I know tonight was just the first game of a long, mainly meaningless preseason, but I still thought I'd chip in some of my observations. I thought a lot of the players were really nervous or overly excited about the game tonight. The first two minutes of the game were extremely ugly with bricks and airballs and dropped passes all over the place. I think it's a good sign that Kenny tried to assert himself so much tonight; especially after how much the coaching staff has tried to build him up. Kenny really wanted to impress his home crowd, and I think it made it much harder for him to play naturally. Sure he and half the team had a HORRIBLE shooting percentage, but I looked at other box scores and saw we weren't the only ones. Oscar Torres didn't look good at all, but I can see why the staff has good things to say about him, and hopefully he'll have a good game tomorrow. About all I remember about Kelly's performance is that he had a couple of good passes, but I don't think he played too long. I think the players who don't have a roster spot yet have a very difficult time in these games since every second on the court determines their future on the team. I get the feeling most of the players were as anxious for a somewhat real game as we on Clutchcity.net were. Heck, I skipped out on doing something with my girlfriend tonight and tomorrow just so I could watch the games Wednesday and Thursday. I think by next week most of the players will have calmed down a bit and we will see shooting percentages rise and less bone headed plays. Then maybe we can get a real look at what we might be able to expect from Kelly, Torres, or Nwankwo if any of them make the roster. I'd also like to see Kenny T have a great season after all the media hype he has gotten lately. It's no fun for a player to be hyped up only to disappoint later, since it becomes a no win situation for them later. B
Monday's Rockets Notes <i> Notes A case of nerves Rockets guard Steve Francis immediately identified rookie forward Terence Morris' condition. "He had the big eyes," Francis said of Morris' first NBA game last week in Albuquerque, N.M. "He was shaking." Morris did not go as far as Francis, his former Maryland teammate. "I was a little nervous," he said. But it was difficult to tell whether the difference in their stories was Francis enjoying some of his typical hyperbole to tease his friend or Morris showing his characteristic restraint. Either way, the progress since his first preseason game was inescapable. By the third game of the Rockets' preseason schedule, Morris was calm and on target. He made six of 12 shots for 18 points and blocked four shots in Saturday's 98-85 win over the Pistons. "I'm more confident," Morris said in what for him qualifies as a speech. "It's coming along every game." With Walt Williams out with back spasms, Morris started at small forward. Williams is questionable to play tonight against Portland in Corvallis, Ore., but Glen Rice is expected to get his first playing time with the Rockets. "In the previous games coming off the bench, you have to run around a little to feel warmed up," Morris said. "(On Saturday) I got in the flow in warm-ups, and it carries over. Steve and Moochie (Norris) are doing a real good job setting a certain tone and telling us where to go, where we'll be open and then getting us the ball." </i> B
