The recession definitely affected the way teams allocated their resources during last summer’s free agency. And while owners and GMs were certainly more cautious when it came down to splurging their money on players, there were some free agents that walked away with some handsome paydays. Now that we’re nearing the halfway point of the season, I took a look at some of the summer’s biggest signing and determined whether teams got any return on their investments. Read More »
Word on the street is the Chicago Bulls could be interested in acquiring a certain disgruntled former All-Star out in Texas. The Tracy McGrady saga in Houston has gone from bad to worse last week when the team sent him home in the middle of an Eastern Conference road trip. T-Mac has been at odds with the Rockets ever since he announced he was getting season-ending surgery without telling the team first back in February. Since then, the team has flourished without him and have not welcomed him back now that he’s healthy. Read More »
We already saw one trade go down this past week when the Jazz sent rookie Eric Maynor to the Thunder. With the new year just around the corner, expect trade talks to really pick up between now and the February 18 trade deadline. Trade rumors around the web and in newspapers have already started to gain momentum this week. Players like Tracy McGrady, Kevin Martin, Eddy Curry and Tyrus Thomas are just a few of the names that have been thrown out. Read More »
AARON BROOKS (by Jack Jensen)
How many people do you think were ready to throw in the towel after the Rockets traded away Rafer Alston last February in favor of their second-year point guard out of Oregon? I’m guessing more people than care to admit it jumped off the bandwagon and thought Aaron Brooks wasn’t ready to lead Houston anywhere. He’s too small, too inexperienced and not ready for what’s expected of a starter. Read More »
When Allen Iverson played his first game for the Sixers this season, you couldn’t have convinced me Andre Iguodala didn’t have an agenda. If the original A.I. had visions of adopting his old spot as “The Man” in Philly without dispute, the new A.I. let him know he was in for a battle: scoring 18 of his 31 points in the first half, doing all the things Iverson can’t do anymore (or never could do), and basically drawing his line in the sand. Iverson has been stuck in second-fiddle mode ever since.
The same dynamic was in play last night, when Tracy McGrady returned to the Rockets lineup. Read More »
Somebody up in the NBA headquarters must hate the Houston Rockets. The Rockets’ schedule in the next two weeks is as bad as you’re going to get – minus an eight-game Eastern road trip that is. The team has not one, not two, not three, but four consecutive back-to-back games. Each of which they have to fly out that night to play in another city. Merry Christmas Rick Adelman. Read More »
The truth is if Carl Landry hadn’t got shot earlier this year, most people wouldn’t know who he was. But the Rockets’ blue collar worker is quietly putting up some big time stats (15.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 56 percent from the field) this season. Landry is part of that young, scrappy and rejuvenated Rockets squad that is holding their own at 9-8 (eighth in the West). Now that Luis Scola is out with an eye injury, the 6-9 Landry will make his very first start on Wednesday night on the road against the Clippers. Read More »
I refuse to be a cliche and quote a certain line Apollo 13 line here, but there are a few issues down in Houston. For awhile now, there has been some tension between Tracy McGrady and Rick Adelman and management, but the emotions are starting to boil over. According to a Yahoo! Sports article, McGrady and Adelman engaged in a heated argument before the Rockets’ game in Minneapolis on Wednesday night. Read More »
Last year we debuted the “Highs and Lows” system — previewing the NBA season by predicting the respective ceiling and basement for each team. Same theme, different season…
Added:Trevor Ariza, Chase Budinger, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, David Andersen, Jermaine Taylor
Lost:Ron Artest, Von Wafer, Dikembe Mutombo, James WhiteRead More »
Potential is a dangerous word in this game. How many GMs have drafted or thrown big free agent cash at someone solely on the “P” word rather than actual accomplishments? Players often claim that they can be all-stars if given more shots, more minutes and more touches. One guy who is going to get that chance this season is Trevor Ariza, who spent last season basking in Kobe’s, Pau’s and Lamar’s shadows. Over the summer, the Rockets inked up Ariza to a multi-year contract.
