Chron: Rockets Summary (Mo is ready for opening night!)

Rockets summary


Taylor ready
Rockets forward Maurice Taylor, who missed all eight preseason games while coming back from a dislocated left shoulder, was cleared to play and will be the Rockets' first frontcourt player off the bench tonight.

"I feel like I'm ready to play, but obviously, not having any preseason games, you hate not having the repetition, not having the games to gauge where you're at," Taylor said. "I feel good at practice. It's not giving me any problems. It's about me pushing through when I get tired and doing the things I can do."

Taylor split time with Eddie Griffin at power forward last season. But with Griffin suspended indefinitely, center Kelvin Cato has moved over to power forward. Taylor said he did not expect to start but will have to provide the same skills Cato has brought while still scoring.

"I've been down since the third day of training camp," Taylor said. "I knew I wasn't going to jump in after starting practices on Sunday and move into the starting five. That wouldn't be fair to Cato, who has been doing all the work and has been playing great. I knew my role coming in would be coming off the bench. Whatever my role is for this team, I'll play.

"(Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy) wanted me just to come in and be a player. He didn't want me to come in and be just a scorer off the bench. If I'm hot, fine. If I'm not, then come out. He wanted me to be a total player -- defense, offense and everything in between. It doesn't really matter to me. I came off the bench last year, and it was fine with me."

Unknown number
Tonight's game is a sellout. That much the Rockets know. After that, it gets complicated.

First, it's a sellout, but tickets could go on sale today. That is because the Rockets have sold all the tickets they tried to sell but held back some to be included in season-ticket packages that have been ordered. If those packages are not sold, a limited number of tickets for tonight's game could go on sale.

Second, the game is sold out, but the Rockets have no idea how many people will attend. Toyota Center's official capacity is 18,500, but that assumes every suite holder fills every seat allowed and that the restaurant is filled. There is also variation based on the number of wheelchair-accessible seats.

Weight removed
Guard Moochie Norris ended Wednesday's last practice before the regular season by stripping down to his shorts and weighing in. Moments later, he caught Jeff Van Gundy's eye and celebrated.

"Coach, 179!" Norris shouted. Van Gundy raised his arms in triumph, then pumped his fist. He did not have to tell Norris that he had escaped his pre-practice fitness assignment, riding the stationary bicycles.

"That was my goal," said Norris, who at 179 pounds was down to 8 percent body fat. "By training camp I was supposed to be down between 188, 190. By the first game, he wanted me to be 185. This is my best playing weight. I feel light. I feel good. I took care of myself and worked hard. I was just making sure, giving myself some extra room."

Guard Steve Francis said Norris was shouting with joy to no longer have to do the extra work before practices.

"That means he doesn't have to ride the bike anymore," Francis said. "Mooch has done a good job getting his weight down from last year. But I think his hair was eight or nine (pounds) of that."

-- JONATHAN FEIGEN