[nytimes]With Stars Out, Lesser-Known Rockets Make Name for Themselves

pretty good and long article.
here's a taste.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/sports/basketball/28rockets.html

With Stars Out, Lesser-Known Rockets Make Name for Themselves

By HOWARD BECK
Published: December 27, 2009
When the Houston Rockets needed scoring late Saturday night against the Nets, they called on their backup power forward, a 6-foot-9-inch banger who is known mostly for embedding his incisors in Dirk Nowitzki’s forearm.

Carl Landry lost or cracked five teeth when he collided with Nowitzki on Dec. 18. Because of some deft dentistry, he is still smiling and still charging through the lane — the unlikely face of an unlikely Western Conference power.

Then again, Houston is a team with no face at all.

The Rockets are 18-13 after a loss at Cleveland on Sunday, holding steady as the seventh-best team in a tough Western Conference. They are thriving despite the absence of Yao Ming, their franchise center, and Tracy McGrady, their erstwhile star guard.

They are thriving despite a roster of castoffs and no-names and players like Landry, a former second-round pick who is, improbably, their new go-to scorer. He had 13 points in the final 10 minutes Saturday and is among the league leaders in fourth-quarter scoring.

There is not a single All-Star in the Rockets’ regular rotation, or even anyone who could be one in the near future. They have seven players averaging from 8 to 17 points, but not one who has ever averaged 20.

“We have a collection of guys who have been told they’re too ‘something’ to play in the N.B.A.,” forward Shane Battier said. “Too small, too short, too dumb, can’t shoot, unathletic.”

A collective desire “to prove everybody wrong,” Battier said, is the Rockets’ rallying cry and their identity.

 

Too small=Aaron Brooks?
can't shoot=Trevor Ariza?
unatheltic=Scola?


Too Short =

Spoiler

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well biggie smalls is from nyc and too short is from oakland.

 

too short = chuck hayes (to play center)

or any of our "bigs", we got a short front line.