Rockets vs Pacers GameDay Thoughts/Experiences + Pics

As I was driving to Indianapolis from Champaign, IL on I-74 on exit 34 towards West Lafayette (home of Purdue University) they have a billboard for the Boilermakers and guess whose picture was on there...Carl Landry you guessed it right! That picture has been on there for at least two to three years and I had forgotten about it. By the time I pulled my camera out and turned it on...the billboard was long gone.

First and foremost, I would like to highlight that hayesfan has posted some pics on the Rockets @ Pacers Roll Call (Feb 1st, 2008) thread. I wanted to give her some press as that thread has only gotten (approx.) 200 hits since she posted and has several pictures with comments. By the way hayesfan, I made it into a couple of your pictures! Also, I would like to mention that I did not get nowhere near the great pictures that I obtained and posted in the Rockets vs Bulls GameDay Thoughts/Experiences + Pics thread. One of the problems that I had was that the camera battery is starting to die as at random times it was saying that the battery was dead and sometimes it said it was full.

Alright so here is what I got...

I got to the fieldhouse 15 minutes after the doors had open (damn traffic) so only the rookies, Novak and Bonzi were practicing with Battier and Hayes on the way out.
Here is a picture of Chuck Hayes shooting his free throw. This is the first time that I saw that Hayes was really trying to practice the form in his shot. He also wasn't as ugly as usual. Also, attached is a picture of Hayes being nice to fans and signing autographs.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774648317889666"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcMGhhTII/AAAAAAAAAQA/56R559JSPRc/s288/IMG_4684.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774875951156434"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcZWhhTNI/AAAAAAAAAQk/TJ0jcyfz2c0/s288/IMG_4689.JPG" /></a>

 

Here are some Landry pics. Mainly he was practicing with the broomless broomman some post-up plays. To be able to match up with Landry he had to push him really hard with both hands. At one point Landry almost pushed him to the floor. Bonzi wanted to post up so he kept on complaining that he wanted time with the broomman. Also, at one point when they were giving the top 10 highlights of the NBA in January...well they showed Landry doing the reverse layup against the Sonics...Bonzi (shooting free thows), Landry (shooting mid-range jumpers) and Novak (shooting threes) stopped what they were doing and looked at the screen (only Scola kept on shooting). Landry said that this is Bullsh!t...but I don't understand why...maybe he didn't like that he wasn't the top play. Also, I wanted to mention that Carl was booed by the crowd quite a bit...he went to Purdue and any Big 10 fan would know that Purdue and Indiana hate each other. Maybe that's the reason he was stimulated to play monstrous and score as he did. It almost looked like he had a vendetta.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774798641745042"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcU2hhTJI/AAAAAAAAAQE/NqQenxrnLJ8/s288/IMG_4685.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775000505208130"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcgmhhTUI/AAAAAAAAARg/hmyLuu74Cu4/s288/IMG_4696.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775047749848434"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcjWhhTXI/AAAAAAAAAR4/PDyobLfOuoc/s288/IMG_4699.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775030569979234"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XciWhhTWI/AAAAAAAAARw/AFdZv_Y7jJ8/s288/IMG_4698.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775112174357938"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcnGhhTbI/AAAAAAAAASY/cbzLPjIVjKs/s288/IMG_4703.JPG" /></a>

 

Here are some Bonzi pics... Bonzi kept on talking with some people being in the front row. Recall that Bonzi went to Ball State in Muncie, IN about an hour from Indianapolis. Attached is the photo when Bonzi complained that he was getting all the post up time with broom man. Carl just walked away and then worked on his mid-range jumper. The funny part is that Bonzi wanted to post-up again but then Carl took his spot. Way to go Rook! I guess he wanted to kick butt in this game.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774837296450738"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcXGhhTLI/AAAAAAAAAQU/FbFHCAGo7Wc/s288/IMG_4687.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774893131025634"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcaWhhTOI/AAAAAAAAAQs/z1IZBUDJkGY/s288/IMG_4690.JPG" /></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774927490764034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XccWhhTQI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/eaO-4svrShA/s288/IMG_4692.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775112174357938"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcnGhhTbI/AAAAAAAAASY/cbzLPjIVjKs/s288/IMG_4703.JPG" /></a>

 

Novak…
What can I say about him? He was off in many of his three point attempts. After seeing him make 23 or 24 3-pointers during the shoot around in Chicago a month ago, he seems to have only made 1 in 10. Not a very good statistic. The only problem that I had with this is that Jack Sikma was observing the whole time (it seems that he was just looking at what Novak was doing). What bothers me is that this knowledge was not used and Novak still made it into the game. Luckily about three missed shots he was taken out of the game. There was a play where he made it behind the three point line and no one was near him. I believe the Yao took the shot and he seemed upset that he didn’t get the ball. The only picture that I had of Novak in action well I was the center of attention so I didn’t post it. But I did post a picture of Sikma following Novak’s shot.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775129354227138"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcoGhhTcI/AAAAAAAAASg/NMDR7uZfS34/s288/IMG_4704.JPG" /></a>
Scola…
Well he was mainly shooting free throws with a few mid-range jumpers.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162774983325338930"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XcfmhhTTI/AAAAAAAAARU/qKeSFa3uP7E/s288/IMG_4695.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775013390110034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XchWhhTVI/AAAAAAAAARo/jS8rIN8GARE/s288/IMG_4697.JPG" /></a>

 

Clutchfans at the game…
As many of you know from my signature, I am trying to get a bunch of clutchfans together for the following season to attend Rocket games in the Midwest. I did get to meet up with levintblack who was wearing a Landry jersey and Ball State hat in Bonzi’s honor. I made him hold my Rockets sweatshirt so that he was bleeding Rockets red as well. I also met up with INrocket who was seating in the row in front of me two seats away! It was great to have a Rockets fan next to me because we cheered together and jumped out of our seats every monster dunk that was made by Landry. I didn’t get a chance to meet up with hayesfan but I did manage to get a picture of her (but she doesn’t know it!). Let play a game of where’s waldo (I mean hayesfan)? You can click on picture to make it larger.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775262498213426"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xcv2hhTjI/AAAAAAAAATc/B0KkJceI2IM/s288/IMG_4711.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775344102592130"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc0mhhToI/AAAAAAAAAUE/0Br-yHeGJMM/s288/IMG_4716.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775649045270338"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdGWhhT0I/AAAAAAAAAVo/XwzLkPUfUnM/s288/IMG_4728.JPG" /></a>

 

I did get a few game pics although INrocket had a big camera with a lot of zoom so he may have better ones. It is important to note that the game was full of Rockets fans…to be truthful though many of them were Chinese Yao fans as they screamed heavily during his intro. Nonetheless a fan is a fan. This was the closest that I felt to a home game. My wife and I are going to see if we can fit into our busy schedule to fly down to Houston for a game. As you can see from the pictures there are Rockets jersey, shirts and hats everywhere. Oh did I mention that I hate Danny Granger. He used to be my neighbor at Bradley University (before he transferred to New Mexico). That guy is really dumb and I can’t believe that he’s in the NBA!

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775356987494034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc1WhhTpI/AAAAAAAAAUM/xrx0_pvccTw/s288/IMG_4717.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775374167363234"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc2WhhTqI/AAAAAAAAAUU/6CqSKja3CjY/s288/IMG_4718.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775408527101634"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc4WhhTsI/AAAAAAAAAUk/1zalXH6mNn0/s288/IMG_4720.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775425706970834"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc5WhhTtI/AAAAAAAAAUs/hzZV8sFgRYM/s288/IMG_4721.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775442886840034"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc6WhhTuI/AAAAAAAAAU0/lhFG8f5DvlY/s288/IMG_4722.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775666225139538"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdHWhhT1I/AAAAAAAAAVw/jSdw23qbMvQ/s288/IMG_4729.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775691994943330"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdI2hhT2I/AAAAAAAAAV4/m3NboQIYq0Y/s288/IMG_4730.JPG" /></a>

 

Here is a picture of the infamous turnover near the end of the game in the fourth quarter.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775734944616322"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdLWhhT4I/AAAAAAAAAWI/J07VVUkTrvM/s288/IMG_4732.JPG" /></a>

Here is a picture of Rafer the floor general during the few seconds of the game.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775825138929618"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdQmhhT9I/AAAAAAAAAW0/nSBJjx2sYPo/s288/IMG_4737.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775842318798818"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdRmhhT-I/AAAAAAAAAW8/RwyB8S0i6go/s288/IMG_4738.JPG" /></a>

Cheerleader pics…
My wife was in charge of these as I am not allowed to take pictures of them. There not very good and I think she did that on purpose.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775391347232434"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jsmee2000/R6Xc3WhhTrI/AAAAAAAAAUc/HkWlc0HtcrU/s288/IMG_4719.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775773599322018"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdNmhhT6I/AAAAAAAAAWc/QPQ1-yD_mPw/s288/IMG_4734.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775790779191218"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdOmhhT7I/AAAAAAAAAWk/GsnFRZ0Pe0c/s288/IMG_4735.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jsmee2000/HoustonRocketsVsIndianaPacers/photo#5162775807959060418"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jsmee2000/R6XdPmhhT8I/AAAAAAAAAWs/_HnLF_uLDAI/s288/IMG_4736.JPG" /></a>

 

Hey INRocket can you send me your email. The email in your ClutchFans profile seems to be bouncing back to me.

 

ding ding ding...we got a winner!

 

not even close!