Some of the Photos From Friday

I still haven't been able to do all that I would like ... the Revue page is behind, but I'm still playing catch up with everything here at home myself since getting back. The <a href="http://www.clutchcity.net/feature.cfm?FeatureID=155">Eddie column</a> is up and I "hope" to have a photo gallery up tonight. I took 166 photos .... many are blurry or not as good of quality.... some are good though. Here's a few that I had a chance to shrink/sharpen/lighten/etc. while I was still in California.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Mo Taylor laughing on the bench. You can see Jim Boylen in the background to his right, and Rudy T right next to him.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Another shot of Mo on the bench.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Decent shot of Amare Stoudemire before the game. When I first got to the place, I didn't know I was standing in the Suns area. This one writer walks up to me and says, "So, is Penny playing today?" I'm looking at him like 'what in the hell are you talking about?' but isntead say I didn't know Hardaway was here. I turned around and Amare had come right out of the tunnel and was right behind me. Strong and explosive player in my opinion - though Eddie got the best of him, Amare did have one insane two-handed baseline dunk right on Eddie (who was trying to block it) late in the game. I think he has a real future.

<B>PHOTO</B>
This is where I was standing most of the time. I was right behind the Rockets' bench on the end... basically leaning on the final bench chair (where Dane Fife technically should sit ).

<B>PHOTO</B>
Just some action ... Eddie, Jason and Morris in there.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Timeout huddle. You can see Mo there in the bottom left. He watched the entire game and cheered at times.... looked interested. He was not there Saturday though.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Terence Morris walking back to the bench after a substitution. He was right next to me so I snapped this shot.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Tito Maddox. Shot is a little blurry. That's Eddie on the bench in the bottom left.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Shot of the bench. (left to right) Nwankwo, Griffin, Hill, Fife, Collier, Morris.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Oscar Torres walking back to the bench after being replaced by a substitution.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Ishmail Ahmed looking back at the bench. Big guy ... reminded me of a cross between Marcus Fizer and Rick Fox. It was actually Ahmed that blocked Stoudemire when Amare was going for a massive dunk (though Eddie was there as well) ... the loose ball went to Tsakalidis, who went up and Eddie rejected it.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Eddie on the bench from behind. Tierre is to his left. Look at Ahmed's calves up in the top right.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Ahmed going for a block on a Suns shot.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Tito Maddox during a break in play.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Collier is guarding Tsakalidis out on the perimeter while Eddie is guarding Stoudemire.

<B>PHOTO</B>
This shot turned out too blurry ... like many of them. But this is Eddie guarding Stoudemire.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Larry Smith talking to Titto Maddox.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Another shot of Stoudemire.

<B>PHOTO</B>
Jason Collier shooting a free throw

 

I did ... thanks. The trip was stressful but it was fun.

As Jeff mentioned before I got to meet Curtis Borchardt in Austin, coincidentally enough. I was kind of in limbo for a plane ride at the moment and spotted what I thought was a 16-year old kid, but an incredibly tall one, in the eticket confirmation section. He came over and sat right next to me because he was having his luggage searched. I was just looking at him thinking, "man that kid is tall" ... then turned back to check out the ticket counter. Then I heard him say to the guy searching his luggage that he was "just drafted by the Jazz" and that's when I realized it was Borchardt. I talked to him then .... he was heading up to the Rocky Mountain Revue. Nice kid .... but badly he will need to bulk up. Doesn't look terribly "skinny" but he's just got no bulk whatsoever really.

Also, on one play, Mark Madsen took the ball, threw it down towards the ground, watched as it bounced back up towards him and caught it again with his hand.... the fans then reacted as if the jackass <B>invented dribbling</B>. What is the deal? LA fans ADORE Madsen.... no matter what he did it was treated with oohs and ahhs.... even when he went by Griffin for a reverse layin/tip slam and Eddie threw his stuff back from behind.

Talking with Eddie and Terence Morris was interesting. Both seriously need to go to charisma class 101... with Terence actually not as good as Eddie. Both very nice guys but pretty stiff in that department. Both seemed excited about the impact Yao will have though.

The feeling I left with there though was the future is very bright. I think the Rockets have a chance to have three very special and unique players at the 1, 4 and 5 in Francis, Griffin and Yao, with other high quality players in Mobley, Taylor, KT and Rice. The potential of Nachbar is tempting as well and if Cato and Ming prove to be a good combo at center, I think the Rockets are going to make big progress starting with this season. What they <B>need</B> from here though I don't know. I wish they would look for a veteran defensive presence at the backup 2.

Something is going to have to give though eventually I would think. I don't feel they will trade KT right away .... Mo is still out 5 games to start this season, but you can't keep all 3 of those guys happy, especially considering the 3 and 5 positions are stocked now as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Collier is dumped in any way possible.... in my opinion he's just not getting it done (and this is the Summer League). The other day he was 1-for-8 and when he did hit his shot, the whole bench was excited for him (Mo cheered as well). Rockets are going to be too crowded at the 4 and 5 soon I think for Collier to get off the IR much.

 

BTW, I want to say thanks again to crash5179 -- without his generosity I wouldn't have been able to go. Thanks!