2010-2011 Season Preview
Posted by mrice on
September 9, 2010
A year ago, the Rockets came up just shy of the post-season in a very competitive Western Conference. Approximately 4 months removed from season’s close, have the Rockets done enough to improve their playoff posture headed into 2010-2011?Fortunately for the Rockets, the off-season didn’t necessarily have to include a home run newcomer in order for the team to expect improvement. With Yao at least contributing, though it remains to see exactly how many minutes and at what level as he returns from an extended absence, the Rockets automatically gain at least one key asset going forward. Furthermore, Yao has continued to play a valuable role over the course of his past 4 seasons played, despite missing significant chunks of time in 3 of those years due to injury. Though he has never attempted to come back from an injury in which he missed so much time, Yao has at least has success in rehabbing past ailments, and shown the ability to be a difference maker even in a limited capacity. Read the rest of this entry »
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A Nugget of Hope
Posted by mrice on
September 9, 2010
Aside from the USA National Team in 2012, no one outside of the heavens knows exactly where Carmelo Anthony might be playing basketball this fall, much less next year. Though Nuggets have denied speculation that they are looking to move Anthony, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2010-2011 season, most analysts suspect that the face of the Denver franchise will not resign with the organization. Anthony has so far been unwilling to sign what’s been reported as a 3-year 65 million extension to stay in Colorado for at least the foreseeable future. This leaves the Nuggets with two clear-cut options, either chance that the pundits are wrong and Anthony’s heart remains in Denver or deal him while they can and get something in return for one of the league’s premier players. The Houston Rockets are apparently on a short list of teams to which Anthony would welcome a trade, along with the Knicks most notably, a landing destination may forecasters have been calling for months. With Houston having at least registered on Carmelo’s map, the question remains, “What, if anything, should the Rockets to bring Anthony to town?” Read the rest of this entry »
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Yao Officially Cleared to Play
Posted by mrice on
September 9, 2010
The Rockets most significant change in the starting lineup this coming season will likely not be in the form of any free agent or draft acquisition, but rather the return of center Yao Ming, who missed the entire year after undergoing foot surgery in July of 2009. In late August, team doctors officially gave Yao the go ahead to resume basketball activities, welcome news for the Rockets, Rockets fans and the big man alike. Since the 7’6” Yao went down, the Rockets have faced serious size issues in the middle, featuring no other legitimate 7-footer on last year’s roster. In an effort to compensate for their looming loss, the Rockets mixed and matched a host of players who are probably better suited to play power forward than center. While Luis Scola posted admirable numbers, standing just 6’9” he faced an almost nightly mismatch against some of the more vertically endowed players. The now departed David Andersen, a first year player from Australia added more size at 6’11” 245 lbs., though he appeared in only 63 games logging close to 14 minutes per contest. Neither player, nor anyone else in the Rockets lineup, could come close to matching Yao’s 310 lbs. frame. Read the rest of this entry »
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What to Expect from Patrick Patterson
Posted by admin on
September 9, 2010
After playing with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins last year at the University of Kentucky, at least Patrick Patterson should be at least acquainted with the media circus surrounding NBA basketball long before he ever sets foot on the court for the Rockets. If Patterson can make his regular season debut resemble anything close to his professional debut in Las Vegas Summer League competition, Rockets fans will be more than pleased. Patterson finished the game with a tidy 8 for 9 performance from the floor, tallying 18 points while playing turnover free basketball. Patterson continued to play solid throughout summer competition, though like all rookies he should face a major adjustment when he squares off against top NBA talent on a nightly basis. Read the rest of this entry »
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Trading Trevor
Posted by admin on
September 9, 2010
Last year Rockets fans were optimistic after signing athletic swingman Trevor Ariza, fresh off an NBA title with the Los Angeles Lakers. Now 12 months later, Ariza is gone in a move that is tough to see as anything other than a salary dump. Ariza was traded as part of a 4-team, 5-player deal, with Ariza heading to New Orleans, Darren Collison and James Posey shipping out to Indiana, Troy Murphy moving to New Jersey and Courtney Lee coming back to Houston. In his one season in Houston, Ariza was a major contributor, setting career highs in points, rebounds and assists per game, averaging 14.9, 5.6 and 3.8 respectively. Still only 25 years old, Ariza’s productivity should only increase in the coming years, while providing versatility for the Hornets, capable of playing and guarding both the shooting guard and small forward position. Read the rest of this entry »