More photos » by Eric Gay - AP

7 months ago: Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman argues a call during play against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second quarter of Game 3 of a second-round Western Conference NBA playoff basketball game in Houston, Friday, May 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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OK, I know it's 4:00 in the morning, but I'm studying for a final (ignore the fact that the presence of this post practically nullifies that statement).

From the Toronto Sun:

Houston Rockets coach Rick Adelman criticized the NBA yesterday for setting up an "utterly ridiculous" schedule for his team that includes four back-to-back games over the next two weeks.

The Rockets face Detroit at home tonight, then must fly to Denver to play the first-place Nuggets tomorrow. They visit Dallas on Friday and return home to face Oklahoma City on Saturday -- then have to play two games on consecutive nights twice more during Christmas week.

"We have a horrendous stretch here," Adelman said. "I don't know if the league really understands that they gave us four straight back-to-backs.  It's awful."

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said in an e-mail that the league had no comment on Adelman's statements.

We can take a few things away from this.

First, this criticism isn't coming from Scott Brooks, or Erik Spoelstra, or any other young, inexperienced coach out there.  Nor is it coming from a hot-head like George Karl.  This is by word of Rick Adelman, winner of a quiet 860+ games, who is speaking up for the first time in who knows how long.  If there is anyone who should be given credibility in a situation such as this, it's our good pal, Rick.

That said, the NBA isn't about to comment on this.  Most likely, they are going to treat Adelman's comments like those of a professional movie reviewer who didn't care for a particular film: they'll become aware of the critical comments, think better of themselves, and move on.  Do you really think that David Stern cares what some coach has to say about his team's schedule?

While I do think that nothing will amount from this, I also think that the league should eventually try to eliminate scheduling biases.  Yeah, nobody really knows who is going to fare better or worse than expected upon a season's commencement, but couldn't the travel schedule, or the physical rigor of the schedule be evened out?  Perhaps I, as well as Coach Adelman, am asking for too much here.  Perhaps the scheduling process is so complicated that a couple of teams are going to get screwed.  I guess all we can do is hope that the Rockets were simply the victim of unlucky scheduling.

While we're at it, we can also assume that the Lakers simply hit the jackpot, yes?  Or that the majority of last year's playoff teams "struck gold" with cupcake schedules as well, right?

Actually, I had better stop here.  You know, before I stir things up too much.

More photos » by Frank Gunn - AP

2 days ago: Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh, right, and Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola chase down a loose ball during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. Bosh scored 27 points as the Raptors won 101-88. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Frank Gunn)

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You know what's odd?  People are going to credit Toronto's defense with this win.  But isn't it funny that a team that shoots 36% from the field can still manage eighty-eight points?  Though the Raptors may have improved their defense over the last couple of games, they only forced ten turnovers, and the Rockets were able to put up 87 shots, many of which were decidedly open.  Once Houston finally started making the open shots, they were too far behind to make any sort of comeback.

Looking at the stat sheet, the Rockets' three point shooting, a paltry thirteen percent, screams out like its purely responsible for the terrible offensive output.  But what you won't see are the numerous misses from point-blank range.  Chuck Hayes has struggled recently around the rim, after getting off to a fantastic start in October and November, and folks like Ariza and Kyle Lowry missed layups as well.  Like I said, it wasn't necessarily Toronto's defense that stifled us; we just missed shots that teams have to make to win games.

Once again, however, the blame cannot be placed on the shoulders of Carl Landry, who has been simply stunning.  I don't care what Jet Terry is doing in Dallas; Landry's impact on our team off the bench has been much greater than Terry's in Dallas.  Jonathan Feigen noted yesterday that Landry is second in the league in fourth-quarter scoring, at 6.6 points per game.  Ahead of him on the list is Dwyane Wade.  Behind him on the list is LeBron James.  Go figure.

Even more amazing is the fact that Landry has been receiving additional attention over the last few games, and has still managed some of his best scoring outputs on the season.  The Raptors piled up the paint today in an attempt to stop him, and he still collected 25 points to go with six offensive rebounds.  If only the other Rockets could have helped him out by knocking down the open shots that they were given, then we may have been able to pull off one of those Philadelphia comebacks.  If it were to happen against anyone, it would be Toronto.

That's all I've got for today.  The only good news from this is that the loss wasn't a product of poor effort, but rather of poor shooting.  You make some, you miss some - that's how basketball goes.  However, if the Rockets want to continue their winning ways, guys like Chase Budinger, Dave Andersen, and Ariza had better start hitting those open shots more often.

Oh, and about that Ariza forearm?  Whatever.  He'll probably miss one game at the most.  He's got to be frustrated with himself.  Perhaps he will use it as motivation.

Raptors HQ

Boxscore

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

6 days ago: Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, center, yells at official Scott Wall, left, after no foul was called as LeBron James (23) drove to the basket against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009, in Houston. Brown was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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First and foremost, I'd like to extend a hand of thanks to Herman Sayger, who originally suggested the idea of implementing the three point shot.  Lord knows we needed it tonight against Cleveland.  So thanks for that, Herman.

Secondly, I'd like to commend Memphis for taking the Cavs to OT last night.  It was evident that Cleveland was tired, especially with all of the open threes that we were getting.

Finally, we address our own performance, which was mostly good, and slightly bad.  The good?  We kept LeBron in check, and when it comes to defending Cleveland, that's about seventy-five percent of the work.  The only Cavaliers to find a rhythm were Delonte West and Big Z.  Otherwise, it was the best defensive performance we've seen from the Rockets in this young season.

Aaron Brooks' overall numbers were very good, but most importantly, he was in the lane every other possession.  This is key to creating offensive opportunities elsewhere.  He also got to the free throw line thirteen, missing only one of those.  That's the equivalent of six made jump shots.  Sometimes people forget just how valuable free throws are.

If there is anyone to truly commend on our victory, however, it is either Shane Battier or Trevor Ariza.  Battier, for his defense and his rare offensive contribution (a Battier three always seems to energize the rest of the guys), and Ariza for his excellent production on offense.  It was one of his most efficient outputs as a Rocket.

In a rare turn of events, the Rockets got destroyed on both the offensive and defensive boards.  To combat this, the Rockets forced twenty turnovers.  Whether it's forcing turnovers or grabbing offensive boards, Houston always finds a way to give themselves extra opportunities to score.

Luis Scola was notably absent, as was Chase Budinger.  Sometimes, the shots don't fall.  Other times, they are engulfed by a host of defenders, which was indeed the case every time Scola got the ball on the block.  Wouldn't you love to, for once, see Luis just throw it down in someone's face?

In a perfect world, the Rockets would have shot better.  There were countless possessions in which Houston had open jump shots, and they simply missed them.  The Cavs took advantage of this, and stayed alive throughout the game.  Cleveland, despite scoring 101 points per game, likes the low-scoring contests, as they are one of the better defensive teams in the league.  Tonight, however, they were out-defended by a team that can still put down the clamps when necessary.

Fear The Sword

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George W. Bush.  Barack Obama.  Your two most recent "Hey, I'd like to have a beer with that guy" presidents.  Perhaps they weren't the most qualified.  Their backgrounds were not particularly impressive or extensive.  You line them up next to some of the past greats, such as Lincoln or Washington, and it's obvious who was more successful, more accomplished.  Yet, you voted for George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and subsequently gave them the keys to the world.  

Why?  Because you'd like to have a beer with them, that's why.  In your wildest dreams, if you saw either W or Barack alone in a bar, you're convinced that you could sit down next to them and hit it off.  It's all about identification.  They don't intimidate you.  They are you, and you are them.

Oddly, the Houston Rockets are the most popular "average" team that the NBA has seen in a long time.  People are absolutely enamored with them.  Kelly Dwyer and Henry Abbott sweat beads of fascination upon making the Rockets the subject of a column.  Michael Lewis' lone basketball venture was based on a Rocket, Shane Battier.  And I have to think that no matter what team a general basketball fan chooses to follow, they choose to root for the Rockets at the given opportunity.  Why is this?  It brings us back to the beer conversation.

I think we're past the point of favoring the Rockets because of their hustle.  They're still scrappy, no matter what OAL wants you to think, but that's not the proper excuse to use.  No matter what the outcome of a game is, we always find ourselves pardoning the Rockets for... well, some thing or another.  It's time that we all just fess up and admit that we genuinely like this team.  Not for the wins, or for the talent, or even because they might be your "hometown team."  When it comes down to it, we really like the players.  Maybe for their personality or their chemistry as a whole, but mostly, it's because we can all identify with the position that they are in.  We feel ourselves fighting the same fight that they fight.  They want respect, they want success.  So do we.

Some teams you watch for the awe factor.  Cleveland, for LeBron James and his acrobatics.  Orlando, to see if anyone can survive a bout with Dwight Howard on the block.  Los Angeles, for Kobe Bryant's ability to do just about anything.

Other teams make you want to study them.  Phoenix, for their offensive theatrics.  San Antonio, for the medieval stronghold that is their defense.  Boston, for their ability to make all of those big names jell together.

And sometimes, you'll just watch a team because anything could happen.  Golden State, for the general daily chaos. New Jersey, because you could see a rare win.  And recently, Philadlelphia, for bringing back Allen Iverson once again.

However, with this Rockets team, it's all about personal identification.  They are starless, with their backs against the wall.  Whether or not you care to notice their statistics or their record, you know what they go through every day, because you go through it every day.  You imagine how nice it would be to meet them, have that token beer, and discuss how similar your situation is compared to theirs.

You root for them because you root for yourself.

Tonight I had the opportunity to talk over the phone with Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.  We here at TDS are big fans of Jason's work.  It is honest, precise, open-minded, and most to our liking, free of an ego.  If you're looking for inside information on Tracy McGrady, fast-forward to the final four minutes and take what you want from it.  This wasn't supposed to be about Tracy, but rather about the current state of the team that is off to an impressive 11-9 start.  Good stuff from Jason as always, and much thanks again to him for taking the time to chat.

Below is the audio.  You can reach Jason on Twitter, and be sure to check out his work at Rockets.com.

Jason Friedman Interview

(Note: Sorry about the background chatter.  It's not too noticeable, but sometimes it's tough to get things done in a fraternity house)

More photos » by Steve Slocum - AP

Despite Chuck Hayes' effectiveness as a one-on-one post defender, he hasn't been able to make up for the loss of Yao Ming as far as team defense is concerned. Take a look at the height difference between the two, and that should explain why. (AP Photo/Steve Slocum)

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