Rocket adjusts from shooting to point guard By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle David Wesley has danced this dance before. He is familiar with toggling between point and shooting guard, so much so that the task doesn't rattle him. When starting point guard Rafer Alston went down with a bruised shin two weeks ago, Wesley was asked to fill the vacancy in the interim. He has played both positions in his career, so this switch was no different than any that preceded it. Or was it? At 35, Wesley had settled into his role as a designated shooter, a lethal 3-point marksman renowned for his ability to rub off a screen, catch the ball and drain jumpers with a steady hand. Wesley began his 13th NBA season with 1,015 3-pointers, his days of regularly pacing his team in assists seemingly a thing of the past. "I've had kind of a set role," Wesley said. "There are guys in this league that are basketball players with no real set position. That's where I've fallen into this year." Offseason right knee surgery complicated matters for Wesley, who was slow to regain his shot. But after coming off the bench in six of the first seven games of the season, Wesley moved into the starting lineup at the point following the injury to Alston. Production spike Wesley enjoyed a production spike almost immediately, averaging 13 points (on 10-of-17 shooting) and five assists against the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. But the Rockets dropped both games and struggled mightily on offense, failing to score 75 points in either game as Wesley committed seven turnovers in just under 75 minutes of action. Over the last five games, Wesley appears to have settled into organizing the offense. The Rockets averaged 90.2 points over that stretch, with six players reaching double figures in points in each of the last three games, including Tuesday's 100-85 win over the Atlanta Hawks, a game in which the Rockets hit triple digits for the first time this season. "I'm getting more and more comfortable, guards pressuring me and things like that," Wesley said. "I hope the offense is running better — that means I'm doing a pretty decent job." Wesley doesn't penetrate like Steve Nash, and he can't pass like Jason Kidd. But the Rockets don't need him to be a superstar at the point, merely serviceable until Alston returns. Wesley has stepped forward to man a position he hadn't played since his early years in the league in Boston and Charlotte. "It's a tough transition," Alston said. "He has a good grasp; he always has," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "It's just totally different handling the ball as a predominant part of your job versus running the court and playing as a 2. He's done as well as he can, and that's all you can ask of anybody." Lightened load Tracy McGrady returned to action Tuesday, and his ability to handle the ball lightened the load for Wesley. Eventually Alston will make his way back, which will allow Wesley to nestle back into the slot at which he is most comfortable. "I'm just focusing on what I can do better, getting myself prepared to play every game, shooting the ball, taking care of the ball and defending," Wesley said. "That's what I can do. If I put more pressure on myself than to do that, then I won't be myself anyway." mk.bower@chron.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rockets Summary Feeling better Rockets forward Tracy McGrady was concerned how his ailing back would respond following the 34-minute stress test he put it through in Tuesday's 100-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Two days and one practice later, he is far less anxious. "I feel really good," McGrady said. "I woke up (Wednesday) just wondering how I was going to feel, and everything was fine. I rolled right out of bed (with) no pain, nothing." McGrady has garnered tons of advice on how to remedy his back pain. He received a cushion embedded with magnets from friend and rap star Paul Wall, revisited the vertebral axial decompression (VAX-D) treatment he originally underwent while with the Orlando Magic, and even tried the castor-oil massages his mother and grandmother recommended. "Maybe after basketball," McGrady said, "I can become a trainer and help some of these guys out." Thinking big As a change of pace, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy conducted a split-squad workout Thursday, with the guards and small forwards taking the court for the opening 75 minutes before the big men went through the rigors to complete the practice. Rockets center Yao Ming said he would have welcomed an additional body, for he and the four other big guys rotated through their drills. Tracy McGrady was playfully surprised to be included in the opening session. "I think I am a big guy," McGrady said. "I think I've got great post moves. Sometimes I guard the power forwards, so I was pretty disappointed in coach that he didn't include me with the big guys." Van Gundy agreed that perhaps McGrady should have been allowed to participate with the big men. "He has actually rebounded very well," Van Gundy said. "But the other thing he has in common with them is he's been moving at a very slow speed offensively. He could have fit right in." Alston closer Rockets guard Rafer Alston is inching closer to a return from the bruised shin he suffered in the waning moments of an 86-80 loss at San Antonio on Nov. 17. "It's getting better and better," Alston said. "I'm able to run now, but as soon as I can start cutting and things like that, I'll be the first person out on the court playing." Alston, acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 4, has missed the last seven games. The Rockets should hope for a speedy recovery for Alston not only because of the balance he will bring to their lineup, but because he is, if one is to take literally his comments regarding coach Jeff Van Gundy, suffering mentally from the downtime. "I miss being out there with the guys," Alston said. "I'm missing coach getting on me." MOISEKAPENDA BOWER http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3497728.html
*Positives Alston is close to returning (he really is injured and not in JVG's doghouse) Tmac's back is healing DWes seems to have gotten his shot back Emergence of LHead so im pretty happy with our team even though we dont have all the wins. J
"He has actually rebounded very well," Van Gundy said. "But the other thing he has in common with them is he's been moving at a very slow speed offensively. He could have fit right in." Hilarious
I thought Head was logging most of the time at the point? He has been bringing the ball up and setting up the plays more than Wesley.
My sentiments exactly. Can't wait to see Alston back on the court so we can start building chemistry. It's like the season's starting again!
