Anyone know what exactly kept Glen outta the game tonight?? I mean with him a win still seemed nigh impossible, but without him we simply couldn't hit an open shot. I was hoping that he just had something similar to the flu and nothing associated with his knees or feet, or really his legs in general. He was finally regaining his stroke I would hate to have to wait 5 or 6 games again for him to get his legs back. Anybody have any specifics?? I haven't seen anything on Rockets.com. Here's hoping that it's nothing serious and he'll be back for San Antonio, where he has averaged 19 a contest in the last 4 years.
Would Clutch or his staff please respond to the above question? I feel sure most BBS Fans want to know!
His back has been bothering him. This is from today's Houston Chronicle: Dec. 1, 2002, 11:11PM Rockets summary Lineup tweaking Rockets forward Glen Rice, who had scored in double figures in four of his past five games, sat out Sunday's game with a sore lower back. Kenny Thomas moved to small forward to replace Rice, with Eddie Griffin returning to the starting lineup after three games coming off the bench. "It really seems like it's getting worse," Rice said. "It was tough at the end of the last game (Friday in Seattle) and the next day it was like someone stuck some metal rods up in there. It's so deep. It's uncomfortable even to sit down, but I know I can't stand up all day. "I keep wanting to loosen it up. I've been just stretching all day, hoping something will change." Rockets trainer Keith Jones said he could not predict when Rice would be ready to play. The Rockets play the Spurs on Tuesday in Compaq Center. "It's just a sore back," Jones said. "We've been battling it for a while. It just really got stiff on him. We've done treatment twice a day. But this morning it's gotten more sore and stiff. He may feel better tomorrow." Guard Juaquin Hawkins has been playing with a badly bruised left hand for two weeks. He has used ice treatments to prevent swelling and heat to stay loose during games. "It's kind of frustrating," Hawkins said. "It hurts on the catch and I get swelling on my palm during the games. That's life. You deal with injuries and play through it. But I should be making shots I'm not because of this." Divac feels for Yao As much as Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich can make a case that "no one has ever done this" about Yao Ming's unusual adventure, Kings center Vlade Divac comes close. Yao is the first player solely from an international league to be taken in the NBA draft and has drawn rare level of scrutiny, and the curiosity of Divac. "I can relate to what he's going through," Divac, the Lakers' first-round pick out of Yugoslavia in 1989, said. It has been a long time since I came here. But I remember there were a lot of difficulties. "First, the language and then the system. And not just international guys, but you see in a lot of rookies, they are not consistent. And his game is the same way. But he's going to be a great player." Divac said Yao's success early in his career could depend on his teammates. "For him, I think it's very important how (the Rockets) adopt him," Divac said. "I was lucky. The whole Lakers organization helped me a lot. "Hopefully, the Rockets are doing the same for him." Jones keeps going Cut by the Rockets before last season, Damon Jones has excelled at landing on his feet. He played for the Pistons' Central Division champions last season, though in a limited role, and with Mike Bibby out, Jones joined the defending Pacific Division champion Kings. "I learned the value of every game," Jones said of his season in Detroit and this season in Sacramento, his seventh team. "You can't take any games off. If you want to be a championship contender, you have to go out and play hard. You can't afford a letdown, because home court advantage at the end of the year is a big thing. "This team here is very serious and business like. They approach the game from a fun standpoint, and still understand that night in and night out and bring it." Jones, the former Galveston Ball and University of Houston player, did not appear to have forgotten that his home town team let him go. After banking in a 3-pointer, he backpedaled down the court staring at Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich and after hitting a jumper, spent the entire next possession talking to Steve Francis. "Hopefully, this is the payoff for the hard work over the years," Jones said. "I've gotten to a position to win a NBA championship." Jones said his ability to play point or shooting guard could keep him on the court even when Bibby returns this month. The Kings also signed veteran Jim Jackson on Sunday, playing him immediately as a small forward. "Wherever they put me, I go out and play my heart out," Jones said. "I like to say I'm a point guard and a two-guard if needed. I've played a lot with Bobby (Jackson.) Hopefully, when Mike comes back, we can do the same thing with me and Mike, and me and Bobby." --JONATHAN FEIGEN
Rice is a great shooter. When his shot ain't on, he got no game. And he gets dinged a whole lot. While he has been hot (and healthy), this may be the optimum time to optimize Rice's value -- by placing him elsewhere. For a reliable Rox asset.
Rice is probably a Rocket for life, next year will probably be his last. And, injuries will dog him the rest of the way, it seems. His value to the Rockets is large though, he can be an outside shooting force until Nachbar comes around.
I thought Jones left on good terms w/ the Rockets? Didn't we do him a favor by having Detroit pick him up? Why would he be staring at Rudy?
Rice isn't just a three point threat. When healthy he might be our best post up player right now. He doesn't do it much, but when he does it looks great. As for everyone whining about Moochie getting minutes last night, what did you think would happen? We had Rice and Mobley out and we needed an outside threat. I've been down on Mooch lately too, but he looked good last night.
