[Chron] Dorsey Article

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6058429.html

Rockets' Dorsey awaits homecoming in Memphis
By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Oct. 14, 2008, 6:25PM

Eric Kayne Chronicle
Rockets forward Joey Dorsey was a star at the University of Memphis, where he spent his last four years.


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MEMPHIS – When most players speak of circling dates on the schedule, it is more of a figurative nod to a game’s ability to stand apart from the nearly 90 others from the start of the preseason to the end of the regular season. Rockets rookie Joey Dorsey literally circled the date on the calendar.


He likely would not have forgotten that his first return to Memphis was coming, and if he had, the charter pilot and bus drivers likely knew the way. But he took no chances, making sure he could revel in the anticipation as much as Wednesday night’s home away from homecoming against the Grizzlies in the FedEx Forum.


“I circled it right on the calendar as soon as I saw it,” Dorsey said. “I’m excited to go back and play in front of the crowd that loved me my four years at Memphis. It’s going to be crazy putting on the jersey and seeing them root against me there.


“I don’t really think they’ll root against me because I was a fan favorite. That’s my home, Memphis. I love going to Memphis in the off-season and working out there. They treated me so special there.”


Dorsey grew up in Baltimore, but played four years at Memphis, leaving after the title game loss as the winningest player in the program’s history. He might have been a second-round pick to the NBA, but in Memphis he was the star of the college team that became more popular than the struggling NBA franchise with which it shares an arena.


He left as the Conference-USA all-time rebounding leader, second in career field goal percentage and a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year. He became nearly as much a part of Memphis as dry rub ribs and the blues, and would have loved to have to have moved no further than from the Tigers’ to the Grizzlies’ locker room.


The Grizzlies could have had him. Portland selected Dorsey with Memphis’ pick on the Rockets’ behalf, sending him and Donte’ Greene to the Rockets for the rights to Nicolas Batum, taken by the Rockets with the 25th pick. Memphis got Darrell Arthur, the Trail Blazers’ pick, and agreed to send the Rockets their second-round pick in the next draft.


Dorsey headed to Houston and a spot in the Rockets’ young backup center/power forward mix. But his return to Memphis sparked renewed thoughts of what could have been.


“I want to show the fans what I’ve been working on,” he said, “and I want to show Memphis what they missed out on.”


What that will be is still to be determined. He has shows the defensive skills that the Rockets wanted, but also the dramatic learning curve typical of rookie big men. He had frequently fallen into foul trouble, relying too much on his hands and strength, rather than positioning.


“He is reacting to a guy moving,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “He puts his hand out or hits him. He’s got to anticipate what’s going on. With big guys in our league, that comes with experience. Big guys have a hard time defending in our league.


“He doesn’t think ahead. He reacts to what his guy is doing or the play that comes. He doesn’t see it coming quick enough. You’re going to see him play a lot more in the last three (preseason) games. We’re going to put him on the court longer and not put him off and one. We want to look at him for longer stretches – if he stays out of foul trouble.”


Few rookie centers have a better sparring partner. Dorsey matches up with Yao Ming at most practices, forcing him to go against one of the few centers still the center of his team’s offense. For Yao, Dorsey brings the sort of strength and quickness that is usually the best defense for his height and shot-making talent.


A player that will almost always give up height against NBA centers, Dorsey gets to work out against a center taller than any he will face in a game.


“I’ll say this: Guarding Yao, I’m helping him and he’s helping me,” Dorsey said. “I’m a lot faster than him. I’m quick on my feet. So, if he makes a move to the middle, I can direct him back to the baseline. I’m giving up height, but my quickness is still a factor guarding a big man.”


Dorsey is not quite 6-7, but with a standing reach of a seven-footer. His strength can make it difficult for players to get to the low-post position to use their height advantage, but he has had difficulties avoiding the temptation to use his hands, falling into rapid foul trouble in most games.


“I’ve been talking to coach (Jack) Sikma about that a lot, trying not to be so physical holding a guy,” Dorsey said. “I’m trying to learn the game, bumping the guy before he gets on the block and when he catches the ball.


“The coaches, they think I (epitomize) the change in the league with a center in a power forward body. I’m just trying to transition my game from college to show everybody what I can do here in the NBA.


“After practice is over, I get with all the coaches and just talk about the defense. Yao and I battle in practice. I want to learn how to defend the great centers and the great power forwards in the game.”


That will take time. For now, there is a preseason game that to Dorsey might as well be against the greats of the game.


“I’m into it,” Dorsey said. “I want to get there and show them what I got.”


jonathan.feigen@chron.com