Padgett gets some name recognition

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3031095

Reserve forward takes advantage of extra playing time
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Scott Padgett's 21-month-old son, Lucas, stood next to his daddy's locker, careening his neck to try to see the name on the back of his miniature Rockets jersey.

As everyone walked by, Lucas pointed over his shoulder and said, "Daddy. Daddy."

Despite having the replica jersey for more than a year, Lucas just realized during Sunday's game with the Lakers that it matched his dad's, and he wanted to make sure everyone else saw it, too.

Padgett, a 6-9 forward, might have needed Lucas' help with introductions in the past. But since hitting two game-winning jumpers in the last month, he hardly goes unrecognized these days.

"I think (opponents) know I'm on the team now," Padgett said.

Since joining the Rockets' rotation nine games ago, Padgett, 28, has put together one of the best stretches in his six-year pro career. He has hit 55.3 percent (26 of 47) of his shots and 56 percent (14 of 25) of his 3-point attempts. He has scored 68 points during those nine games — seven more than he scored in his first 26 games combined.

But for Padgett, the biggest highlight during that stretch is the Rockets' 7-2 record.

"To be able to be in when we're winning, it's kind of like being back in college when we played and won a lot," said Padgett, a key member of Kentucky's 1998 NCAA championship team. "I love being part of that. It feels like this team is getting better, and this could be a special team."

Padgett is confident on the court these days but hardly getting comfortable. He has been around long enough to know how quickly a rotation can change.

Padgett's minutes increased dramatically when Maurice Taylor went on the injured list with the flu on Jan. 18.

Taylor has remained on the list with plantar fasciitis, but he has been cleared to play by Rockets trainer Keith Jones.

When Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy decides to activate Taylor, Padgett's minutes likely will decrease.

Despite averaging almost 17 minutes a game the past two weeks, Padgett is averaging only 11.1 minutes for the season. During a four-game span from Jan. 9-15, he didn't play at all.

That's why Padgett is trying to take advantage of his minutes, and his teammates have been more than happy to help by finding him behind the 3-point line.

"He's our secret weapon," point guard Bob Sura said. "We hide him over there on the bench a lot of the game, and then when we need big shots, he goes in there and steps it up."

Padgett scored a career-high 22 points against Sacramento on Jan. 28. All of his points, which included six 3-pointers, came in the second half.

His recent 3-point shooting surge has him poised to take a spot in the Rockets' record book.

As a Rocket, Padgett has made 50 of 115 3-point attempts for a percentage of .435. He needs only one more to qualify and supplant Kenny Smith on the franchise's all-time list for 3-point percentage. Smith shot .407 with the Rockets from 1990-96.

The feat is not something Padgett is exactly comfortable talking about just yet. The Rockets' media relations staff told him he was approaching the mark prior to the game against the Lakers.

"I told them you can't put that in the game notes until I do it," he said. "Didn't you see what happened? I went 0-for-3 against the Lakers."

While Padgett is making a name for himself behind the 3-point line, his game hardly stops there. He is playing well defensively and looking to improve his rebounding.

And since he doesn't need Lucas as a publicist these days, he is instead picking up some basketball tips from him.

In one-on-one games with his 3 1/2 -year-old brother, Logan, Lucas is constantly getting to the free-throw line — something his father has accomplished only twice in the past 15 games.

"Logan is always Yao Ming, and Lucas is Tracy McGrady," Padgett said. "They don't keep track of points. They pretty much just foul, and my youngest one, he'll fall down and say, 'Foul. Foul.' I told him he's been watching Bobby Sura too much and that he's going to get to the line a lot. His dad needs to learn that one."

megan.manfull@chron.com


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Rockets Summary
Taylor awaits return
Maurice Taylor said he is surprised and disappointed by the fact that he remains on the Rockets' injured list. He joined the team's full practice on Tuesday and said he felt great and played well.

"I'm not going to say I'm not disappointed," Taylor said. "I'd rather be playing. But hey, it'll take more than that to break me.

"I played well today in practice. It's more of a team thing than me. They've been playing well, so that's how it goes."

Taylor has said he has been ready to be activated since he got over the flu, which put him on the injured list Jan. 18.

But after spending the mandatory five games on the list with the flu, the Rockets changed his injury to plantar fasciitis.

Trainer Keith Jones said Taylor has been cleared to play, but coach Jeff Van Gundy has not activated him and says only that Taylor will return when he is ready.

There also have been rumblings about Taylor being traded, but such rumors have been ongoing since the season started. Taylor said he has heard the rumors and is not fazed.

"I still get paid no matter where I go," he said.


Analysis practice
With Scottie Pippen wandering around Toyota Center during Tuesday's practice, the rumors spread quickly that the Rockets were adding yet another veteran to their roster. Though Pippen will be at tonight's Rockets-Bulls game, the retired star will not be in uniform.

Pippen is auditioning for ESPN Radio. He will analyze the Rockets-Bulls game but only as practice. It will not be broadcast.

"I've always wanted to continue to be a part of the game even when I left the game," Pippen said. "So now I'm starting to ease my way into the media side of it. I guess I shouldn't say media, maybe more of an analyst.

"I enjoy the camaraderie of being around the players. I guess I'm sort of on the outside now looking in, so I guess I'll have to keep myself from thinking that I'm still a player."

-- MEGAN MANFULL