Rockets get right to point

Rockets get right to point
Jackson has knack for feeding centers
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

After a few minutes of small talk with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson could not restrain himself. Point guards, at 38 years of age, don't waste time.

"I grabbed his leg like (Van Gundy latched on to) Alonzo Mourning," Jackson said. "But with a passionate cry, `Please, please.' "

Jackson exaggerated a bit. The grip on Van Gundy was a handshake in a Staples Center hallway. And the talk never did drift into Jackson begging for a chance.

But as Jackson spoke excitedly Thursday of joining the Rockets, it was not difficult to imagine him putting the squeeze on his former coach and now current coach.

"I'm excited about it," he said. "A wonderful opportunity. I thank God for being able to still play. It's going to be a lot of fun."

The deal is still something of an experiment. Jackson was signed to a 10-day contract, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, to fill the Rockets' vacant spot on the active roster.

But a team that has long tried to improve its often-ghastly passing added a player second in NBA history in assists and with a particular talent for setting up 7-foot centers, from Patrick Ewing to Rik Smits and to, the Rockets hope, Yao Ming.

"There's things that I can't do, but there's things that I can do," Jackson said. "As far as understanding the game and the way to play it, those things I felt I could add to a team."

Jackson, a 16-year veteran with a career average of 8.1 assists per game, backpedaled rapidly from any suggestion he could help tutor Rockets starter Steve Francis on his traditional style of point guard play.

"We have a great point guard, Steve Francis, one of the best in the game," said Jackson, who has not played since last season with the Jazz. "You take your odds with him no matter who's on the other side of the court. My job is to come in here and do whatever is asked of me.

"Steve Francis is a brilliant basketball player. He's a great basketball player. It's a different time. I'm going to learn from him. I would love to learn how to break down a defense."

But when asked if getting teammates the ball where they like it most -- the cornerstone of point guard play when Jackson broke into the league and became the 1987-88 Rookie of the Year -- is a strength, Jackson said, "That's like asking me if I'm slow."

Take that as a yes.

"There are things I can't, and things I can do," Jackson said. "Being able to distribute the ball and pass it and put it in the right hands are my strong points."

That was enough for the Rockets to believe he could help. Van Gundy was unavailable, deferring comment to Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson, who immediately cited Jackson's experience but said Jackson still brings some of the qualities from his prime.

"I was on the bench in a lot of his best years," Dawson said. "He could make you pay for every mistake you make on defense. His assists total shows that -- over 10,000. But he is more than that. He has veteran leadership that will help our team."

Dawson said Jackson, 6-3, 195, was impressive in his workout for Rockets coaches on Thursday.

"He was a quick-learner," Dawson said.

Jackson said he did not know when he would be deemed ready to play. He will be practicing with the team before the Rockets play the Timberwolves on Saturday afternoon at Toyota Center.

"I've been tearing up the playgrounds of Santa Monica, Calif. with my 12-year-old son the past couple months and working out every day," he said. "There is no way you can prepare for NBA basketball no matter what you do."

But he said that while he had received offers to move into coaching, "I'm still a basketball player."

That said, he added he does eventually want to teach traditional point guard play and will be happy to do it by example.

"I want to," he said. "You do it just by being out there. You do it on film. Magic Johnson didn't teach me to play the point guard position. I watched him, and I had a desire to be a maestro like that, to be able to orchestrate an offense and do the things that he did.

"I don't know if that's as important to today's point guards. Steve Francis has things that Magic Johnson and Mark Jackson can only dream about. We had to rely on other things. He's a great point guard. It's going to be a lot of fun."

But there are different ways to have fun, as the Rockets will see if they really did add a "maestro."