[Chron] Jerome Solomon: Rockets' season dead, but no funeral yet

ASidd_1990 · Mar 31, 2010

I would like to apologize in advance for posting an article by Queen Solomon:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6937315.html

Remember all that energy and excitement the Rockets displayed early in the season?

Back when they were the hardest-working team in the business? Back before the kids went trick-or-treating?

Well, welcome to the dog days of spring. The time of year when James Singleton looks like an All-Star, Andray Blatche a Hall of Famer and the Red Rowdies aren't quite as rowdy.

At least they weren't until rookie Chase Budinger threw in a jumper off the glass from just inside the top of the key with 28 seconds left to save the day against the hapless Wizards on Tuesday night.

The Rockets haven't been math-ematically eliminated for postseason contention just yet — that'll happen by week's end — but with nine games remaining Rick Adelman is trying to find the buttons to push to keep his squad from coasting home.

The season is dead, but Adelman says there should be no funeral until the 82nd game has been played. We may have given up on these Rockets, but Adelman won't let his Rockets give up on the season.

“You don't want to be a player that rides a season out,” Adelman said. “You don't want to be a team that rides a season out. Even though it looks like there is nothing to play for, there is pride to play for.”

It has been awhile since the Rockets were playing for nothing but pride at this point of the season.

Yao Ming, out this season recovering from foot surgery, said the team finishing at or above .500 without him would say something about its character.

“I like this team,” Yao said. “I like a lot of the guys, all the guys, on the team right now. I just think the team was missing a big piece of the puzzle this year, but we're still right around .500.

“That's not about how much potential we have, but it's about how tough we are. That's a good sign.”

I know what you're thinking: “Here we go again, celebrating mediocrity.”

Yes, it gets tiresome, but what else could we do with these Rockets? What other standard should we hold this group to? You can't help but look forward to the future with this team. Three Rockets rookies scored in double figures Tuesday.

It could be worse.

Look at the Wizards. The Rockets' top weapon is out because of a broken foot. The Wizards' top weapon is out because of … insert your own gun commentary here.

The Rockets' season-worst four-game skid entering the game was nothing compared to Washington's now 16 straight losses.

Now 37-36, the Rockets face a difficult four-game road trip that starts at San Antonio tonight. Adelman has been repeating a message to his young squad that a poor finish would put a damper on the season.

“You know who your are, you know how hard you've worked, don't let it slip away,” Adelman said. “You've played this hard; you don't want to finish on a negative note. (If you do) then what you're doing is you're buying into what everybody says that you're looking to next year.

“We haven't been looking at next year. We've been looking at this year. This year can help next year, but this year is still important. These 10 games are important. And you hope that that gets through and we play well enough that we feel good.”

What a difference a year makes.

At this point last season, Houston was playing for home-court advantage and thinking about making a deep playoff run.

Now it has a squad with so many new faces that most of their points on Tuesday were scored by players who have never played with Yao. And Kevin Martin, the Rockets' leading scorer since he was acquired in a trade for Tracy McGrady six weeks ago, didn't even play.

Yao says when he returns he'll be almost like a rookie learning new teammates.

He hasn't played with Trevor Ariza. Martin brings a scoring threat to the backcourt that the team hasn't had in years. Budinger has shown much promise — he had a career-high 24 points Tuesday — and Jordan Hill has displayed enough flashes that he could be in the rotation next year.

Yao started his career with Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley leading the team and went through the McGrady-Yao stretch.

“We have nine players that I never played with before, so when I get back to play it's almost like playing with a new team,” he said.

Will that team be good enough to win a championship?

“That's a good question,” Yao said.
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The_Yoyo · Mar 31, 2010

Its kind of good for me to know that its possible for me to become a sports writer when there are idiots like solomon out there writing for a major newspaper

ASidd_1990 · Mar 31, 2010

The_Yoyo said:

Its kind of good for me to know that its possible for me to become a sports writer when there are idiots like solomon out there writing for a major newspaper
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Sorry, I shoulda put a disclaimer or something! Maybe even a spoiler. That is why I apologized in advance for the poor souls who had to read this.

Stevierebel · Mar 31, 2010

The_Yoyo said:

Its kind of good for me to know that its possible for me to become a sports writer when there are idiots like solomon out there writing for a major newspaper
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QFT. This guy seems bitter and I don't read anything he says anymore since he went on the radio and compared the Rockets to the Special Olympics earlier in the season....

Garner · Mar 31, 2010

The_Yoyo said:

Its kind of good for me to know that its possible for me to become a sports writer when there are idiots like solomon out there writing for a major newspaper
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It's incredible how many articles he is capable of writing and at the same time, say so little.

YallMean · Mar 31, 2010

It's time to put in this roster as starters

J.T.
C-Bud
Trevor
Harris
JHill

and tell them don't let the season slip away on a negative note. :grin:

moestavern19 · Mar 31, 2010

Queen Solomon haha.

Oh man thats good.

bbjai · Mar 31, 2010

Martin brings a scoring threat to the backcourt that the team hasn't had in years.
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Is he for real?

Even a washed up T-mac was a scoring threat........

Like I'm all for getting over it but this is ridiculous.

REEKO_HTOWN · Mar 31, 2010

I don't read his garbage. positive or not.

Carl Herrera · Mar 31, 2010

Jerome Solomon is the black DaDakota.

SuperBeeKay · Mar 31, 2010

I don't read the newspaper so it works out well for me

saleem · Mar 31, 2010

He is the most pessimistic guy I have ever seen writing for the Chron. He makes Fran look very optimistic.

Kojirou · Mar 31, 2010

In the end, a paper like the Chronicle deserves sports writers at the level of Justice and Solomon.

ryano2009 · Mar 31, 2010

YallMean said:

It's time to put in this roster as starters

J.T.
C-Bud
Trevor
Harris
JHill

and tell them don't let the season slip away on a negative note. :grin:
Click to expand...

You wanna start JT as PG ... WTF

blunto · Mar 31, 2010

math-ematically
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Superdave532 · Mar 31, 2010

blunto said:

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Seriously..

Blurr#7 · Mar 31, 2010

Stevierebel said:

QFT. This guy seems bitter and I don't read anything he says anymore since he went on the radio and compared the Rockets to the Special Olympics earlier in the season....
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I heard that too, he lost what little respect I had for him to begin with. The guy is self absorbed and writes/say things just to get a rise out of people.

ico4498 · Apr 1, 2010

trying to keep intensity up at this stage of the season must be a real challenge for a coach. i admire the non tanking approach.

Nice Rollin · Apr 1, 2010

math-ematically?

why did he spell it like that

meh · Apr 1, 2010

bbjai said:

Is he for real?

Even a washed up T-mac was a scoring threat........

Like I'm all for getting over it but this is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Well, Kevin Martin is a better scorer than T-Mac of the past 2 years.

2 = plural = Soloman can use years.

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[Chron] Jerome Solomon: Rockets' season dead, but no funeral yet

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[Chron] Jerome Solomon: Rockets' season dead, but no funeral yet

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