http://208.31.25.3/default.asp?c=natpost&page=nba/news/ACN1780386.htm By Andrew Sutton, NBA Analyst Houston, TX (Sports Network) - There was a time late last season when it appeared the Houston Rockets were headed for the playoffs. Coach Rudy Tomjanovich had his team of young stars playing veteran ball, and the postseason was a realistic target. But despite a 45-37 record, the Rockets finished ninth in the deep Western Conference and fell two games short of the playoff field. Houston's record was the best in NBA history to not qualify for the playoffs. All the pieces began to fall in place during the offseason to further build around the sensational guard tandem of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, but after finally re-signing starting forward Maurice Taylor, things began to fall apart. The plan was to have Francis and Mobley in the backcourt with Taylor up front while getting more frontcourt help from their three Draft picks. The Rockets pulled off one of the best personnel moves on the night of the Draft, dealing their three first-rounders to the New Jersey Nets in return for the seventh overall pick, Seton Hall forward Eddie Griffin. Houston then asked Hakeem Olajuwon to stay one more year with the squad for another shot at the playoffs, but "The Dream" headed north to play for the Toronto Raptors. Oh well, the team still had four quality starters, right? Not so fast, Rockets. Once Taylor agreed to re-sign for $48 million over six years, the forward suffered a season-ending Achilles' injury. Houston was forced to scramble to make the necessary moves to account for the loss of Taylor, but the team's frontcourt lineup is still incomplete. In an attempt to compensate, Houston tried to lure free agent center Marc Jackson on the heels of his impressive rookie campaign with Golden State. The team offered Jackson a deal worth nearly $25 million over six years, but the Warriors stepped in and matched the deal, angering not only Houston but also the young center. "I can't believe it," Jackson told the Houston television station KRIV. "This is the worst case scenario for me. Once I signed with Houston, I wanted to be with Houston. I think I made that perfectly clear." The Rockets will have a new face in swingman Glen Rice, who was acquired as part of a trade that sent Shandon Anderson to New York in August. While he can still knock down one of the prettiest jumpers in the game, his knees appear to have lost a bet with Father Time. So the Rockets enter the 2001-02 season with a pair of red-hot guards and a lot of frustration. It seemed as though the front office had put together a sure-fire playoff team over the summer, but outside factors ended those plans. COACH: Tomjanovich could have jumped ship after his team won back-to-back championships and began to lose ground following the Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen years. But he decided to oversee the next phase in Houston's future and build an exciting squad loaded with potential. He preaches toughness and has allowed his top guns to run the floor. Whatever his formula, he has led his team to an impressive 447-304 record since he took over in 1992. He hasn't pushed his team into the playoffs for two straight years following their seven-year stretch and he is hungry to get back to the postseason. CENTER: For the first time since 1984, the Rockets will begin a season without Olajuwon in the middle. The team watched the many ups and downs of their franchise icon over the past few seasons, and the legendary big man will play out the rest of his career somewhere else. Nostalgia aside, the departure of the Dream has created a potential nightmare for the Rockets in the paint. The starting job falls to Kevin Willis, who was acquired from the Denver Nuggets in a three-way deal once Jackson became a lost cause. Willis, who played for the Rockets between 1996-98, averaged 9.6 points and 7.2 boards in 43 games with Denver last year. At 39 years of age, Willis has little left to offer, which means Kelvin Cato will also play a good deal. Cato, a 6-foot-11, 255-pound underachiever who gets paid like a superstar ($42 million over six years) but has never lived up to his potential, played in only 35 games last season and started 13 times. He has a lot to prove as a starter, since he scored just 4.7 points per game last year. He has the body of a rebounder, but has averaged just 4.3 rebounds per game over his four years in the league. Griffin and Kenny Thomas will also get time at center depending on the matchups. FORWARD: Taylor's injury has left the forward position in a state of disarray. After making just 25 starts for the Knicks last season, Rice will be called upon to step into the starting small forward spot immediately. This may be a bit much to ask of the 34-year-old, especially for a team that runs as much as the Rockets. Rice's scoring average and minutes per game have declined in each of the past five seasons, and Rudy may be putting too much pressure on him. "He's a guy that I have felt for a long time really fits the way that our team plays," said Tomjanovich, "even back in the old days where we were more of a post-up team because of his shooting ability, now also with our penetrators." With plenty of points coming from the backcourt, Rice only needs to stretch the defense with an occasional three. He will be valuable with the defensive rule changes, opening things up inside, but has trouble defending everyone. Thomas is the likely starter at the four, but only until Griffin emerges. Thomas, entering just his third year, has averaged about 25 minutes per night over his first two seasons and has performed admirably in a short period of time. He isn't what the team had in mind for their starter, and he will have to make the most of his 6-foot-7, 261-pound frame in order to help the squad. He averaged 7.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season. GUARD: Steve Francis is pure electricity on the basketball court. In just two years, the same player who was frowned upon for his immaturity has become the best 24-year-old point guard in the league. He sees the court very well and has great one-on-one moves in the open floor. He is fearless and has gladly accepted the role of leader. While most teams experience a sharp decline after making a title run (remember the Bulls?), Francis is the main reason that Houston has remained a good team during its post-championship days. What may be the scariest thing about Francis is that he is improving with every game. While his skills are at their peak, it's his mental approach that has elevated his game more than both of his grapefruit-sized calves combined. Last season, Stevie averaged 19.9 points per game while hitting 45 percent of his shots from the floor (39.6 percent from three-point range). In addition to his scoring average, he led the team in rebounds (6.9), assists (6.5) and steals (1.76). Francis was the only player in the NBA last season to record at least 500 rebounds and 500 assists. Playing alongside Francis has taken Mobley's game to another level. Once an unproven commodity with doubts surrounding his ability to contribute to an NBA team, the Philadelphia native has rapidly made a name for himself as an explosive offensive performer. He and his backcourt mate share the same basketball brain and know what the other is thinking at all times -- often making impossible plays look routine. Mobley has the confidence of a veteran in just his fourth season, due in part to his speed off the dribble and ever-improving outside shot. BENCH: Houston has some depth, highlighted by Walt Williams, Moochie Norris, Griffin and fellow rookie Terence Morris. Williams, a swingman with good range on his jumper, has proven himself over nine seasons. Like Rice, he can stretch defenses with his perimeter touch. Norris signed a six-year deal worth nearly $23 million, which means he will come off the bench under a lot of pressure to keep the backcourt solidified when the starters need a rest. Morris, a small forward, was chosen with the 34th overall pick out of Maryland. According to Tomjanovich, he will have every opportunity to showcase his skills. OUTLOOK: If the Rockets can get some production from the big men, they will have similar results to last season's finish. If Rice can play through pain, he will contribute to the high-flying guards and score high numbers against the zone defenses. If Griffin can live up to his billing, people will begin to forget about the loss of Olajuwon and Taylor. As you may have guessed, there are a lot of ifs surrounding the Rockets and that usually results in disappointment or surprise. Don't be surprised if they finish fifth in the Midwest and miss the playoffs once again. AT A GLANCE Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich (10th year, 432-304). Assistants: Jim Boylen, Larry Smith, Mike Wells. 2000-01 record: 45-37 (5th, Midwest Division). Veteran core: G Steve Francis, G Cuttino Mobley, F Maurice Taylor, G-F Walt Williams. Veteran additions: G Damon Jones, F Glen Rice Rookies: F Eddie Griffin, G Darren Kelly, F Terrence Morris, C Ike Nwankwo
