Yardbarker: Houston Rockets

First and Second Team, All-Clutch

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:05:54 -0500

A list of most clutch players of all time by position, what is your list?

NBA: Top Five Players That May Never Win A Title

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:49:43 -0500

Continuing with the theme of greatest players that may never win a title, here is the NBA's five greats that may never taste an NBA championship. www.rawsportsblog.com

2008-2009 NBA Schedule Released

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:04:31 -0500

The schedule for the upcoming season has been released. Here are a few of the highlights. The Celtics will play 8 pre-season games starting on October 8 and ending up on October 21 against the Sixers, Cavs (twice), Rockets, Nets (twice) and Knicks (twice). The Celtics will open the season at home on Tuesday October 28 against LeBron James and his band of Cavaliers. This will be broadcast on TNT. As has been leaked, the Celtics will play the Lakers in LA on Christmas day in a 5:00 PM game. Just like the good old days, the Celtics and Lakers on National TV on Christmas day. I remember back to when the Celtics played every year on Christmas. The Celtics will meet the Lakers again on February 5. The Celtics will also play on Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, at 12 noon with their opponent being the Minnesota Timberwolves, however it isn't on the national TV schedule. Their first matchup with the Wolves will be on November 21. In October and November, the Celtics will play 10 home games and 8 on the road. Their first Western road trip will begin on Christmas day and include 4 games in 5 days including the Lakers, Warriors, Kings and Blazers. They also have a 6 game Western...

TNT Releases Their Full NBA Slate Of 2008-2009 Games

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:03:16 -0500

It must be schedule release day today. I'm pretty sure this is a sign that the slow summer is over and thank goodness for that right? Football is almost back and now we have our first look at the television schedules for the upcoming NBA season in August. Hey why not? October is right around the corner. TNT is up first, but ESPN/ABC's will follow this post.

TNT's got a total of 53 games for you this year including doubleheaders on Thanksgiving and Christmas and a tripleheader on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It looks like the winner of the Thursday Night lottery this year are the Cavs, Lakers and Suns with ten appearances each. The Celtics are a close second with a total of nine games on the network including the opener on October 28th which will also include their Championship Ring Ceremony. The biggest surprises in the schedule are Portland getting eight games (not a bad thing though), and the Hornets only receiving a total of three.

Here's the rest and feel free to pick it apart in the comments....

Tuesday, October 28

NBA Tip-Off '08 – Celtics Ring Ceremony (7pm)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (8pm)
Portland Trailblazers at LA Lakers (10:30pm)

Thursday, October 30

Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks (8pm)
New Orleans Hornets at Phoenix Suns (10:30pm)

Thursday, November 6

Philadelphia 76ers at Orlando Magic (8pm)
Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers (10:30pm)

Thursday, November 13

Denver Nuggets at Cleveland Cavaliers (7pm)
Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls (9:30pm)

Thursday, November 20

Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics (8pm)
L.A. Lakers at Phoenix Suns (10:30pm)

Thursday, November 27

Orlando Magic at Washington Wizards (8pm)
New Orleans Hornets at Denver Nuggets (10:30pm)

Thursday, December 4

Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks (8pm)
San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets (10:30pm)

Thursday, December 11

Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards (8pm)
Portland Trail Blazers at Utah Jazz (10:30pm)

Thursday, December 18

San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (8pm)
Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers (10:30pm)

Thursday, December 25

Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers (8pm)
Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers (10:30pm)

Thursday, January 15

Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls (8pm)
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets (10:30pm)

Monday, January 19

Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies (5:30pm)
Phoenix Suns at Boston Celtics (8pm)
Cleveland Cavaliers at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

Thursday, January 22

Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic (8pm)
Washington Wizards at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

Thursday, January 29

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic (8pm)
San Antonio Spurs @ Phoenix Suns (10:30pm)

Thursday, February 5

L.A. Lakers @ Boston Celtics (8pm)
Dallas Mavericks @ Utah Jazz (10:30pm)

Thursday, February 12

Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls (7pm)
Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks (9:30pm)
________________________

NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND

Friday, February 13

NBA Rookie Challenge

Saturday, February 14

NBA All-Star Saturday (Dunk Contest, 3 Point Shootout, Shooting Stars, Skills)

Sunday, February 15

2009 NBA All-Star Game from Phoenix, Arizona
_________________________

Thursday, February 19

San Antonio Spurs at Detroit Pistons (8pm)
Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz (10:30pm)

Thursday, February 26

Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets (8pm)
Phoenix Suns at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

Thursday, March 5

Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Hornets (8pm)
Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets (10:30pm)

Thursday, March 12

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio Spurs (8pm)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Phoenix Suns (10:30pm)

Thursday, March 19

Portland Trail Blazers at Cleveland Cavaliers (8pm)
Golden State Warriors at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

Tuesday, March 24

Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls (8pm)
Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz (10:30pm)

Thursday, March 26

Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls (8pm)
Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers (10:30pm)

Thursday, April 2

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards (8pm)
Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets (10:30pm)

Thursday, April 9

Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls (8pm)
Denver Nuggets @ L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

Thursday, April 14

Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers (8pm)
Utah Jazz @ L.A. Lakers (10:30pm)

(ESPN/ABC's schedule is up next)

The Fantasy Cost of a Gold Medal

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:55:46 -0500

With the Olympics opening up this weekend, FIO staff writer Dan Rossi discusses the fantasy implications of some fantasy studs playing in Beijing (specifically focusing on injuries).

Team Preview #6: Houston Rockets

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:19:32 -0500

LAST SEASON Houston won 55 games, but they lost in the 1st Round of the Playoffs for the 4th time in 5 years (they didn't make it in '05-06). McGrady & Co. put up an admirable fight againt Utah without Yao, but they still lost in 6 games. After Boston, they were probably the best defensive team in the league. OFFSEASON MOVES Key Additions: Ron Artest, Brent Barry, Joey Dorsey Key Losses: Bobby Jackson, Carl Landry?, Dikembe Mutombo? A strong defensive team just got stronger with the addition of Ron Artest. You can click here to read what I've already said about the addition, but I think it immediately turns Houston into a legit contender. They had to give up a talented prospect (Donte Greene) to get him, but since T-Mac & Yao are already in their primes, it makes sense to go for the glory NOW. The signing of veteran guard Brent Barry was much less heralded, but still very important, as he'll replace B-Jax as the 1st guard off the bench. Carl Landry wants more money after an impressive rookie season, but the Rockets might let him go since they drafted Joey Dorsey out of Memphis. At 6-7, 265 pounds, Dorsey is an imposing physical specimen and a monster rebounder. The Rockets would like to have Mutombo back for one more year, but he wants more than the veteran's minimum. I think they should pay the old man and mic him up for every game, because the result would be countless hours of hilarity. ROTATION / PLAYING TIME The man the middle, Yao Ming, led Houston with a 37.2 mpg average in '07-08. He's also missed at least 25 games in each of the past 3 seasons and will be competing in the Olympics despite his foot not being 100%. My point being, if the Rockets play him any more than 36 mpg, they're asking for trouble. In case of injury, the Rockets will break the glass and bring in Mutombo (assuming he re-signs). Chuck Hayes & Dorsey are rather short power forwards, but both are strong enough to guard centers if need be. At the forward spots, Shane Battier played 36.3 minutes and Luis Scola played 24.7 minutes in '07-08, but I'm expecting those numbers to fall to 34 and 22, respectively. To start the season at least, I'm projecting Artest to come off the bench and play 14 minutes at SF and 20 minutes at PF. I also expect McGrady's minutes (37.3 last year) to fall in the 34-36 range, as Brent Barry is a solid backup. At point guard, Rafer Alston should see close to the 34.1 minutes that he got last season, while the small & speedy Aaron Brooks will serve as his backup. During the regular season, the Rockets will likely tinker with several different player combinations, so don't be surprised if you see Barry & T-Mac in the backcourt together, or Battier, Artest & Scola up front. DON'T SLEEP ON: Yao Ming In this recent Yahoo mock draft, Yao fell to the middle of the 3rd Round, #30 overall. He's always one of the best "per game" guys in fantasy hoops, but missing 25+ games for 3 years in a row makes you fall hard (see: Baron Davis last year). He is now officially a "MAJOR Injury Risk," perhaps more so than Marcus Camby used to be. But when you gamble on high-risk players like that, you can also reap huge rewards (like Baron & Camby owners did last year). Yao also has some room for improvement, especially in the FG% department. His 50.7% FG in '07-08 was his lowest mark since his rookie year, and with the additions of Barry (to extend the defense) and Artest (to take some pressure off), I'm expecting that number to climb up to 52.5% in '08-09. With Artest also playing tenacious D at power forward now, Ming could possibly rack up more weak side blocks and improve on last year's career-high of 2.02 per game. If Yao falls to you in the 3rd Round, do NOT sleep on this talented Chinaman (not the preferred nomenclature). BE CAREFUL OF: Rafer Alston Over the past 3 years, Houston has lacked a reliable 3rd scorer and Yao & T-Mac have missed a combined 148 games, so Rafer Alston has had plenty of chances to score points. In '07-08, he even averaged a career-high 12.5 FG attempts per game, but that's sure to fall with Artest's 16.9 FGA and 20.5 ppg now in the mix. Since both T-Mac & Artest like to have the ball in their hands, it will be hard for Rafer to improve on his modest 5.3 dimes per game. But there are more reasons to be careful of "Skip to My Lou." Over the past 5 years, he's shot over 40% from the field just ONCE (last year's 39.4% was actually a huge improvement over the 37.5% and 37.9% he shot in the two years prior). If that wasn't bad enough, this field goal-killer also likes to kick you in the nuts by hurting your FT% as well (over 74% just ONCE in his career). He'll likely be a Top 80 pick in some leagues, but I suggest waiting till the 8th or 9th round. ROUND BY ROUND TARGETS (Where you should draft these guys in an 8-cat Roto league with 12 teams and 14 man rosters) Click on the link to find out!

LeBron would consider European offer of $50M a year or more

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:26:56 -0500

Jay-Z and the New Jersey Nets? Mike D'Antoni and the New York Knicks? Heck, the Cleveland Cavaliers' strongest competition for LeBron James' long-term services could be the deep-pocketed new kid on the block -- Europe. A person close to James said Tuesday that the Cavaliers' superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." James' current contract expires after the 2009-10 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year. The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place. While $50 million a year seems outlandish, it is within the realm of possibility, considering the reported $250 million contract David Beckham received two years ago to join Major League Soccer, the $33 million Michael Jordan was paid by the Chicago Bulls for the 1997-98 season, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap. While several NBA players have left the league this summer for more lucrative contracts in Europe, no stars have done so -- or even considered it. Joel Litvin, the NBA's president of league and basketball operations, said the league is not concerned about this developing trend. "I don't want to say it's much ado about nothing, but we think it's overblown a bit," Litvin said. "It's not something we're losing sleep over. " But losing a player of James' magnitude would be nothing short of a nightmare for the NBA. "For the most part, the league considers the players to be fungible products," an official from the National Basketball Players Association said. "But LeBron is one of the three or four players the league would definitely hate to lose. If a team lost him or Kobe [Bryant] to Europe, it would lose its mind. It would be devastating." But both Litvin and the NBPA official said they don't foresee anything -- even the loss of a superstar -- leading the NBA to eliminate the salary cap and thereby compete financially with the European teams. "It would be disappointing to lose one of our star players, but I have no concern at all about the best players playing anywhere but in the NBA for a long time to come," Litvin said. "I'd be surprised if one of our top players chose to go to Europe but if it did happen, there are many players who would step up and fill the void." The source close to James said LeBron would play in Europe only for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas. He added that James would not consider himself to be playing in the "minor leagues." "Not at all," the person said. "He believes those guys are pros also." The entire scenario falls in line with James' stated goals of becoming a billionaire and "global icon." But the representative from the players' association will have to see James in a European uniform before he believes it. "First of all, we don't know that there's going to be a $50 million offer," the official said. "And secondly, he wouldn't be able to accomplish over there the things that he wants to do over here, which are to win NBA championships, MVP awards, etc." But he could become filthy rich and a global icon.

Playing With Yao Ming is like Fighting A Little Girl?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:05:08 -0500

As Team USA Basketball prepared for Beijing 2008 they were given a new moniker: "The Reedem Team". It is actually a pretty apt way to sum up America's belief system about the world at large (especially when it comes to basketball). You see Americans are sports rebels. Americans spurned the world's most popular game, Soccer. We even spurned its hillbilly cousin Rugby when Walter Camp had his moment of inspiration. We decided we were too good to play cricket, with the rest of Europe and Asia, and we began teaching the world that game from Cooperstown. We even invented a sport to be played when it is cold outside and you no longer need your basket to hold fresh peaches. Since World War II, as Americans have become internationalists in their political policies, we have become decidedly isolationist in our participation in sport. The three most popular sports in America, football, baseball, and basketball, were all invented in America. Sure, Americans play other games too (some well, some not so well ). But by and large, Americans only care for games that we create. Unlike American football, basketball and baseball have gained international popularity and as Americans we have absolutely no idea how to handle this. Until the recent World Baseball Classic, international baseball existed in separate microcosms that were not completely recognized by MLB. On the other hand, basketball has been accepted throughout the world for some time. For years, we Americans were happy to crush the hopes and dreams of any basketball team in the world that would play us. The only problem is: We got used to winning. The United States of America's basketball team has not won a gold medal in the Olympics for eight years. Gasp!! Suddenly what was once taken for granted has been taken from us. The US can no longer send 12 all-stars with no chemistry or gameplan to crush the hopes and dreams of the world. It has sucked. Now Americans are in a rather stange position. If the US can go to Beijing and win the gold it will hardly be a triumph. As the nick name suggests, winning the Gold would merely be a "redemption". God forbid the United States wins the silver, becoming only the second best team in the world! This brings me back to my point. The USA has stopped competing against other full grown Olympians and is currently fighting school-girls. Sure they may look like 7' Australians or dodgy Italians; but they are school girls. Its the age old School Girl Conundrum. It is an old conundrum indeed for the school yard Alpha male. In fact, it may be the only conundrum for the school yard Alpha male. You see life is pretty easy as top dog. If a boy dares anger the Alpha male, the Alpha male crushes said boy. If a girl attracts the Alpha male, the Alpha male smiles at said girl. (If he is lucky he gets to kiss her after kickball is over) However, what if a girl kicks the Alpha male in the shins? He certainly can't crush the girl, then he would be a meanie, or at best would just preserve his place as king of the jungle. On the other hand, if he tried to crush the girl and failed he would be in a worse position than he started in... And that is where the USA is. If Coach K and the boys dominate and come home with the Gold the best case scenario is preserving US dominance. We cannot triumph. We cannot overcome. We can't even simply close. There is no winning when a girl kicks you in the shins.

Houston Rockets, 2009 NBA Champions?

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:23:44 -0500

With Artest moving to a team that was going nowhere to a team that's going somewhere, the West has become a whole lot more cutthroat. It may so happen that with the Hornets become the only team in the West with a true future. Who knows if the Rockets may end the Spurs' dynasty, and close the windows of opportunity on the Dallas Mavericks and LA Lakers? Ron Artest goes as far as saying 2008-09 would be a "failure" if the Houston Rockets don't win a championship. Can the Houston Rockets win it all in 2009? ( More after the jump )

SUNDAY CONVERSATION WITH RON ARTEST

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:10:07 -0500

ESPN's sunday conversation with ron artest

Mavs To Do List: Shop Josh Howard

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:30:17 -0500

In April (During the NBA Playoffs), Josh Howard held a well publicized radio interview with Michael Irvin, condoning the use of marijuana and in that same interview said other players in the league use it also. On that same night, Howard suited up to play in Game 3 of the Mavs-Hornets series and after its conclusion, distributed flyers to his birthday bash. Mark Cuban addressed these issues and Josh apologized knowing that his reputation had taken a major hit. www.rawsportsblog.com

Golden State: Warriors making the grade

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:27:43 -0500

Much controversy has risen over the past few months starting with Nelson's benching of now former Warrior, Baron Davis in the fourth quarter of a game the Warriors needed to win. Since then, the Baron watch was in full swing and just when every Warrior fan began to feel confident that he'd return, B-Diddy pulled one of his quick fakes and bolted to L.A. to be around his Hollywood friends and work on his burgeoning movie career. Despite all of the calls for his head, Chris Mullin may have pulled off one of the best off seasons in Warriors history....

The Underrated Paul Pierce

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:55:25 -0500

I'm joining the brouhaha about Paul Pierce's interview in Spain regarding his comment that he's the best player in the world (see marca.com and english version here at Red's Army) earlier this week. Pierce further clarified yesterday (see today's Sunday Globe): "That's what I said. I am a confident player and a lot of people might look at it like, 'Oh, another cocky attitude,' but I don't look at it that way. I have an opinion, I have a right to have one, and that's the way I feel. I felt I've played against the best over the years and felt right now that I'm the best player in the world."

One More Piece of 'D' To Lock Up In Houston

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:57:10 -0500

A Daily Babble Production With the acquisition of Ron Artest this week, the Houston Rockets not only increased their craziness quotient tenfold but also made a big addition (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=3700 Itemid=260) to what was the Association's second-ranked defense from a season ago. But as nice as it for the Rockets to have a second big-time perimeter stopper to add to Shane Battier, the team still has one more crucial move to make toward solidifying its lock-down unit on that end of the floor, and this man in question resides largely on the interior. The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reported (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5918575.html) Friday that Dikembe Mutombo is unlikely to re-sign for the veteran's minimum in Houston. Agent David Falk has intimated that Mutombo is interested in returning, but he is also interested in making more than the $1.3 million that would come to him with that minimum contract. While uncertainty remains regarding how much Mutombo is looking to rake in this season, if the Rockets can make a move to sign him at a reasonable price, it would most certainly be the move to make despite Deke's advancing age. Read More.. (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=3717 Itemid=260)All of Steve's daily posts can be found in the...

Note to Ron Artest: Getting Into Fights For No Reason is Not a Part of Black Culture

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:58:48 -0500

Yao Ming is happy to have Ron Artest on the Rockets with one condition: "Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands." Ron Artest was quick to dismiss Yao. He said he hasn't changed. In fact, he said that getting into fights is part of black culture. "I'm not going to take it personal. I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture." What does "representing my culture" mean? Running into the stands and attacking a random fan who turned out not to have been the fan who threw a cup at you? I'm not black–certainly not as black as Ron Artest–but I am pretty sure that getting into fights for no reason isn't part of black culture. Sure there are some bad people, like Ron Artest, but there are bad people in all races. Ron Artest, please shut your racist mouth up.