http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/basketball/10634655.htm?1c Posted on Thu, Jan. 13, 2005 Texan sparks a Rockets victory By Dwain Price Star-Telegram Staff Writer DALLAS - David Wesley is finally feeling right at home. Acquired by the Houston Rockets in a Dec. 27 trade with the New Orleans Hornets, Wesley scored 21 points, collected six rebounds, handed out four assists, made two steals and blocked two shots as the Rockets overpowered the Mavericks 124-114 Wednesday night at American Airlines Center. When the Rockets sent Jim Jackson and Bostjan Nachbar to the Hornets for Wesley, many viewed it as a lateral move by Houston. But Wesley -- a dead-eye spot-up shooter -- is making is look as if the Rockets got the best end of that deal. Especially since Jackson has yet to report to the Hornets. "We've been waiting for that since he got here," said Bob Sura, Wesley's backcourt mate. "He was big today." Wesley made 8 of 16 shots, including 4-of-11 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-1 guard from Longview said he's slowly getting more comfortable with his new surroundings. "I find spots where I'm not quite in the right place, or find myself kind of searching," Wesley said. "Tonight was a good night and a good rhythm, and I found other ways to score, like getting in transition. "It's going to take a little bit of time, but I think it's coming along pretty good." Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy acknowledged that it was Wesley's defense -- not his offense -- that actually jump-started his team's offense. "He made a real big defensive play when we were sort of stuck in mud to start the third quarter," Van Gundy said. "He read a pass that got us a layup; then he got another layup in transition, so I thought he did a really good job. "Defensively, he's got enough lateral quickness to be able to guard some of their guys off the dribble. ... We've had trouble guarding them off the dribble." A team noted for being slow, the Rockets tallied a season high in points, shot a season-high from the field for a Mavs' opponent (61 percent) and also distributed 35 assists. Wesley, who had several friends and members of his family in the stands, was at the forefront of it all. "It helps to have somebody who's run-conscious," Wesley said. "I'm out there, and I'm running and trying to get guys to run and think about running. "This is what coach Van Gundy has been trying to get all along. I think I just maybe helped it out a little bit." Wesley entered the game averaging 8.7 points since he arrived from New Orleans. And he clearly arrived Wednesday. "I hope I can do that most nights," Wesley said. "If you're hot, and they're not double-teamming, I may not get as many attempts. "The key is to try to hit the ones that I get." That's what he did Wednesday night.
Great article! Thanks for posting it! I think this is key. Wesley has really quick feet and has really done a good job of improving our perimeter defense. That, along with RUNNING on the fast breaks instead of camping out at the 3pt line like JJ used to do, I think are huge factors in improving our team. The more I see of Wesley, the more I see why we traded for him. He really is fitting into this team and our chemistry is getting better and better.
He got a strong body! This guy can really use his wide body exceptionally well, he was able to bother the quick small guy, and body up the bigger & taller guys.
