As always, you are simply the man Clutch and this site rocks. Something to ask JVG or the coaching staff: Once Sura comes back, is the starting PG spot his to lose or do you see Rafer as the long-term starter? Azim da Dream
I would totally try to score with his girl. I mean. isn't that every man would do if they were in someone else' body?
Great Clutch! thanks so much..i'm glad you talked with Swift today, he's a great guy! keep the news commin'...
My request for a question would be to Rafer Alston - he mentioned a lot of perimeter players in his first interview about coming to the Rockets, but no mention of Yao Ming. What does he think about playing with a guy as big as Yao Ming for the first time, and how does he plan to make sure the big man's skills get utilized as well as possible? Thanks as always, Clutch!
Ask T-mac how good it felt to dunk all over Shawn Bradley in the playoffs lasat year!! I'm sure it felt pretty darn sweet!!!
That interview with Stromile is awesome Clutch. Day 2 summary is really good too. Thanks for the hard work!
OK, here's the Day 2 report: http://www.clutchfans.net/news.cfm?NewsID=1250 Also an interview with Stromile Swift: http://www.clutchfans.net/news.cfm?NewsID=1251
Great stuff Clutch. As a fan I LOVE reading your reports. It's exactly the kind of stuff fans want to hear about and makes you excited about the team.
I think we got ourself a real PG in Alston. It's becoming a rare breed now in NBA. I like this kid who knows his role. Good job CD!
Thanks again, Clutch! This is such good stuff! And what a time for both Clutch and ClutchFans.net!! Monday we were staring down a ban, a slap in the face, a cold shoulder from the Rockets. Who'd have thought two days later Clutch would a one-on-one with Swift, TWO one-on-ones with Yao, and a "Skip" on his shoulder? (Da-dum-ching...I just couldn't resist!). And to think, we still have a couple more days to go (through Friday, right?)! SWEET!
Great work Clutch !! Any chance of posting some pictures? Or of getting the taped interview up on the site to hear? Thanks, DD
Awesome job Clutch! Just reading all of your articles and reports is giving me goose bumps! I have never been so excited for basketball season to start! My husband is loving it especially since he is a die hard fan! Your articles and reports are really helping me learn a ton about the Rox and is giving me and my husband hours and hours of basketball and Rox talk which is awesome!
I agree. I am sure many reporters out there have tons of interviews and stories to tell except newspapers or TV only has limited space/ time. I wish those guys would post here thru out the year and give us everything they have.
So how's Ryan Bowen doing... Did he say he was planning to dominate this year? And make a run at the Sixth Man of The Year award?
I'm so glad we stirred up enough sh*t to get Clutch back in. I really love reading about his experiences because it gives you the real insight of a fan. I feel like I got to be there too. It makes me way more excited about our team than anything Feigan or Lopez write. Thanks, Clutch.
I'm not around much since I'm at last in the real world now. I just want to say THANKS, Clutch. I love this site.
Of course this is nothing like Clutch's articles but its there. Rockets.com: Training Camp Day 2 10.005.05 Day 2. On their second day of training camp, the Rockets continued their efforts to learn new systems and new players. While the team returns nine players who spent time with the organization last season, there are still some significant new faces such as guards Derek Anderson and Rafer Alston, and forward Stromile Swift. While both Swift and Anderson had completed three practices by early Wednesday afternoon, Alston, acquired in a trade with Toronto yesterday evening, was just finishing his first workout with the team. He made a great first impression. “Today, he brought a lot of energy,” Swift said. “(He brought) speed, great ball-handling, made good decisions. He looked pretty good today for his first practice.” The issue that often comes with training camp is that there is a lot of uncertainty. Coaches don’t know exactly who will fit where or what style of play the team will embrace, and no concrete decisions will be made until much later on. However, while that means there may be little excitement as far as news, Rockets’ training camp received an injection of energy as soon as Alston stepped on the floor with his new teammates. “There’s not much weakness here,” Alston said, following his first practice as a Rocket. “I bring energy and an up-tempo style of game. I can put pressure on opposing guards and I'm going to defend the ball. I know my role and I'm not coming in here to do anything I'm not supposed to do. It's the chance of the lifetime. You don’t get many chances to get a crack at the title or close to contending. I'm happy to be a part of a team that’s a contender and looking forward to playoffs.” Both Alston and the Rockets are more than willing to disregard his past and do not see it as a representation of him as a player. The team, for now, is going through the motions of getting all the new players acclimated to what is a complex and intricate basketball system. They are also enamored by the fact that they now have their first true, legitimate point guard who can run a team and do it well. “He's a highly energetic player who would be the first one to recognize himself that he's gotten into a little bit of trouble with emotional instability,” Van Gundy said. “He wants to play at the highest level and play successful. He's going tohave to be intense and energetic but emotionally under control, and we feel he can do that.” Training Camp- Day 2- Quotes Jeff Van Gundy (on the power forward competition between Juwan Howard and Stromile Swift): “I'm not really looking at it yet. Those things will work themselves out. Juwan is a great professional and Stromile is a younger player trying to earn his way to better things. Both guys have practiced very hard for two days, but it's a little premature for anything like that. I'm happy with both of them.” Stromile Swift (on his impressions of Jeff Van Gundy thus far as coach): “It's pretty new. It's a different way of thinking the game. When you're out there, he makes you think. I think his style is more intense. The basketball stuff is more the same, but with him, he's intense. He expects everybody to come out and work hard.” Yao Ming (on the acquisition of Rafer Alston): “It's great. He has great skill and he brings our team speed up because he's quick. To have success in the NBA, you have to have great speed.” Rafer Alston (on his progress as an NBA player throughout his career): ”The last couple of years in the NBA I've continued to make strides and find my niche in this league. Every year, I've added something to my game. I've toned it down. I'll be able to run the team and control the offense. I'm able to defend guards. I don't have that big, muscular frame, but I'm able to take the hit and keep on finishing. I added the long-ball to my game. I can shoot the three. I continue to add things to my game. I added the floater in the lane over the big guys.” Jeff Van Gundy (on the criticism Yao often receives from media and others): “I think Yao is a very harsh critic of himself and that can lead to good things when guys are very tough on themselves. Yet at times, he has to have a shorter memory of his mistakes. I think sometimes being a harsh critic of your mistakes is very good for you. It can serve a guy well. Most of those people are perfectionists, which I think Yao is.”
