Rockets

[Lurch]

Anyone following them this year?  I had family over before Thanksgiving and lacking anything better to watch together I went ahead and got the NBA Pass to catch that night's game (I was really just looking for an excuse to get it).  Well, it's been money well spent. They've been a lot of fun to watch so far.  Yes, there have been a few duds, but for the most part it's a young, fast, scrappy team that seems to be surprising everyone they play.

And tonight they're rocking the old red and gold unis.

[subnuclear]

I spent all weekend reading Bill Simmons' Big Book of Basketball so I'm kind of pumped up about watching some NBA.  Dallas vs. OKC is the only game on here, though. 

[Gizzmonic]

I wish I could, but I'm too cheap to get NBA League pass and San Antonio is 100% Spurs.  I catch the occasional game on XM radio if I'm in the car.  Heard McGrady came back, how did he look?

[Taras Bulba]

The Spurs have really struggled this year.  What's the skinny on what's to come for them the rest of the way?

[Astroholic]

I wish I could, but I'm too cheap to get NBA League pass and San Antonio is 100% Spurs.  I catch the occasional game on XM radio if I'm in the car.  Heard McGrady came back, how did he look?

Moving slowly, but looks to be pain free.  He played approx 8 min. in his first two games.

[BizidyDizidy]

Just saw Budinger and Bullard at lunch - I guess they are staying at the hotel attached to my office in Dallas

[Lurch]

I wish I could, but I'm too cheap to get NBA League pass and San Antonio is 100% Spurs.  I catch the occasional game on XM radio if I'm in the car.  Heard McGrady came back, how did he look?

The crowd gave him an ovation when he came out, but honestly, I think he takes this particular team a step back.  They run, run, run, and then run some more.  He comes on the floor and immediately went to his spot at the top of the key and just waited.  He is still a star and more than capable of helping a lot of teams, I just don't think it is this one.  Should be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Lurch]

Just saw Budinger and Bullard at lunch - I guess they are staying at the hotel attached to my office in Dallas

Budinger had his first pro start the other night and was a complete badass.  There are several hidden gems on this team.  I'm not sure they'll finish above .500, but no one has told them.

And Bullard pulls no punches on air.  He ripped the officiating for a full quarter last night.  Apparently he started yelling AT the refs --while on air-- earlier last month.

[Astroholic]

Budinger had his first pro start the other night and was a complete badass.  There are several hidden gems on this team.  I'm not sure they'll finish above .500, but no one has told them.

I think they finish above .500 and make the playoffs.  They have had the roughest schedule in the league over the first two months and are three games over .500.  Impressive.  I am starting to like pro BB again.

[hostros7]

I am starting to like pro BB again.

I like this team because the way they play lacks most of the bs that makes the NBA generally unwatchable: the isos and pounding the ball into the floor, the lack of effort, the prima donnas, the individual first mentality, etc., etc. , etc.  They have been a pleasant surprise to watch.  Aaron Brooks sold out with a head-first dive to make a steal attempt by the scorers' table last night with 50 seconds left down by about 10.  TMac would have never even done that in a playoff game.

[ybbodeus]

When Adelman coached the Trailblazers, they were fun to watch. 

When he coached the Kings, they were fun to watch, particularly in his earlier tenure there.

When he coaches the spRockets with TMac on the bench, they're fun to watch.

I honestly don't remember anything about his two-year stint in Oakland, but they were probably fun to watch.

Lock----Box.

[TheWizard]

Clutch has really put on some spectacular halftime shows this year.

But in all seriousness, I like this year's squad. I disagree with the comments that T-Mac brings the team down a notch... he's fine with being a distributor at this point in his career and seems content to distribute.  I think he'll help the team.

[ybbodeus]

I'm not in the T-Mac bashing club; I just don't know that what Rick's trying to do with this team, the up tempo style, works as effectively with the superstar slowing things down.

Then again, I'm making said assumption with a whopping 8 minutes of TMac playing time thus far. Who knows? It's not like Rick's a rookie at this.

[Lurch]

I'm not in the T-Mac bashing club; I just don't know that what Rick's trying to do with this team, the up tempo style, works as effectively with the superstar slowing things down.

Then again, I'm making said assumption with a whopping 8 minutes of TMac playing time thus far. Who knows? It's not like Rick's a rookie at this.

All of this.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Dirk Nowitzki gets away with a charge and three of Carl Landry's teeth.

[Lurch]

McGrady done as a Rocket

[austro]

McGrady done as a Rocket

Thank God. Pick your adjective: star-crossed, lousy, poorly-conceived, whatever. I like the direction they're headed, and I hope they trade Yao to some GM-challenged team that will give them valuable players and draft picks.