Bleacher Report - Houston Rockets

Tracy McGrady Situation Is a Dicey One For Houston Rockets

Taylor Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:27:29 -0500

Houston Rockets guard and former cornerstone Tracy McGrady hasn't played in an NBA game since Feb. 9 against Milwaukee last season.

A few days later, it was announced that McGrady would undergo season-ending microfracture surgery on his left knee. Is it any coincidence that, immediately following the announcement, the Rockets went on to win six straight and 11 of their next 13 games?

Maybe, maybe not.

While McGrady was on the floor last season, he often looked disinterested and out of place, often just standing 30 feet from the basket and passing the ball around the perimeter.

Much like Ron Artest, McGrady's presence and demands for the ball made it difficult for Aaron Brooks to assert himself offensively, making him a much more timid player.

McGrady hasn't played a minute so far this season, and the Rockets are 7-5, in second place in the Southwest Division. This year's Rockets team runs the floor, plays hard on both ends, and shoots a high percentage.

So, it begs the question: Does Tracy McGrady and his style of play fit in with these Rockets? Lots of this depends on which version of McGrady the Rockets will get back once he's ready to hit the hardwood.

Will they get the sluggish, disinterested version they got last year before the surgery?

Or, will they get the dynamic, superstar player that McGrady was for several years before that?

Assuming he's back to being 100 percent healthy, there's no questioning McGrady's abilities. When he's asserting himself and attacking the rim, he's one of the more talented scorers in the league. At 6'8", he's a tough check for smaller guards, and quick enough to get around most forwards.

So, does he fit in with Houston's offensive scheme?

These Rockets rely on ball movement, active cutting, and fast breaks in order to get the best possible shot. For McGrady to do his thing, it typically means the ball stops in his hands, and he goes to work individually, as the other four guys on the court stand and watch.

To be fair, sometimes you need a guy like this that can get you a basket down the stretch in a close game. The Rockets are sorely lacking a crunch-time number one option, and maybe McGrady is that guy for them.

However, it was clear that even before the injury, McGrady was unwilling to run in Rick Adelman's style. Yao Ming wasn't the only reason Adelman had to institute a new kind of offense when he initially came to Houston.

McGrady is a slow-it-down, let me beat my guy one-on-one type of player. The Rockets are a team that beats their opponents down the floor and gets easier shot opportunities. T-Mac must show that he's willing to step in and roll with the team, rather than try and do everything himself.

Could McGrady's return screw up the chemistry the Rockets are currently developing? Obviously, any new player has the opportunity to disrupt a team when they first become a part of it.

Much of it depends on McGrady's attitude.

Based on his uniform-wearing tirade with Rick Adelman before Wednesday's game in Minnesota, there's no question that McGrady wants to be on the floor.

It's just a matter of how he conducts himself. He'll undoubtedly be in a different role than he's used to, at least at first.

The Rockets rely on no one player to do everything for them. They don't have enough size or talent to rely on one or two players just to carry them anymore. The Rockets win as a team, and, so far, it's worked out nicely for them.

However, it's extremely important to note that this is an important time for McGrady personally, as he is in the final year of his contract. Will he want to come in and showcase himself and show that he can still be a franchise player?

Who wouldn't?

However, as evidenced by the current Allen Iverson situation, nobody wants an aging, me-first kind of player. McGrady is going to have to check his ego at the door if he wants to help the Rockets win games.

If he comes in and plays poorly, nobody is going to want to take a chance next summer on a 31-year-old, injury prone, ineffective player. On the other hand, if he gets in there and plays within himself, and does what Rick Adelman wants him to, then he'll be showing people around the league that he's capable of stepping in as a piece on a winning ball club.

Microfracture surgery is a serious procedure for an athlete, and has killed many an NBA career in the past. It's going to be a long road for McGrady, and he may not look like his old self ever again, for all we know.

However, some players have been able to recover fully from the surgery (see: Amar'e Stoudemire) and continue to play at a high level. It's likely that T-Mac's game will never again rely on the explosiveness that it once did, which could hurt him, since he's not an outstanding set-shooter.

That being said, I don't doubt that Tracy McGrady has the overall ability to play at a high level in the NBA again. If he comes in and plays for the team, the Rockets will be better for it, and he will make some money next summer.

If he comes in and plays for himself, the Rockets will flounder, and he'll be struggling to find a job next summer.

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Hide The Women And Children, Tracy Is At It Again

Bhagwat Kumar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:20:54 -0500

It never fails. It really, truly, never fails. Tracy "You Better Still Call Me T-Mac" Mcgrady is at it again.

This happens every time we show the slightest hint of optimism about him, every time a sliver of hope peaks through the shroud of darkness that has been Tracy Mcgrady's tenure as a Rocket: he squashes it.

To stay recent with my examples, after a phenomenal 2008 Playoffs he announced he needed shoulder and knee surgery, quelling any ideas that he was for once fully healthy.

Last season he distracted and restricted the team, trying to play through an injury while making sure everybody knew that he was, in fact, injured by looking absolutely miserable on the floor, shooting like it was 2003 and then destroying any chance we had at trading him by announcing the day before the trade deadline that he would be getting microfracture surgery.

Now, after weeks of stories about how motivated he is and how well he is progressing, apparently Mcgrady and Adelman had a heated exchange before Wednesday night's Timberwolves game about when he would return.

Mcgrady was frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of communication between him and the organization, and continued his passive-aggressive assault on the Rockets by suiting up for the game and shooting around before actually approaching Adelman. The confrontation was icy at best and sources even said that shouting could be heard coming from the coach's office.

This is not a new story, rather just the resurgence of an old one. Mcgrady and the Rockets, and Adelman to be more specific, do not get along. What Mcgrady doesn't understand, though, is that the Rockets do not need him this season. The team is more than happy to continue the way it has been, fighting hard every night and winning enough to make it worthwhile.

Yes, we probably need Mcgrady to truly contend for the title, but not if he's going to act like a prima donna. We need the Mcgrady that played for us from January to April of 2008, the selfless leader who led a defense, rebounded hard, distributed as a first option instead of a last resort and cold-bloodedly took over games when he had to.

I know, I've romanticized what Mcgrady was during those three months, but compared to what he is now that's hardly an exaggeration. Mcgrady is still scheduled to undergo an MRI before the team clears him to return, and I'm guessing that the organization will choose a course of action based on the results of the scan.

If Mcgrady is in fact fully healthy and ready to return, he and Adelman need to work out whatever the hell is bothering them if we're going to get anywhere this year. By actually talking to one another . Otherwise, things like this will continue to happen.

Now, in spite of all this, I just want to establish that I'm still very, very excited for Mcgrady's return. This teams potential with an invested, motivated T-Mac is off the charts. If he understands how great he can be without shooting contested, step-back 20 footers every time he touches the ball we can truly be a special team.

If he realizes how talented of a passer he is and how badly we need him to run the offense, we can be dominant. If he puts the Rockets as a whole before himself, and disproves his doubters with his teammates rather than in spite of them, we're a title contender. Damn, that's a lot of if's.

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The Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady Needs To Grow Up

Denton Ramsey — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:01:32 -0500

Tracy McGrady’s latest temper tantrum with Houston Rockets head coach Rick Adelman has me convinced that the six-time All-Star has lost his mind.

The latest outbreak, which occurred in Minnesota prior to the start of the game, has me wondering if T-Mac has been spending too much time around the likes of Kobe Bryant and his me-first attitude.

Personally, I really don’t think McGrady is the right fit for this Houston Rockets team, especially after this latest crying shame by the former franchise icon.

Houston’s Rockets are currently in a great position at 7-5 and their team chemistry is through the roof.

You add an attitude-inept individual like McGrady to that mix and it could easily spell disaster.

Let me be the first to say that I was a big fan of T-Mac when the Rockets first brought him on board. He appeared to be focused on making Houston a winning franchise, and upon first glance he absolutely seemed like a team player.

But through all the injuries and all 125 games he has missed with the team in his six seasons as a Rocket, things began to change.

That change, unfortunately, is becoming more and more evident.

The Houston Rockets don’t need T-Mac to win; they have proved that time and time again.

Don’t get me wrong; I still think McGrady has remarkable skills and could truly help a team reach postseason play. But his time in Houston is about up.

Come on now, Tracy, do you really think screaming and yelling at your coach about your worth is going to fix this situation? Houston fans love you, there’s no doubt. But you need to grow up, T-Mac.

This Rockets team, assembled by Daryl Morey and directed by Adelman, is doing extraordinary things on the hardwood thus far.

Please, T-Mac, don’t dampen Houston’s season with your worries and concerns over your own personal magnitude. Fix your attitude and I’m sure this team will welcome you back with open arms…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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Sloth Is A Sin: NBA Recapping, Previewing and Self-Pitying

Bhagwat Kumar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:03:57 -0500

If you're one of our loyal fans who regularly checks and reads Bring Back Novak , I'd first off like to thank you for your support. All two of you. And I guess I can't really count myself, so thanks for reading my articles, Billy. It means a lot.

In any case, you have probably realized that we haven't been doing much posting. But I promise you, that's a thing of the past. And if you're thinking that I made this exact same promise about three weeks ago and spectacularly failed to come through on it, you're exactly right.

Broken promises and shoddy articles, that's the stuff we're made of here at Bring Back Novak . But in any case, a lot of stuff's been going on in Red Nation (an apology to all our Cherokee readers, that link was in jest) and it's our job to give you our two cents on them. And, I guess it's our job to also let you know that two cents is way, way too much to pay to hear what we have to say.

Houston Rockets 101, Los Angeles Lakers 91

A redemptive (I don't think that's a word) victory of sorts for the good guys. After a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Kobe's, we (read: Aaron Brooks and our bench) were able to steal a game in Los Angeles. I'll admit that I was only able to watch the first half and the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter thanks to Peyton Manning's heroics and my inability to change the channel, but I really, really liked what I saw. Especially the part when the Lakers fans started to boo them. Quality fans, Los Angeles, quality fans .

Ariza looked a little skittish playing against his old team, but then again it might just have been that the weight of that ring was throwing off his shot. Not that ring. This ring .

Brooks played like a man possessed, dropping 33 on 23 shots, Andersen saw Pau Gasol hurt and realized that one soft European had to step up his game, Carl Landry was as efficient as ever and Kyle Lowry was, for lack of a better phrase, an absolute bulldog.

The hands down best moment of the game was Lowry, by far the smallest guy on the floor at 6'0, grabbing two offensive rebounds on the same possession late in the fourth. You're not quite there yet, Andrew . Oh, and this happened. So yeah, thanks for that Ron. You're a real swell guy.

Houston Rockets 105, Phoenix Suns 111

Just as a disclaimer, I know I'm supposed to be mad at the Suns, but I really can't help but fawn over Steve Nash. So if you notice me starting to ramble feel free to gloss over a few sentences.

This was a hard, hard fought loss and I can't really blame the Rockets for not being able to beat a very talented, more experienced Suns team, who, by the way, seems to also be overachieving just a little. I had high expectations going into this game for the Nash vs. Brooks matchup, and the guys did not disappoint.

Brooks had a career high 13 assists and while Nash's shot wasn't falling, he still was able to get 16 of his own. Which, well, was not a career high for him. Not even close.

Watching Steve Nash play basketball is one of the few, pure, unadulterated joys man has left. Looking at his stats, impressive as they are, does not do the man justice. He's so smooth, so in control, so poised, he executes the pick-and-roll like no other and that pull-up jumper is one of the prettiest things I've ever seen. And believe me, I've seen some pretty things . Yes, that was necessary.

And then of course there's Goran Dragic, once commonly known as "The Other White Guy Who Kind of Looks Like Nash from a Distance but is Nowhere Near as Good," but now more frequently referred to as "The Guy Who Goes in to Make Sure People Realize How Good Nash is by Comparison." A career night for Carl Landry, who I'm convinced is our best, or at least most consistent, scorer. 27 points on 18 shots for The Toothless One .

But to briefly sum up the game, we came out hot, as usual, and were looking like we would take a double digit lead into halftime before the Suns utilized a 12-0 run to cut our lead to three at the break. Amar'e sort of had his way inside (I say sort of because until he realizes that to truly control the paint he has to do so on the defensive end of the floor as well as the offensive one he'll never really dominate the inside) and Jason Richardson had a couple of hot streaks, and the second half, especially the fourth quarter, was made up of us struggling to create quality shots against a surprisingly resilient Suns defense. All in all, a tough loss against a tough team, nothing to get too down about.

Houston Rockets 97, Minnesota Timberwolves 84

So, uh, looks like Ricky Rubio might have made the right decision after all. There really is nothing like playing the Timberwolves to get you back on track. Except, maybe, playing the Nets. Or the Warriors. Or the Grizzlies. Or the Clippers. Oh, those Clippers. Those poor, poor Clippers. In any case, this is why I wasn't too broken up about losing to the Suns. We had the Timberwolves next. But in all seriousness, this was actually a great win for the Rockets.

I don't think there's anything harder in the NBA than the end of a back-to-back that makes you leave home for the second game, as both the Suns and then Lakers have just shown us. Ariza once again struggled to prove that he can handle using 23 possessions a game, a usage rate that puts him just under Steve Nash. Ariza is a great player and is filled to the brim with talent, but that doesn't mean he needs to be a high volume player. He can dominate a game without having to hang on to the ball, and we need to more actively find ways for him to do that.

Still, a solid outing for Trevor, nothing that really deserves those last few sentences. Scola was the standout with 20 and 16. Landry came back down to Earth pretty hard, with a 5-0-0 line that looks like something Derek Fisher would boast. The game was a lot closer than the final score might indicate, with the 'Wolves hanging around for three and a half quarters before we finally put them away.

Al Jefferson was 20-10 on 9 shots and is starting to round back into last season's form, but was held down for the last eight minutes of the game after a Carl Landry kick to the head, which, not coincidentally, coincided with us pulling away and the Timberwolves struggling to score.

I take back that Derek Fisher joke, Carl, you might have just won the game for us. A much needed break in a tough game against an opponent desperate, and I truly mean desperate, for a win. 2010 and the long, flowing, Spanish hair it will bring can't come soon enough for the T-Wolves.

Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks, Thursday (6:30 Central)

We've got the Hawks in Atlanta on Thursday in what's sure to be a great game. Josh Smith is reborn and re-topping my list of favorite non-Rockets, trailing only Steve Nash for the number one spot. Joe Johnson is Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford has been a revelation and Mike Bibby is, well, he's really old and showing signs of decline.

The key Thursday is containing Horford, who's truly been a man amongst boys so far this season. Like our own Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes, Horford is slightly undersized, even if it is to a lesser extent, and still manages to dominate the paint, even if it is to a greater extent.

Our bench output will need to be as strong as ever to counteract the combustible Jamar Crawford, because if he gets hot we'll need Landry, Lowry and Budinger to all produce, which is hardly unlikely. Andersen can help too. Defense will be essential tomorrow, as the Hawks are third in offensive efficiency in the NBA with a phenomenal 110.1 points per 100 possessions. To put that in perspective, we only score about 105 per 100.

Ariza, Hayes and company will also need to have hands as active as ever, as the Hawks are the second stingiest team with possession in the NBA as they turn the ball over just a shade under 21 percent of the time. If you're wondering whether there's a correlation between the Hawks' turnover rate and their offensive efficiency, there is, and if we can create turnovers and easy opportunities in transition it'll go a long way to helping us return home with the win.

In any case, it's going to be a fun one at Philips Arena, and hopefully we can leave the A-Town after handing the Hawks their first home loss of this young season. And, as always, go Rockets.

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Houston Rockets Continuing To Grow, Mold, Succeed As a Team

Denton Ramsey — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:17:05 -0500

I know we’re only 12 games into the NBA season, but the Houston Rockets continue to amaze me.

Forget the fact that the media constantly writes off the Rockets; they keep on winning on the hardwood, and that’s all that really matters.

One game after Houston knocked off the LA Lakers on the road, they faced an uphill battle in a matchup with the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center.

And early on, it looked like the Rockets were going to cruise to a second consecutive victory over a team with only two prior losses; unfortunately, Houston fell apart late as the Suns regained control in the fourth and final quarter to defeat the Rockets at home.

However, Houston bounced right back with a big win against Minnesota on the road just one night after falling to the Suns.

Currently, the Rockets hold a 7-5 record heading into Friday’s showdown with the league-leading Atlanta Hawks (10-2).

“I hope the guys in the locker room can look at our team and say that when we play hard and play together we can be competitive with anybody,” Houston Rockets court leader Shane Battier told Rockets.com staff writer Jason Friedman.

“I also hope that when they look at our team and our losses—and how we lost—that if we don’t bring that same energy and togetherness, we can be beaten by anybody, anywhere. That’s a lot of range of possibilities for this team but if we focus on the good and focus on staying together, I think we can be competitive.”

Battier is always right on the money when it comes to explaining the Rockets chemistry. So is he pleased with the team’s current progress?

“I would say so. For a team that had so many unknowns coming into the year, I didn’t know what to expect to tell you the truth,” Battier said. “We’re going to get better and that’s the most important thing. We’re going to be a different team two months from now but we just need to continue to grow.”

Let’s raise a glass to hoping the Rockets can continue to succeed on the hardwood as they battle the Hawks tomorrow night in Atlanta.

I have no doubt that head coach Rick Adelman, general manager Daryl Morey, and the rest of the Rockets team and staff would be more than elated with a big "W" in Georgia.

I also have no doubt that Houston’s basketball team can win on the road against big name teams like the Atlanta Hawks.

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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Hard Road To The NBA Paying Off For Rocket David Andersen

Brodie Stephens — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:19:12 -0500

Sometimes, a basketball player’s fortunes are not entirely under their own control.

For David Andersen , the long, hard road to becoming a Houston Rocket ended with an ephemeral meeting of opportunity and timing at an unexpected juncture.

A seven-foot, 29-year-old NBA rookie this year, Andersen was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks way back in 2002.

Before being acquired by the Rockets in 2009, his NBA rights were essentially held hostage by the Atlanta Hawks for seven years. For several years, Andersen was indisputably regarded as one of the best big men in Europe and dreamed of playing in the NBA.

The Hawks never gave him that chance in Atlanta and, despite offers from several NBA teams, refused to trade his rights for fear of being embarrassed if he excelled elsewhere.

“I just wish they would give me a straight answer either way," Andersen told Jonathan Givony of Draftexpress.com before the Hawks eventually released him to the Rockets.

“Every year it’s the same thing. If they want me, great, but if not, I would like to go play somewhere else. I can’t force the tender and go play on a non-guaranteed minimum contract, but I don’t think I’m asking for crazy money either.”

The Rockets eventually convinced the Hawks to trade Andersen for cash and a future second-round draft pick. The Rockets signed Andersen to a two-year deal worth $4.8 million. The contract also includes a team option for a third year worth $2.7 million. Hardly "crazy money" considering the tallest player on the Rockets roster at the time was 6’9”.

After a long wait, the Australian big man was finally given his NBA chance.

On Sunday night, it was Andersen who became the unlikely sidekick to emerging point guard Aaron Brooks and sparked the Houston Rockets to a win against the rival Los Angeles Lakers.

After sitting for the first quarter, Andersen hit a layup just 10 seconds into the second period. It was a sign of things to come for the 29-year-old rookie as he scored on an array of jump shots, including a three-pointer from the top of the arc to put the Rockets up 47-45 with under three minutes remaining in the half. Andersen finished the second quarter with 13 points.

With the Rockets clinging to a seven-point lead (80-73) after three quarters, the Lakers needed a quick start to the fourth quarter if they were to mount a late game surge. It was Andersen however, who got the jump on the Lakers, scoring six straight unanswered points to start the quarter. His quick-fire start pushed the Rockets’ lead to 13 points amid boos for the home team at the Staples Center.

The Lakers would never recover and were beaten 101-91.

Andersen finished the game with a career-high 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds in the win.

"We obviously didn't know the scouting report that well on Andersen," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "We knew he's a shooter, but we didn't see him play at that level."

Andersen, like his gritty teammates, was merely playing within his role on a team made up of players known more for their determination and tenacity than their overall physical talents.

"(Andrew) Bynum didn't want to come out there and that's my job to knock down the shot," the laid-back Australian said nonchalantly.

Andersen is well aware that he possess neither the interior skills, nor the size necessary to fill the 7’6” void left by Yao Ming’s absence. He understands his role within the team and has no intention of straying from his strengths.

"For me it's a matter of fitting in the team and finding my spot," Andersen explained to Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld.com.

"Right now I'm learning to just get after the rebounds, shoot the ball when I'm open, and different things the team needs. I've been talking to the coaches and getting their thoughts on where I need to be and what I need to do to play more. Hopefully my teammates will get more confidence in me as I grow as a player and a person and do what I need to do to stay on the floor a bit longer and help the team to win."

When Andersen has been on the floor a bit longer, he’s been producing. In the three games in which he's played 15 minutes or more, his averages stand at 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds on 52.9 percent field goal shooting and 83.3 percent free throw shooting in just 21 minutes per game.

When those numbers are extrapolated into starters’ minutes, his numbers start to look impressive. At 30 minutes per game, his averages would be 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game At 35 minutes per game, the figures jump to 20.0 points and 7.4 rebounds.

With more performances like his impressive stint on Sunday night, Andersen's time on the floor should stand to increase towards the ‘little bit longer’ he is hoping for.

It hasn’t been the easiest route to get to Houston, but David Andersen is capitalizing on each opportunity he gets. He’s turning his limited chances into productive contributions.

The scrappy Rockets are often said to "achieve the most with the least," so making the most of limited opportunities is a familiar sentiment for many of Andersen's new associates.

You know ... associates like Mr. Scola, Mr. Battier, Mr. Ariza, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Landry, Mr. Lowry, and Mr. Budinger.

I think Mr. Andersen's going to fit in just fine.

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How-To Guide: Understanding the Jekyll and Hyde Houston Rockets

Robert Kleeman — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:24:41 -0500

The Houston Rockets roared past the Los Angeles Lakers 101-91 Sunday night at Staples Center.

In light of this stupendous upset, you have a few questions.

Such as:

How did the Rockets lose in Sacramento to the team that finished with last season’s worst record before out-classing the defending champions on the road?

How did the Rockets win the rebounding battle 60-38 against the Lakers but lose it 57-36 against the Kings?

Why did center David Andersen play six listless minutes at Arco Arena with two points, then explode for 19 at Staples to key a victory?

How did the bench manage 48 points on 48 percent shooting in L.A. after a dismal 12-point, 16-percent shooting effort in Sac Town?

Did Aaron Brooks score a measly 10 points versus a defensive laughingstock and then pile up a career-high 33 on a unit that hoisted the Larry O' Brien trophy in June?

Carl Landry made just one of six shots at Arco. He drilled five of 10 at Staples.

Chase Budinger improved from 1-of-8 to 5-of-13 from the field.

Explain those discrepancies.

The Lakers jumped out to a 16-0 lead. How did the Rockets come back from that deficit to win by 10 points?

There is one answer to all of these questions. Knowing and embracing it will make it easier to understand the team’s inconsistency.

Expect to see many more weekends like this one. The Rockets are a competitive team without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, not a championship-level one.

Consistency is for title contenders—Boston, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Orlando and Cleveland. The starless Rockets can only hope to stay in every game long enough to have a chance to steal it.

If they can beat anyone—the champs and the Utah Jazz on the road—they can also lose to anyone.

The guys in red who dismantled the Lakers were the same guys who struggled to hang with the Kings and the same guys the Mavericks smashed by 18 points in Dallas.

When the Mavs amassed a 26-3 run in Tuesday’s loss, the Rockets were playing hard. When the Kobe Bryant missed 15-of-20 field goal attempts, the Rockets were playing hard.

The squad will always give fans a consistent effort, but the results will vary.

Talent matters, as does interior muscle. On nights when the basket looks like a peephole to the Rockets' shooters, they can lose by 20 points to any team. When it looks bigger than the Permian Basin, as it did much of Sunday night, they can beat anyone by double figures.

A cadre of streaky long-distance shooters and a commitment to running ensure the team can climb out of many holes. It also means the team’s fate rests on how those shots fall or bounce.

No one can drain 15 of 30 trey attempts 82 times in a season, not even if all 2,460 of those shots are wide open.

Imagine how tough it will be this spring against a defensive-minded title contender.

The Lakers might give up wide-open jumper after wide-open jumper, but the Celtics and Spurs won’t. The Lakers will compensate for their screen-and-roll defensive deficiencies with a lineup as hard to stop as a Formula One car with no brakes.

Sometimes, it won’t matter how hard or high Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola and Landry jump for a loose ball. The Kings used a size advantage to pound the Rockets on the glass.

Sometimes, they will fast-break to perfection and lose to an opponent who did it better.

Tuesday’s foe, Phoenix, comes to mind.

If Charles Barkley said this team lives and dies by jumpers, he would be right. Give the Chuckster some charity.

It must feel awful to be so wrong so much of the time.

Hayes’ and Battier’s competitive streaks make a last-place finish impossible. Can you think of better team captains than these two?

The rookies respect their tenure. The other Rockets youngsters and veterans see everyday how they sap so much from limited abilities.

Hayes' hustle would inspire anyone to compete at the highest level. A 6-6 center is not supposed to frustrate seven-foot future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.

Yet, Duncan shot 6-of-14 in a game at Toyota Center. Garnett has twice posted 5-of-14 nights against Hayes.

The Rockets could have an All-Star or two by season’s end, and that does not include Yao or McGrady. They don’t have one now.

Brooks has shown the special abilities that accompany the prized February tag. His 18-point, six-assist average might look attractive to reserve voters—the coaches—if those numbers hold.

Guess what, confused Houston fan: They might not.

Kyle Lowry and Brooks are crafty enough to create easy buckets for themselves and teammates. Crafty enough means neither should be confused for Chris Paul or Steve Nash.

At second place in the Southwest Division and sixth in the West, with an early 6-4 record, the Rockets have announced themselves as a playoff contender and nothing more.

The Friday and Sunday performances looked as different as "Die Hard" and "Cats."

You might call them Jekyll and Hyde.

The results will vary. The efforts never will.

This isn’t the same loaded team that alternated victories over playoff squads with inexcusable defeats to lottery ones. Those Rockets sometimes begged you to call them Edward Hyde.

Count on these Rockets to scrap, push, run, attack the rim, dive for every loose ball and fight for every rebound.

Friday, none of that mattered.

Sunday, it did.

Now, you know why.

Additional Rockets notes on Mensah-Bonsu:

Daryl Morey waived forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu over the weekend, and the move should surprise no one.

He's Gerald Green in a heavier, taller frame, a supreme athlete with inadequate knowledge of how to play the game.

For those who wanted to see Morey cut Andersen instead, maybe you needed the wake up call.

Andersen cannot defend a lick in the post, struggles to rebound and clanged his go-to shot early. He's still a better NBA player than Mensah-Bonsu.

Why did the Rockets cut him so early in the year?

Andersen has a lot more upside. Mensah-Bonsu can jump out of the gym, but he's already had five chances too many to prove he belongs on a pro roster.

If he could not cut it with the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs or Toronto Raptors, why would anyone think he would fare differently as a Rocket?

In his inconsistent court time, Andersen has been, well, inconsistent. Still, he has shown enough improvement to warrant a full-season look.

In this tough economy, it makes little sense to pay 15 players when one of them barely plays in garbage time.

Against the Lakers, Andersen battled for position in the pivot, finished a pair of easy layups off smart cuts to the rim and showcased the sweet stroke that captured the front office's attention.

His defense is still atrocious, but the Rockets want to see over 82 contests if he can convalesce that area of his game.

Mensah-Bonsu had his chances. This is just Andersen's first.

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Watch Out World: Don't Forget the Houston Rockets

Denton Ramsey — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:32:03 -0500

Somebody needs to remind Ron Artest that he used to play for the real champions.

On Sunday evening, Nov. 15, the Houston Rockets pulled off the improbable with a 101-91 victory over the LA Lakers.

Call it whatever you want; this year’s Houston Rockets squad is full of winners, from starter to bench.

From Aaron Brooks to Yao Ming, this team was assembled by genius general manager Daryl Morey.

They may only be 6-4 through 10 games this season, but they are much better than their record shows.

Hey, Jack Nicholson, if you didn’t know who David Anderson was before tonight, I bet you do now.

Anderson helped propel the Rockets to a big 10-point win over the Lakers with 19 points and six rebounds in nearly 25 minutes of play.

And oh yeah, that guys Brooks I mentioned earlier? He lit up Hollywood with 33 points.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Anderson said in the Rockets postgame radio interview. “We never give up.”

That’s what I love about this Rockets team.

NGU: Never Give Up. These guys represent that acronym to a T, and with a Coach K led and natural born leader in Shane Battier leading those guys on the hardwood, you’ve got a champion from start to finish.

In addition, Carl Landry (i.e. Houston’s sixth man) garnered a double-double for the Rockets with 15 points and 10 rebounds in about 27 minutes of play.

It’s amazing what this team can do; but as a Rockets fan since birth, it’s more than just amazing.

The Houston Rockets are truly contenders this season.

You want my guess? They are only going to get better from here on out...

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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Houston Rockets' Carl Landry: Dark Horse For Sixth Man Of The Year

Courtzide Seatz — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:30:16 -0500

The Sixth Man of the Year Award has always intrigued me. On its surface, it seems like an award given to the player most willing to sacrifice his own personal accolades for the betterment of his team.

A counter-intuitive notion in a world driven by statistics and personal achievement. It would take a special type of player to embrace and thrive within this role.

In fact, reading through the names of the award's recipients since its inception in 1982, you would think you were perusing through a list of who's who in class and respectability.

Bobby Jones, Kevin McHale, Eddie Johnson, Dell Curry, Aaron McKie, Manu Ginobli—all players cut from the finest moral cloth.

There are of course some notable exceptions. Roy Tarpley and John Starks come to mind, but as they say, the whole can't be judged by the sum of its parts.

The great Red Auerbach is often attributed with the creation of the "sixth man," with the way he utilized guard Frank Ramsey. Despite being one of his most talented players, Auerbach felt more comfortable bringing Ramsey in off of the bench to give his second unit an advantage over his competitors.

Of course, John Havlicek would later be used as the Celtics sixth man for the span of his 16-year career, and is thought by most to have revolutionized the role and paved the way for what it has become.

As it stands today, the sixth man has become pivotal to the makeup of every contending team. He is often more talented and logs more minutes than the player starting in his place. He is usually relied upon to provide a spark and energy for the second unit. And he is often thought of as a top tier player in the NBA.

The Spurs have Manu Ginobli. The Nuggets have J.R. Smith. The Celtics have Rasheed Wallace. The Lakers have Lamar Odom.

And the Rockets have...Carl Landry?

That's right.

Through two weeks of the season, Landry has been playing some impressive yet unheralded basketball coming off of the bench.

He is fourth on the Rockets in points, third in rebounds, and currently leads the team in blocked shots. He has arguably been the most important contributor for a Houston team off to a surprisingly hot start.

The Rockets basically rely on three players to come off of the bench for some productive minutes (Kyle Lowry, Chase Budinger, and Carl Landry), and Landry has proven to be the most versatile and consistent of the trio.

If you doubt his importance, look no further than the Rockets most recent game.

In the 109-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Landry struggled mightily, going 1-6 from the field and scoring a season low two points.

In fact, in the Rockets five wins this season, Landry has significantly better numbers across the board (15.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg) than when compared to his performance in their four losses (8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .5bpg).

I don't think the correlation between his individual performance and the Rockets' performance as a team is coincidental. When he is good, the Rockets have been very good. When he has struggled, so has his team.

Considering the Rockets lack of depth, and how much they depend on his minutes and production, it would be hard for me to leave Landry out of any conversations regarding early season projections for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award.

He has proven to be a difference maker on a good team, and he is quickly emerging as the leader and spark plug of the Rocket's second unit.

Don't sleep on Carl Landry.

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Something A-Brewing In Houston? Pops Mensah Bonsu Waived

Vikram Dimba — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:48:28 -0500

Prior to the Houston Rockets lackluster effort against the Sacramento Kings, Daryl Morey and the organization cut ties with energetic, but sporadically played Pops Mensah Bonsu.

This move comes as a surprise to fans as some were clamoring for him to receive more minutes because of David Anderson's slow adjustment to the NBA game. When the door for more minutes had unexpectedly opened, it was shut closed just as fast.

The motive was quoted as a move to help get under the luxury tax, and allow for more roster flexibility.

The first question arises, roster flexibility for what?

After watching the game against the Kings, and seeing the Rockets lack of size getting exposed against the lanky Jason Thompson, it was clear how much the Rockets lacked that interior presence with size and rebounding prowess to anchor the defense.

While Pops certainly doesn't help that cause, as he's another one of those "undersized," PF's, I for one wouldn't have minded seeing him on the court instead of David Anderson.

The pieces just don't add up...especially with Anderson's poor play as of late. He's settled for the jumper when it's clear that's not his range, and shown nothing positive on the glass, or defensively.

On the season, he's shooting under 40 percent from the field and 20 percent from the great beyond. After playing 20 minutes against Dallas, Anderson has only played 12 minutes combined in the past two games.

With his minutes decreasing, it seemed he was slowly becoming the odd man out, and Pops was ready to step into that role.

All signs point towards a trade, but Rockets beat writer Jonathon Feigen quickly shut down that avenue claiming no trade is near.

So it seems a move for the long run if any injuries were to arise (ex. Brooks spraining his ankle a couple games back...and only Lowry to back him up), but why cut Pops now and not when a situation arises, god forbid.

Then with the Kings exposing the Rockets' weakness in rebounding - out rebounded by over 20 on the road, and Rockets GM Darly Morey conceding rebounding is an issue, it'd be hard pressed to think the Rockets don't have something going on behind the scenes.

For those who don't know, at the same time Pops was waived, Rockets Center Joey Dorsey was also assigned to the NBA Development League.

The Rockets big man rotation is set with the three headed monster of Scola, Hayes, and Landry with Anderson playing sporadic minutes, depending on how well he's playing.

But essentially after those three, there's nobody, Dorsey being sent to the D-League, Anderson struggling, and Pops being waived. The Rockets need for one more big man, at least to provide a sort of veteran depth is apparent.

What's next for Pops? I'm sure under the right system, his energy, and hustle both offensively and defensively will find himself on an NBA roster, potentially as a guy that can be a consistent rotation player as well.

Whether you're a Rockets fan or an NBA Fan in general, we wish the Pops the best of luck in where ever his journey takes him next.

The Rockets need to figure out the rebounding and fast. Next up? The Los Angeles Lakers, whom even without Gasol have two perennially great rebounders in Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom.

Whether's that's via free agency, or it means the current guys stepping up, the Rockets will find a way, they always do.

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Houston Rockets Prepare for Liftoff, Aim to Conquer LA Lakers

Denton Ramsey — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:49:42 -0500

The last time the Houston Rockets and LA Lakers matched up, it took overtime for Kobe Bryant and the hated Hollywood bunch to defeat the good guys in the Lone Star State.

And somehow, people in the league and beyond continue to overlook Houston’s Rockets.

For the team and their fans, maybe that’s a good thing.

Heading into their second game (this time in Cali) against LA, Houston holds a 5-4 record.

Just last night (Friday, Nov. 13), unfortunately, the Rockets fell to the Sacramento Kings in a lackluster performance for Houston’s tight-knit team.

After falling behind by a dozen or more points on multiple occasions, Houston battled back (and actually took a brief lead) before succumbing to Sacramento on the road.

“Good teams don’t win close games, they avoid them,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said through his Twitter account following Houston’s 109-100 loss to Sacramento. “Credit Sacramento for playing hard [and] together. We fought back in [the] second half, but on [the] road [we] need consistency for 48 [minutes]. Rebounding [is] a critical issue to correct.”

Houston aims to bounce back tomorrow evening (Sunday, Nov. 15) when they face the LA Lakers on the road, as Shane Battier and company look to build momentum for a team built on close chemistry.

“We were getting beat on penetration time after time,” Houston head coach Rick Adelman told Rockets.com writer Jason Friedman. “The effort was not where it needed to be. In the second half we shored it up some but we’re not going to win unless we come out with effort every night. We’re not that good. Our guys have to understand that. I didn’t like our effort the whole first half in a lot of areas.”

The Rockets hope to shore up and shape up as they head to Hollywood for a showdown with the Lakers on Sunday night in L.A.

With a brilliant GM in Morey, a phenomenal coach in Adelman and a born leader in Battier, look for Houston’s NBA team to break out of their mini-slump with a big Sunday victory.

Just look back to last year’s postseason play; the Rockets can win in LA

It’s time for history to repeat itself. There’s no better place for that to happen than in Hollywood…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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Tracy McGrady: Exploring the Legacy of A Fallen Star

Courtzide Seatz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:56:12 -0500

There was a time when Tracy McGrady was one of the most relevant players on the face of the planet. He was a bona fide star in the early part of this decade, during a period when the NBA was desperately seeking an identity.

Critics were claiming that the demise of the league was imminent, and television ratings were plummeting faster than George W. Bush’s popularity. Fans were quickly becoming disenfranchised with the style of play that dominated the league, epitomized by teams such as the San Antonio Spurs who appeared in the two lowest rated NBA Finals in league history.

It was during this time that McGrady stood apart as one of the few players who could restore a suffering league back to respectability, and usher in a new era of excitement and globalization.

After helping the Toronto Raptors reach their first NBA Playoffs appearance in franchise history in 2000, McGrady was dealt to the Orlando Magic in a sign-and-trade deal for a first round pick.

It was in Orlando where McGrady began to separate himself from the rest of the league as a scoring phenom, and as a capable ambassador for the future of the NBA. In 2002-2003, he led the league in scoring, and did so in impressive fashion averaging 32.1 points per game.

This was the highest scoring average the NBA had seen since Michael Jordan was dropping 32.6 a night back in 1992 and McGrady became the youngest player to win the scoring title since the ABA/NBA merger. He would go on to win the scoring title again the following season.

Despite his personal achievements, the Magic failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs throughout his entire tenure in Orlando, bringing into question his capabilities as a leader.

In 2004, amidst questions surrounding his work ethic, McGrady was traded to the Houston Rockets along with Juwon Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato.

The trade paired the talented McGrady with the 7’6’’ phenom Yao Ming, and instantly made them one of the most feared one-two combos in the NBA.

In his first season with Houston, McGrady led the Rockets to a 51-31 record, and landed them the 5th seed in the playoffs. In the first round, against a tough Dallas Mavericks team, McGrady had a legendary performance averaging 30.7 ppg, 6.7 assists, and 7.4 rebounds.

Again, McGrady’s squad would come up short in the first round, and the Rockets were ultimately eliminated in game seven in a 40-point blowout. McGrady’s leadership qualities once again were called into question.

In retrospect, this loss actually had much more significance than just another first round exit. It signified the demise of a once promising career.

Since that 2004-2005 season, McGrady has been plagued by a profusion of injuries, ranging anywhere from back spasms to shoulder injuries, and most recently, a knee injury for which he had to undergo microfracture surgery to repair.

In fact, since that 40 point loss in Dallas, McGrady has only played in a total of 219 games, or about 55 games per season, and has seen his productivity steadily diminish every year. Interestingly enough, last year’s Rockets team was the only team he has ever been a part of that has advanced past the first round, and he didn’t appear in a single postseason game.

With the announcement of his intent to return to the Rockets within a few weeks, I am left to wonder how much McGrady has left in his tank. And, if his injuries continue to haunt him, what choice will he be left with except to retire?

If that happens, what will his legacy look like at that point? Will he be thought of as an elite talent, capable of scoring at will, or rather as an embodiment of what could have been?

Will he be remembered as a perennial All-Star, or as a one-dimensional player who could never get his team past the first round of the playoffs?

These are all questions that have no definitive answers. Your belief will surely vary depending upon your loyalties and your remembrances.

Regardless of your opinion, you cannot deny the impact McGrady had on a league desperate for excitement. His talent resonated with many NBA fans teetering between the lines of devotion and renouncement.

Even if he never plays another game, I cannot help but to respect him for his contributions to the game I love.

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