The Owner Speaks...

From the Chronicle

Rockets owner keeps the faith
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

DALLAS -- Losses still pain Leslie Alexander as much as ever. And fittingly for the owner of the Rockets' traveling hospital ward, he has ached more this season than in any previous campaign.

And although Alexander expects his 15-30 team to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season, he said Tuesday he is certain the Rockets are progressing well and remains confident in coach Rudy Tomjanovich and general manager Carroll Dawson.

"I feel very confident," Alexander said. "We've got a lot of talent. We're very young. So as this team gets better and better and better, it's not going to be one of these teams that's good for a year or two. It's going to be good for 10 years. People will get very excited about this team. We have almost as much talent as anybody in the league. If we put it together and it stays healthy, it's going to be a very exciting team."

Alexander, in Houston to announce that former Mayor Bob Lanier would serve as the keynote speaker at the annual Tux & Tennies Charity Gala, supports Tomjanovich and Dawson's stewardship of the team indefinitely.

"Oh, absolutely," Alexander said. "There has been no question about that."

Alexander still believes in the Rockets' more controversial, high-priced signings. He considers Maurice Taylor, whom he signed to a six-year, $48 million contract in August, a key component in the Rockets' future. Taylor has missed the season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon. Alexander said Kelvin Cato, in the second year of a six-year, $42 million deal, has begun to show his value.

"I think Mo is a great investment," Alexander said. "I think Mo was close to becoming an All-Star in this league. I can't account for injuries. Cato, who got a lot of knocks in the press, has shown he can be a very good NBA center. How many guys as big as Cato are more athletic? He made plays (Tuesday) only an athlete can make."

Alexander blamed the Rockets' run of injuries for their on-court struggles. Through 45 games, they have had players out for a combined 163 games. Taylor and Glen Rice, the presumed starters at forward, are expected to play in just 20 games between them.

The Rockets' problems have not been isolated to injuries, however. In the depths of their 15-game losing streak, they ran into off-court problems the team generally had avoided since Alexander purchased it in 1993.

Taylor was found to have violated the league's substance abuse policy and said he has abused mar1juana. Steve Francis was arrested for driving under the influence, though he has maintained he was not intoxicated. His case is pending.

"That's part of owning a team," Alexander said. "If you want to be in the game, you have to understand it's not like owning a factory. Your personnel are so key here. And they are human beings. With human beings, things happen."

The Rockets also have had to struggle with Francis' ongoing migraine problems, although Alexander does not consider that a basketball issue.

"My only concern is for Steve's health," he said. "I really feel for Steve, to go through all this pain and suffering."

Despite the struggles, Alexander cited the growth of his younger players and the trades that brought Francis and Eddie Griffin as better examples of the direction of the team.

"They're all starting to step up competitively," Alexander said. "They're all great athletes, and they can shoot. We're starting to see the team grow. It's young. It will be around a long time.

"When we did the Stevie trade, I thought we got the best player in the draft without the No. 1 pick. When we did the Griffin trade, it was the same thing, the best player in the draft who is going to be the best player, without the first pick in the draft. I think (we got) the best guys in two of the past three drafts.

"We do hold two No. 1 draft picks (their own and the Raptors') this year. Because of the injuries -- and I've never seen a team with this many injuries -- we'll probably be in the lottery. With all this talent, we'll have a chance to get better with the draft choices."

For now, Alexander still suffers with each defeat. But even 30 losses have not been enough to shake his faith.

"It's been tough to take," Alexander said. "At the same time, the good side is the young players are starting to step up. You see the talent on this team. At almost every position, we're deep, and we can play. Right now, we have a lot of talent. We need to get these guys healthy.

"Right now, I think you see our efforts coming to fruition. The league is becoming so athletic. I think our backcourt is as athletic as any in the league. Our frontcourt is very athletic. Kenny (Thomas) is coming on now. Griffin is very athletic. Cato is very athletic. We have the height up front we didn't have years ago.

"It will take these guys a little time to learn how to win, but we have all the pieces in place to be a really competitive team."



Cato getting props from the man who pays the bills. Anyone else think the Rockets and Cato have found that medium of ego-stroke/confidence to make Cato play well enough for the Rockets to be successful, and Cato stay interested.

I think Les' stance on Mo is pretty clear. I don't consider Mo a "near all-star", but he's a solid player who is well liked within the organization.

And our owner calling Steve and Eddie the cream of their respective crops. Take that, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Baron Davis, Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry, and Tyson Chandler!

To me, Les sounds like he feels we're one piece away (through the draft?), and that he's going to do what it takes to keep this team together. Anyone get a different vibe?