A couple of thoughts from the Rockets first summer league performance...

First and foremost, most Houston fans who tuned in did so to see the 14th overall pick Patrick Patterson. The Rockets hadn't had this high of a draft pick in four years, since they drafted (and later traded) Rudy Gay with the eighth pick in the 2006 Draft. Patterson didn't disappoint. It wasn't the 18 points or eight of nine shooting performance that really impressed me, but his range. Just like Mike, coming into the game I didn't realize the deep range he has as a shooter. Last year with Kentucky, he shot 34.8 percent from beyond the arc. He was two for two yesterday. This bodes great for coach Rick Adelman's system, which thrives having big men who can hit three's (i.e. Brad Miller).  Another thing I love about this kid is his work ethic. After an amazing first performance, all he had to say after the game was how he needs to improve tremendously on defense.  Again, you see Morey drafting individuals with great character.

Last season, when Kevin Martin got hurt, I wrote:

I'm Bringing SexyBack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsERjrGnECI

While the JT that that song certainly has girls swooning over his dance moves, the Rockets own JT is mesmerizing fans with some moves of his own.
Rookie Jermaine Taylor is making a splash with his latest string of starts while Kevin Martin sits out with a shoulder strain. A couple of things stand out while watching him play:

1) Physicality. Taylor is an extremely physical player, both on the offensive and defensive end. He uses all 6'4'' of his frame to attack the basket almost at will. In the Youtube clip embedded in this post, a majority of his points come from layups/dunks. He uses quickness in his game, and it seems he can get to the bucket whenever he wants. The only other Rocket I have seen attack the bucket that much in the last couple of years was Von Wafer. There is still a lot of room for improvement on the defensive end, but his physical mentality is in the right area.
2) Competition. Taylor is facing stiff competition in the first couple of starts of his career. He was tasked with guarding Kobe Bryant in his first NBA start and did a solid job. Even though Kobe almost recorded a triple double, Taylor played Bryant very physically and held him to a mere 17 points. That is 10 points less than his season average. Granted, Kobe dished out nine assists

You can find the rest of the article at Heart of Champion.  Taylor certainly has the offensive firepower/capability to take over a game. While he is lacking on defense, he can get to the rim whenever he wants too. Last summer league, Taylor averaged 11 points in 20 minutes of playing time. A big difference I see in his game from last year to now is shot selection. To put it simply, he is taking less contested shots. JT went off for two game-highs: 25 points and seven boards last night. Before Rockets fans get too excited, I personally don't think he is going to pan out. He is not consistent and very turnover prone, two characteristics that you don't need at the pro level. He shows signs of brilliance, but will lay a goose egg his very next game. I am curious to see how he comes out and performs tonight against Dallas. If he does start playing on a more consistent basis, his impact could be huge considering the only SG in front of him is Kevin Martin. To have another prolific scorer come off the bench and ignite his fellow teammates and crowd (Von Wafer) would be huge.

One of my big questions going into this off-season was: how is the dynamic duo from the University of Arizona going to progress in their development entering their second year in the league. Jordan Hill shook of first-half jitters to have a very solid performance. Not having near the range Patterson does, he found his rhythm scoring down low. Hill went seven for 10, finishing with 16 points and five rebounds. He did have a rocky first half though, and if he is going to be the role player coaches and staff expects him to be, more consistency needs to be shown from him. The disconcerting thing about Hill's play was his lack of intensity on the glass. For him to step in and fill the gap the Rockets have at back-up center, Jordan needs to really step up in that area of his game and I don't see any improvement thus far. Chase Budinger has a very developed offensive game. He proved that as a rookie, but where he is lacking as a player is on the defensive side of the ball. He stepped up last night holding his opponents to under 50 percent shooting while recording two steals. "Air Bud" also distributed the ball nicely, making a couple of ‘how did he do that' assists. He added 10 points but missed all three attempts he had from behind the arc.

As a team, the Rockets shot mediocre. They shot 52.7 percent from the field, but as Mike pointed out in his article, a majority of their points came from inside the paint (54 points). Houston's offense flourishes when hitting the three point shot, yet they shot only thirty percent from downtown yesterday. These numbers need to improve from some of the young players who are going to make a run to get on the final roster. Overall, the offense was consistent scoring 20+ in every quarter. Aside from individual performances, two things to look for in the next match against Dallas tonight are rebounds (Houston was outrebounded 15-12) and three point shooting.

If LeBron James leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer the rest of his career will be tainted. It is a strong statement, but I truly believe if James leaves his home state, fans for the rest of his playing time will say he couldn't win it alone.

All of the stars go through their respective ups-and-downs. If James leaves it will be even more evident that he isn't as great a player as people originally thought. Let's take a look at his superstar predecessors.

First and foremost you go to the greatest player who ever stepped onto the court. MJ didn't win a championship his first year in the league. In fact, he had won four straight NBA scoring titles by the time the 1990-91 season had started. He had also been the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1985, been named to the All-NBA First Team four straight years, and had even been recognized on the NBA All-Defensive First Team for three straight seasons. Oh and throw in a NBA MVP for the 1988 season. He was beginning to be plagued by the Wilt Chamberlain curse when he won his first championship in his seventh season. In his first finals appearance, he went off against Magic Johnson and the Lakers averaging 31.2 points, 11.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds in a 4-1 series victory.

Let's compare that to LeBron at this point in his career. In seven seasons, he was named the NBA rookie of the year, is a two-time MVP, NBA scoring champion, two-time selection to the First-Team All-NBA, and four time All Star. Eerily similar aside from the fact that he has led the Cavaliers to one NBA Finals appearance where he averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6.8 assists. In that series though, the San Antonio Spurs swept the Cavs.

MJ is not the only superstar who stuck with one team despite ups and downs throughout his career. Ask Laker stars Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. After winning the NBA Championship in his first season, Johnson went through a roller coaster ride of emotions squaring up against Larry Bird and the Celtics three times in the Finals in the 80's. Bryant couldn't escape the shadow of Shaquille O'Neal, constantly having to ask the question: can I win a championship without him? Kobe now has back-to-back rings without the Big Aristotle and has immersed himself into the discussion of who is the greatest Laker of all-time.

Rockets fans can recite the story of The Dream (I don't count his last season in Toronto) in their sleep. After an improbable run to the Finals in the 85-86 season, Hakeem and the Rockets lost a hard fought series to Larry Bird and the Celtics in six games. The Dream didn't give up, even though it took him eight seasons to get back to the Finals. In 94, he was the unanimous choice for Finals MVP after averaging 26.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game in the Rockets' 4-3 defeat of New York. He was the first center to win the award since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1985. He brought home back-to-back championships to the city of Houston, and in the 95 series, Hakeem averaged an astounding 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game to lead the Rockets to a sweep of the Orlando Magic. He established three NBA Finals four-game series records including most points (131), most field goals made (56) and most field goals attempted (116). Remember, he did this going against a young Shaq.

Some other stars that stayed with the same team despite going through a lot of roadblocks before winning their first NBA championship include, Bird, David Robinson, and Isiah Thomas.

Even casual NBA fans know how cursed Cleveland is as a sports city. Their last championship came in 1964 when the Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Colts. The Indians threw away the 1997 World Series and the Cavs have had their fair share of heartbreaks. Starting with ‘The Shot' that put MJ on the map going all the way up to being swept by the Spurs in 06-07. Not to mention having the best record in the NBA the past two seasons, only to result in early playoff exits. You can check out another more in-depth article on the topic at Heart of a Champion. If the best player in the league leaves the Cavs without winning them a ring, it will put that much more hurt into a city that can't take much more heartbreak. The King has not earned his crown, and if he skips out on the Cavs it could forever hurt his brand he has built up so much. All I am ‘Witnessing' is a star admitting to the fact he can't win it on his own.

Out of all the assets Houston has in its possession, the two future New York Knicks picks Morey was able to obtain from Donnie Walsh are the most valuable in the Rockets search for a top-tier free agent. The Knicks have put all their eggs into this year's free agency season, but what if they fall flat on their face? Walsh and staff have a reported $32 million in cap room to use this summer, which is enough to sign two superstars. Obviously two-time reigning MVP LeBron James is on the top of their priority list, but would signing with New York give King James the best option of winning now? The answer is a resounding no. Yes, the Knicks have the cap space to sign two legitimate superstars (something they have not been able to do in 14 years), but two guys can't take a team all the way. You need some sort of supporting cast to relieve your superstars. Also, the way things are lining up puts New York behind a lot of teams.

Chicago and Miami are the ke$ha of the NBA. They have emerged as the leading destinations for a lot of big stars very quickly and out of the blue. Chicago has always been in talks, but the teams financial situation put it behind say New York and New Jersey. Now, the Bulls look like the new front-runner to get the Kings rights after dumping enough salary through the Hinrich trade. There have also been many indications of a D-Wade-Bosh pairing in the works. So as teams start to travel the country trying to court these superstars, where does that put New York?

The most probable outcome is they could sign a single star, Amare Stoudemire or Joe Johnson, and divide the rest of their cap space among a couple of players with below-tier talent. Some of these players include Brendan Haywood, Mike Miller, Brad Miller, Tyson Chandler, Luke Ridnour, Rudy Gay, and J. J. Redick. This would be an immediate upgrade over the current roster, as the Knicks have no true star to give their fans.

As New York tries to swing for the fences during free agency, they will eventually strike out. This makes the two picks the Rockets hold in their possession extremely valuable when the big free agents slowly come off the market by signing with their respective teams. Looking at the picks: the Rockets have the right to swap picks in 2011 so long as New York doesn't win the number one overall pick in the Lottery. Also, the 2012 pick is Top 5 protected. 

Morey and staff have many assets on the table, including an incredibly depth team at their disposal. To read more about the depth, check out the most recent article at Heart of a Champion. You look at the depth chart:

C: Yao Ming/ David Andersen
PF: Luis Scola / Jordan Hill / Chuck Hayes / Patrick Patterson
SF: Trevor Ariza /Shane Battier / Jared Jeffries
SG: Kevin Martin / Chase Budinger / Jermaine Taylor
PG: Aaron Brooks / Kyle Lowry

Package a pick or two around a young talent like Chase Budinger or Jordan Hill, and this turns into a very tempting offer that a team like Toronto will have a hard time turning down. However, first Morey and staff will have to wow Bosh and others in their pitch before a sign-and-trade will even be discussed. It looks like Houston is really putting a lot of emphasis on their pitch.

As Tom already reported, Morey is teaming up with Rockets beat writer Jason Friedman and ten of the Red Rowdies to travel around the country meeting certain free agents. This is such a creative way to approach these guys, having passionate and dedicated fans interacting with them is something not many teams are thinking of doing. It will be a breath of fresh air rather than sitting down with the GM, head coach, etc. When and where these meetings will take place is still up in the air. One thing is certain though, when Morey goes to the phones, the two New York draft picks will be something teams go after.

via sportige.com       

       As Mike has beaten me to the punch with a great analysis on the power forward/center prospects in the upcoming draft, I would like to reiterate how crucial it is for the Rockets to improve this aspect of their team.
       Having a big guy in the middle, whether he is blocking shots or just a mere presence, is something Houston completely lacked last year. I mean Kirstie Alley could have clogged up more space in the paint than the Chuckwagon. No duh, all of you are thinking as you read this, but even if the player is not an explosive scorer, having that reassurance on defense would help out players who are lacking on the defensive side of the ball (i.e. Aaron ‘the Blur' Brooks and Kevin Martin). When the Rockets went on their unforeseen 22-game win streak a couple years ago, it was Yao and fan favorite Dikembe Mutombo who took up the helm at center. After the Great Wall went tumbling down, Cookie Monster still provided that defensive intensity to help the Rockets win 10 more games to reach the coveted 22. In that period, the Rockets held opponents to 88.3 points per game, while Deke recorded an astonishing three blocks per game in February. He had more blocks than points (2.7 ppg). Critics might claim, "Dikembe is second all-time in blocks only behind the Dream. You won't have that kind of back-up make an immediate impact like that." Mutombo was also in his 40's at this point in time, and could hardly jump out of the building like in his Nuggets days.
       This year the Rockets really struggled to get stops at crucial times in games. Going back to the Jeff Gundy Era, Houston has always been considered a top ten defensive team. In 2009-2010, the squad allowed 102.7 points per game, and was out-rebounded 42.8 to 42. The rebounding stats are pretty impressive considering their starting center is 6'6'' and the starting point guard is listed at 6''.
       The next couple of years are going to be a turning point for Houston as a franchise. They need to decide quickly whether to continue with the Ming Dynasty, or to scrap the big man and start looking to rebuild. Regardless of whatever they decide to do, having another big man coming in through the draft or free agency is high on Dork Elvis' (via Bill Simmons) to-do list.

via cache4.asset-cache.net

My name is Nick and I am a native Houstonian. Recent graduate from the University of Texas, I find myself unemployed and thus able to completely immerse myself in all that is the Houston Rockets. I have been a lifelong fan of "Clutch City," which is why I started writing about them two years ago. I got my start with the ESPN TrueHoop affiliate "Rockets Buzz" and absolutely loved it. Being in Austin, we didn't get a lot of games on TV so it gave me a great excuse to hit up the local sports bars and get my Rockets fix. I then decided to start my own Rockets blog,  "Heart of a Champion," this past spring with a couple of buddies. It has been a great ride, and on April 20th, 2010, we were even named "The Site We Like" on ESPN 2's show SportsNation. I am on Twitter and love to talk about anything Rockets with whomever. The reason I started "Heart of a Champion" was to create a place for die-hard Rockets fans by die-hard Rockets fans. I have been an avid reader of The Dreamshake for some time now, and am honored to be a part of this great site completely dedicated to my favorite sports franchise. Here is part of an offseason recap I have been working on:

Now that the season is over, it is time for Daryl Morey and staff to answer some big questions.

1) Re-sign Luis Scola
Luis Scola has emerged as a go-to scorer for the Rockets. He recorded 32 double-doubles and scored at least 20 points in 26 games. Scola played insanely well since the Landry trade. In the last two months of the season, he averaged 19.55 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. This is definitely an improvement over his pre-All Star stats (14.7 points and 8.4 boards). There was even a stretch where he recorded an insane 21.3 points and 18.0 boards per game in three straight contests. This season Scola has posted career highs in points (16.2), assists (2.1), blocks (.3), and free throw shooting (78%). And to think, all the Rockets gave up was Vassilis Spanoulis and a 2009 second-round pick. Can you imagine Scola coming off the Spurs bench to relieve Duncan? Scary. Scola is so creative offensively in the low post. He is incredibly agile with every move and fake he does...it's like watching a dancer on the basketball court. Luis Scolajuwon has quickly become a fan favorite to the Red Nation in just his third year in the NBA. Morey realizes this and signing the Argentinean power forward has become a top priority on his wish list.

From Jonathan Feigen, the Houston Chronicle:
"He [Scola] will be back," Morey said. And in case that were not clear enough, Morey added the weight of owner Leslie Alexander's marching orders to his prediction.

"Leslie gave us the resources and said whatever it takes," Morey said. "He's back."

You never know what tricks Morey has up his sleeve, and whether a sign-and-trade option with Scola for another free agent is on the table. Some notable big men entering the 2010 free agency class are: Tyson Chandler, Brad Miller, Brendan Haywood, Dirk Nowitzki, Kenyon Martin, David Lee, Amare Stoudemire, Marcus Camby, Carlos Boozer, and Chris Bosh.

From David Dalati, Fox Sports Houston:
Morey said he expects the Rockets to be in the mix on a noteworthy free agent. "We'll be pursuing the top free agents in a sign and trade manner. I think it's probably less likely than likely that something gets done. But we're always out there giving a class A effort, "Morey said.

2) Re-sign Kyle Lowry
This is probably going to be a lot tougher to do than signing Scola. A lot of teams are going to be coming after Kyle this off-season, and he might want to jump at the opportunity at a starting position. Lowry provided a huge offensive and defensive spark for the Rockets off the bench. His physical play was inspiring for his teammates, and Lowry always seemed to give them a boost with his up-tempo mentality. According to an article by James Buffi, Kyle's per 36 minute ranks are very impressive: FTA (10th), Offensive Rebounds (1st), Defensive Rebounds (3rd), Total Rebounds (1st), Assists (9th), Steals (7th), Assist-to-Turnover Ratio (10th), and Charges Drawn (1st). However, the question remains: is he satisfied with coming off the bench? The allure of a starting role might be the deciding factor in whether Kyle leaves or stays this off-season. 

Is this Foreseeable?
For the 2010-2011 season, the Rockets have obligations of $60.43 million in player salaries. This figure includes Yao Ming's player option ($17.7 million). He can opt out of it if he chooses but I highly doubt that he does it. The man made $14.8 million last season without playing a single minute. Yao also seems very committed to the Rockets franchise and the Houston community. The team owes $11.1 million next season to Kevin Martin, they have a team option on Chuck Hayes for $2.1 million, owe $7.35 million to Shane Battier, owe $6.32 to Trevor Ariza, and took on Jared Jeffries contract of $6.88 million. In addition, the team can offer a $2.98 million qualifying offer to Lowry, and a $4.11 million qualifying offer to Scola. The Rockets owe some to more players; I just cited the biggest contracts.

What They Will Do:
I am sure Morey will pick up the option on Hayes. The Chuckwagon has been a durable player for the Rockets this season. I am constantly impressed by the way he defends bigger and more talented centers. Having him come off the bench to relieve Scola and/or Yao next year will be a great asset.

Now, switching the conversation to Scola and Lowry. As mentioned above, Morey says both players will be back. It is hard to question him since everything he does seems to be golden, but I personally see this being a lot harder than expected. Since they both are restricted free agents, the Rockets have the opportunity to match any offer either player signs with another team by extending what is referred to as a Qualifying Offer by June 30th. This will prevent Houston from not offering a contract and waiting to swoop in when the player tries to sign somewhere else. Both individuals will most likely receive higher offers than their current salary pays them, so the Rockets will have to decide how important pieces to the team both Scola and Lowry are. Don't rule a sign and trade deal out though. The only name on Rockets fans minds right now is Chris Bosh. If Bosh finds Houston a desirable location for him to end up, there is no doubt Morey will do all he can to make sure the deal happens. The only problem is the ball is completely in Bosh's court at this point in time.