Q&A With Aaron Brooks

JOHNNYN · Mar 17, 2009

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=qawithrocketspgaaronbroo&prov=tsn&type=lgns

Second-year point guard Aaron Brooks took over the starter's role for the Rockets in late February, when Rafer Alston was traded to the Magic. Brooks talked to Sporting News Today's Matt Crossman about life as a starter, the team's play without Tracy McGrady, what it's like to have Ron Artest as a teammate and whether the Rockets can win their first playoff series since 1997.

MC: What's been the biggest challenge since you became a starter?

AB: Getting comfortable and used to playing with these guys. Everybody likes the ball in their different spots. I have to find out where it's best.

MC: How is it different starting as opposed to coming off the bench?

AB: You've got to learn on the fly. I'm used to watching Ray (Rafer Alston) play, and seeing what he did right and did wrong and then coming in and playing.

MC: What was your reaction when you heard he was being traded?

AB: I was shocked. I didn't know. It was after the trade deadline. I didn't know that was the direction they were going to go in. I was shocked, but it's a great opportunity.

MC: You guys do better when you get the ball to Yao Ming, and he's aggressive. How much do you emphasize that?

AB: It's the most important. He draws so much attention. It's easier to play off him and not create shots on your own. He creates shots for every body on the team.

MC: You guys have played well since Tracy McGrady went down for the season. Why?

AB: We rely on Yao a little bit more. When Mac was here, he was going through injuries, so he wasn't helping us out as much as we'd like. We're playing through Yao right now, and we look for him to get us started.

MC: How important was the addition of Ron Artest?

AB: Oh man--even the stuff that doesn't show up on the stat sheet, the intangibles. The hustle for loose balls, the defensive plays. The toughness that he brings to this team is majorly important.

MC: What's something people might not know about him?

AB: He's a good dude. He's a good teammate. We don't have any problems with Ron. He's got a great sense of humor--laughing, joking. He's fun.

MC: You guys are running more. Is that to take advantage of your speed?

AB: We want to get up and down and run, try to get some easy baskets, get some easy shots, wide open looks. That way, we're not passing the ball to Yao all the time. If we don't get anything in transition, than we've got, I wouldn't call it a second option, but a second-first option.

MC: Your division has a lot of good point guards--Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Jason Kidd. Is it fun to go out and play those guys?

AB: Definitely. It's a great measuring stick. Great point guards, quick point guards. To get a chance to go out and play against them is fun.

MC: Seattle has produced a lot of guards lately, too (Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Martell Webster, Brooks). What's going on with that?

AB: We're pretty good. Most people don't know who's all from Seattle. When they say there's not too many basketball players from Seattle, then you start naming them, they're like, "We didn't know all those guys were from Seattle." We've got a nice chunk of guys.

MC: Do you guys get together and play in the offseason?

AB: Occasionally.

MC: Who's the best out of them?

AB: Me.

MC: No question?

AB: Why not?

MC: It's been awhile since Houston won a playoff series. How confident are you that you can win one this year?

AB: We're playing pretty good right now. I like our chances pretty much against anybody. You know you're going to draw somebody tough in the first round, but we're playing pretty good basketball, so I like our chances.

MC: What's the key to advancing?

AB: We have to figure out how to close out four quarters. That's going to come. We're playing great basketball. We've got to shoot the ball well, continue to shoot the ball well. Defensively, we've got to pick it up a little bit, too.

MC: Do you guys talk trash amongst yourselves on the team when the NCAA Tournament comes around?

AB: Definitely. My team isn't going to be playing, but we talk stuff during the season.

MC: Who's the biggest trash talker for his school?

AB: Probably me. But if not, I'll say (assistant coach) Elston Turner. His son plays for Washington, and I went to Oregon.
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about a month old but a good read about aaron adjusting to a starter

durvasa · Mar 17, 2009

Nice find. I don't remember that being posted.

henGoOink · Mar 17, 2009

AB will get better in time.

Obito · Mar 17, 2009

I feel when Brooks has one year of experience under his belt, he'll make much beter decision during game.

He has tons of talents.

rox4lyf · Mar 17, 2009

MC: Seattle has produced a lot of guards lately, too (Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Martell Webster, Brooks). What's going on with that?

AB: We're pretty good. Most people don't know who's all from Seattle. When they say there's not too many basketball players from Seattle, then you start naming them, they're like, "We didn't know all those guys were from Seattle." We've got a nice chunk of guys.

MC: Do you guys get together and play in the offseason?

AB: Occasionally.

MC: Who's the best out of them?

AB: Me.

Rofl...I couldn't help myself.

Alvin Choo · Mar 18, 2009

rox4lyf said:

MC: Seattle has produced a lot of guards lately, too (Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Martell Webster, Brooks). What's going on with that?

AB: We're pretty good. Most people don't know who's all from Seattle. When they say there's not too many basketball players from Seattle, then you start naming them, they're like, "We didn't know all those guys were from Seattle." We've got a nice chunk of guys.

MC: Do you guys get together and play in the offseason?

AB: Occasionally.

MC: Who's the best out of them?

AB: Me.

Rofl...I couldn't help myself.
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Well, he is a confident kid.

I sure would like to see a 1-on-1 between nate and AB.

jedicro · Mar 18, 2009

rox4lyf said:

MC: Seattle has produced a lot of guards lately, too (Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Martell Webster, Brooks). What's going on with that?

AB: We're pretty good. Most people don't know who's all from Seattle. When they say there's not too many basketball players from Seattle, then you start naming them, they're like, "We didn't know all those guys were from Seattle." We've got a nice chunk of guys.

MC: Do you guys get together and play in the offseason?

AB: Occasionally.

MC: Who's the best out of them?

AB: Me.

Rofl...I couldn't help myself.
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LOL that's awesome.

acjeitherocket · Mar 18, 2009

rox4lyf said:

MC: Seattle has produced a lot of guards lately, too (Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Martell Webster, Brooks). What's going on with that?

AB: We're pretty good. Most people don't know who's all from Seattle. When they say there's not too many basketball players from Seattle, then you start naming them, they're like, "We didn't know all those guys were from Seattle." We've got a nice chunk of guys.

MC: Do you guys get together and play in the offseason?

AB: Occasionally.

MC: Who's the best out of them?

AB: Me.

Rofl...I couldn't help myself.
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lmaoo same here...thats classic **** right there

TheBigDiesel · Mar 19, 2009

I find it funny how he says they have to give Yao the ball to win, yet he doesn't do it.

dykiamy · Mar 20, 2009

I don't like AB...
...I don't know y.

Luckkky · Mar 20, 2009

dykiamy said:

I don't like AB...
...I don't know y.
Click to expand...

I like AB...
... I dont know y

rayrocket · Mar 20, 2009

Good to see a confident AB, but Roy can eat him alive on the court.

newAge_Rockets · Mar 14, 2013

AB is back

PinkTacos · Mar 14, 2013

newAge_Rockets said: ↑

AB is back
Click to expand...

:grin:

HamJam · Mar 14, 2013

They should have asked him what he thought he will look like when he gets old -- I think he is going to look like an old toothless fat lady.

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Q&A With Aaron Brooks

JOHNNYN Member

durvasa Contributing Member

henGoOink Member

Obito Contributing Member

rox4lyf Member

Alvin Choo Member

jedicro Member

acjeitherocket Member

TheBigDiesel Member

dykiamy New Member

Luckkky Member

rayrocket Member

newAge_Rockets Member

PinkTacos Member

HamJam Contributing Member

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