I don't think anything has changed from the last game. Stop Yao and win. Really. Easier said than done though.
Despite the difficult matchup with Yao, the Sonics felt good about their defensive effort on Monday. The Rockets shot just 42.5% from the field, and the Sonics also benefited from Houston misfiring from downtown (1-of-12, 8.5%) and the free-throw line (21-of-31, 66.7%).
"I thought seven of the last eight quarters defensively [including three out of four Saturday in Dallas] was the best we played in a long time," said Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo.
Nick Collison gets some love from Kevin Pelton.