More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

More elbows for Carl, this time from the Clippers' Craig Smith. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Point Guard
Aaron Brooks vs. Baron Davis - Anyone still want Baron Davis over Aaron Brooks?  I still like the guy, he's crazy entertaining.  But contract vs. contract and player vs. player, Aaron is the winner
Edge: Rockets

Shooting Guard
Shane Battier vs. Eric Gordon - Gordon doesn't turn the ball over, but he doesn't necessarily pass it either.  Of course you can't blame him for that as he is a good shooter and is the future of this Clippers team.  Look through this roster, for all the crap Dunleavy has gotten as a coach, as a GM he's done some darn nice things.  Gordon can't score on Battier with regularity if the Rockets choose to shut him down.  However, they might force him to shoot the ball and not even let him try to involve his team from the passing end.
Edge: Clippers

Small Forward
Trevor Ariza vs. Al Thornton - Raise your hand if you bought into the hype that Al Thornton was a great player waiting to happen?  My hand is not raised.  That's not to say he doesn't have a solid future.  He'll clearly be around for a long time but I just don't see this superstar that people tried to make him in to.  
Edge: Rockets

Power Forward
Luis Scola vs. Marcus Camby - Has anyone been more rumored to be loved as a back-up center for the Rockets than Marcus Camby?  He's still a good basketball player but clearly not 9MM good.  Luis Scola is that good and he makes a third of that.  Last night on the 1560 No Layups show we talked about the best Rocket of 2009 and Luis Scola was my answer.  He epitomizes everything that Daryl Morey wants in a player.  
Edge: Rockets

Center
Chuck Hayes vs. Chris Kaman - Yeah for Chris Kaman!  He's finally healthy and the one guy that destroys him is recovering until next season.  Kaman is a really good player, and frankly pretty underrated.  Chuck Hayes is actually a really good defender to go after Kaman and it should be pretty interesting to see how Kaman deals with it.
Edge: Clippers

Injuries/Suspensions
Houston Rockets
OUT - Chase Budinger 
Detroit Pistons
OUT - Blake Griffin, the first overall pick in the draft is still out with a broken kneecap 

My Prediction: I have no idea.  This Clippers team should be better than it is, and will be when Griffin gets back, but never underestimate that they are coached by Mike Dunleavy.  Rockets by 6?

Check out Clips Nation

More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP

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Here comes another Rockets vs. Mavericks game.  Can anyone else wait for a 20 point lead this time in the first quarter that gets blown?  Actually, I don't think that could/would happen again, but the Rockets have blown two huge leads this season against the Mavericks already.  In anticipation of the game, and hopefully a little payback, we did a Q&A with Mavs Moneyballl and Phillip Baggett:

Check out my answers to their questions over there: http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2009/12/18/1207348/engaging-the-enemy-the-houston

1.  In all seriousness, why does Jason Terry hate me and love to torture my Rockets?  The Rockets WANTED him, it's not like they spurned him when he was in Atlanta.  Why kill us repeatedly?

In all actuality Jason Terry is no better against the Rockets than he is against the rest of the league. His career ppg is 16.2 vs the Rockets it balloons to 16.5. As a Maverick fan I will tell you it is nice to have a guy on the team that causes so much grief for Rockets fans.

2.  The Rockets seem to match up fantastically with the Mavericks this season for about 1 quarter.  What about the Mavericks really makes them double digits better than the Rockets?  Or in the case of the last two games, 30 points better in the 2nd-4th quarter each game?

I think what has made the Mavs double digits better is pretty simple, DEFENSE, or better yet the lack of the Rockets playing any. I mean the Mavs are shooting 14% better from the field, and almost 20% better from three over their average against the Rockets, that big of a difference cannot just be the Mavs having a good shooting night. 

3.  Dirk Nowitzki is a phenomenal basketball player.  How many years does he have left and why do you peg it at that number?

Dirk says that he is just going to see how things go and how he feels, and when he has had enough then he will shut it down.  It is difficult to get a very good feel on Dirk, just because he is such a quiet person, that being said my heart says that next year may be it for him, but my brain says that he could play another six years.

4.  How much does Eric Dampier suck?  Does it make you cry when the self proclaimed "Best center in the west" cashes his 11.5 million dollars a year? 

The last 4 years yes it has made me cry, so far this year absolutely not. Dampier has been very, very good this year, which furthers proves the point that he has the capabilities to be one of the best, unfortunately though he is another one of those players who only plays well when they are trying to get a new contract. 

5.  Mark Cuban gets a lot of flack for being a whiny owner.  I personally think he is by far the best owner in any sport.  What do Dallas fans really think about him?

Mark is a whiner and a bit of a butthead on occasion, but he is also the best owner in the NBA and the largest percentages of Mavs fans love him. Like anyone though he has had his moments when people wanted to kill him. Mark Cuban is the reason that this team has won at least 50 games for 9 consecutive seasons, and Maverick fans know that.

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

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This is going to be quick and maybe sweet.  I'll be at the game in section 405 tonight with my 3 year old and we plan to have a blast.

Point Guard
Aaron Brooks -  Last preview I asked if he is a top 10 PG, I think it is pretty definitive that he is.  He's slotted number 9 on my ballot.  Can he pick it up even more with Ariza out?  Will the Rockets even ask him to?
vs.
Rodney Stuckey - Good player, fun to watch and always plays hard when I see him.  He's the future in Detroit, and while he's one of the few bright spots in that future, it's a good start.
Edge: Rockets

Shooting Guard
Shane Battier - It is hard to say anything more about Shane Battier, we are at the saturation point with his awesomeness.  Now it's time for Shane to back all that talk up (not his talk obviously) and get his shooting percentages north of Rafer-esque.  
vs.
Richard Hamilton -  Came back last game from an injury and had a solid game.  He's still a really good basketball player but doesn't seem the same without Chauncey Billups.  I know he still regrets signing that extension.
Edge: Pistons

Small Forward
Chase Budinger - I can only assume that he's getting the start at small forward to keep Landry doing his work off the bench.  Obviously that's open to interpretation.  But the future NBA rookie of the year has played well all season and should get this reward.
vs.
Jonas Jerebko - I didn't even know he was an NBA player.  What is going on?  That's three teams in a row that I honestly didn't know a player.  I mean, I vaguely remember him getting drafted in the second round, but that's it.
Edge: Rockets

Power Forward
Luis Scola - There are a few guys in the NBA that I just enjoy watching, and Scola is clearly in my top 5 on that list.  He works hard every single possession and much like Battier, you have to work hard to truly quantify his value.  I'd love to see him get his scoring up 3-5 points a game, but that's not really in the cards given how strong Landry is with the second team and how the offense runs with the first.
vs.
Jason Maxiell - I expected more of him since Pistons fans have been touting him about as much as Lakers fans tout Andrew Bynum.  Instead his production has dropped off pretty much across the board, and it really didn't have a long way to fall.
Edge: Rockets

Center
Chuck Hayes - If you asked me, given how they are paid, and their production, I'd take Chuck 100 times out of 100 over Ben Wallace.
vs.
Ben Wallace - Never have I been a fan of Ben Wallace making more than 5-6MM a year.  Not because he hasn't been a hard worker, but because he is an extremely limited player.  His rebounding and defense are still strong, but not what they used to be.  The only reason the Pistons get the edge is because he is a better rebounder than Hayes because of his size.  
Edge: Pistons, but not by very much

Injuries/Suspensions
Houston Rockets
OUT - Trevor Ariza is suspended for tonight's game and Tracy McGrady is still serving his penance. 
Detroit Pistons
DTD - Tayshaun Prince looks to be out for tonight's game and half of the team is nursing some ailment or other. 

My Prediction: Rockets win by 4

Don't forget, for the cheapest prices of the entire season come on out to the Rockets vs. Pistons game on Tuesday!  


http://www.nba.com/media/rockets/DonovanDreamShake121509.pdf  

I'll be there in section 405 row 3 sporting my Hakeem jersey along with my oldest son.  

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

11 days ago: Philadelphia 76ers' Samuel Dalembert, center, tries to hang onto a loose ball under pressure from Houston Rockets' Carl Landry, left, and Aaron Brooks in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, in Philadelphia. Houston won 96-91. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Point Guard
Aaron Brooks - He's like good and stuff.  I wish he would attack the basket with fury every single night, but for a guy his size, not named Iverson, that's probably not as good of an idea as it sounds in my head.  Either way, Aaron has taken a huge step forward, he's clearly a top 10 point guard right now, right?  Can anyone name 10 better?
vs.
Jarrett Jack - I was surprised to find out that Jack has only been in the league for 4 years.  I swear it feels like decades ago that he was with Portland.  Good basketball player that really is a 6^th or 7^th man.  He has a long career ahead of him in that role.  Starting in the NBA is only a stop gap measure for a team though. 
Edge: Rockets

Shooting Guard
Trevor Ariza - His shooting has picked up a quite a bit in the last 5 games and shot selection has a lot to do with it.  Of course only playing one good defense, and having his worst shooting night of the five against Portland, has helped.  Sometimes the NBA is all about momentum and I think this recent stretch can go a long way towards Trevor's confidence.
vs.
DeMar DeRozan -  I like this kid.  He was a good player at USC and while he's somewhat raw it may be exactly what the Raptors need.  He's a strong attacker and finisher and he's energetic.  Like most young players his shot leaves a lot to be desired, but that will come if he's willing to work hard.    
Edge: Rockets

Small Forward
Shane Battier - Another season, another great season long effort by Battier.  Every single team in the NBA would put him in their starting lineup no matter what it meant to other guys they have on the team.  I think I can say that with supreme confidence. 
vs.
Hedo Turkoglu - For Portland fans I'm ecstatic that this signing didn't work for them.  For Raptors fans, I honestly thought it would be working out better right now.  Not because Hedo is a superstar, he's simply a really good basketball player, but because there isn't a lot to take away from his taking another step.  I don't know what has been happening with him, maybe it's the style of ball they are playing, but that 9MM contract is looking horrible right now
Edge: Rockets - Yes Hedo scores more but Battier's effect on the game is infinitely more.

Power Forward
Luis Scola -
vs.
Chris Bosh - With Calderon out, Bosh is the only guy on the Raptors that has the ability to scare you night in and night out.  I am not in any way a fan of the Rockets signing him in the off season.  He makes a team better, but not in max dollars ways.  And the Rockets have two PFs that could be here for the next 4-5 years together pretty easily.  And under no circumstances is Bosh a better center than even a hobbled Yao.
Edge: Raptors

Center
Chuck Hayes - Chuck has done his job for the most part all season.  He has defended everyone that he has been asked to with heart and determination.  Early in the season he seemed to take on the need for scoring, and has since realized it isn't necessary.  Though part of me wishes he would go back to that same effort on the offensive end to score.
vs.
Andrea Bargnani - Shows sparkles all of the time, but never seems to truly break out.  For Raptors fans, some of the best, and oddest, in the NBA I wish them more from him.  Considering he makes 6.5MM, he's actually a heck of a basketball bargain at 16 and 6 a night.
Edge: Raptors

Injuries/Suspensions
Houston Rockets
OUT - Tracy McGrady
Toronto Raptors
OUT - Jose Calderon

My Prediction: Rockets build a lead early, keep it up most of the game, Raptors go on a run in the late third or early fourth and the Rockets pull back away to win by 8-14

No Layups 2.0- Return of the Returners from Chance McClain on Vimeo.

We always have a good time and we'll be live today from Demeris BBQ as usual on Wednesday.

Come by and put a little Hoffy in your mouth

More photos » by Tony Dejak - AP

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Point Guard
Aaron Brooks - A 5 to 3 Assist to Turnover ratio has to be fixed, but that is to be expected when he's being asked to be the team leader for the first time in his career.  Brooks had 3 solid games before a tough game against a team he typically torches in Portland.  He'll bounce back tonight as Mo Williams isn't big enough to body him off of his shot.  
vs.
Mo Williams - Williams is not the assists man that I thought he would become playing with LeBron.  A lot of that has to do with James wanting the ball in his hands to create (who could blame him given his results).  He's doing everything on the court well, however.  Solid shooter (great 3 point shooter), and is automatic from the free throw line.  Toss in 1.48 steals a night and you have the makings of a very good point guard for the Cavs.
Edge: Even

Shooting Guard
Trevor Ariza - He's shooting too much, but therein lies the problem, because he's doing exactly what he is being asked by Rick Adelman to do.  The Rockets have said all along that they want to see what they have in Ariza so they are going to force this one him.  It's a work in progress, but you can see him making a little better decisions with how he sets up for his shot every night.  I do wish that he would never, ever shoot a three without being set.  I think I've seen exactly one of those go in all season.  
vs.
Anthony Parker - In complete honesty I had no idea that Parker was with the Cavs.  I've even watched a couple of their games this year.  Daniel Gibson is statistically having the best season shooting of his career (save from the free throw line on only 70 attempts), so I guess the Cavs just like having him come off the bench.
Edge: Rockets

Small Forward
Shane Battier - It would be crazy to expect another defensive performance by Shane like he had last year against LeBron, or would it?  Did LeBron learn from last year?  Because I guarantee you Battier studied the film and saw what he did differently the rest of the season and what he's done different this year.
vs.
LeBron James- When his team has an off night it is rarely due to James not playing well.  He's shotting 51% from the field this year, by far a career high.  Add that to his career high 8.2 assists per game and 7 rebounds and the man could legitimately challenge the triple double average in another 2 seasons.  All in all, I'm finally saying it, he's better than Kobe (but not by very much).
Edge: Cavaliers

Power Forward
Luis Scola - With Carl Landry seemingly scoring 20 a night, it has been lost how good Scola has been on the defensive end as well as fitting in perfectly on the offensive end.  He scores when he gets the ball and is averaging 9.2 rebounds a game.  If anyone doesn't know why Landry doesn't start, there you go.  I've overestimated Scola's scoring this year, but that is more due to the way he is used in the offense.  For a guy that shots a lot of elbow jumpers, 51% shooting is exceptionally good.
vs.
JJ Hickson- Hickson was a strong player at NC State and continues to show why the Cavs were high on him.  He still has a long way to go, but 56.85 shooting is going to keep him on the court in a starters role.  
Edge: Rockets

Center
Chuck Hayes - Chuck has been shooting the ball exceptionally poorly, even for him as of late.  The Rockets have to have him hit the majority of his 3-5 shots to beat a team like the Cavs.  They simply cannot be wasted possessions.  His defense is still very good.  There is one problem...
vs.
Shaquille O'Neal - is one of the few players in the league that Chuck simply cannot guard without Shaq having an off game on his own.  If O'Neal is being his typical last 2 seasons self, there is nothing Hayes can do.  If he is being his 2002 self Shaq could score 100.  That's not a knock on Chuck, he's a great defender, not all matchups are going to go his way though.
Edge: Cavaliers

Injuries/Suspensions
Houston Rockets
OUT - Tracy McGrady, well I don't know if he's still hurt, just that he isn't playing
Cleveland Cavaliers
DTD - Jamario Moon

My Prediction: Cavaliers win by 7, the Rockets simply are not the defensive team they were the last two years

More photos » by Mark J. Terrill - AP

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The Dream Shake and the Houston Rockets ticket office are teaming up once again to bring you discount tickets to Houston Rockets home games.  This time we're breaking out the big guns.  Two games in the month of December:

Detroit Pistons 12/15 - This game has the best discounts of the season.  You will not find tickets cheaper all year (unless someone gives them to you).  

http://www.nba.com/media/rockets/DonovanDreamShake121509.pdf 

and

New Orleans Hornets 12/29 - Could Chris Paul be a Houston Rocket?  Or am I just completely delusional (likely the case)?  Either way, come out and see the Rockets take on Western Conference All Stars Chris Paul and David West.

http://www.nba.com/media/rockets/DonovanDreamShake122909.pdf

As always, before you buy tickets give John a call at 713-758-7453, you never know what kind of deal he can get you, especially on multiple tickets.