Francis was again excluded.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 13, 2002
With a timeout chat about the largest deficit of the game and the time that was running out, the Rockets knew they could have been nose-diving to one of their fourth-quarter fades.
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Dallas Morning News | Mar 12, 2002
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 12, 2002
Rockets forward Walt Williams, who has been nursing a tender right ankle for the past eight weeks, practiced Monday and should be available to play tonight against the Seattle SuperSonics at Compaq Center.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 12, 2002
Nearly four years later, Rashard Lewis has buried the past.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 11, 2002
Barkley saw Francis' talent and did choose to be a generous and learned mentor to him.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 11, 2002
It's happened thousands of times," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said of the familiar sick feeling.
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Deseret News | Mar 11, 2002
The storyline should be Steve Francis' game-winning 3-pointer with 0.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 11, 2002
Steve Francis had watched John Stockton take over the game and make more history.
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Houston Chronicle | Mar 11, 2002
Throughout this season, Kelvin Cato usually has had a spot in the Rockets' starting lineup.
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Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 11, 2002
John Stockton handed out his 15,000th career assist Sunday afternoon at the Compaq Center.
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Salt Lake Tribune | Mar 11, 2002
Fifteen thousand.
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| Mar 8, 2002
"He talked bad stuff after the first game," Parker said.
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| Mar 8, 2002
For now, they started another game in a fog, showing little interest in defense and none in ball movement, then spent the night trying to overcome themselves as much as the San Antonio Spurs.
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| Mar 7, 2002
In a season that has tested his patience and temper, Tomjanovich finally had seen enough.
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| Mar 6, 2002
Hakeem Olajuwon, the Rockets, and Houston allowed a story-book homecoming for the Rockets legend turned Toronto Raptor, writes Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
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| Mar 6, 2002
Hakeem Olajuwon, the longtime franchise, was adored again in Compaq Center.
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| Mar 5, 2002
When the Raptors visit Houston tonight, Houston fans will again have an opportunity to cheer the legend, Hakeem Olajuwon, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
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| Mar 4, 2002
With Kobe Bryant serving the first game of his suspension, Shaquille O'Neal did not have to share the load and easily did whatever necessary for the Lakers to take an easy 95-79 rout of the Rockets Sunday at Staples Center.
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| Mar 1, 2002
With Walt Williams scheduled to return from a sprained right ankle at Phoenix on Saturday after being sidelined for 18 games, the Rockets learned Thursday that guard Oscar Torres suffered a sprained right ankle during practice Wednesday that could force him to the injured list.
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| Mar 1, 2002
Earlier this week, their hero, chucky Brown, signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings, joining his record 12th franchise during a 13-year career most notable for a championship ring with the Rockets and the pro sports record for impermanence.
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