News And Notes

Rockets.com breaks down the opening week of training camp

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - Day 4 (October 2)

Only got a chance to catch the final five minutes of today's scrimmage so can't provide too much in the way of hard-hitting analysis or description this evening.

What I can tell you is that Trevor Ariza was on fire from the outside during the media's brief viewing party and that Aaron Brooks seems to be growing in confidence by the hour. Really can't wait to see how that translates to his game this season (For what it's worth, GM Daryl Morey believes Brooks is likely to be the team's leading scorer this campaign).

The comic relief was provided by Kyle Lowry who got called for a charge (taken by - who else? - Chuck Hayes) during one of his many forays to the rim. During the next break in the action, Lowry proceeded to plead his case to the referee and eventually got the official to admit that Kyle was right and that a blocking foul should have been called instead and the basket should have counted. Kyle's response: "Then why did you call a charge?" Then to top it off, Lowry made a beeline toward Hayes and told him about the ref's admission. Good times.

Have to love the fact that the players care so much, even in a (relatively) meaningless scrimmage. And it also speaks to the wisdom of Coach Rick Adelman, who intentionally kept score of the scrimmage for the first time this week, specifically as an attempt to get the players to pick up their intensity.

"It was a really rough day today," he conceded. "Fourth day, guys’ legs just didn’t seem to be there. During the drills we had no one seemed to be into it, so finally we put the score on the scoreboard and the energy level picked up. It’s a typical fourth day."

Adelman also mixed up the lineups a bit today, most notably pitting Lowry and Aaron Brooks against each other to see how they'd respond.

"A lot of the guys are new and we’re just trying to get a feel," Adelman said. "The biggest thing I’ve been trying to do is play different people together. I’ve kept Aaron, Trevor and Luis together for the most part. We put Kyle on the other team (today), since Kyle’s been playing with them, too. I’ve just been trying to mix up our lineup to see how different people play together.

"I think it’s really helpful for (Brooks and Lowry to play against each other). Kyle was playing with Aaron a lot the first three days, so he wasn’t initiating the offense. So we put him on the other team today so he would get a chance to do that. I think it’s great when they go against each other because, one thing about those two guys, they really compete. They don’t back off each other – they go after each other."

So ends the first week of camp. Tomorrow there will be an open scrimmage at Toyota Center as part of the Red Rally (admission is free to the public and doors open at 12:30 PM) so if you're in the area, you definitely owe it to yourself to swing by and check out the new guys for yourself.

As for me, I'll be simultaneously attempting to plow through this week's book, "Catch-22" and lighting candles in hopes that it will rejuvenate LaDainian Tomlinson's fading fantasy football career. I know, I know. Saint Jude and I figure to become very close over the next few weeks...

Anyway, have a great weekend, everyone! Lots more features to come next week on Rockets.com, not to mention three preseason games! 'Til then...

Day 3 (October 1)

Day three of Rockets' training camp is in the books and, as Rockets' Vice President of Player Personnel Gersson Rosas so aptly put it, any day without injuries is a successful day. Consider Thursday a rousing success then.

For the second afternoon in a row, the media was allowed to watch the session's final fifteen minutes as the Rockets scrimmaged 5-on-5. Noteworthy for their play were Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry who made good things happen seemingly every time they had the ball in their hands (which was often). Both players attacked the basket relentlessly and, when they were paired together, proved to be nearly unstoppable. That's a combo which clearly can't be played all the time and requires the benefit of favorable match-ups, but there's no question coach Rick Adelman likes what he's seen of that tandem so far.

"Right now you’re probably going to see Kyle and Aaron play a lot together," he said, "just because we used that a lot last year in the playoffs and they’re a tough cover for the other team.

"(Aaron is) going to score and do things, but he’s got to continue to get into the paint and find other people, and make everybody’s job a little easier. I think him and Kyle – and I think Trevor can do that, too, once he gets used to handling the ball – not only can those guys score for us, but they can also get easier shots for the other guys."

Highlight of the day: Well that would unquestionably be watching rookie Jermaine Taylor at the top of the circle, going one-on-one against Trevor Ariza, only to have Ariza pick his pocket clean and glide down the court to finish with a reverse dunk. Chalk one up to veteran experience there, even though there's only an 18 month difference between the two.

Meanwhile, both Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier were on hand watching the activities and doing their best to help out any way they could since their bodies won't currently allow them to take part just yet. Adelman addressed what it meant to have McGrady there on the sidelines after practice.

"(Tracy) and Shane have been good," said Adelman. "They’ve been on the sidelines talking to guys when they come out. I think it’s better to be around your teammates as much as you can and be part of it because we don’t know how long he’s going to be out or what’s going to happen and he needs to know what we’re doing. It’s different now and we’re not doing the same things we did before because we don’t have the personnel."

For the second day in a row Chase Budinger elicited praise from Adelman for his heady play on the court. I keep trying to temper expectations for Chase since he still has much to learn and work on but there's no denying the fact he continues to make the most of his opportunities.

"I’ve been really pleased with Chase," said Adelman." I think he really knows how to play the game and his whole success will be based on how he learns how to defend on the court. He’s got to learn how to keep guys in front of him. But he’s smart and it’s a shame that Shane’s not playing because I told him to watch Shane and the way he defends because Shane’s not the quickest guy but he’s smart and knows how to play people and he plays hard all the time.

"Chase is smart enough that he may not be a great defender but he’s certainly capable of keeping guys in front of him and being good as a team defender. I like him as a player and he’s done a nice job the first three days."

Finally, it's also worth noting that a noticeably slimmed down Brian Cook has been a much better player for Houston so far in camp than he was at any point with the team a season ago. Could he end up being a factor in the Rockets' big man rotation? Adelman says right now anything is possible.

"Last year (Cook) pretty much just settled for the outside three. He’s more active this year and is in much better shape as far as running the floor and playing people. He’s different this year. He can really shoot the ball but we need all our big guys to play both ends of the court and be active – it can’t be just one end.

"We don’t know who’s going to play (the center position) right now and who’s going to start. We’re going to find out through the exhibition season and maybe it’s going to be a couple games with one guy and a couple guys with another guy – I don’t know. I told these guys: this is a golden opportunity for you to show what you can do and we’ll find out who surfaces."

Day 2 (September 30)

Much to the Rockets' chagrin, the big news coming out of the first day of training camp was the injury sustained by Shane Battier. The Duke-product tweaked his hamstring during the day's evening session, limiting him to spectator status for day two.

The injury is not considered serious and, let's face it, better that it happen now rather than during the regular season, but that realization didn't prevent Battier from being bummed at having to put on the brakes just as camp was getting underway.

"It sucks," admitted the 9th-year forward. "I was pretty disappointed last night. I got home and told my wife, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ and just locked myself in my room (laughs). I want to be out here with these guys playing, so it’s just not any fun.

"I don’t think it’s too severe of a pull or anything like that. In a week we’ll re-evaluate it, so I’ll get my rest so we can get it right. It’s not something you want lingering. It’s not worth rushing back and having to deal with it for the rest of the season. So hopefully we’ll treat it now, it will get better so I can get back out there soon… I want to be there for the Blazers and the first game of the year, so it’s better to be patient, especially now when we have time."

Meanwhile, day two of camp was notable for the injury that wasn't. With just five seconds left in the Rockets' scrimmage at the tail end of practice, Aaron Brooks ran full-speed into a screen set by rookie guard Garrett Temple. There was a scary moment as Brooks lied, unmoving, on his side but he soon got up, shook off the pain and was even able to re-join the team minutes later to take part in the club's wind sprints at the end of practice.

Brooks laughed it off when the media asked about the incident and GM Daryl Morey seized the opportunity to deliver the line of the day by saying that his young point guard "was lying there like Rod Tidwell."

In terms of genuine on the court news, head coach Rick Adelman took a moment to discuss a subject that has been on the minds of many Rockets' fans this summer ever since Yao Ming underwent surgery which will likely keep him out all season. Namely, precisely whom is the odds-on favorite to man the club's starting center position on opening day?

"Everybody’s in the mix as the starting five," said Adelman, only half-jokingly. "We just don’t know. I think we could change from game to game. I think we’re going to play a lot of different combinations in (the preseason) and we’ll decide what we’re going to do from there. Some teams we can get away with playing two fours together, but some of the teams we start (the regular season) with, it’s going to be hard to do.

"We really don’t know how it’s going to work out. David (Andersen) is not a true center; he’s a very good offensive player and very skilled but he’s got to learn how to play in our league and how he’s going to defend people inside. So it’s just a question I don’t have an answer for right now. We’re just going to have to play it out as we go."

Adelman also pointed out that his team will have to utilize its quickness on the defensive end since it currently does not have much of a shot-blocking presence down low.

"I don’t know if you noticed," he said, "but there were a lot of charges trying to be taken out there and that’s one way to keep (opponents) away from the rim. We’ve got to get there if someone gets beat."

On the offensive side of the ball, rookie Chase Budinger continues to build off the solid foundation he began building during summer league play in Las Vegas. His sweet-shooting and sound decision-making have not gone unnoticed by the coaching staff.

"He’s played very well," Adelman said. " We like him a lot. Chase is a guy who would have been perfect playing with Yao. He runs the floor, shoots it well and really knows how to play the game – that’s the one big thing. We’re very high on him and obviously he’ll get a lot of opportunities with Shane out right now."

And finally, the newest addition to the Rockets' roster was on the court, less than 24 hours after receiving a call from the club and taking a red-eye flight from Los Angeles to Houston. Romel Beck was in uniform and taking part in drills today, as he begins his bid to impress the team's coaches and staff.

"(It's been) crazy," he admitted. "I got the word last night. I was watching TV and my agent called and asked me if I was interested in coming down to camp. But I’m happy I’m here. I’m going to go out there and do my best to do whatever it takes to make this team. I think I bring my shooting and all-around game, my experience playing in Europe and at a national level.

"I’m just blessed to have the opportunity and be playing basketball. There are a lot of people out there that wish they could be in my position and I just feel whether it’s Europe or the NBA, the NBA doesn’t make or break me. As long as I’m playing this game and having fun competing, that’s what I live for."

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