NBA Playoff Notebook: McGrady, Yao are showing what they can do

After Dirk Nowitzki’s jumper in the lane with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 111-111. The Rockets didn’t call a timeout and came right down the court for the final possession with McGrady handling the ball. McGrady stopped just inside the three-point line and calmly drilled a jumper with just over two seconds remaining in the contest.

The Mavericks called timeout and had one last chance to win the game with a three or send it into overtime with a field goal. However, Michael Finley’s jumper was off and Houston left with the victory and two-game lead in the series.

"When the game was tight and we were up two, coach (Jeff Van Gundy) asked me in the huddle, ’if those guys score, what did I want to do, call a timeout or just take the ball out.’ I told him let’s not call a timeout," said McGrady after Game 2s win. "He told me to tell Yao (Ming) to set a high screen, so I went over and told Yao that if those guys score we have the ball out.

"The only thing I was thinking about was winning the game. Yao set a great (screen) for me. I came off and knocked down the shot for the game-winner. "

McGrady played 47 minutes and finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists, while fellow All-Star Yao Ming netted a game-high 33 points and grabbed eight boards in 36 minutes of action for the Rockets, who lead a playoff series 2-0 for the first time since 1997 when they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 3-0, in the opening round.

"I thought everybody on both sides was tremendous," said Van Gundy. "It was a great game and we feel very fortunate to have won. I am very proud of our team. Yao obviously had an unbelievable night. He just had a great performance and I am very proud of him."

Yao rebounded from a tough series opener, as the 7-6 center contributed just 11 points and eight boards in 20 minutes of action before fouling out of Houston’s 98-86 Game 1 victory.

McGrady knew if the Rockets wanted to leave Dallas with a 2-0 series lead, Yao had to get his confidence back with a solid performance.

"What I wanted to do tonight, coming into the game, was get Yao going right away," said McGrady after Game 2. "Try to establish a low-post presence to put pressure on their defense and have it open up on the perimeter for us. He got it rolling right away. I knew coming into this game those guys were going to try and get the ball out of my hands, so I wasn’t really pressed on scoring. I was just trying to get my teammates involved."

Yao looked unstoppable in Game 2, as he was an incredible 13-of-14 from the floor and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the foul line.

"I didn’t think I would shoot this well today, but all the shots I got were shots that I am accustomed to," said Yao. "I could have missed a few of them, but most of them are shots that I am comfortable with."

A five-time All-Star, McGrady is averaging a team-highs in points (31.5 ppg) and assists (8.0 apg) in the first two games of the set with Dallas. He has also grabbed 6.5 rebounds and registered 2.5 steals per game

Houston, which is 7-0 when it leads a playoff series 2-0, returns home for Games 3 and 4 and has a chance to earn its first series victory in the postseason since 1997, when it beat Seattle in seven games in the conference semifinals. The Rockets do have history on their side, as only the Los Angeles Lakers in 1969 and Houston in 1994 have come back from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-seven series after losing the first two games at home.

The Rockets acquired McGrady from Orlando last offseason with the vision of him and Yao becoming the elite one-two combination in the league. The two All- Stars have picked the best time of the year to show that they are capable of carrying the Rockets on their backs.