Being a long time Rockets fan, I was elated when I finally got the chance to sit really close to the floor at the Bucks game Wednesday. Sitting right by the Rockets bench, here are some experiences and observations I took away:

• Kyle Lowry is serious as hell. So are Dalembert and Dragic. Twill and Jordan Hill are the opposite. Courtney Lee appears to be the only one who can be both.
  
• Seems like every player can block out fan noise, except T-Will. He will look if you call his name. And yes, my girlfriend did call out EVERY players name (quite embarrassing to say the least)
• Parsons has a god awful follow through on his jumper. Also, I am pretty sure I saw Courtney Lee showing him how to shoot a basketball during warmups.
• You've got to see Dbert play in person. They guy is extremely athletic for his size. He also always looks like he is trying to figure out a math problem, anybody notice that?
• Got to shake hands with Bill Worrell and Clyde. Bill looks like a wax figure.
• Just a little extra...got on kiss cam and caught a hat

Anyways, it was a pretty awesome experience for a Rockets fan. A win would have been nice though (32-6 run, really?)

Any other fans out there have any good court-side stories? Or experiences with Rockets players / personnel up close?

I started looking back through the old stat sheets today, and something interesting caught my eye. Kyle Lowry's stat line this year are eerily similar to that of our old friend Rafer Alston in his first season with the Rockets (05-06). Check it out:

Kyle Lowry 10-11      12.1 PPG   3.9 RPG   6.4 APG   1.43 SPG   0.31 BPG   2.1 TOPG

Rafer Alston 05-06    12.1 PPG   4.0 RPG   6.7 APG   1.60 SPG   0.24 BPG   2.5 TOPG

Here is the kicker.....Kyle Lowry shoots better FG%, FT%, 3P%, AND had less TOPG. And not to mention we never have to see floaters clanking all day. Welcome back Rafer! I like you better this way.

The man is putting up sick numbers right now, averaging that 20/10 that we always knew he could get to. If his team is not going to win, he at least deserves to be an all-star for putting on his big boy pants every single game. GIVE HIM WHAT HE DESERVES!

                                                      Vote here!

On a side note, our fragile friend Yao Ming is also on the ballot due to some early season cameos. If you want to make him the true "No stats All-Star" (sorry Battier), throw in a vote for him too. If you don't, China will.

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings

A little higher than I would have guessed, but I am not suprised we are much higher ranked than our record would suggest.  If you look at SOS (strength of schedule) or Avg winning percentage of apponents, ours is second highest in the league behind the Suns.  I knew we had a tough schedule, but one of the worst!? Sounds familiar...

It does ease my pain a bit, though we all knew we were better than our nasty record. Now lets start a winning streak!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=SummerForecast10-WestStandings

Jazz & Spurs ahead of us?? 45 wins?? I think they are assuming Yao gets injured again. Don't they realize this team very similar to all those past 50+ win teams.  Last time I remember, Yao & Tmac were still injury prone those seasons. What makes this season any different? Oh yah, a deeper bench, a more efficient SG, and a white man who can tomahawk?  Thoughts on this insightful prediction  garbage?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yjdceeg

Trade is successful, and Rockets are only ones to gain Wins.  Get to work Morey!

According to David Aldridge at NBA.com, a Butler to Houston trade is more on the likely side than most of the trade rumors we are hearing, and that while Dallas is also interested, Houston is in much better position to acquire Butler.

Not too big on having Javaris or Stevenson. I highly doubt either would ever play, but just having them on the team irks me enough.

Tmac has second most votes in West , more votes than who???

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