http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1620599 Rockets summary Francis `on call' Rockets guard Steve Francis was cleared to play tonight in Phoenix after an MRI failed to show any damage other than tendinitis in his right ankle. Francis sat out Tuesday's game, and a decision about whether he will play tonight will not be made until after his reaction to Wednesday's practice can be evaluated. "I'm right back where I started," Francis said. "I'm on call whenever they need me to go out there. If I feel better, I'm pretty sure I'll get some reps. If not, with all the injuries going around ... not only around the NBA, but Moochie (Norris) got injured last night, too. So there is a lot to think about. "I don't know if I'm going to play on Thursday or not. But I'm definitely looking forward to playing on Friday." Francis is not concerned that missing time now would affect him in the regular season. "I just have to get out there and play," he said. "Preseason is good to go against other teams. As long as I keep practicing and get reps, I don't think there will be any setbacks." Make that 2 weeks Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said Wednesday that Moochie Norris is more likely to miss two weeks than the three weeks estimated after his dislocated right pinkie finger needed surgery Tuesday. "The good news is it's not going to be a long time and it's not more serious," Tomjanovich said. "I look forward to his return. But it also gives me a chance to look at the younger point guards (Tierre Brown and Tito Maddox) on this trip. "Even though I know how much it hurts -- I saw Moochie rolling around on the floor -- it's not a serious thing. He can still keep his conditioning. He can still see all the things we're doing. And he's going to be back with no side effects." Taylor, Rice A-OK Maurice Taylor and Glen Rice, the Rockets' veteran forwards who made their return to the court Tuesday against San Antonio, reported no pain to their repaired body parts after their first game of competition. Taylor, however, did look worse for wear. Taylor arrived for practice with a badly swollen right eye after catching a hard Tim Duncan elbow just minutes after he checked into the game. "There was nothing intentional," Taylor said. "He was saying he was sorry as soon as he hit me. He still had the ball in his hands, and he was apologizing. He was saying, `Oh, I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Are you all right?' The thing that bothered me was our guards came down to double and still couldn't get the ball from him. We're doubling, he's apologizing, and he still scored." The good news, Taylor said, was that his leg "felt great." Rice offered a similar report. "I was thinking I was going to wake up in more pain this morning," Rice said. "Actually, it felt good." Two centers cut The Rockets cut centers Brandon Kurtz and Sonny Watson on Wednesday, trimming the roster to 17 players, excluding first-round pick Yao Ming. Neither played in the Rockets first two preseason games. Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said he would give Pete Mickeal his first playing time of the preseason during this week's two-game road trip. Juaquin Hawkins, back after receiving 15 stitches to close a gash across the top of his head, also could be cleared in time to see his first playing time of the preseason. -- JONATHAN FEIGEN Looks like Moochie's only out 2 weeks, things are looking up.
I thought this was quite funny. How can you not like Duncan after hearing that? Do you think Malone has ever apoligized for an elbow? The guy asked if Mo was okay before he scored on him. This is too funny! B
Exactly Tim Duncan just gained a whole lot of respect from me. When a person knows that he can kick the rest of the world's ass in basketball night in and night out, yet still stays humble enough to do it graciously...that's class.
That quote about Duncan is really funny . I like Duncan, but it also kind of reveals that Mo T seems to have some sense of humor.
I think he was Psychology Major with great work ethics to people that made him a world class! Unlike Malone or Webber, they both suck! Man, i'm still glad RT did'nt sign Webber!
i disagree. no one ever called hakeem soft and he was known as one of the "classiest" guys in the league. guys get reps for being soft when they don't stand up and defend themselves. see: robinson, david. as for tim, the jury's still out on his "softness". 1) when karl malone KO'd the little mermaid with an elbow to the back of the head, tim was standing right next to him. he watched the entire thing. and he did nothing to defend his unconscious teammate. rather, he stood with his mouth agape. 2) when KG palmed the back of tim's head and tried to cave duncan's chest in with his chin, i thought tim was going to break him off. but he didn't. it was the playoffs...so i'll give tim a pass on account of discretion, but the warning signs are there.
In a way, Duncan should be rewarded for having composure in those situations. His team cant win if he gets ejected.
Yeah, I'll say Duncan has earned some respect after this quote. I knew he wasn't a bad guy, but this is too much. I mean, he's a SA Spur! I'm not supposed to like him...why does he do this? Almost seemed as though the injury to Mooch were a omen of last, but him being back a little sooner is pretty good news to start injury news with. Same thing with Mo earlier in camp when he fell wrong. Could have been another tear, but it wasn't. Steve could have plantar facilitis, or whatever it is, but he doesn't. Rice could be...well fat. But he's just a little plump instead. J/K. Maybe we have a little good luck. (though I think I exaggereted a tad bit. Hehe..tad.)
