1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

[CHRONIC] Rockets 99, Spurs 85: Rockets roll; Air Bud sizzles

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rockets34Legend, Oct 7, 2009.

Tags:
Page 1 of 2
  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    20,764
    Likes Received:
    15,642
    http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2009/10/rockets_99_spurs_85_rockets_ro.html

    Remember the day. Remember where you were. And know that you were there at the dawn of the Air Bud era of Rockets basketball.

    OK, so maybe not. But in the search for something to take from Rockets 99, Spurs 85 Tuesday in San Antonio, more evidence of Chase Budinger's offensive potential was eye-catching and undeniable.

    Sure, the Spurs had Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Antonio McDyess, Michael Finley and Theo Ratliff sitting out. They treated the second half as an Austin Toros practice. Gregg Popovich's decision to not play Parker or anyone older than 32 makes sense for a team that plans to play into June, but made it difficult to know what to take from the Rockets' first preseason game.

    There were plenty of signs of how the Rockets want to play, starting with those 15 first-quarter fast break points. The point guards and power forwards look like the strength of the team, which is not much of a surprise when there aren't any shooting guards and centers (well, almost) on the team.

    More than all that, though, Chase Budinger just kept doing what he has been doing, holding his own in the battle of the "how did he get into the second round" draft picks.

    That was not easy to do. DeJuan Blair came off the Spurs bench to grab 19 rebounds, eight on the offensive boards, and score 16 points in 22 minutes.

    Budinger, however, made 7 of his 10 shots, seeming completely at ease and under control in the offense. He took turns early in the game against Richard Jefferson and Manu Ginobili and neither toasted him. Mostly, after hitting 72 percent of his 3s in the summer league, rolling through the summer workouts and turning heads in seven days of training camp practices, he appeared ready to play significant NBA minutes.

    His success will not be entirely dependent on his shooting touch. He does run the floor well and his athletic ability helps him get shots off. He is already much better at running an offense than his sweet-shooting Rockets predecessor, Steve Novak. But much of Budinger's success will be in his teammates' hands.

    When the Rockets ran their offense consistently, moving quickly without the ball and delivering sharp passes, they got good open looks, many by Budinger. When they went one-on-one, they bogged down. He will need offense brought to him and that will be much tougher when the Rockets play more Spurs than Toros.

    Budinger is not going to continue to make 70 percent of his shots, or do the things the Rockets still need from Tracy McGrady. But while the Spurs were buzzing about Blair, the Rockets keep seeing this from Budinger and are starting to believe it can last.

    Come to think of it, as I recall, no one thought Wally Pipp wasn't going to get his job back, either.
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, Oct 7, 2009
  2. withmustard

    withmustard Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2002
    Messages:
    2,992
    Likes Received:
    1,841
    I'm gonna be high on this guy until he has a bad game. Exciting read.
     
    #2 withmustard, Oct 7, 2009
  3. mjharleem22

    mjharleem22 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2009
    Messages:
    663
    Likes Received:
    4
    yea t-mac coming back can make this guys life a lot easier.
     
    #3 mjharleem22, Oct 7, 2009
  4. young truth

    young truth Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Messages:
    82
    Likes Received:
    4
    are you serious
     
    #4 young truth, Oct 7, 2009
  5. W22_STREAK

    W22_STREAK Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2008
    Messages:
    8,008
    Likes Received:
    616
    he is. no joke.
     
    #5 W22_STREAK, Oct 7, 2009
  6. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2000
    Messages:
    21,626
    Likes Received:
    6,258
    Wish the rockets could have got blair.
     
    #6 Air Langhi, Oct 7, 2009
  7. moestavern19

    moestavern19 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 1999
    Messages:
    39,003
    Likes Received:
    3,637

    I still don't understand how he fell so far in the draft, he was as beastly on the boards in college as I've ever seen.
     
    #7 moestavern19, Oct 7, 2009
  8. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    124,157
    Likes Received:
    33,032
    He had both his ACL's torn in high school, had them repaired, and then apparently the scar tissue was absorbed in the body leaving him no ACL's in either knee.

    Doctors say he should be ok as long as the quad and Hamstrings are strong...but any weird bending of his knee and his career could end.

    That is why he dropped.

    DD
     
    #8 DaDakota, Oct 7, 2009
  9. Air Langhi

    Air Langhi Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2000
    Messages:
    21,626
    Likes Received:
    6,258
    He still outplayed the no2 pick.
     
    #9 Air Langhi, Oct 7, 2009
  10. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    124,157
    Likes Received:
    33,032
    I am not saying he was a bad pick..I wish the Rockets got him instead of Taylor...

    I was just explaining why he dropped.

    DD
     
    #10 DaDakota, Oct 7, 2009
  11. alcatrazpsycho

    alcatrazpsycho Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2007
    Messages:
    709
    Likes Received:
    193
    In a way I'm glad we didn't get Blair. Even if he were to be a solid role player or starter, imagine all us Rockets fans growing on him as he would get continually improve his game, only for him to have a career ending injury sometime down the road. We've been down that path too many times before, and quite frankly, a it's a risk I'm glad Morey didn't take.

    Jermaine Taylor... errr... :(

    He's just another Gerald Green / James White. I'm starting to believe the Rockets organization like to have one project SG on their roster for some unfathomable reason, just to trade them away for nothing in the future.
     
    #11 alcatrazpsycho, Oct 7, 2009
  12. MONON

    MONON Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    4,903
    Likes Received:
    935
    We need another undersized "big" that shoots .312 with 16 shots in 22 minutes.
     
    #12 MONON, Oct 7, 2009
  13. T-macsterful1

    T-macsterful1 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
    Messages:
    843
    Likes Received:
    18

    haha, uh. Are you serious, when t-mac is on teh floor he makes this team better you can not argue that. he will take some of the pressure of bundinger that people are placing on him now. Lets not make the rookie breakdown his first year, you can't place the weight of a teams offense on a 2nd round pick just out of college.
     
    #13 T-macsterful1, Oct 7, 2009
  14. shortfuse3

    shortfuse3 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2008
    Messages:
    3,912
    Likes Received:
    59
    taylor's already shown more poise and skill than Gerald Green and James White. he has a great first step and is a strong driver. if he could work on his shot he could be a better nate robinson.
     
    #14 shortfuse3, Oct 7, 2009
  15. don grahamleone

    don grahamleone Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2001
    Messages:
    23,384
    Likes Received:
    33,541
    For those that don't know (which should be all of you), Wally Pipp was replaced by Lou Gehrig when Gehrig started his consecutive games streak. He, of course, never got his starting job back.
     
    #15 don grahamleone, Oct 7, 2009
  16. Blurr#7

    Blurr#7 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2007
    Messages:
    5,276
    Likes Received:
    3,453
    I think what I love most about Chase's game is his ability to hit the jumper coming off screens. I always wanted to see that from Tracy but it never was a consistant part of his game.
    You're talkin 6'8" with great elevation coming off a baseline screen. Even if the defender goes over the pick and closes out, Chase has enough elevation and a quick enough release to make it a good percentage shot.
     
    #16 Blurr#7, Oct 7, 2009
  17. RMGEEGEE

    RMGEEGEE Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    2,780
    Likes Received:
    136
    This. :D
     
    #17 RMGEEGEE, Oct 7, 2009
  18. RMGEEGEE

    RMGEEGEE Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Messages:
    2,780
    Likes Received:
    136
    And wow.. That's intense.
    He better invest the money he gets with his first contract!
     
    #18 RMGEEGEE, Oct 7, 2009
  19. Pete the Cheat

    Pete the Cheat Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2006
    Messages:
    3,100
    Likes Received:
    487
    man...it made me a little nauseous just reading that
     
    #19 Pete the Cheat, Oct 7, 2009
  20. Dream Shake 81

    Dream Shake 81 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    Messages:
    545
    Likes Received:
    34
    Blair's or Chase's ?
     
    #20 Dream Shake 81, Oct 7, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now