After five days of training camp practices, Rockets coach Rick Adelman went a different way on Sunday. The Rockets played a game, with officials and as many game-like situations as possible. They only went three quarters, with the White team – Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, Rafer Alston, Luther Head and D.J. Strawberry – pulling away late in the third quarter to win by 17. But particularly after a well-played first half, Adelman said it was an encouraging measure of progress and where the team stood after camp. “We had a scrimmage, three quarters, just to see how they would respond and see the conditioning,” Adelman said. “They were good. It was close for two quarters. Then the third quarter was kind of a blowout. It was good to judge. “What we really wanted to do is see how they executed offensively. Defensively, I think we’re a long ways from getting where we need to be, but we’re playing so many different combinations. I don’t want to say we haven’t concentrated on it, but I was more concerned with the conditioning aspect after the first day or so. Guys are catching up so far. “I wanted to do this today so we could have game-like conditions. I don’t think they’re worn out at all.” ONE-ON-ONE Shane Battier has suffered through the inactivity forced by his sore right foot and rehabilitation. Missing all of training camp and scheduled to sit out three more weeks, it is his longest time forced off the court since he broke his left elbow in high school. “Obviously, I want to be out there with my teammates,” Battier said after a session passing to Luis Scola through a post-practice shooting drill. “It looks like they’re having fun out there and they’re working hard. It’s tough watching, but I know my need for patience is much more important than my need to be out there right now.” Battier has attended every practice, shooting free throws after, and said there is something to be gained by watching. “I’m on the sidelines,” Battier said. “I’m still asking coaches questions. I’m a question-asker during the year. If I see a scenario in practice, I still ask the coaches ‘Why and what did we do there?’” Unlike many players who choose to rehabilitate alone, Battier has kept himself as close to the team as possible, in part to ease his own frustration. “I try to be as much a part of the team as I can be,” Battier said. “A lot of guys, when they’re hurt, they just go away. They’re hermits. I think it’s good to be around the guys and good for me to still feel a part of the team and let the guys know, hey, I’m still here. Even though I’m doing my little foam roller (exercise) on the sidelines, I still want to help make the team better the best I can.” FREE THROWS With Toyota Center occupied today, the Rockets will move practice to the Memorial Hermann/HBU Wellness Center. The choice, however, was as much to highlight their relationship with Memorial Hermann as because the Toyota Center main court was unable, with the facility, like the Rockets’ usual practice court, not offering the multiple courts the Rockets used at Toyota Center. During training camp, the Rockets slid the main court to one end of Toyota Center and added three baskets to the other end by using a portion of the Comets’ Reliant Center court. “You have two full courts, it makes a huge difference in what you can do,” Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. “It’s so much easier. You can pick and choose and have plenty of room to do it. Some guys are conditioning, some guys are shooting. You take the young guys over to one court and work with them.”... Though the Rockets did not leave town for training camp, Sunday’s scrimmage effectively marked “breaking camp.” This week’s schedule, with games every other day, is more like a regular-season schedule, with Rick Adelman planning to move to more typical workout regimen… “Tomorrow, we’ll talk about what’s gone on this week and then get ready for the week,” Adelman said. BY THE NUMBERS The Rockets will begin the season with a Toyota Center record 16-consecutive sellouts, 13 in the regular-season and the three home playoff games.
Okay... Yao Ming, Luis Scola, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, Rafer Alston, Luther Head and D.J. Strawberry... Hmmm, that means the other team was probably Joey Dorsey, Carl Landry, Mike Harris, Brent Barry, Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes and Von Wafer. Wow. That was a fair match-up.
I think RA was trying to balance out the bench, may be? that's why he had Heads with the starters, otherwise, if you put Landry and Barry there, then there is no meaning for the game, i guess. anyway, i really hope DJ strawberry can make the team, this kid has some talent which i think can contribute to the team!! Can't wait for the perseason game!!!
