With the lockout in full effect, can we expect to hear anything from our players and their development? Can any insiders out there give us some info on how the Rocket brass handles a lockout in terms of workouts and player progression?
IIRC the staff can have no contact with the players and they are not allowed to use the facilities. Maybe they can get around it some with CD, but I doubt it. DD
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/110630-nba-lockout-disappoints-rockets-players NBA Lockout Disappoints Rockets Players
Why the NBA is losing fans and money is because of David Stern and his stupid referees rigging games. When they stop rigging games, then I'll pay and go to live games. Screw David Stern!
http://www.foxsportshouston.com/06/30/11/Rockets-react-to-lockout/landing_rockets.html?blockID=536098&feedID=3714 Rockets react to lockout
How stupid! David Stern is the builder of the modern day NBA. He built our sport into its present national standing, spreading out all over the globe. We as fans must suffer the consequences the stress of a greedy Union and a greedy Ownership, each now having decided to stay put, insisting that they will not reach out to each other with an effective solution. Only when each suffers, will they come back to the table and support the needs of each other! By this time much of our NBA may have crumbled as the League wastes away.
<!-- http://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/86588367105568768 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox86588367105568768 {background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/24638205/ricbucher.jpg) #0f0e14;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox86588367105568768'><p class='bbpTweet'>League office taking hard stand. Has told teams contact w/players after midnight = $1 million fine. And more. Story on mothership shortly.<span class='timestamp'><a title='Fri Jul 01 00:14:10 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/86588367105568768'>less than a minute ago</a> via web <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher'><img src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/319250942/bucher_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher'>Ric Bucher</a></strong><br/>RicBucher</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->
I wonder if Westside Tennis & Fitness will open their doors to the players during the lockout. If memory serves me correct, players were able to use Westside Tennis Club during the previous lockout ('99) despite it being the official practice court of the Houston Rockets. Either way, I'm not looking forward to this lockout.
This could be a good thing for some players. Most players make the biggest development in the off season instead of the playing season. I hope Kevin Martin goes to David Thorpe during the lockout. He could bring along Hill, Patterson, Morris, Parsons and Thabeet. Morris needs to slim down and improve his handles. Hill, Patterson, and Thabeet continue to work on low post moves and defensive positioning. Parsons needs to work on everything?
<!-- http://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/86588367105568768 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox86588367105568768 {background:url(http://a2.twimg.com/profile_background_images/24638205/ricbucher.jpg) #0f0e14;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox86588367105568768'><p class='bbpTweet'>Houston Rockets agree to deal a bag of Great Value Potatoe Chips in return they recieve a 16 oz. bag of Dorito's Cool Ranch and a small box of macoroni..#ClassicMoreyLowball..<span class='timestamp'><a title='Fri Jul 01 00:14:10 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/86588367105568768'>less than a minute ago</a> via web <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=86588367105568768'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher'><img src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/319250942/bucher_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/RicBucher'>Ric Bucher</a></strong><br/>RicBucher</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->
http://www.nctimes.com/sports/article_439cffb3-61fc-5506-9dca-95c3bb7bd66c.html NBA: Lockout next career move for Budinger
Wondering which would actually favor the rocket's team a hard cap or a soft cap? Given our superior scout team and gm. I think we might have an advantage in a hard cap. Either way its gonna be a long off season!
Thing is Houston has the scout team, frugality AND extra money to spend since Rockets are actually profitable. Rockets were supposed to be in position to be "predatory". And whats come out of it? I'm not gonna give Rockets front office any more credit than they deserve. Though I'm thinking they HAD to have considered the salary cap tightening that was to come in the next CBA and made some of their moves with that in mind.
Thanks for posting. Kyle Lowry is a leader and a true professional. I hope he dies (of natural causes at an old age) as the owner of the Rockets.