Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Houston Rockets too fast for Oklahoma City Thunder

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November 7

The Oklahoman

"Russell Westbrook scored a season high 33 points. It's his second highest offensive outing behind a career-best 34-point outing last...That play epitomized the Rockets' 105-94 win over the Thunder on Friday at the Toyota Center.Switching to a faster, up-tempo offense with Yao Ming out for the season, the Rockets scored 22 fast-break points and 54 in-the-paint points. They led Oklahoma City by double digits most of the game.Houston's in-the-paint points, though, no longer are traditional, bang-inside baskets. The Rockets thrived on "beep, beep" flash-to-the-basket points and fast-break points when the Thunder failed to get back on defense."I think it would surprise people how fast they ..."

Durant impresses

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November 7

Houston Chronicle

"Rockets forward Shane Battier took turns with Trevor Ariza matching up with Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant on Friday night. It was his first game against Durant since the 2007-08 season, when Durant was a rookie, and Battier said he has improved. "I think he knows the game better," Battier said of Durant, who scored 27 points. "The shot quality is much better at this point. That's what's going to make him an elite, elite player, to be able to score without the volume of shots. I think he can do it. When you see his progression, it's scary.""

Durant no doubt has special talent

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November 7

Houston Chronicle

"If only basketball were as easy as Kevin Durant makes it look. Durant is so fluid with the basketball that you find yourself watching his every move on the floor. You could just follow him while imagining your favorite tune. (Well, you could if the Toyota Center DJ would ease up on the headache-inducing beats they play almost nonstop in the joint. Is this a basketball game or a rave?) In just his third NBA season, the 21-year-old former University of Texas star is already a starter on my mythical "most enjoyable to watch" team. Actually, he is almost impossible not to watch. Durant threw in a cool 27 points Friday night, but as you would expect, the Thunder were no match for the Rockets, ..."

Rockets can handle prosperity

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November 7

Houston Chronicle

"As much as had been made of the Rockets' encouraging start through the five-game test to open the season, they had not been asked to do what had to be done Friday night. For the first time this season, they were out in front, playing at home in a game they seemed to control and against a team they handle. The electricity in the building evident in the home opener and against the Lakers on Wednesday was long gone, as well as 3,000 or so fans. A young Oklahoma City team with talent, but little buzz, was sticking around. The Rockets could not play their usual underdog role. Instead, they hit themselves with a jolt of high-speed offense in the second quarter, then called upon it as needed to ..."

Budinger unlikely for Thunder

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November 6

Houston Chronicle

"Rockets forward Chase Budinger, out with a sprained left ankle, predicted he will be ready to play tonight against Oklahoma City. Coach Rick Adelman guessed he won't. Budinger missed Wednesday's game against the Lakers and was held out of practice Thursday but participated in shooting drills. "I felt great at shootaround today," Budinger said. "Hopefully, I'll keep getting better tomorrow and be ready to play. It was tough (to sit out), especially playing against the Lakers. I wanted to be out there. The last time I missed a game was in high school." Adelman was not so sure. "I actually don't expect him to play tomorrow after watching him today," Adelman said. "But he's young (21), so ..."

Rockets respond in kind

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November 6

Houston Chronicle

"Chuck Hayes did not quote Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion, but the point was made. Besides, Sir Isaac rarely delved into pick-and-roll defense. The Rockets knew that once their new style worked, any team with a working DVD player would adjust. The Rockets had won three consecutive games and took a solid fourth-quarter lead on the Lakers. That was enough for the Rockets to see and feel how teams likely will try to take away the strengths of their offense. Now comes their turn. "For every action, there's a reaction," Hayes said. "If they take away Aaron (Brooks') pick-and-roll, hey, we're going to do something else to give Aaron the ball. If they take away the pocket pass that I've gotten the ..."

Hayes fever grips Rockets

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November 6

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"Chuck Hayes is the most remarkable player on the NBA's most remarkable team. How's that for an opening sentence? Good one, huh? Don't believe me? Let's check in at Toyota Center and run it past some people who should know. "Luis Scola and I were talking in the weight room this morning," Shane Battier said, "and we both agreed Chuck Hayes is our favorite player in the NBA." How so? "It's pretty amazing what he does," Battier said. "He's a huge reason we've been one of the best defensive teams in the league the last few years." How about you, Carl Landry? Do you love Hayes as much as the rest of us? "He's the perfect player," Landry said. "He rebounds, plays defense, takes charges, gets ..."

New alternate jerseys have look of a champion

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November 6

Houston Chronicle

"It remains to be seen whether the Rockets' sizzling start will translate into a playoff appearance this season, but tonight they'll look every bit the part of an NBA champion. Trevor Ariza, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks and the rest of the new-generation Rockets will pay homage to the franchise's storied past when they play their first regular-season game in their new alternate jerseys. Look out, Oklahoma City Thunder: The ketchup and mustard is back. "The feedback has been great, and fans are very fired up," said Chris Dacy, the Rockets' chief strategy officer. "They're happy to see the traditional look from the championship days." Unveiled in September, the jerseys will serve as an occasional ..."

Ariza's shot at victory never comes

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November 5

Houston Chronicle

"Four months, four quarters and all but four seconds of overtime had passed since Trevor Ariza had learned he was not invited to return to his hometown team when he turned toward the lane and the heart of the Lakers' defense. The Rockets had taken their first meeting with the Lakers since last season's Game 7 – and since Ariza and Ron Artest traded themselves for one another – to overtime. The Lakers had taken a one-point lead. Ariza, who had insisted he only wanted a win, had the ball and his chance. He never got there. As he tried to split Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, Fisher slapped the ball loose and time ran out on a 103-102 Rockets loss to the Lakers on Wednesday, as Ariza ran out ..."

New guy out of place in lead role

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November 5

Houston Chronicle

columnist Jerome Solomon

"Trevor Ariza tried to downplay his first game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team in the city where he grew up. The team he helped win the NBA championship last summer. The team that shortly after the victory parade told him they would rather spend the money it would take to re-sign him on former Rocket Ron Artest. Ariza pointed out that he now recognizes how "cutthroat" business is in the NBA, but he swore he would feel no extra emotion against his hometown team. Yeah, right. The 103-102 loss to Los Angeles has to hurt more than the season-opening loss at Portland. Especially since he played so poorly. Not according to Ariza, whose off night (5-of-21 from the floor) concluded with a ..."

Lakers Artest, Houston's Ariza steal the show in L.A.'s OT win

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November 5

L.A. Daily News

"After Ron Artest stuck a dagger into the hearts of his former teammates and after Trevor Ariza stuck one between the ribs of his old team, that's when the fun really started Wednesday. Artest and Ariza traded 3-pointers in the closing seconds of regulation, with Artest giving the Lakers the lead and Ariza countering for Houston and forcing overtime. Others would determine the outcome once the game went to overtime, but for a delicious moment or two late in the fourth quarter it appeared first Artest and then Ariza had made the game's crucial shot. Artest and the Lakers eventually defeated Ariza and the Rockets 103-102, as a sellout crowd of 18,291 at the Toyota Center tried their best to ..."

Lakers win, but Bynum leaves game with an elbow sprain

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November 5

Los Angeles Times

"The Lakers won another game but might have lost another big man. Pau Gasol is a little closer to returning, but Andrew Bynum was injured toward the end of the Lakers' 103-102 overtime victory Wednesday over the Houston Rockets. Bynum was fouled hard across his right arm while going up for a shot and sustained a sprained elbow with 24.7 seconds left in overtime. He will be re-evaluated today in Los Angeles. "I can't even lift my arm right now," Bynum said. "They just took a shot at me. That's that, I guess. It's not that bad. It just takes a little while to heal up." Anybody ready for Lamar Odom at center? On the day that Gasol was cleared to resume basketball-related activities, the Lakers ..."

Rematch not such a mismatch

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November 4

Houston Chronicle

"Six months ago today, the Rockets began a playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Back when the Rockets were an All-Star driven team with the best big man in the game. Tonight, the teams will tip it off at Toyota Center with that back-in-the-day matchup an almost distant memory. From end to beginning, we're talking only 12 Rockets games. Time flies when one team wins a series, then the NBA championship, while the other loses the series and its best player for the next season. Plus, the winning team traded (technically) one of its perceived spare parts for one of the victor's key parts. Worse, the only other player in the latter's best-of discussion was out for that series and has ..."

Ex-Laker to keep emotions at bay

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November 4

Houston Chronicle

"Trevor Ariza shrugged his broad shoulders and tilted his head, silently declaring that he really did not know what to say. Minutes later, he shrugged again, and then again, this time smiling, almost apologetically for being unable to play along. "I've done it before," Ariza said of facing a former team, with the Rockets going against the Lakers tonight at Toyota Center for the first time since he left Los Angeles. "They're not my first former team." Ariza would have to possess the world's best poker face to have been pretending when he said he was not especially eager to take on the Lakers for the first time since they shared last season's championship run only to have contract talks ..."

Houston goes long to defeat Utah

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November 3

Salt Lake Tribune

"Three games into the season, the Jazz's issues seemed almost infinite following Monday night's 113-96 embarrassment against the Houston Rockets, but the foremost question is whether their fans are going to stick around through the search for answers. The Jazz were run off the floor in the fourth quarter and watched EnergySolutions Arena empty as rarely seen, starting with 5 minutes remaining and the Rockets leading by 18 and turning into a full-blown protest march to the exits during a timeout with 3:44 left. With the memories of last season's 2-7 collapse to finish the regular season still fresh, the Jazz apparently exhausted the patience of their fans by the first week of November. ..."

Power forwards missing in action

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November 3

The Deseret News

"No Tracy McGrady. No Yao Ming. No problem for the Houston Rockets. The Rockets pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 113-96 victory over Utah, as the Jazz's "dynamic duo" at power forward could do nothing to stop the bleeding on either end of the court. Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap combined to shoot just 1-for-8 from the field and scored a total on nine points in the loss. Those are the same two players that are costing the Jazz more than $20 million in combined salaries this season. Boozer is off to a particularly rocky start to the season after a summer filled with controversy surrounding his desire to be traded by the Jazz. He has now made just 13-of-42 shots from the field — for 31 ..."

Same building, different team

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November 3

Houston Chronicle

"For the two most tenured Rockets playing on Monday, Chuck Hayes and Shane Battier, no venue brings up more reminders of past games than EnergySolutions Arena. They are not good memories. Going into Monday's game, the Rockets had gone 9-28 in EnergySolutions Arena, with the Jazz winning six of their past seven meetings, and both games last season in Salt Lake City against the Rockets. That does not include the 2006-07 and 2007-08 first-round playoff series won by the Jazz. "This place leaves a sour taste in your mouth if you're a Rocket," Hayes said. "The history, the rivalry that we've had, the playoff series, this place can get really, really hectic. The runs, the crowd, how much harder ..."

Rockets blow by Jazz with balanced scoring attack

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November 3

Houston Chronicle

"Finally, the Rockets had enough. As much as they had seemed to control the game from the opening tip, they could not pull away. They kept building leads. The Jazz kept rallying back. By the fourth quarter, another lead was gone. The Jazz seemed poised for one of those familiar finishing kicks, when everything seems to roll for them on this site of so many Rockets nightmares. Yet, with another lead gone, the Rockets put together another run, and this time, they kept on running until they rolled to a 23-point lead and cruised in for a 113-96 rout Monday of the Jazz. "It's huge, a huge win for us," said Rockets center Chuck Hayes, who had 10 of his 12 points in the first half to help set a ..."

No Yao, McGrady

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November 2

Salt Lake Tribune

"After playing the Houston Rockets 24 times the last three seasons -- 11 regular-season games as well as first-round playoff series in 2007 and 2008 -- the Jazz might be in for a case of mistaken identity tonight. The Rockets will be back at EnergySolutions Arena, but without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady . Their remaining cast is led by Trevor Ariza , last seen helping the L.A. Lakers to last season's championship before signing with Houston as a free agent. Yao is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery -- once feared career-threatening -- that included a bone graft and realignment of his left foot. McGrady, meanwhile, underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in February ..."

Tweaking the defense

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November 2

Houston Chronicle

"Though the Rockets got a steady diet of a physical point guard posting up their small guards Saturday against Andre Miller and the Trail Blazers, they expect a much greater test tonight against Deron Williams and the Jazz. "We got to be able to defend as a team," Aaron Brooks said. "Sometimes, it gets teams out of their offense when they're trying to post us up. Sometimes it might work. It's like a play, I guess. Sometimes plays work; sometimes they don't." Rockets coach Rick Adelman, however, said the Rockets did a better job with their rotations when defending Miller in the low post than the more traditional post-up players. "When the guard posts, we're OK," he said. "We can play that. ..."

Rockets to encounter size issues against Jazz tonight

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November 2

Houston Chronicle

"For all that is thought of the mini Rockets based on appearances and assumptions, some issues are real and undeniable. On the boards, where the NBA can come down to survival of the fittest, the Rockets — they of the 6-6 starting center and finesse "power" forwards — don't deny the problem that seemed apparent. They have had to find another way. The plan is simple. A pack of wolves can take down an elk. Sending everyone on the floor to the glass, the Rockets hope, might just match what most teams get from one or two giants. "It's got to be all five guys," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "You can't expect our big people to box out and go get the ball. They have the size advantage on it. ..."

Pragmatic Owner

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November 1

Houston Chronicle

"For Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, the home opener brought different feelings and expectations than past seasons, but with optimism. Alexander said he does not expect the Rockets "to win the championship," as he has in past seasons, but he has been pleased with the developments in the preseason and first week of the season. "Sometimes you have no choice (but to change expectations)," Alexander said Saturday. "We're in that situation right now. I'd love to see Yao (Ming) in the middle of these players. I'd like to see Tracy (McGrady), too, but Yao in the middle here would change everything." Alexander said he is confident about the rebuilt supporting cast because of the development of the ..."

Landry has big game against big Blazers

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November 1

Houston Chronicle

"In honor of Halloween, Aaron Brooks wore orange shoelaces in his low-cut black Nikes on Saturday, so the Rockets point guard enjoys a little levity. Asked following the Rockets' 111-107 victory about forward Carl Landry, who not only scored 16 points in 26 minutes but also finished the game on the court battling Portland's massive frontline, Brooks couldn't help himself. "Did Carl play today?" he said. He was joking, because Landry was … well, allow coach Rick Adelman to gush: "I thought he was very active tonight. After we attack, he was getting in a good situation to finish. But I also thought he was much more aggressive. He made a couple of moves where he went into the guy, spun, got to ..."

Ariza, Brooks lead Rockets in home opener

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November 1

Houston Chronicle

"For all that has changed, this has not. But then, homecoming games are supposed to be sure things. Anywhere else, a meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers would be anything but certain for the retooled Rockets. But against the Trail Blazers in Toyota Center, they remain nearly perfect. Less than a week after it was all the Rockets could do to keep the Trail Blazers from running them off the floor in Portland, they reconvened at Toyota Center on Saturday night for the Rockets' home opener and the Rockets treated the Blazers as they always do, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 111-107 win. With that, they are 14-1 against the Blazers at Toyota Center, including last season's three ..."

Troublesome Blazers

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October 31

Houston Chronicle

"As much as the Trail Blazers' size seemed to give the Rockets trouble, their defense controlled most of the game Tuesday. Portland's determination to overplay on the perimeter and switch on screens gave the Rockets fits at times, more than enough to know they will see it from the Blazers tonight (and to a degree in Utah on Monday and against the Lakers on Wednesday). "Portland was more active and took things away from us," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "Golden State, they had a small guy guarding Carl (Landry) and Luis (Scola), but they played behind them and we were able to hurt them. Portland didn't allow that. "They had their big guy helping. They were fronting. They were switching. ..."

Rockets will lean on ball movement against Blazers

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October 31

Houston Chronicle

"For more than seven stunning minutes, the Rockets' offense was perfect. But in a larger sense, those seven minutes could become better. Trailing by 10 to start Wednesday's second half at Golden State, the Rockets took 11 shots and made 11 shots, everything from a Luis Scola 3-pointer to a slick Aaron Brooks reverse. In 7½ minutes, the Rockets scored 25 points. And when they missed, with a Kyle Lowry drive rimming out, Chuck Hayes tipped it in. All that helped earn one win, which, as much as it was needed, was just one win. But that stretch could be worth much more should it become the Rockets' blueprint as they head into tonight's home opener against the same Trail Blazers they bounced ..."

Rockets name pair of captains

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October 30

Houston Chronicle

"Chuck Hayes' duties as a Rockets co-captain along with Shane Battier have been limited. He had to answer a question about being a captain. "I'm a captain?" he said. "I didn't know I was. That's news to me. Wow. I can't remember the last time I was a captain. I guess as far as the captain is concerned, I'm more of the Robin to Shane's Batman." There was, apparently, no ceremony. There was no vote. There will be no 'C' stitched onto uniforms, hockey style. For Hayes, there is not even a pregame chat with officials. That falls to Battier. "Shane does that, and I get the layups ready," Hayes, 26, said. "I guess I'll second whatever he says. I'll let my voice be heard, but I don't know how to ..."

Brooks to get extension

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October 30

Houston Chronicle

"As expected, the Rockets on Thursday sent in the paperwork to extend guard Aaron Brooks' contract for a fourth season, keeping him signed through 2010-11, a person with knowledge of the move said. Though Rockets general manager Daryl Morey had called the move "a no-brainer," he chose to stick with his policy of making contract moves at the deadline when possible. Morey did not comment. Brooks, 24, had assumed the Rockets had picked up their option on his fourth season weeks ago. The extension is expected to be completed today, one day before the deadline. As stipulated by the NBA scale for Brooks' draft position in 2007, he will earn $2,016,692. Launching pad Through the first two seasons ..."

Warriors swing, miss

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October 29

Contra Costa Times

"The good news: rookie guard Stephen Curry lived up to the hype the preceded his NBA debut Wednesday night. He finished with 14 points, seven assists, four steals and two turnovers in 36 minutes. The bad news: it wasn't enough to prevent the Warriors from dropping a winnable game, losing 108-107 to the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. The Warriors also got 26 points and five assists from guard Monta Ellis. But Houston, finishing off a back-to-back set, were too good from the outside. They knocked down 12 3-pointers and countless mid-range jumpers. Guard Trevor Ariza and forward Luis Scola combined for 46 points on 16-for-32 shooting. Curry made a few mistakes down the stretch. But those ..."

Easing in Scola

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October 29

Houston Chronicle

"Luis Scola struggled on Tuesday in his first game back from his sprained ankle, making just one of six shots and grabbing four rebounds in 22 minutes. But Rockets coach Rick Adelman thought Scola was hindered by the time lost to the injury more than the injury itself. "It also had an effect on us, too, because we haven't had him for very many games and we only had him for one practice," Adelman said. "We just have to let him get back into it, and as long as he stays healthy, he's going to be OK." Welcome to the bigs Having not experienced even a hint of nervousness through the preseason, Chase Budinger did not see it coming. With the first game of his NBA career, however, it hit him hard. ..."

Big third quarter leads Rockets into win column

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October 29

Houston Chronicle

"The difference was clear. So is the change that is needed. From now on, the Rockets might just need to take watercraft to every game. Cruise ships and sail boats, yachts and submarines. If the Rockets can take canoes down the bayous to Toyota Center, they should do it. With the Bay Bridge closed on Wednesday, they took the step unprecedented in the NBA world of luxury planes, trains and automobiles of taking the ferry across the San Francisco Bay on Wednesday, and though there was nothing like smooth sailing, the Rockets took over the second half and held to beat the Warriors, 108-107, for their first win of the season. "We have to go down to Galveston and get in a boat," said Trevor ..."

Bay Bridge shutdown also a headache for Rockets

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October 29

Houston Chronicle

"For all the challenges the Rockets knew they would face, just getting to the game was not supposed to be among them. On Tuesday, however, a cable snapped on the Bay Bridge, shutting down the bridge in both directions and sending the Rockets scrambling on Wednesday for a way to get from their hotel in San Francisco to Oracle Arena in Oakland. "This is the first ferry I've taken," Rockets coach Rick Adelman, who NBA tenure goes back long before charter flights. "But you know, it wasn't bad. It was a beautiful day, nice weather. The only difference I could see was we left earlier. It worked out really good." Rockets players said they were noticed by the workday commuters, but there were no ..."

Adelman focuses on rebounding

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October 28

Houston Chronicle

"Asked if there was one area he wanted to evaluate in the season opener, Rockets coach Rick Adelman did not hesitate. "Can we get a rebound is probably the biggest thing," he said. "That's just a big concern we have." This was especially true against the Trail Blazers, who have been among the league's best rebounding teams in recent years, especially on the offensive boards. Adelman's concern, however, was not isolated to the opener. "It's going to be a concern of ours all year," Adelman said. "We have to gang rebound. That's the biggest concern." Adelman, however, said needing his guards to help rebound should not slow the fast break, with a variety of players able to lead the break if ..."

Thrust into spotlight, Ariza keeping cool

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October 28

Houston Chronicle

"Everywhere else, Trevor Ariza was a sidekick, a supporting actor on a team loaded with leading men. He had decided he was ready to change that when he made his move to the Rockets, but in this one NBA city, in front of these fans, Ariza was already the player in the spotlight, the one that inspired opinions and emotions. In his previous trip to the Rose Garden, Ariza was booed every time his name was mentioned and every time he touched the ball. He had earlier last season floored Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez while going for a blocked shot, sending Fernandez sprawling in a frightful spill and to a night in the hospital. When the Lakers returned late last season, Portland fans made sure he ..."

Late sprint can't erase Rockets' false start

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October 28

Houston Chronicle

"The Rockets knew they had reason for concern. But with 81 games and one fourth quarter to go, they had reason to move from worry to panic. The season opener seemed certainly lost. So did a large percentage of the season to follow. The Rockets did not change the outcome, but they might have provided reason for hope. The Rockets began their season three quarters late, but they did produce a fourth-quarter rally to reduce a 20-point deficit to six and to revive hope. The Portland Trail Blazers ultimately prevailed 96-87 Tuesday night, leaving the Rockets clinging to the understanding that it could have been — and for most of the night was — much worse. "We just have to have intensity for the ..."

Trail Blazers' size to be a test

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October 27

Houston Chronicle

"With the Rockets uncertain about how things will work given their lack of size, Portland's wealth of size — with seven-footers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla at center and LaMarcus Aldridge at forward — offers an immediate test of life without Yao Ming. "It's going to show us a lot because of their size, the way they can play," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We know what they're doing, but it's a lot different when we had Yao in that playoff series. He was a big factor. With our size, can we nullify their size? That's what we're going to find out. I think it's going to be a good measuring stick for us." The Rockets do have Luis Scola back from a sprained ankle, increasing their options to ..."

Rockets back on court tonight with very different look

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October 27

Houston Chronicle

"Perhaps this wasn't what the NBA had in mind. Sending the Rockets back to Portland, to begin the season where the postseason began six months earlier, might have offered a nice bit of symmetry, a way to renew a budding rivalry between two of the Western Conference's emerging teams. And despite a question posed by Aaron Brooks — "Does one series make a rivary?" — it could have felt as much like a Game 7 of a playoff series as Game 1 of the Rockets' 2009-10 schedule. Instead, with the Rockets radically different with Yao Ming out and Tracy McGrady not yet back, the matchup offers a chance not just for them to measure themselves against one of the best teams in the West, but to compare ..."

They've genuinely got game

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October 25

Houston Chronicle

"The seasons, the players and even the arenas have changed over the years. The questions Jim Mann hears never do. Mann, a member of the Rockets' stat crew since the 1995-96 season, will on occasion mention that he spends evenings in Toyota Center recording everything the Rockets and their opponents do. That inspires the same reaction. "I get two questions," Mann said. "The first one is: 'Can you get me tickets?' The answer is no. The second one is: 'Do you need an assistant?'??" The answer to that one is they might not enjoy it if they did try it and probably couldn't do it anyway. Modesty might prevent admitting that it has taken years for the stat crew members at Toyota Center — most ..."

Case closed: Just have fun

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October 25

Houston Chronicle

columnist Richard Justice

"Every year around this time, you're so uptight about how the Rockets are going to do in the playoffs that you can't even enjoy the journey. When Shane Battier hits a game-winning jumper to beat the Thunder or Aaron Brooks does something spectacular against the Blazers or Carl Landry has a game that convinces you he's going to be a star, all you can think about is what it's going to mean in April. That's the great thing about this season. It's stress free. How's that for looking on the bright side? This time last year, some of us believed the Rockets were capable of making a deep run into the playoffs. That was then. At the moment, no one is expecting the Rockets to even make the playoffs, ..."

Houston's men of mystery

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October 25

Houston Chronicle

"Eventually, for better or worse, the Rockets will know. The mysteries will be solved. All the questions they now have will be answered. For now, however, the Rockets can only wait and wonder. A team filled with changes and questions, still dramatically impacted by the health of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, the Rockets have ideas how it all can work but really only know that they can't possibly know — yet. "We don't know what our identity is," Shane Battier said. "That's probably the biggest question we have. We don't know who we are. I don't think we're ultimately going to know who we are as a team or individuals for a few weeks into the season. It's not going to be like on opening night, ..."

McGrady lends a hand

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October 24

Houston Chronicle

"Tracy McGrady has not returned full-time to Rockets practices, but he did go overtime this week. McGrady stayed after Thursday's practice to work with center Joey Dorsey on post moves. "This is the first day we started working out," Dorsey said Thursday. "Me and Mac talked (Wednesday) night. He was like, 'Stop throwing the ball out of the post every time you get it. Look to score sometimes. You're the biggest one on the court.' So we came in and started working out. "I talked to him because Mac, he's still favoring his injury, but on the court, he's looking really good. He's playing well. I've seen how he posts up and he makes moves so easy and gets to the basket. Who else to learn from ..."

Rockets lose to Mavericks 98-94 in preseason finale

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October 24

Houston Chronicle

"For all the trials and experiments of the preseason, the Rockets had not given themselves the test they needed most. That came Friday, They had won in routs and beaten backups. They had lost a few games that were decided before crowds could begin their escape to the exits. Never had they had the chance to test themselves down the stretch, against a good team playing to win. Then, with 3½ minutes left and the Dallas Mavericks leading by one, the Rockets had their chance. That's when they crashed, with the Mavericks pulling away to end the Rockets' preseason with a 98-94 loss and questions about their ability to win the sorts of games they know they must. "That's one area I know is a ..."

Nowitzki ejected as Dallas Mavericks win preseason finale

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October 24

Dallas Morning News

"It's unclear what the Mavericks are happier to see finished, the preseason or replacement refs. As best they could with a starter still missing, another returning for only one half and two players ejected (sort of), the Mavericks flashed their regular-season look Friday night in the exhibition finale. Based on the evidence, fans should not expect any instant gratification with this team. But the Mavericks did finish the preseason with a 98-94 victory over the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Shawn Marion played the first half, and the Mavericks rode Dirk Nowitzki like he was Secretariat for 3½ quarters. The rotation seemed to be handled like it probably will be for Tuesday's ..."

Final tuneup

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October 23

Houston Chronicle

"The Dallas Mavericks are expected to play the majority of their regulars tonight after letting the bulk of their starters sit out this week's game against Cleveland in Pittsburgh. In addition to Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Jason Kidd playing, Shawn Marion is expected to return to the court after sitting out all but two of the preseason games. Josh Howard also has returned to practices. The last chance to play against a top team's regulars would seem to offer a good tuneup opportunity, but Rockets coach Rick Adelman said he is more concerned with how the Rockets execute than who they face. "I really don't care who they play," he said. "I'm more concerned that we're getting more ..."

Pops go the Rockets

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October 23

Houston Chronicle

"Had Pops Mensah-Bonsu allowed himself to worry, had he been tossing and turning through the nights while considering his chances to make the Rockets roster, there might have been greater elation, or at least relief at the news. Having been through this, he would not put himself through that torture again. He had learned over the years to fight those thoughts. He also knew from experience how to react when he learned that he had made the 15-player Rockets roster Thursday, vowing to maintain the sort of play that got him this far. "I've been in this situation a couple times so I'm a vet at it," Mensah-Bonsu, 26, said. "Maybe if I was a young guy I'd have been a little wound up. Now, I'm a ..."

Rockets release two guards in first preseason cuts

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October 22

Houston Chronicle

"The Rockets made their first roster moves of the preseason, waiving guards Garrett Temple and Romel Beck. Temple, however, could be back with the organization, if not necessarily with the Rocketsteam. The Rockets were impressed enough with Temple's potential that they are likely to make Temple him an "allocation target" to get the NBA Development League rights to him, hoping to add him to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers roster. The Vipers can consider players either from or who played collegiately in Texas or Louisiana to be regional picks and request to have their rights assigned to them. The Spurs, who own the Austin Toros, can also put in a claim on Temple, who is from Baton Rouge, La., ..."

Team happy NBA, union close to striking deal to bring back refs

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October 22

Houston Chronicle

"Chuck Hayes was not ready to duplicate the kiss Charles Barkley planted on Dick Bavetta's lips during the Las Vegas All-Star Weekend. Hayes and other Rockets players were happy with the news that NBA officials likely will be back to work by Tuesday's season opener. Hayes was not, however, that happy. Amid reports the NBA is close to an agreement with the NBA referees union that would end the lockout of the officials — with a vote by the union membership to ratify the agreement set for Friday — Rockets players said the replacement referees are improving but that they prefer the real thing. "It'll be good to see guys you know that you haven't seen since last season," Hayes said. "Some you ..."

Praise for Mensah-Bonsu

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October 21

Houston Chronicle

"With the Rockets expected to make roster decisions this week, possibly making their first cuts of the preseason today, Pops Mensah-Bonsu would seem to be in a good position after Monday's game. With Rockets coach Rick Adelman no longer using preseason games to experiment, Mensah-Bonsu was at the scorers' table to check in in the first quarter. With Luis Scola out, Mensah-Bonsu played 17 minutes, scoring 13 points. "I can only take care of what I can take care of, try to be concerned with my own destiny," Mensah-Bonsu said. "Everything else, that's out of my hands." Adelman said he would meet with general manager Daryl Morey on Tuesday to begin considering roster decisions. Not including ..."

If big guys win race, Rockets get the spoils

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October 21

Houston Chronicle

"Shane Battier sprinted up the floor, beating the Toronto Raptors to his favorite spot in the corner, a step beyond the 3-point line. Aaron Brooks raced the ball up the center of the floor, veered to his left and delivered a sharp pass to Battier, who quickly swished his 3. Brooks knew just what to say: "Good job, Chuck." Chuck Hayes never touched the ball. He didn't get the rebound or send an outlet pass to Brooks. He certainly did not lead the break or hit the 3. "Normally, when I pass the ball to Shane and he hits a 3, I'll say, 'Good job, Chuck,'?" Brooks said. "It all starts with our big guys. "That's the most important thing, because when the bigs beat them down (the court), it draws ..."

Four Rockets vying to make roster

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October 20

Houston Chronicle

"When the Rockets' morning shootaround ended Monday, four players remained on the Toyota Center practice court. It's little wonder they did not want to leave. Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Will Conroy, Garrett Temple and Romel Beck, the four Rockets with non-guaranteed contracts, might have wanted to put the coming roster cuts out of their minds. The court might have offered respite from thoughts of the cuts. "It's kind of impossible to put out of your mind," Conroy said. "Your future, as far as what is going to happen with this team, is this week. You just want to go out there and do what you've been doing, be a good teammate and do what the coach asks you do." The Rockets are expected to trim two ..."

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