I was watching NFL Network and Charlie Casserly just made a really good point that I have never thought of before but its pretty obvious. He was talking about risers and fallers in the draft and reminded us that we dont see the medical reports, interviews, or the players' personalities. Those three components are a very important part of evaluations for a team and since the public does not know them it makes it difficult to predict the draft.

Its entirely possible that another reason the Texans choose Jackson over Wilson or McCourty is because of those three important things we dont know about, his medicals, interview, and personality.

So if we draft someone that you dont like, realize that it could be because the player you liked has a bad medical report that is not public knowledge. Or maybe the player we picked had a really good interview and a personality that will fit in with the locker room.

In Smithiak We Trust!

Ive been wondering the past few days why everyone is so up in arms about the recent play by the Rockets.  First of all, (I know its cliche, but its true) the NBA season is a long one and no team can play at its best the entire season.  For the first 35 or so games this season the Rockets were playing at a very high level.  The past 10 games the Rockets have been slumping.  Also, we should have expected a bit of a let down after December.  If you didnt already know, December '09 was the best December in franchise history, while it would be nice, the Rockets cant have a franchise month every month.    

Secondly, aren't the Rockets still doing much better for the whole season than most of us thought?  At the beginning of the season most of us here thought we would finish around .500 or below.  Right now the Rockets are still 4 games above .500 and our schedule is easier the rest of the way than it has been so far.  

I guess what Im asking is for everyone to stop with the ridiculous trade ideas, stop freaking out after every loss, and to look at the big picture.  The Rockets are performing much better this season that we expected and we still have a legitimate shot at the second season with no "superstars."

The Chronicle is reporting that Jeff Fisher has denied the Texans permission to talk to Mike Munchak.  While it makes sense from a rivals' perspective, its another reason to hate the titans.  Maybe they are scared of what could happen if Munchak becomes our OC or maybe they have their own team to look after for some reason but either way, Mike Munchak will not be the Texans' next OC.  This leaves Rick Dennison, Chan Gailey, and Bill Musgrave on the short list to be our new offensive coordinator.  

Fisher Denies Texans

The Houston Texans have 4, count em 4, Pro Bowlers.  Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, and DeMeco Ryans will be representing the Texans in South Florida for the NFL All Star Game.  Teh Schaub didnt make it due to name recognition as Manning, Rivers, and an undeserving Brady are the AFC QBs.  Im surprised that Cushing made it even though he is deserving.  I think Mario only made it due to name and DeMeco is a toss up as to whether he is deserving or not, personally I think he is due to the play we have seen from Cushing.  

Rockets: 12-9  10th best in the NBA

SOS: .565  1st in the NBA

Average Margin: +1.95  13th in the NBA

Home/Away splits:  9/12   4th best (or worst, depends on how you look at it)

Teams with better Home/Away splits: Suns 7H/15A,  Bulls 8H/12A,  Nets 9H/13A,  Grizzlies and Warriors are also 9/12

Looking at these stats, it can be determined that the Rockets' schedule is going to get easier as we will be playing more games at home than most other teams.  This is good.  

Now on to Aaron Brooks' very interesting Home/Road splits and Win/Loss splits.  

ABZ overall this season: 17.0 PPG, 5.6 APG, .448 FG%, .380 3PT%, .833 FT%

ABZ at Home: 9 starts, 14.9 PPG, 6.1 APG, .404 FG%, .317 3PT%, .784 FT%

ABZ on Road: 12 starts, 18.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, .477 FG%, .418 3PT%, .886 FT%

ABZ in Wins: 12 starts, 19.4 PPG, 5.9 APG, .497 FG%, .500 3PT%, .891 FT%

ABZ in Losses: 9 starts, 13.8 PPG, 5.1 APG, .382 FG%, .229 3PT%, .731 FT%

This shows that ABZ has struggled shooting the rock in Toyota Center, which is not good.  What is good is that Aaron has noticed his poor shooting at home and dished the rock more at home when his shot is off.  Its good to see Aaron playing well on the road in hostile environments, but its not good that he is shooting poorly at home when we have played more games on the road.  The Win/Loss splits clearly show that as Aaron Brooks goes, so go the Rockets.  There are huge differences in Brooks' shooting in wins and losses that also closely follow the Home/Road splits.  When ABZ shoots well, the Rockets usually win.  When ABZ shoots poorly, the Rockets usually lose, and ABZ's 3PT% in losses has been horrible so far this season.  For the Rockets to do anything special this season, they need consistent play from Aaron.  

Tennessee Punter Brett Kern, not Vincent Young is the real reason the titans have won their last 3 games.  

Kern was on the Broncos for their first 6 games when they went 6-0.  The Broncos cut Kern after their 6th game and have gone on to lose their 3 games since then.  Tennessee signed Kern, while sitting on an 0-6 record, after the Broncos made the clearly dumb move of cutting him.  Since Kern was signed, the titans have gone 3-0 making Kern, New Orleans, and Indy the only undefeated's in the NFL.  

To me, this is a much more logical reason for the titans' recent success than who the starting QB is, especially when the QB isnt playing great.  

Pro Bowl Ballot

Go vote for the Texans in the Pro Bowl balloting.  I see Schaub, Andre, Owen, Mario, Cush, DeMeco, and JJ as a returner possibly making the team, but they need your votes.  Go vote early and often!!

(i know this should probably be a fan shot, but more people will see it here.  Also, I need 75 words because this is a fan post so thats what im doing here, wasting words to make it to seventy five so that yall people will see this and go vote Texans in the pro bowl.  I usually keep my ballots secret but ill tell yall that i voted only and all Texans in the AFC ballot as to not give votes to competing un-Texans players, and kinda skipped the NFC my first time through.  i hope im at 75 words now.) 

As many of you have probably already heard, The Governator approved construction on a new 75,000 seat football stadium in Los Angeles.  Majestic, the company that built the Staples Center, is in charge of this new stadium and has already named 7 teams they are targeting to move to LA.  On the list are the Bills, Jaguars, Vikings, Rams, Chargers, 49ers, and Raiders.  Personally I dont see the Vikings, Chargers, or either Bay Area team moving which leaves the Bills, Jags, and Rams.  

Getting a team to move is rather difficult but I wouldnt be surprised to see the NFL make one move because we all know a NFL team in LA is good for the sport, even though they will be media lovebirds.  I dont see the NFL expanding due to the fact that the divisions are as perfectly set as they could be without adding 8 more teams.  

What' yall's take??

Here are some of the more recent "Amazing" videos made by Rockets fans.  Enjoy!

Alley-Oop To Aaron Brooks "Amazing" (via SwishaProductionz)

Aaron Brooks, Splits Fisher and Odom, Lakers - Where Will Amazing Happen This Year? R2G1, 05/04/09 (via rocketsqtc)

Shane Battier, Eye Injury Bleeds Redux, Lakers - Where Will Amazing Happen This Year? R2G1, 05/04/09 (via rocketsqtc)

Dikembe Mutombo, Last Finger Wag - Brandon Roy: Where Will Amazing Happen This Year? R1G1, 041809 (via rocketsqtc)

Ron Artest, Baseline Dunk over Odom and Gasol - Where Will Amazing Happen This Year? R2G1, 05/04/09 (via rocketsqtc)

I was listening to the Calvin Murphy Show today in 97.5 and they were doing Kobe Bryant Jokes kinda in the same fashion as chuck norris jokes.

A couple they gave:

Kobe Bryant could douse the Rockets bench in gasoline, light it on fire, and the league still wouldnt do anything.

Kobe Bryant could shoot a flaming arrow through the Rockets starting 5, and the League still wouldnt do anything.

A couple of my own:

Kobe Bryant could elbow Ron Artest in the throat and the league still wouldnt do anything (oh, sorry, that one wasnt very original).

Kobe Bryant could mug a man while he was down on the court and the league wouldnt do anything (yeah not very original either but more true than my first).

Kobe Bryant could stab man in his heart with a table leg and the league still wouldnt do anything

Kobe Bryant could shank Yao's achilles and the league still wouldnt do anything

Here's your open forum to be creative and make fun of both Kobe and the league, all in good fun of course.

Kobe wont be suspended.  Its that simple.  The baseline angle shows kobe connecting with Ron's high chest area, not the throat.  Its fucking dirty as hell, but he wil get away with it.

Moving on to the game, because thats what matters going into game 3. 

What the Rockets did well:

Defend Kobe.  Kobe went 4-8 in the paint and 12-17 on long range jumpers.  For two games in a row, the Rockets have kept kobe out of the lane for the most part, and forced him to shoot jumpers with a hand in his face every time.  Kobe will not always shoot like he did last night.

Ron and Carl carried the offense.  They both played brilliant offensive games and allowed us to be close in the 4th. 

What the Rockets did poorly:

REBOUND. The lakers grabbed 40, the Rockets grabbed 39.  It really wasnt that close though.  At one point in the game the rebound differential was LAL 34 HOU 25.  We gave up way too many offensive boards and allowed second chance points.

Get the ball to Yao.  Yao did not play much due to fould trouble, but when he was in the game, Gasol had Yao under control and we could not get him the ball at all.  Because of this we dribbled alot and lost our ball movement, especially in the 3rd.  because of that we had...

TURNOVERS.  Our lack of ability to get Yao the ball made our offense stagnant and we had 20 TO's alot of which were turned into easy point for the Lakers on the fast break. 

The Lakers have now outhustled us for the better part of two games, and thats how we win games.  We are a scrappy team who always hustles.  In this series, LA's length and athleticism have been causing problems and its not a good sight to see. 

With all that being said, we are in great shape coming back to H-Town and have more room for improvement following game 2 than LA does. 

I dont have a link to this cause i just heard it in Ron's postgame interview, but apparently RonRon has seen some pretty crazy shit on a basketball court.  Straight from Crazy Pills mouth:

"I was playing in the streets one time and my friend broke off a leg to a chair and threw it at another guy through his heart and he died." - Ron Artest

I need 75 words so im typing these right here.

From a Rockets fan, thank you for a great series and thank you for having a young team to allow the new rockets to get the stigma of the old rockets off their backs. 

I love your team and part of me kinda wishes i was in your position with a young athletic team that will only get better.  Also, you have one of the 5 best players in the NBA.  Brandon Roy will be a double digit all star and will win a championship sometime in his career.  I know you know this but if he wasnt on the west coast he would probably already be in the LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade debate.  Ive never seen anybody, not even Kobe, make as many shots as B-Roy did with Battier defending him.  Shane had a hand in Roy's face on almost every shot this series and Roy still played amazingly. 

Best of luck to yall in the future (unless youre playing my Rox), and thanks for great commentary on TDS throughout the whole series. 

Good game by both teams, but portland excecuted in the end and thats why yall won.  Yes the refs were bad, but it went both ways and thats NOT why the rockets lost.  Most basketball educated rockets fans understand that so dont let the rockets fans who dont piss you off.  The rockets lost because we couldnt get the ball to yao enough, we were piss poor from the charity stripe, and for some reason adelman took out wafer in the end of the game even though he had 21 and was the only consistent scorer for us tonight.  WTF Adelman??

So i decided to take a closer look at the recent 10 of 11 streak the blazers are on and what i found is pretty interesting.  There is only one TRULY impressive win. 

1st game was vs Phoenix, back to back for phoenix after hosting the jizz.  Por by 20
2nd game was vs memphis, back to back for Mem after playing at sac. Por by 20
3rd game was vs Jizz, back to back for Jizz after hosting the knicks. Por by 21
4th game was @OKC, no back to back for either team. Por by 35
5th game was @ Houston, no back to back for either team.  HOU by 14
6th was @ Mem, no back to back for either team. Por by 3
7th was @ SA, back to back for both teams.  Por by 12
8th was vs. LAL, back to back for LAL after hosting den.  Por by 8
9th was @ LAC, back to back for both.  Por by 15
10th was vs. OKC, no back to back for either team.  Por by 30
11th was vs Den, who didnt care.  Por by 28

So to recap, portland played 4 teams who were on the second of a back to back while portland was rested. Portland played 0 back to back when it wasnt a back to back for the other team. Thats a pretty favorable schedule.

The margins of when portland played a team on their second of a back to back were 20, 20, 21, and 8. Those other two big wins, the ones of 35 and 30 were both against the lowly thunder. So on games where the teams were on the same playing field, i.e. no back to backs, portland's margin ov victory were 3, 12, 15, along with a 14 point loss to Houston.  The only impressive one of those was the SA game. I dont count the denver game cause they didnt care and george karl even said that during the game

So i feel like alot of the talk recently on this blog has been about experience and the rockets losing recently in the first round.  But i feel ron artest has been overlooked when evaluating experience in the playoffs.  The rockets teams that have lost in previous years didnt have a toughness that would allow them to win a series.  We relied on yao and t-mac too much and while we played good defense, we were lacking a fire. 

Ron Artest will bring that fire to the playoffs and help the rockets advance.  Artest has played in 31 career playoff games which is almost as much as the blazers most experienced playoff vet, Raef LaFrentz (35).  Artest has only gotten out of the first round once but that was the year he took the pacers to the east finals. 

Also, Brent Barry has played in 84 career playoff games and oh yeah, he has won 2 championships.  He will provide great veteran leadership off the bench and Deke, who as 99 career playoff games under his belt, will help also. 

Daryl Morey's two major offseason acquisitions were made to help the rockets advance in the playoffs, not get there.  Artest will bring the fire this team hasnt had in previous playoffs, and Barry will be a leader and a clutch 3pt shooter (Barry will have atleast one game winning 3 this postseason, and 3 clutch 3s). Plus Battier and Artest's playof experience vastly outweighs Roy's and i think that will be a huge factor on the defensive end for the Rockets.

Rockets in 6

So i know there is a wall post currently about how espn hates the rockets, but we recieved more proof last night.  Im sure everyone who watched the game remembers von wafers ridiculous and 1 where he just flipped it up while falling down.  WHY THE FUCK WASNT THAT ON TOP 10!!!  I know its not a big deal but espn did not even show that play once in sportscenter and it was the best play of the game.  If that was Lebron, Kobe, D-Wade, CP3, or any other superstar it would have been number 1 no doubt, but because it was wafer they dont even show it. 

Fuck ESPN

EDITED FOR Central Time

Game 1 - Sat April 18 Houston at Portland 9:30PM ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 21 Houston at Portland 9:00PM NBATV
Game 3 - Fri April 24 Portland at Houston 8:30PM ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 26 Portland at Houston 8:00PM TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 28 Houston at Portland TBD TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 30 Portland at Houston TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sat May 2 Houston at Portland TBD TNT

 I'm kinda surprised at the little amount of off days especially from game 3 on

I dont know if this has been said or even noticed yet, but the schedule makers did an amazing job of picking the last games of the season for the Western Conference. 

Current #1 Seed (Lakers) hosts the Current #8 Seed (Utah) Tuesday Night

Current #2 Seed (Denver) plays at Current #4 Seed (Portland) Wednesday Night

Current #3 Seed (Houston) plays at Current #7 Seed (Dallas) Wednesday Night

Current #5 Seed (San Antonio) hosts Current #6 Seed (New Orleans) Wednesday

So if youre still following me...all 8 playoff teams play another playoff team in the last game of the season and all of the games matter.  Ive never seen something like this before but its amazing and makes for great drama. 

Does anybody think there is any possibility that Adelman benches the starters to send a message that if they dont play hard they wont play at all. 

Could a starting lineup of Brooks, Wafer, Barry, Artest and Landry really play worse than the starters tonight?? I dont think so.

Why do fan posts have to be 75 words this is stupid...im just wasting space cause i have to...ignore this its not really part of the post im just typing this so that i can actually post my thoughts

Thats right folks, your Houston Texans have finally finished first in the league in something.  Actually, it wasnt the team, it was Randi the cheerleader.  Randi won the Maxim hottest cheerleader contest as the hottest cheerleader in the NFL.   While it doesnt mean squat in the real football world, its nice to see the Texans cheerleaders finally getting their due.

http://maxim.com/Randi/girls-of-maxim/gallery/48345/4541.aspx#/Randi/girls-of-maxim/gallery/48339/4541.aspx

So during my boredom and while i was wasting time before studying for finals, i stumbled upon this priceless piece of journalism by Eric Allen.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=241031034

Three years ago Carr and Leftwich were up and coming QBs ready to become one of the best in the league (according to Eric Allen) and now they are backups to Vinny Testaverde and Chris Redman.

Wow, how things change in the NFL.