NBA FanHouse

Josh Smith Beats the Rockets

Brett Pollakoff — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:59:00 EST

Josh Smith would probably be the first to tell you that he didn't have a great game on Friday against the Rockets. But he was there at the end when it mattered most, and hit the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left to power the Hawks to their 11th win, tops in the league at this early point in the NBA season.

Smith finished with a pretty solid line of nine points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and three assists, but was limited by foul trouble to just 24 minutes of action. In fact, he had played just 30 seconds of the fourth quarter, before being inserted with 34 seconds remaining, and his team clinging to a five-point lead.

After the exceptionally gritty Rockets came from 10 points down with under two minutes remaining to tie it at 103 with five seconds left, Smith was there to clean up Mike Bibby's missed jumper for the win. Video after the jump.

For a team that's often praised for its hard work and mastery of the fundamentals, not boxing out the most athletic player on the court with the game on the line seems like a pretty big thing to forget about. You can't fault Chuck Hayes for coming over to contest Bibby's shot, but once the shot went up, you can absolutely fault him for not putting a body on someone to prevent that game-winning offensive rebound.

Josh Smith Beats the Rockets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tracy McGrady Reportedly Puts on Uniform, Demands Answers

Tom Ziller — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:25:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Injuries, NBA Rumors, NBA Coaches

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! has a half-harrowing, half-hilarious tale out of Minneapolis, where sources say Tracy McGrady put on his uniform Wednesday to confront coach Rick Adelman about the team's timetable for the fallen star's return. Woj reports that McGrady -- who may or may not have told Yahoo! last week that he'd planned on returning Wednesday against the Wolves, a plan the Rockets quickly squelched -- is angry the team is holding him off the court, and wanted answers from Adelman.

What resulted (with McGrady in full uniform after warming up with teammates before the game) was a heated closed-door argument, Woj reports. The writer's sources claim Mac demanded to know why team management wouldn't let him get back on the court sooner than next week's scheduled MRI.

As someone who followed an Adelman-coached team closely for eight years, this is certainly rare -- R.A. feuded with very few players in Sacramento, with only Tony Massenburg standing out in memory. (Adelman and Chris Webber had their moments, but I'd argue no other coach in the league would have survived the troubling end to the 2003-04 season, in which Webber ruined the sparkling Kings by returning from surgery too early, and then blamed Peja Stojakovic for the second round exit. Somehow, Adelman came out of it looking like a white hat.)

But perhaps that's part of the problem -- Adelman is reserved, and has no time for drama. McGrady's situation is fairly dramatic. Adelman's silent insouciance (also seen in the fourth quarter of big games, unfortunately) probably makes McGrady feel underappreciated, or brushed aside.

McGrady's the league's highest-paid player, a former MVP candidate watching his career twinkle out due to chronic back problems and last year's microfracture surgery. This has to be a rough transition for McGrady, especially if what McGrady's people tell Woj is true: that the Rockets are stalling to collect insurance money, some $226,000 for every game the star misses from here on out. If McGrady truly believes that theory, he deserves answers, and Adelman probably owes his player his ear.

I'd be inclined to believe that said claim -- which comes from McGrady's people, mind you -- is not true, and that it's more an issue of Adelman and team management (led by Daryl Morey) knowing that the McGrady era is basically over, and that the New Rockets need to learn to win, lose and play without the epic possession/attention soaker. For all the criticism of what his game has become, McGrady has been surprisingly gracious on the court the last few years, but by his extant standards that's not enough for the newly egalitarian Rockets.

It's too bad, because McGrady's clearly gone from Houston by June 30 (when his contract expires), if not sooner. That would mean that McGrady has left three NBA teams, all of them in less than happy circumstances. I suppose the same could be said of most lightning-rod stars (Shaquille O'Neal certainly included), but that really doesn't make it any less unfortunate. Only McGrady and the Rockets know the truth here -- whether McGrady is being a prat, or whether Houston is doing him wrong -- but no matter what, based on history and preconceived notions, it will reflect poorly on McGrady. It's probably something in between, if in-between even exists in matters of pride. If reports like this persist, though, it's plausible we'll never know, because it's plausible McGrady may have worn that Rockets uniform -- in a visitor's locker room office, mind you -- for the last time.

Tracy McGrady Reportedly Puts on Uniform, Demands Answers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trevor Ariza Gets His Ring

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Rockets, NBA Videos

Trevor Ariza was a fan favorite during his days in Los Angeles, and an integral part of the Lakers squad that won a championship just a few months ago. So it's no surprise that when he returned on Sunday as a member of the Houston Rockets, fans greeted him with a long standing ovation, while his former teammates Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher presented him with the ring that he earned as a key member of that title-winning team.

Video of the brief but heart-felt ceremony, after the jump.

Trevor Ariza Gets His Ring originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest Plays Keep-Away With Trevor Ariza's Shoe

Tom Ziller — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:22:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Rockets, NBA Videos

The Rockets strode into Staples Center ready for a gunfight. But emerging capo Trevor Ariza wasn't exactly ready for a game of keep-away. In this video, Ariza loses a sneaker during an early defensive possession. Sworn enemy Ron Artest notices and tosses Ariza's shoe out-of-bounds. And, of course, Artest capitalizes on his gambit the next time down. (Before you curse out Ron-Ron, know that he got his comeuppance: Rockets 101, Lakers 91.)

Ron Artest Plays Keep-Away With Trevor Ariza's Shoe originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Announced

Chris Tomasson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Clippers, Grizzlies, Lakers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Timberwolves, NBA All-Star Game

I wrote in September that perhaps there would be no worthy center to start for the West in the All-Star Game.

But this isn't the way I want to see that solved. Do it on the court, not with the ballot.

When the All-Star ballot came out Tuesday, Phoenix power forward Amar'e Stoudemire strangely was listed as a center. Yes, Stoudemire has played center before, but he's started all eight games for Suns this season at power forward, with Channing Frye being the starting center.

It is true the ballot, which was selected by six media members from around the country, had to be decided upon before the season began in order to provide time for printing. But it has been apparent since at least September that Frye would Phoenix's starting center, with Stoudemire at power forward.

Yes, the crop of centers in the West is not strong, with Shaquille O'Neal having departed from Phoenix to Cleveland in the East and Houston's Yao out for the season due to injury. Still, I don't think it's proper to move players on the ballot to positions at which they don't start.

Anyhow, so much for the Lakers' Andrew Bynum or Minnesota's Al Jefferson getting the starting nod at center for the West. Stoudemire figures to win the fan voting for the Feb. 14 game in Dallas in an election that conjures up memories of Nixon over McGovern in 1972.

Omissions on the ballot were Yao and New Jersey big man Yi Jianlian, but I have no problem with either. Yao is obviously hurt, so it would have been ridiculous to have listed him -- especially because he probably would have won. As for Yi, a 9.8 scoring average last season does not guarantee inclusion on the ballot.

Of course, let's find out now if Chinese-American relations have been damaged.

It was interesting to see two centers listed on the ballot for Boston in Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace. NBA teams love to tell their fans to vote for all their players, but a Celtics fan won't be able to vote for both Perkins and Wallace or else the ballot will be tossed.

Still, that was a difficult problem to solve. Wallace comes off the bench to play center and forward, and listing him at forward would have given the Celtics three forwards. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are the others, and they're obviously not going anywhere.

Ballot results will show how popular guard Allen Iverson continues to be. Iverson has been named a starter in nine of the past 10 years (he was a reserve in 2007 after having been traded in December 2006 from Philadelphia to Denver). That includes last season when, with Detroit, he was one of the most unworthy players in All-Star history to get a starting nod.

But now that Iverson is squabbling with Memphis and could be sent packing, could he become the first player chosen for the All-Star Game who doesn't have a team? Probably not since it would be stunning if he is voted as a starter again, but it certainly is worth following the results.

And more surprising things have happened before in elections. Don't dead people vote in Chicago?

Plenty of complaints have been coming out of Clipperland with the ballot omissions of guard Eric Gordon and center Chris Kaman, just named Western Conference Player of the Week. I can understand Kaman, who was hurt much of last season and is on a team that has another solid center in Marcus Camby, being left off. But the Gordon omission is a tough one.

Still, it must be noted it's not easy to put together an All-Star ballot. Gordon is more deserving to be on the ballot than Minnesota's Ramon Sessions. But each team must be represented three times, and Sessions was the third man for the Timberwolves.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com and on Twitter @christomasson.

2010 NBA All-Star Ballot

Eastern

Guards
Ray Allen, Celtics
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards
Mike Bibby, Hawks
Jose Calderon, Raptors
Vince Carter, Magic
Jamal Crawford, Hawks
Chris Duhon, Knicks
Raymond Felton, Bobcats
T.J. Ford, Pacers
Ben Gordon, Pistons
Richard Hamilton, Pistons
Devin Harris, Nets
Kirk Hinrich, Bulls
Joe Johnson, Hawks
Courtney Lee, Nets
Jameer Nelson, Magic
Michael Redd, Bucks
Nate Robinson, Knicks
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Derrick Rose, Bulls
John Salmons, Bulls
Rodney Stucky, Pistons
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Mo Williams, Cavs

Forwards
Michael Beasley, Heat
Chris Bosh, Raptors
Elton Brand, Sixers
Caron Butler, Wizards
Luol Deng, Bulls
Boris Diaw, Bobcats
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Danny Granger, Pacers
Al Harrington, Knicks
Udonis Haslem, Heat
Andre Iguodala, Sixers
LeBron James, Cavs
Antawn Jamison, Wizards
David Lee, Knicks
Rashard Lewis, Magic
Troy Murphy, Pacers
Paul Pierce, Celtics
Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
Josh Smith, Hawks
Hedo Turkoglu, Raptors
Anderson Varejao, Cavs
Charlie Villanueva, Pistons
Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
Hakim Warrick, Bucks

Centers
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors
Andrew Bogut, Bucks
Tyson Chandler, Bobcats
Samuel Dalembert, Sixers
Al Horford, Hawks
Dwight Howard, Magic
Brook Lopez, Nets
Brad Miller, Bulls
Jermaine O'Neal, Heat
Shaquille O'Neal, Cavs
Kendrick Perkins, Celtics
Rasheed Wallace, Celtics
Western

Guards
Leandro Barbosa, Suns
Chauncey Billups, Nuggets
Aaron Brooks, Rockets
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Baron Davis, Clippers
Monta Ellis, Warriors
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Josh Howard, Mavericks
Allen Iverson, Grizzlies
Stephen Jackson, Warriors
Jason Kidd, Mavericks
Kevin Martin, Kings
O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies
Tracy McGrady, Rockets
Andre Miller, Blazers
Steve Nash, Suns
Tony Parker, Spurs
Chris Paul, Hornets
Jason Richardson, Suns
Brandon Roy, Blazers
Ramon Sessions, Wolves
Jason Terry, Mavericks
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Deron Williams, Jazz

Forwards
LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
Trevor Ariza, Rockets
Ron Artest, Lakers
Carlos Boozer, Jazz
Tim Duncan, Spurs
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Pau Gasol, Lakers
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Jeff Green, Thunder
Blake Griffin, Clippers
Grant Hill, Suns
Richard Jefferson, Spurs
Kevin Love, Wolves
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Kenyon Martin, Nuggets
Paul Millsap, Jazz
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Lamar Odom, Lakers
Anthony Randolph, Warriors
Luis Scola, Rockets
Jason Thompson, Kings
Al Thornton, Clippers
David West, Hornets

Centers
Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Andrew Bynum, Lakers
Marcus Camby, Clippers
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Spencer Hawes, Kings
Al Jefferson, Wolves
Antonio McDyess, Spurs
Nene, Nuggets
Greg Oden, Blazers
Emeka Okafor, Hornets
Mehmet Okur, Jazz
Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns

2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Announced originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tracy McGrady Back Next Week? That's News to the Rockets

Tom Ziller — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:21:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Injuries

This wouldn't be the first time Tracy McGrady announced his plans to the world before discussing them with his team. (It probably will not be the last, either.) Last season, the Rockets learned McGrady had decided to undergo season-ending microfracture surgery through the media. This time, McGrady is telling reporters -- Yahoo! Sports, specifically -- that he plans on making his season debut on Nov. 18 against Minnesota.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey, though, told the Houston Chronicle that McGrady won't play until he's been checked out in a full practice. The next Rockets full practice is slated for Nov. 23. Which is after Nov. 18.

A Nov. 23 MRI and observation had been the plan since September, the Chronicle reports. Really, this might just be a case of overexcitement by the superstar swingman. I hate to look for malice in something which could be a completely innocent mistake.

But ... again, McGrady has a record of making his own decisions. He never really seems to understand what his team's $22 million commitment to him means in terms of a professional relationship. And he certainly appears to be under the illusion that he is the most important Rocket, that the 4-2 Rockets are barely hanging on, waiting for his return. The truth is that the style Houston has employed -- efficient, smart basketball -- is antithetical to McGrady's 30-year-old game. Not that Mac doesn't play smart. But he doesn't play efficiently, which means that he takes too many low-efficiency shots.

Honestly, Morey may very well want to flex his muscles to the world for as long as possible. He put together the wackiest team in the league in the face of catastrophic injuries to his two stars and the team is winning. It has Executive of the Year written all over it (with apologies to Orlando GM Otis Smith). If McGrady comes back and the Rockets keep winning, T-Mac will get an inordinate amount of credit for winning without Yao Ming. But really, it's Trevor Ariza, Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes (!) and Aaron Brooks who are doing it well.

Tracy McGrady Back Next Week? That's News to the Rockets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA HouseCast: LeBron Goes to NYC, Iverson Goes Home

Brett Pollakoff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bobcats, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Nets, Rockets

Welcome to the NBA FanHouse podcast, where our writers get together a few times a week to talk about everything going on in the world of hoops. Want to participate? Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @NBAFanHouse.

In this episode, Matt Moore joins me to talk about what went down over the weekend, which included LeBron James' trip to New York on Friday, and Allen Iverson taking a personal leave from the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.

We discuss LeBron's options in 2010, and wonder whether we've seen the last of A.I. in Memphis. All that, plus a discussion of the Houston Rockets, who have been a pleasant surprise so far this season.

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NBA HouseCast: LeBron Goes to NYC, Iverson Goes Home originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Artest: I Wanted to Choke Ariza

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:24:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Rockets, NBA Last Night

There weren't too many fireworks between Ron Artest and his former teammates during the Lakers' overtime victory in Houston on Wednesday, other than a double technical called on him and Trevor Ariza in the first quarter.

But judging by what Artest had to say afterwards, there certainly could have been.

Artest claimed that the Rockets were being extra-physical with him in hopes of getting him ejected. And after taking a shot from Ariza early, Artest admitted that thoughts of getting violent out there definitely crossed his mind.

"I wanted to (choke Ariza) because he hit me with the elbow," Artest said. "But then I thought about David Stern, and I thought I wasn't going to do this. I got hit with three or four elbows. It's just not fair. I don't want to fight."

A kinder, gentler Ron Artest. Thank the heavens.

After picking up the first quarter technical foul, Kobe Bryant could be seen whispering something into Artest's ear, and Ron remained calm for the rest of the game. This was the concern of many heading into the season: would Bryant and Phil Jackson be able to contain the volatility of Ron Artest?

We're just four games into the season, but after Wednesday's potential meltdown in a hostile Houston environment was averted, the answer so far is a resounding "yes."

Ron Artest: I Wanted to Choke Ariza originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40

Brett Pollakoff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Suns, NBA Last Night

Every night there are some stupendous, silly, stupid, or downright outlandish individual lines from around the lig. Doing Lines lets you know which one tops the list.

The last time we got together, three different players scored 40 points or more on the same night. Well, maybe it's not as rare of an occurrence as we thought, since we were just a single point away from it happening again on Wednesday.

Chris Paul missed by one with 39, but Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade each delivered, with 41 and 40 respectively.

Dwyane Wade's 40 points, four rebounds, and five assists were just enough to carry his team to a close road victory over the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas had 32 of his own in the loss, but did it on a far less attractive 9-for-27 shooting line, as opposed to Wade's 14-for-26.

Chris Paul was dazzling, and had 39 points (on 14-for-23 shooting), five rebounds, seven assists, and a couple of steals. On the other end of the court, Jason Terry had 18 in the fourth quarter (and 35 in the game), on 12-18 shooting and 4-5 from three-point land, But ultimately, his two missed free throws down the stretch may have done as more to influence the game's final outcome than his scoring did.

Kobe Bryant had an outstanding line of 41 points, six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. He did it by shooting a tidy 50 percent from the field, and you could tell from the opening minutes that even on the second night of a back-to-back, that Bryant wouldn't allow himself to be outshined by his former teammate, Trevor Ariza.

Speaking of Ariza, he and Ron Artest basically canceled each other out. Besides the pair picking up double technicals early, there weren't any fireworks to report, and both finished with an identical 15 points. Not only were their numbers similar, so was their play: each hit a clutch three-pointer with under 30 seconds left in regulation, Ariza's coming after Artest's to send the game into overtime.

Other notable numbers from Wednesday's action:

Carmelo Anthony finally cooled off a bit, managing just 22 points on 8-24 shooting. But when you have rookie Ty Lawson coming off the bench for 23 points in 28 minutes, on 9-10 shooting, the end result was still a blowout win for the Nuggets.

Derek Fisher played 34 minutes, and somehow managed to record 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists -- and he's the point guard! But he did manage two steals, including the one on the game's final play where he stripped the ball from Trevor Ariza.

Allen Iverson once again came off the bench, but in his second game of the season, was more productive in that role. A.I. scored 18 points (on 8-12 shooting) and handed out seven assists in 28 minutes of action.

Amar'e Stoudemire had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half against the Orlando Magic. It was the first flash of the old, explosive Amar'e we were used to seeing before his injury last February. Unfortunately, it didn't last in the second half, as he finished with 25 and 14, and the Suns suffered their first loss of the season.

Doing Lines: Kobe and Wade Go for 40 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lakers' Ron Artest Returns to Houston

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Rockets

There are 10 games on the schedule this evening, but perhaps none holds more intrigue than Ron Artest making his return to Houston, to face the Rockets as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

But Artest isn't the only one with something to prove, as L.A. will be seeing Trevor Ariza for the first time since his agent played hardball with L.A.'s ownership group over the summer.

It's a little early to tell which team has come out ahead in this virtual trade, but looking at tonight's matchup, the Rockets would appear to be the ones with the advantage.

Houston is out to the same 3-1 start as the Lakers are, which is pretty incredible considering that most people didn't expect a team without its two biggest stars (Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady) to be able to put up enough points on most nights to win games. But not only are the Rockets scoring, they're doing so at a clip of almost 110 points per game over their last three.

So where is the scoring coming from? The one-word answer, obviously, is "everywhere."

In their last outing -- a dominant offensive and defensive performance in a road win over the Jazz -- Houston had eight players score in double figures, without a single one of them cracking the 20-point mark for the game. They did this with incredible ball movement, and by always making the extra pass to simply turn good looks into great ones.

The Lakers, meanwhile -- save for an 18-0 run in the third quarter over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday -- have looked very pedestrian to open the season. The team pulled out an overtime win in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, but that had more to do with the Thunder's ineptness in crunch time (offensively) than it did with the Lakers' flawless execution. Too many plays late involved Kobe Bryant going one-on-five, and with Thabo Sefolosha playing lock-down defense, most of those possessions ended badly, and were a nightmare to watch.

Back to Ron Artest, who, as you might recall, seemed to be looking for reasons to hold a grudge against his former team back in April. The money quote from his Twitter diatribe was, "Houston did me dirty. I can't wait til next year when we go to Houston. I'm not shooting. All defense. Somebody getting locked da f**k up."

In this case, that somebody will likely be Trevor Ariza.

Artest hasn't fit in well yet offensively with his new team, but he has been able to lock up his man for stretches, especially during the last two games. Joe Johnson of the Hawks torched the Lakers for 18 points in the first quarter on Sunday, but when L.A. made that big run in the third, Artest was the one who was guarding Johnson, and he shut him out in the period.

On Tuesday against the Thunder, when Artest was on Kevin Durant, all of the shots were highly contested, and he even forced Durant into more than one airball, which is a testament to just how tough Artest was making it on the third-year stud.

Ariza has been better-than-expected offensively as a Rocket, shooting over 47 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point land through the first four games. He even had a 33-point game in a win over the Blazers, something that surprised Artest when he heard about it.

"He had 33?" asked Artest with a surprised tone. Then came a grin. "That's great. I didn't know he could score 30."

Oftentimes, when two high-profile players are involved in switching teams, the game doesn't come down solely to the matchup between those players. But tonight in Houston, the winner of the Artest vs. Ariza conflict is likely to give his team a huge edge, and one which could ultimately help decide the game's final result.

Lakers' Ron Artest Returns to Houston originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive

Brett Pollakoff — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, Heat, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Trail Blazers, NBA Last Night, Thunder

Welcome to the NBA FanHouse podcast, where our writers get together a few times a week to talk about everything going on in the world of hoops. Want to participate? Leave a comment, or follow us on Twitter @NBAFanHouse.

In a Wednesday edition of the HouseCast (and our first of the season), Matt Watson and Matt Moore joined me to discuss this week's Power Rankings. Of course, we couldn't do that without mentioning that once again, the top-ranked team -- Orlando, in this case -- went down the very same day the rankings were published.

We also recap a busy and interesting night of action, one where the Celtics remained dominant, the Suns remained undefeated, and the Lakers remained underwhelming, while barely surviving the Thunder in Oklahoma City.

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NBA HouseCast: Magic Fall, Celtics Impress, Lakers Survive originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockets Sneak Attack by Boat Stuns Warriors in Oakland

Rob Peterson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:06:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, Warriors

For the Houston Rockets, the word rocketship took on a whole new meaning on Wednesday.

Thanks (or no thanks) to a broken cable that has closed the Bay Bridge, the Rockets were faced with two choices to get from their hotel in San Francisco to Oracle Arena in Oakland to play the Warriors.

They could either take a different bridge, which would have made it a three-hour bus ride or, they could go by ferry.

Knowing that most NBA players like to arrive on the second (i.e. last) of two buses that take teams to games, guess what mode of transport they chose?

Yar! Ye be right if you guessed the Rockets shipped themselves across the San Francisco Bay by boat. Hopefully, there were commuters who took pictures of the 40 players, coaches and other Rockets' staff clambering onto the upper deck of a ferry.

Yet, not every Rocket player embraced the idea of heading out to sea.

"I'm a BART guy," Chuck Hayes, the Rockets only Northern California native said. "Get me on the underground train and I'm good. I was a little nervous. You see so many movies where boats sink."

Thankfully, the San Francisco Bay is free World War II Axis submarines or of icebergs and none of the Rockets were reduced to shark chum. Thanks to their alternative transportation, the Rockets made tipoff in plenty of time. They had their land legs, too, edging the Warriors, 108-107.

Rockets Sneak Attack by Boat Stuns Warriors in Oakland originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumping to Conclusions After One Night

Matt Steinmetz — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks, Rockets, Trail Blazers

Home sweet home. Well, for one night anyway. In front of a 42-inch big screen on opening night in the NBA. Let's go ahead and try to read too much into it ...

o. You can't tell me the Cleveland Cavaliers aren't going to come knocking for Stephen Jackson at some point. Looks like LeBron James is going to need some more help.

Hard as this is to say, it doesn't seem like Shaquille O'Neal can even be your No. 2 option. Apparently, the Cavs are reluctant to give up Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Jackson because Cleveland doesn't want to get smaller.

Then again, Jackson would make the Cavaliers tougher, and he would give them someone other than James who can make a play. Besides, the Warriors have Ronny Turiaf to sweeten the deal if need be.

o. With all due respect to Dallas owner Mark Cuban, this year's version of the Mavs isn't better than that team that went to the Finals in 2006. The reason: it was the pre-exposed Dirk Nowitzki in 2006.

Back then, the belief was that a team with Nowitzki as its best player could win it all. But now we know better. And far as anyone can tell, Nowitzki is still Dallas' best player, a healthy Josh Howard or not.

Look, Nowitzki is a wonderful player. But after watching the Mavericks falter against the Heat in '06, then get dismantled by the Warriors in the first round the following season, it seems apparent the Mavericks aren't going to win a title (which is the only way they can be better, right?) until Nowitzki becomes his team's second-best player.

o. Didn't really notice the officiating on opening night, did you? Oh, that's right. The big boys were back.

o. Gilbert Arenas sure looked good in the opener, but Caron Butler might be the most important piece on that team. He's the Wizard most likely to do things other than score to help his team win.

And, yes, I say that even on a night he took 17 shots and had just one assist. By the way, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld is the early leader in the Executive of the Year Award chase.

o. Pretty troubling sequence from the L.A. Clippers at the end of the first quarter against the Lakers, when they already were down 13. Baron Davis rushed a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining -- just for the sake of a 2-for-1 -- and missed badly. Davis missed so badly that the ball rebounded long to the opposite-of-shy Ricky Davis.

Time to get a good one, right? Exactly. Ricky Davis then proceeded to immediately launch another 3-pointer instead of running down the clock. Banked it home.

o. Houston coach Rick Adelman had to be thinking Warriors -- tonight's Rockets opponent -- down the stretch of their loss to Portland.

Interesting Adelman wasn't even considering coming back with Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza and Luis Scola after some of his subs got Houston back within four of Portland with a couple minutes left.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

Jumping to Conclusions After One Night originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player To Watch: Luis Scola

Matt Moore — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets

FanHouse previews a player to watch from each NBA team in advance of the 2009-10 season.

Luis Scola is a 29-year-old power forward. He has long(er) hair, and is not built like a racehorse. He doesn't jump out of the gym, his tangibles aren't off the charts, his wingspan isn't epic, and he's not a franchise player. But man, the guy can play ball.

Since Scola came into the league two seasons ago, he's quietly been a foundation of the Rockets' success. A rare miscalculation by the San Antonio Spurs, who drafted him in 2002 when he was only 22 but traded him to the Rockets, Scola has become just the kind of player you expect to find in San Antonio. Hardworking, efficient, dedicated and professional. Scola manages to play with fire and intensity, without ever losing his cool.

Scola only gave up 1.8 turnovers per game last year, despite having the second highest percentage of possessions used (19.3) of the Rockets. His PER of 17 is well above the league average, which is also impressive considering his very limited offensive role on the Rockets. Scola is not the guy you give it to and just watch him go to work. Though the work part is definitely there. He rebounds at a great rate (more than 10 total boards per 36), shoots at a high percentage, and when he's on the floor, his team performs better in almost every category.

But the biggest contributions Scola makes aren't even in the box score. Much like Shane Battier, the "No-Stats All-Star," Scola brings savvy and basketball intelligence that are off the charts, along with a fiery disposition and will to win. I don't know what they're feeding those boys in Argentina, but they have a drive to succeed that is downright intense. Scola in his limited time in the NBA has adapted incredibly well, using his Euroball-style skills to learn NBA facets. His defense on pick and rolls is at once aggressive and considerate, rarely allowing easy passes most bigs fall prey to. His frame allows him to muscle up to players bigger than him and his active hands and footwork enable him to frustrate players of considerably greater talent. What's best, Scola rarely allows his emotions to affect him negatively. He picks himself up and goes back to work.

Which is not to say that he doesn't have his faults. Like Manu Ginobili, Scola often times moves for the charge by way of block too much. He lacks a go-to offensive move, and struggles in making key passes (as evident by his assist numbers). He can work the offense out of the high block, but put him in the low block and it's unlikely he'll be dishing a dime. But all of these things are effectively masked by Scola's basketball IQ and ability to control himself to play within his game.

With Yao Ming out for what most think will be the vast majority of the season, Scola's contributions are that much more important. He'll need to improve in all areas, taking on a larger burden while still maintaining the same level of efficiency if the Rockets are going to have a chance at a playoff spot. At the same time, it would be unfortuante to lose the all-out style of play Scola has brought, diving on the floor for lose balls, constantly wrestling for tie-ups, but it may be necessary in his pursuit of consistency in a season where he is so important. The one thing you can count on is that Scola will most certainly try, more than any other.

Player To Watch: Luis Scola originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Rockets

Matt Moore — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Preseason, NBA Previews

FanHouse previews all 30 NBA teams in advance of the 2009-10 season.

There is a scene in Major League where the manager relates how ownership essentially has stacked everything she can against the team. They have no hope, because no matter what happens, they'll only be released as soon as it's convenient in pursuit of moving the team. Essentially, there is no reason for hope, no reason for effort, no reason for showing up to play. Tom Berenger's character looks up and says, " Well, I guess there's only one thing left to do ... win the whole (expletive) thing."

And that's pretty much where the Rockets are this season, barring the psychopathic sexbomb owner, threat of relocation, and the fact that they play a much more strenuous sport.

The Rockets enter the season with their best player on the shelf for the long-forseeable future as Yao Ming recovers from another foot injury. Tracy McGrady has said pretty openly he may never be 100 percent again. The rest of the team looks like a hodgepodge of also-rans, D-League fodder, and Shane Battier. Their big free agent acquisition, Trevor Ariza, warranted his contract based solely on four weeks of hot shooting and a lot of diving on the floor. They have no center. They have no true small guard. And it's entirely possible they'll make the playoffs. Again.

What Daryl Morey has done in Houston is the subject of much debate in the basketball world. Critics who despise advanced metrics-based decisions or the idea that Battier (or anyone for that matter) could ever guard Kobe Bryant for even a possession look at the roster with disdain, dismissing them as not having anyone good because no one outside of McGrady and Yao would ever be considered All-Stars. Meanwhile, his supporters point to the fact that despite crippling injuries which would send other teams tumbling into the lottery, his teams have thrived in difficult positions (something NBA players are not known for), rattled off huge winning streaks and pushed the mighty Lakers to seven games, a series which included three blowouts despite Houston lacking its best player. And yet, just as at the end of the much ballyhooed Shane Battier article, where Bryant drains it over him, the Rockets lost in the end.

What Morey has done in Houston is assemble a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. Aaron Brooks is coming into his own as an elite speed-guard, capable of creating turnovers, driving the lane, scoring at will, and setting up his teammates. Say the words "Luis Scola" to a Spurs fan and they cringe, one of the few phrases to illicit such a response this decade. Chuck Hayes isn't good at anything that shows up in a box score, and is only marginally good at most things that don't show up in a box score, but is incredibly good at a select group of things that very few players in the league are good at. Battier has become not only a defensive wizard, but a source of leadership on a young team. Kyle Lowry is a capable back-up point who doesn't come with the same baggage or demands as Rafer Alston. Carl Landry is a low-budget, high efficiency player who can play multiple roles at multiple positions. And the Rockets employ a variety of components that can serve individual needs. Pops Mensah-Bonsu as high-energy big man, Joey Dorsey as muscle-bound big man, Chase Budinger as athletic rookie ... the list goes on and on.

The Rockets are also able to manage a very large roster with patience and care, thanks to their affiliation with the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Morey has used RGV before, sending Brooks and others down to polish their games. But this year, they've taken it to the next step, as the first team to use the new "hybrid" system, wherein the NBA club takes control of all basketball operations for the D-League team, bringing in their own coaches, management, scouting, trainers, and resources. This will allow them to manage different pieces and take a long-term view of some of their rookies while trying to remain competitive.

Now, for all these positives, it's entirely possible the Rockets could flame into nothingness. The fact remains that their best player, their single best player, one of the best players in the NBA, isn't expected to even be ready for evaluation until spring. McGrady returns, but I'm sorry, no one in Houston or anywhere else expects for McGrady to suddenly shake off his injury woes. And beyond that is the issue of trust after the problems McGrady made for the rest of the team last year, announcing his surgery to the press before consulting with the team, and the questions of leadership that abound, especially after the Rockets escaped the first round last year without him. Ron Artest is gone, and though Crazy Pills could definitely get an itchy trigger, he still provided a spark offensively and defensively that will be missed. In his place comes Ariza, who though very energetic and certainly shot well in the Lakers' title run, has yet to prove he can be a consistent, reliable component of an offense. His shooting is not what it appears to be to most after his raucous run in the playoffs. Don't believe me? Compare his 48 percent three-point shooting in the playoffs to his season mark of 32 percent. Maybe Ariza just magically uncovered something in his mechanics during last year's postseason that allowed him to unlock the mysteries of shooting. Or maybe he's another player who got hot and wormed his way into a new contract he probably wasn't worth.

The Rockets can't look ahead. They can't have expectations, goals or long-term perspectives. They have to keep their head down, their eyes focused directly in font of them, and go one step at a time. Every game will be a struggle, and any further significant injuries and they're pretty well sunk. Even if not, all signs point to a disappointing and frustrating year for the Rockets.

Then again, we've said all that before.

Last Season By the Numbers

Record: 53-29 under Rick Adelman. Finished 2nd in the Southwest Division, 5th in the Western Conference. Defeated Portland 4-2 in the first round. Eliminated by L.A. Lakers 4-3 in the conference semifinals.

Offense: 108.4 points per 100 possessions, 15th in the NBA. 14th in shooting, 22nd in turnover rate, 17th in offensive rebounding, 16th in free throw rate.

Defense: 104.0 points per 100 possessions, 4th in the NBA. 4th in shooting defense, 28th in opponent turnover rate, 4th in defensive rebounding, 2nd in opponent free throw rate.

Top Performers: Yao Ming led the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game. Among returning Rockets who are expected to be available at the start of the 2009-10 season, Luis Scola scored 12.7 points per game in 30 minutes, and Aaron Brooks averaged 11.2 points per game in 25 minutes. Yao was the top rebounder at 9.9 rebounds per game; Scola followed with 8.8 rebounds per game. Tracy McGrady averaged 5 assists per game in limited action.

All statistics via Basketball-Reference.com.

Player to Watch

FanHouse's Matt Moore and Tom Ziller preview one player to watch from each team. Here's a snippet of Moore's post on Rockets forward Luis Scola.

The biggest contributions Scola makes aren't even in the box score. Much like Shane Battier, the "No-Stats All-Star," Scola brings savvy and basketball intelligence that are off the charts, along with a fiery disposition and will to win. I don't know what they're feeding those boys in Argentina, but they have a drive to succeed that is downright intense. Scola in his limited time in the NBA has adapted incredibly well, using his Euroball-style skills to learn NBA facets. His defense on pick and rolls is at once aggressive and considerate, rarely allowing easy passes most bigs fall prey to. His frame allows him to muscle up to players bigger than him and his active hands and footwork enable him to frustrate players of considerably greater talent. What's best, Scola rarely allows his emotions to affect him negatively. He picks himself up and goes back to work.

See Moore's full post on Scola.

Offseason Tracker

IN: Trevor Ariza (free agency), David Andersen (free agency), Jermaine Taylor (draft), Sergio Llull (draft), Chase Budinger (draft).

OUT: Ron Artest (free agency).

FanHouse Preview: Rockets originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NBA's Three-Pointer Turns 30

Chris Tomasson — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bulls, Celtics, Rockets

Had it happened in this era, somebody would have been watching multiple games on television monitors. The game would have been stopped and the ball shipped to the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

But that was hardly the case on Oct. 12, 1979. Early in the first quarter of a game against Houston at the Boston Garden in the regular-season opener, Celtics guard Chris Ford drilled a straightaway three-pointer.

Later that month, Ford heard from a Celtics public relations official.

"More than a week after the game, I discovered that I had hit the first three (in NBA history),'' Ford recalled. "I guess it took them that long to line up all the plays of all the games (that night). I was definitely surprised when I heard that.''

Just as Ron Bloomberg of the New York Yankees had done six years earlier by becoming baseball's first designated hitter, Ford turned into the answer to a trivia question. It was 30 years ago Monday he became the first NBA player to drill a three-pointer.

It wasn't surprising that few initially paid much attention to Ford's feat. The 114-106 win over the Rockets marked Boston forward Larry Bird's first NBA game. And later that night Magic Johnson would debut on national TV as his Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Diego Clippers 103-102 on a sky hook by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the buzzer.

"It was Bird's first game as a rookie, and that was what all the headlines were,'' said Ford, a solid NBA guard from 1972-82 who is now a Philadelphia scout. "The Garden was hopping that night. It was early in the first quarter where I hit a shot from straight on. The shot clock was winding down, and I had an open look. I knew it was behind the line, but had no idea it was the first one.''

That wasn't determined for a while since nine NBA games were played that night. Four others were in the Eastern Time Zone, starting around the time of the 7:30 p.m. tip at Boston Garden.

Ford went on to be an NBA head coach for 10 seasons, including five years with the Celtics, two coaching Bird. But he might go down known primarily in history for hitting that initial three.

"It's a nice piece of trivia,'' Ford said. "It's why I'm talking to (the media) now. It's nice to be mentioned.''

The three-point shot had grown out of the ABA, which was in business from 1967-76. Before that, the American Basketball League, which played its only full season in 1961-62 and whose champion Cleveland Pipers were owned by none other than George Steinbrenner, was the first league to use the three-pointer.

When the NBA played its first night with a three-pointer, two players at Boston Garden had made threes in the ABA. They were Boston guard Don Chaney, who made one with the Spirits of St. Louis in 1975-76, and Houston forward Rick Barry, who had hit 103 in four ABA seasons.

"I remember when they finally ended up putting the three-pointer in the NBA my final season,'' said Barry, who retired after that 1979-80 campaign and seven years later was in the Hall of Fame. "But I don't really remember that first one.''

Barry no doubt would remember had he been the first. The only other three-pointer during that game came courtesy of Barry, who went 1-of-3.

The Rockets had much less success on that first night from beyond the arc, going 1-for-10. The Celtics were 1-of-3, with Ford making his only attempt.

"Nobody ever really thought about the three-pointer back then like they do today,'' said Barry, whose Rockets that season eventually stopped firing away at will.

Rise of the 3-Pointer: "Along with the rise of the three-pointer as a weapon, there has been a general increase in the efficiency of the tool. The leaguewide shooting percentage on threes last season (36.7%) equaled the previous high: 1996, one of those's short-arc seasons."
-- More from Tom ZillerIn 1979-80, three-pointers comprised just 3.1 percent of total NBA field-goal attempts. Last season, teams fired away at a 22.4-percent clip.

"I thought it was good for the game and it changed the game,'' Barry said. "But that shot has been abused. Guys who have no business shooting it are shooting it. If used judiciously, it can be a great weapon.''

While in the ABA, Barry admits he wasn't much of a three-pointer marksman. The stats don't disagree considering he shot 27.7 percent.

But Barry became a bit of a three-point specialist during his final NBA season, when he turned 36. He hit 73-of-221 for 33 percent while attempting and making the second-most in the league. Leading the NBA with 239 attempts and 90 made was San Diego's Brian Taylor, a former ABA bomber.

Ford, then 31, also that season became somewhat of a specialist. He shot 70-of-164, his three-point percentage of 42.7 trailing only appropriately-named Seattle guard Freddie "Downtown'' Brown's 44.3 for best in the NBA.

Finishing third that season at 40.6 percent was Bird, who went 0-of-1 from three-point range while scoring a modest 14 points in his first game, but finished the season a stellar 58-of-143 from beyond the arc.

"I think it certainly strategy-wise has changed the game, and the fans love it,'' Ford said of the 30 years of the NBA having the three-pointer. "The bad thing about it is kids start shooting it at too early of an age, and we've lost the mid-range jumper. It's been somewhat lost in the NBA that (Detroit's) Rip Hamilton makes a living off the mid-range shot. It's either dunks or three-point shots that make the highlights.''

What about four-point shots? Nine days after Ford became the Charles Lindbergh of the NBA, Chicago guard Sam Smith became the first NBA player to make a three-pointer, get fouled, and convert the free throw.

The only Sam Smith most Bulls fans know now is the longtime Chicago sports writer. But former Bulls star Reggie Theus, now a Minnesota assistant, remembers well how "Sudden Sam,'' his former UNLV teammate, drilled the first four-pointer in a 113-111 loss to Milwaukee on Oct. 21, 1979.

"(Then Bulls coach) Jerry Sloan didn't know him, and we needed a three-pointer,'' Theus said of the heroics by Smith, who would play just 46 NBA games over two seasons and fade into obscurity. "I just told him, 'Coach, don't call anything. Just let Sam cross halfcourt and shoot it because he's got in-the-gym range.' It didn't matter how far out he was. He went up, got fouled, and it was a four-point play.''

One would think Smith didn't have to wait more than a week to learn he hit the first four-pointer. Then again, Ford's first three-pointer has had far more staying power when it comes to NBA notoriety.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com.

The NBA's Three-Pointer Turns 30 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tip-Off Timer: The Punch That Cost Kermit Washington 26 Games

Tim Povtak — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Lakers, Rockets

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, there are 26 days remaining.

They remain the most sickening few seconds in NBA history.

The thud of the roundhouse punch that blindsided and almost killed Rudy Tomjanovich, the thump of his head hitting the floor, and the deafening silence of the crowd while he lay unconscious in a pool of blood, still remain one of the NBA's darkest moments.

Although on-court fighting was relatively common back then, Kermit Washington, who threw the punch, missed 26 games as part of his suspension in 1977. At the time, it was the longest suspension ever leveled against an NBA player.

There have been other ugly and dangerous on-court fights. The Pistons/Pacers brawl ignited by Ron Artest that spilled into the seats and started a riot in 2004 certainly ranks high on the list of notable melees, but none have been as frightening for the human suffering they caused.

Tomjanovich was never quite the same.

Washington, who was with the Lakers, was in the midst of the fight when Tomjanovich, who played for the Rockets, ran toward him with the intent of separating the combatants. All Washington saw, though, was another player running at him from behind, so he swung and hit him squarely in the face.

The punch was so hard it detached the bone structure of his face from the skull, leaving blood and spinal fluid to leak into the skull cavity. He needed more than one surgical procedure to repair the damage. Although he played again, his career fizzled. His finest moments came years later when he coached the Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles (1994 and 1995).

The incident involving Washington and Tomjanovich convinced the NBA to stiffen the punishment for fighting several times over the next 30 years. Commissioner David Stern, who was the NBA's chief legal counsel at the time, often cited that incident. "We couldn't allow men that big and that strong to go around throwing punches at each other,'' Stern said years ago.

Tip-Off Timer: The Punch That Cost Kermit Washington 26 Games originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tracy McGrady Is Coming to Wreck Your Rockets Predictions

Tom Ziller — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Injuries

Not only has Tracy McGrady recovered quickly from microfracture surgery, he has recovered so quickly he might not miss the first practice of the 2009-10 season. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that McGrady will be in Houston ready for practice Tuesday. Mac had microfracture surgery last February. Recovery typically takes upward of a year, and certainly more than eight months.

Needless to say, a healthy McGrady is a huge boost to a Rockets team in need of some more offense. With Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza, Chuck Hayes and Carl Landry, the roster has tons of starting-level defense. But Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks are the only prolific scorers, and either could be neutralized without a miracle. Vintage McGrady cannot be neutralized without a miracle. Now, healthy McGrady and vintage McGrady aren't necessarily the same player -- T-Mac hasn't been epic in a few seasons, at least.

But McGrady ain't going to hurt. If nothing else, Scola and Brooks will have much softer coverage so long as T-Mac is drawing attention on the wing.

Tracy McGrady Is Coming to Wreck Your Rockets Predictions originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Twitter Mailbag: Rashad McCants, Clippers Rising and What Warriors Need

Matt Steinmetz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Clippers, Rockets, Warriors, NBA Twitter

Let's get right to it. We asked for your Twitter questions and we got them. Now for some answers:

albert_kim: Is Rashad McCants going to be a good fit in Houston?
I don't think Rashad McCants is necessarily a good fit for any team. We're talking about a colossal headcase here. However, if he's going to be effective for any team it would likely be a team with established veterans, an established style of play and a veteran head coach who is pretty good at dealing with players such as McCants.

To that extent, the Rockets might be less worse of a fit for McCants than many other teams. Coach Rick Adelman is one of the best when it comes to handling players who aren't easy to coach, whether it be Rod Strickland from back in the day or Ron Artest recently.

The problem with McCants in Houston right now, however, is that the Rockets will likely be without Yao Ming for the entire season and without Tracy McGrady for at least a little while. Keeping a player like McCants in check just got a lot more difficult.

maxflipper: Who is your surprise team to make the playoffs?
Until they start to prove me wrong, I'm going to continue to go with the Los Angeles Clippers as my surprise team for 2009-10. The more I think about it the more I think Blake Griffin is really going to help this team. Even if he's little more than a dirty-work-type player to start, I think that's the kind of player the Clippers need.

But the No. 1 reason I'm going with the Clippers to have a big year is point guard Baron Davis, who seems to have something to prove this year. At various times during his career, whether in Charlotte or New Orleans or in Golden State, Davis has shown when he's at his best he is among the elite point guards in the league.

If Davis can put 65 games under his belt this year, and Griffin can hold his own defensively against some of the better power forwards in the NBA, the Clippers are going to be in the mix for the eighth playoff spot.

_brandone_: Who do the Warriors need to acquire to become a .500 team or better?
There are two schools of thought on what the Warriors need to become a legitimate playoff team. Some think the team needs a big-time power forward and others believe the team still needs to go out and acquire a true point guard.

Obviously Warriors management thinks it needs to address its frontcourt and that's why we saw so much talk earlier this summer about the Warriors trying to acquire Amare Stoudemire. He would help, no doubt.

Some believe the Warriors won't be consistent with this team until you put a true point guard onto the roster. I'm one of those people. While Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and C.J. Watson all have strengths, none of them are adept at running a team.

In other words, what you're essentially asking them to do is something that's not their strength or what they're comfortable doing. The Warriors gave Stephen Jackson lots of ball-handling responsibility last season and, while he was able to make plays here and there, over the course of a game he turned the ball over too much.

More Steinmetz on Twitter: @matt_steinmetz

NBA Twitter Mailbag: Rashad McCants, Clippers Rising and What Warriors Need originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rockets Sign GM Daryl Morey to Two-Year Extension

Matt Moore — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Rockets, NBA Transactions

The biggest free agent on the market this year just got inked. Kind of. Though he wasn't going anywhere, Daryl Morey's been working without a contract since the end of last season. And today, the Houston Chronicle reports, the Rockets have finalized a deal that will keep him with the team through 2013.

So given the new timeline for Morey and his prior success, what are the odds Morey nabs an Executive of the Year award by the time his next contract is up?

Everyone has written off the Rockets this season, just as soon as Yao Ming was reported to miss the majority, if not all, of the season. "Oh, well. That's too bad. Better luck next time." But a closer examination of Morey's brief tenure with the Rockets proves that many of the teams that he's put on the floor have vastly outperformed expectations. So what leads us to believe that yet again, the consensus that sides against Morey's chances are right again?

Two years ago, when Yao went down, everyone wrote off the Rockets. This was before they rattled off one of the longest winning streaks in league history. Last year, there were rampant concerns about Ron Artest being a force that tore them apart. Instead, he helped them get past the first round for the first time in years. (Sorry, T-Mac.)

This year, losing Yao and Artest is supposed to be the death knell. But the real core of this team is made of players who no one else believed in except Morey, and who have thrived in Houston. Aaron Brooks? Spent time in the D-League his rookie year, and was supposed to be too small to play in the league. Luis Scola? The Spurs gave him away for next to nothing, one of the rare mistakes for the Buford-Popovich regime in San Antonio. Chuck Hayes was a never-was whose defense was a pivotal component of the Rockets' playoff run last season.

And after Yao went down in the Rockets' second round series versus the Spurs, people assumed the Lakers would make quick work of them. Instead, the Rockets ran up 30-plus point leads in pushing LA to seven games, without their best player.

This extension may be perceived as a short-term reward for their recent success, but the real question is this: What does Morey do with a blank canvas? Since he arrived, he's been handcuffed by the traditional model of the franchise, with two huge megastars absorbing most of the cap space. Now certainly, those players have helped, being two of the top players in the league (debatable in McGrady's case). But 2011-2013 will provide Morey and opportunity to start from scratch, using his advanced metrics approach to build a team completely in his and Aldeman (or whoever is coaching at that point) image.

Opinions on GMs shift rapidly in the NBA (Danny Ainge was a boob before winning Executive of the Year, Joe Dumars was considered brilliant for years), but at this point, Morey certainly seems to be the future.

Rockets Sign GM Daryl Morey to Two-Year Extension originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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