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(Chronic) After a week off, Rockets are itching to play

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by BlackSombrero, Oct 18, 2007.

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BlackSombrero Member

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Oct. 18, 2007, 8:39AM
Rockets itching to play
Team has had week off between preseason games

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

As they stretch from one end of the Toyota Center bench to the other, with 19 players filling every seat and beyond, the Rockets look like a baseball team spreading across the dugout.

And as they have gone through day after day of practices and scrimmages, they have been more like a football team, with six days to fill between games.

Tonight, the Rockets finally will get to be a basketball team again as they play the Dallas Mavericks and return to a normal NBA life, if there is such a thing.

The Rockets' third preseason game, and just their second against an NBA opponent, comes just in time. And not only to keep them from killing each other.

"It was such a long layoff between games, we need to get out there and get some work, especially against an NBA team," guard Rafer Alston said. "We need to play a game. We need to see how far away we are from being ready for opening night.

"We scrimmaged game-like for two days and (Wednesday), worked on some sets. It will be nice to get out there and go against opposing competition."

After a week of preparing, the Rockets need a test, even the relatively modest test of a preseason game. More specifically, they need to find if they have worked out the bugs of an offense that was dangerously turnover prone against the New Orleans Hornets and Panathinaikos and in the simulated games against one another since.

"I know we share the ball together," center Yao Ming said. "We swing the ball. Everybody gets touches, shoots the ball and has turnovers together. It sounds like a team."

The problem with all that togetherness is that the turnover bug has been passed around like a flu someone packed along for a road trip. Everyone gets it.

Coach Rick Adelman has not been amused. He put the Rockets through long scrimmages Monday and Tuesday and through scrimmages and drills on Wednesday, hoping to sweat the virus out of them.

"We can't continue to make the same mistakes," he said. "I'll give you an example. Our big guys have the ball, and the guy makes a good cut, and they throw it right into the hands of their defender. It's where they are, where they have the ball. Sometimes guys are trying to make great plays.

"What is hard about what we're trying to do is a guy may make a great cut and may be open against his guy, but in our league, he draws the defense. You have to see the defense. That guy makes a great cut, somebody else is probably open. We're trying to throw it to that guy without looking at the team defensively. That's a process we have to keep going through."

By Wednesday, Adelman was much happier about practice. But the measure will be today against a Dallas team that last season was among the league's best defensively (fourth in points allowed, seventh in opposing field-goal percentage).

"I think they're one of the better teams in the league, so it's always going to be good to see what your concentration is defensively and how you execute (offensively), because they are a good offensive team," Adelman said. "We haven't played for a week, so we'll see how sharp we are."

The Rockets also will see something they have not seen in a week: an opponent trying to stop them in ways they cannot predict. The progress of a week's worth of work to make their new offense run better will be gauged when another team tries to stop it.

"You see what you have to do to counter against an opponent," Alston said of facing other teams. "Opponents love to take away the first option, sometimes the second option. It will help you better read the defense and give you a better understanding of the third and fourth option in the offense, especially with the offense we have. We need the games."

Adelman liked the idea of the break. The Rockets got some work in, maybe got a few things ironed out, and will get to be an NBA team again tonight.

"I don't know about six (days between games)," Adelman said. "Sometimes it's good to have a break where you can just practice and not play so many games. I think it was good for us. We were able to do some things and scrimmage and put some things in during this time frame.

"Usually, I put things in a lot quicker than I did this year because I knew I had this time coming. Now, we'll play more games in more days (five games in eight days), and we'll get in a little bit of a groove before the season starts."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5223852.html

#1 BlackSombrero, Oct 18, 2007

drankcity Member

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good read. well the boys i mean men will have to show the fans something new tonight. with a good team like the mavs its going to be exciting.......10 hours til tip-off.......dam its along time.........let go rockets! :

#2 drankcity, Oct 18, 2007
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and we all are itching to see them play again
a week is too long

#3 rusHour, Oct 18, 2007
drankcity Member

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knock on wood for less turnovers!

#4 drankcity, Oct 18, 2007
ThePrivate Member

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thank goodness for benadryl!

#5 ThePrivate, Oct 18, 2007
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"Chronic" itching?

When did the bastardization of Houston Chronicle start to get popular?

#6 wnes, Oct 18, 2007
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Looking forward to the game! Is "shove guys in the back" Howard going to be playing?

#7 sanjorade, Oct 18, 2007

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"We can't continue to make the same mistakes," he said. "I'll give you an example. Our big guys have the ball,
and the guy makes a good cut, and they throw it right into the hands of their defender. It's where they are,
where they have the ball. Sometimes guys are trying to make great plays..."
Click to expand...

I'm hoping the high turnovers in scrimmages is more because the defense has a good idea
of what the offense is trying to do then we just can't protect the ball.
Looking forward to tonights game...it's been too long between games.

Section 411...enjoying the view!

#8 Clutch34, Oct 18, 2007
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[ME]After a week off, The_Yoyo is anxious to watch the Rockets play

#9 The_Yoyo, Oct 18, 2007
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I'm pumped because I bet we get to see the real rotation tonight.

I have a sad feeling that Stevie won't be at the top of it.

#10 mlwoo, Oct 18, 2007
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We've been putting every little thing under a microscope here out of anticipation. Of course I can't wait to see another game! Tonight will be an awesome night of sports on tv: Rutgers vs South Florida, Indians vs Red Sox, and of course, the Rockets and Mavs.

#11 professorjay, Oct 18, 2007
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Mavs must put all the players on the court to get int a groove, because they continuously lose 4 games at the beginning of the season last year.

#12 liangqj, Oct 18, 2007
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mlwoo said:

I'm pumped because I bet we get to see the real rotation tonight.

I have a sad feeling that Stevie won't be at the top of it.
Click to expand...

I'm actually fine if Steve comes off the bench. Here's what I envision the rotation being :

Starters
PG: Rafer
SG: T-Mac
SF: Battier
PF: Scola
C: Yao

Second Team
PG: Stevie/MJ split the time 50/50 with both of them getting time with the starters as well when Rafer sits
SG: Bonzi/Head split the time 70/30 here
SF: Bonzi might log some time here when Head is at SG/Snyder
PF: Hayes (I like Hayes here because with scorers like Stevie, MJ, and Bonzi in the game, Hayes will not have to carry any real offensive load, and can just do his thing)
C: Deke

Although guys like Mike Harris, Aaron Brooks, and Steve Novak bring a lot to the table, I just don't think they have enough experience to break into the rotation just yet. However, after a year of practicing with the team, and maybe getting into a few games when one of the rotation guys gets hurt, I think they'll be ready to really contribute next year.

I'm still on the fence about Jackie Butler. I watched him play a little bit when I lived in San Antonio, and I just don't think he can really make a difference on this team. He doesn't do any one thing particularly well, but he's also pretty young still, so he still has time to develop. I don't think the Rockets keep him on the roster, but I've been wrong before, and I'll be wrong again.

#13 yobod, Oct 18, 2007

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professorjay said:

We've been putting every little thing under a microscope here out of anticipation. Of course I can't wait to see another game! Tonight will be an awesome night of sports on tv: Rutgers vs South Florida, Indians vs Red Sox, and of course, the Rockets and Mavs.
Click to expand...

Don't forget new episodes of 30 Rock and The Office as well! It's gonna be an awesome night of TV period!

#14 yobod, Oct 18, 2007
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since i cant start a thread , im gona post this here

link:http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19891990.html

This is a phrase of article about 1990 nba final in between portland blazers and bad boys, copied from NBA.com ecyclopedia. I found its interesting that this portland team have alot similarity with the current rockets team, here it is :

The Lakers' demise opened the way for the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference. The Blazers had always been considered a talented, dangerous team in the West. But for four straight years they had lost in the first round of the playoffs, and the subsequent frustrations led to team conflicts, particularly between coach Mike Schuler and 6-foot-7 shooting guard Clyde Drexler. In the middle of the 1988-89 season, the team had released Schuler and promoted his assistant, Rick Adelman, himself a former Portland guard.

In the offseason, the Blazers acquired veteran power forward Buck Williams from the New Jersey Nets. They had a quality starter at every position. Drexler, the high-flying scoring guard, led them in scoring with a 24.3 average, while Terry Porter, at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, gave them a big point guard with quickness. Jerome Kersey was a 6-foot-7 leaper at small forward who averaged 16.0 points and put out an inspired defensive effort just about every night.

you guys see that? your thought?

#15 dragonz, Oct 18, 2007
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The_Yoyo said:

[ME]After a week off, The_Yoyo is anxious to watch the Rockets play
Click to expand...

Wow, speaking of yourself in third person? Must really think highly of yourself.

#16 JusBleezy, Oct 18, 2007
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dragonz said:

since i cant start a thread , im gona post this here

link:http://www.nba.com/history/finals/19891990.html

This is a phrase of article about 1990 nba final in between portland blazers and bad boys, copied from NBA.com ecyclopedia. I found its interesting that this portland team have alot similarity with the current rockets team, here it is :

The Lakers' demise opened the way for the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference. The Blazers had always been considered a talented, dangerous team in the West. But for four straight years they had lost in the first round of the playoffs, and the subsequent frustrations led to team conflicts, particularly between coach Mike Schuler and 6-foot-7 shooting guard Clyde Drexler. In the middle of the 1988-89 season, the team had released Schuler and promoted his assistant, Rick Adelman, himself a former Portland guard.

In the offseason, the Blazers acquired veteran power forward Buck Williams from the New Jersey Nets. They had a quality starter at every position. Drexler, the high-flying scoring guard, led them in scoring with a 24.3 average, while Terry Porter, at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, gave them a big point guard with quickness. Jerome Kersey was a 6-foot-7 leaper at small forward who averaged 16.0 points and put out an inspired defensive effort just about every night.

you guys see that? your thought?
Click to expand...

I was a fan of those Trailblazer teams. They ran and ran, moved the ball around but had a somewhat rugged quality about them. That Blazer team in 1990 knocked out the Phoenix Suns...the very squad that put out the 60+ win LA Lakers in the second round, 4-1 and led to Pat Riley quitting Los Angeles.

But they were also not known for "playing smart." Yao is quite better (harder working) and more cerebral than his counterpart Kevin Duckworth who was pretty good early on. Duckworth was kinda on the borderline round side and speed was definitely not an aspect. T-Mac is about where Clyde was at that point, more or less, on the court even if their positions are/were different.

Buck Williams/Jerome Kersey could be evened out by Scola/Battier perhaps in a different way. Buck Williams was a monster board eater and Kersey was sort of an Horry with more skills.

The equivalence is not direct but with James, Francis and Alston, they have the track shoes to carry out an Adelman offense but we'll see about the cognitive aspects. Danny Ainge came off the bench, played intensely but smart. The Rockets are probably deeper at guard.

The Rockets have the tools.

#17 worldlyman, Oct 18, 2007
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worldlyman said:

I was a fan of those Trailblazer teams. They ran and ran, moved the ball around but had a somewhat rugged quality about them. That Blazer team in 1990 knocked out the Phoenix Suns...the very squad that put out the 60+ win LA Lakers in the second round, 4-1 and led to Pat Riley quitting Los Angeles.

But they were also not known for "playing smart." Yao is quite better (harder working) and more cerebral than his counterpart Kevin Duckworth who was pretty good early on. Duckworth was kinda on the borderline round side and speed was definitely not an aspect. T-Mac is about where Clyde was at that point, more or less, on the court even if their positions are/were different.

Buck Williams/Jerome Kersey could be evened out by Scola/Battier perhaps in a different way. Buck Williams was a monster board eater and Kersey was sort of an Horry with more skills.

The equivalence is not direct but with James, Francis and Alston, they have the track shoes to carry out an Adelman offense but we'll see about the cognitive aspects. Danny Ainge came off the bench, played intensely but smart. The Rockets are probably deeper at guard.

The Rockets have the tools.
Click to expand...

Nice find. Yes the similarities are errie! I hope they do get to the NBA finals but unlike that Blazers team win this one. The remark about Porter at 6'3" and 190 lbs isn't that SF's all the way. This article is trying to tell us SF should start. Also the similarities between the team losing in the 1st round and acquiring Scola he's our Buck Williams. If this team can come together like that Blazers team it will be a force to deal with. Here's to hoping it happens.

#18 thewaterox, Oct 18, 2007

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mlwoo said:

I'm pumped because I bet we get to see the real rotation tonight.

I have a sad feeling that Stevie won't be at the top of it.
Click to expand...

Its only 3 games into a 6 game preseason, I don't think you can take any lineup as a good indication of what the final lineup will be. But I think you're right, Steve won't be at the top of it.

#19 SpiffyRifi, Oct 18, 2007
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I swear they scheduled all their games on nights when I have late classes...

#20 snc, Oct 18, 2007

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