Chron: Anderson playing with no regrets with Rockets

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3397400

Anderson playing with no regrets
Former Spurs G finds nice fit with Rockets; move from Alamo City justified
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

SAN ANTONIO - The championships, the rings, the River Walk celebrations. That could have been part of Derek Anderson's life. That was the plan — his plan and the Spurs' plan.

Then Anderson crashed to the court. His right shoulder was separated. Anderson's season and his career in San Antonio were over.

There are no regrets, Anderson said. The decision was his, and he believes he made the right move, turning down the Spurs' four-year deal for the six-year security of the Portland Trail Blazers' offer.

Had Juwan Howard, now a Rockets teammate and then a Mavericks forward, not smacked him to the floor, Anderson might be with the Spurs, instead of facing them with Howard tonight. But Anderson said there is no animosity for the player and no thoughts of the play that changed everything.

"That's what made me leave there," Anderson said. "I wanted to stay there. It was a great fit for me, perfect for me. That injury let me know, just that quick your career could be over. If you don't have stability, you don't have anything."

So Anderson, 6-5, left a perfect situation in search of something better.

"I took a one-year deal (with the Spurs for the 2000-01 season) and I was going to sign a long-term deal if I played well. I played all 82 games. They came to the table with a short-term deal instead of a long-term deal. I would have taken less money for longer years. I just wanted to be set in a place for at least six years.

Strictly business

"They were talking about four years, $28 (million), and Portland came with six years, $48 (million.). I just felt, 'If you guys were serious about keeping me, you'd come with a long-term deal; we can work with the numbers.' They came with a five-year, with the fifth year their option, so I said, 'This is business,' and took my six years and I left. I was worried about security. This is business. You worry about your job (security.) Who knows what would have happened? If another injury happened, who knows?"

He did not thank Howard for the enlightenment, but even that day Anderson refused to join Spurs teammates in criticizing Howard for the rough play. Howard apologized to Anderson before Anderson was taken to the hospital.

"That's just basketball," Anderson, 31, said. "He didn't do it purposely, but he was going hard. It was a bad foul. That doesn't make him a bad person. I've known Juwan since 1992 when I was at Ohio State (and Howard was at Michigan.) He came back to the locker room and apologized that day."

Foul costly for Anderson

Anderson said the play has not come up since he and Howard became teammates. But after being prompted by questions Friday, they did chat easily about it and its aftermath.

"I was just making a play on the ball. It so happened I pushed him in the back and he fell down on his shoulder, separated his shoulder," Howard said. "I know it hurt their chance of winning a title. I felt more badly for Derek. I've known him for a long time. You hate to see friends go down with injuries, but especially to have caused that."

If Anderson regrets anything, it is not that he left the Spurs after the season but that he was not there for the rest of the playoffs. The Spurs beat the Mavericks in five games, but were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

"Who knows what I would have done," said Anderson, who started every game that season and averaged 15.5 points. "They've won with (Manu) Ginobili. Who knows?"

Anderson got his contractual security. Though he was a luxury-tax amnesty cut this summer, Portland waived its right to be rebated a portion of his contract with the Rockets. A free agent again, Anderson didn't concern himself with years or salary and instead went looking for the right fit.

Looking ahead

He picked the Rockets, although with a defined role awaiting him. Anderson played small forward behind Tracy McGrady in Philadelphia and started as shooting guard against the Orlando Magic.

"I'm just trying to find my way," Anderson said. "I'm not used to getting into the whole scheme of things, learning the plays, executing. I'm used to getting the ball and just making plays."

"I don't care where I play. A basketball player knows how to play. I have to understand his (coach Jeff Van Gundy's) system and then just go and perform."

With that, Anderson has made another choice. Rather than pondering what might have been, Anderson returns to San Antonio tonight thinking of what could be.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com


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ROCKETS SUMMARY

Lesson learned

Rockets center Yao Ming sat out Friday's practice after the nail fell off his left big toe. It is uncertain whether he will play tonight in San Antonio.

"I told him we'll see at tomorrow's game time," team trainer Keith Jones said. "It just depends how sore it is."

Yao, who lost the nails on both big toes in July 2004, said he hopes to play, particularly because the Rockets face the Spurs.

"San Antonio is a good team," Yao said. "That's why I want to play."

Yao said he had learned a lesson.

"Now I trust the doctors," Yao said. "I took the left one off myself (last year) and now it fell off again. I let the doctor take off the right one (also last year) and it's fine."


Back in practice

Forward Stromile Swift, who missed the Rockets' first two preseason games with a bruised right forearm, practiced Friday and is expected to play tonight.

Dion Glover, who went out with a strained right knee in the first practice, returned to the court for limited work and could be cleared for full workouts by Monday's shootaround.


Aiming to improve

Although the Rockets have won their first two preseason games, they face the San Antonio Spurs tonight needing to improve defensively, on the boards and in executing their offense. Although there are six games left in the preseason, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said the team needs to establish its strengths and be more consistent with those strengths.

"Our game has got to develop," Van Gundy said. "We have to be able to counter what teams do. We have to have the same vision about being a smart, execution-oriented team, and right now that's not who we are. If you play good defense and you rebound the ball and you keep your turnovers to a moderate amount, you'll be in the playoffs. San Antonio, they got a game, they know how to play their game and they do it every night. We're a lot more inconsistent.

"I want to eliminate the term 'sense of urgency' because that means you're fluctuating, inconsistent. Our team should just develop a game and habits. That's how they do it every day, practice, preseason into regular season, postseason. That's who you are, how you play. Those teams that are always talking about a sense of urgency and feel they have to announce to the world how good they are, I don't see those teams winning championships."

-- JONATHAN FEIGEN