http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1599679 Oct. 1, 2002, 10:28PM Rockets summary Full house The Rockets had 18 healthy players in training camp on Tuesday, which made for an equally spirited -- and unusual -- scene. Last year, the team lost Maurice Taylor prior to camp and saw Glen Rice, Cuttino Mobley and Dan Langhi miss time with injuries. This season, there was barely enough room in the gym at St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin to hold all the players. "It's always a plus when you come to training camp and nobody is hurt, nobody's watching from the sidelines," Taylor said. "That hasn't happened the last three years since I was here, whether it was (Hakeem Olajuwon) or me last year. "It's a good feeling. You can see that guys are upbeat and really getting into it. It just helps when you have everybody as a unit, doing everything at the same time." In fact, only three players had to visit the training table during the two workouts. Kenny Thomas had a cut on his hand and Sonny Watson received treatment for a previously-sprained ankle. In the afternoon session, Taylor left practice after stepping on the back of Kenny Thomas' foot. Taylor is expected back at practice today. During practice, they needed a third basket, using a court that last season was used only by Rice when he shot free throws when he grew bored with watching. "That was my own, private shooting gallery," Rice said, nodding at the extra court. "It's nice to get to share it this season." Getting defensive Rocket coach Rudy Tomjanovich ran his team through a three-hour morning workout, and it didn't take long to figure out his main area of concern. Defense, defense, defense. The Rockets forced the fewest turnovers in the league last season and were second-to-last in defensive shooting percentage. "That's going to be our big concentration here early," Tomjanovich said. "The reason we're here in Austin is to spend time away from Houston, so that we can implement our game plan." Added Mobley: "We need to focus on our weakness, and our weakness is defense." Glad to be back Steve Francis' confidence got an important shot in the arm -- or more precisely, the shoulder -- on Tuesday. Francis, coming off offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, got his first contact since last season. He collided hard with Kelvin Cato, though Francis said Cato collided with him. After taking a direct hit, he felt no pain in the shoulder and momentarily even forgot that he had just taken its first test. "The big man, Cato, hammered me," Francis said. "I didn't even feel it. "I really missed practice. I forgot how much I like to practice. I haven't had a practice since April. At Westside you just go down and shoot. Even before I got injured, I really liked to practice, just to get the chemistry and the feel for how we're going to react." -- JONATHAN FEIGEN
It's about time the Rockets starting getting serious on the defensive end. They've got all the guns on offense, but the success of this season will come down to how they play on the defensive end.
Getting defensive Rocket coach Rudy Tomjanovich ran his team through a three-hour morning workout, and it didn't take long to figure out his main area of concern. Defense, defense, defense. The Rockets forced the fewest turnovers in the league last season and were second-to-last in defensive shooting percentage. "That's going to be our big concentration here early," Tomjanovich said. "The reason we're here in Austin is to spend time away from Houston, so that we can implement our game plan." Added Mobley: "We need to focus on our weakness, and our weakness is defense." I'm glad to hear it, but I'm curious to see how Rudy intends to implement [their] game plan when Yao isn't here. Clutch, love to hear any details about changes in game plan that you pick up during training camp.
IMO, Mr. Mean will shine this year as a coach because he will come forth to emphasize defense and rebounding. This is not to say he has not done so in the past, but the injury bug served as his Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go card. Of course, this also means the Rockets will lose Smith to some team that wants to solid, no-nonsense head coach.
Hehe...is this a compliment to Steve or a put down on Cato? If he didn't even feel it, maybe Cato's too weak. Naw, I'm just messing with him. BTW, I haven't heard much about Cato yestersay. Maybe he'll do more today. Like jumping.
If this team (1) stays healthy and (2) plays defense, I believe they'll make the playoffs. They have plenty of offensive talent.
"The big man, Cato, hammered me," Francis said. "I didn't even feel it. I'm glad to hear Cato is playing hard but should he be hammering our star player?
I think Steve was referring to shoulder pain when he hit Cato, i.e. that his shoulder seemed OK. I remember last year he'd get banged and he would grab his shoulder.
Wow, Cato actually proves useful, testing Franchise's shoulder with a little contact. I wonder if they were working on any zones or traps (paging Clutch ), since the Rocks suddenly have an abundance of shot-blocking. Just thinking of Francis & Cat trapping a G up top, getting the steal, and passing the ball to a suddenly streaking and opportunistic Boki for an easy slam gives me goose bumps. And if the G passes out, EG & Yao are right there in the paint, ready to erase anything & everything.
