Rockets on the mend

Yesterday the Rockets suffered a few injuries in game, All Star James Harden was able to return to the game but newly minted starter Patrick Beverley did not return to the game after only 10 minutes of game time. Yesterday they were able to best the lowly Bobcats, and today during practice neither Harden nor Beverley practiced, both sitting out with injuries they got yesterday.

Harden missed due to the sore back and Beverley missed due to his bruised ribs. Both players are listed as day to day and while it's not serious injuries IMO it's best both players rest till they are completely healthy no need to force these guys to start with the depth they have on the team.

Backing up Patrick Beverley, is last years starter Jeremy Lin and old Rockets starter Aaron Brooks, now the depth behind James Harden is iffy with Francisco Garcia and Ronnie Brewer but you can live with those 2 for a game or two rather then push Harden and ride with the two for much longer.

Rockets play the Dallas Mavericks on Friday at Toyota Center.



 

Rockets not able to escape the injury bug

Game 1 went to the Rockets as the Bobcats lost 96 to 83, as sweet as the win was there was a few nervous moments for Rockets fans, as the team was not to escape game 1 with out injures. Patrick Beverly and James Harden both left during the game but only Harden returned to the game. James Harden left with stiff back but ended up checking back in to the game, he was able to finish shooting 7-16 for 21 points and finished the game in the floor. Post game Harden said it started this morning and hoped it’d be good at game time, but it got bad again during the game.

Beverly unlike Harden did not return to the game after taking a hit to the ribs, his 1^st ever start during the regular season may have ended early but he brought his full court pressure style to the game and in 10 minutes he went 2-4 for 5 points. Post game Beverly tweeted that he will be back for the Mavericks game this Friday at home.  Even Jeremy Lin had to have stiches on his chin during the game but was able to finish the game and did not seem to affect him.  

Rockets beat Bobcats 96 to 83

The new look Rockets took the court minus last year’s starter Jeremy Lin who was relegated to the bench role and replaced with defensive minded Patrick Beverley. The Rockets also added a new element to the team they have lacked in so many years past, A TRUE POWER FORWARD. Dwight Howard made his Houston Rockets debut alongside Center Omer Asik giving the team true size.

Tip off came and it was time for the hype to meet the Bobcats in the 1st game of a long 82 game season.  On the 1^st offensive and defensive possession you saw the bad and the good of the Rockets Twin Towers lineup. After winning the tip Dwight Howard stepped out of bounds while trying to drive the baseline, but on the defensive end he came off the weakside to cause a miss from Bobcats Al Jefferson. For the better part of the 1^st half the 1^st team offense seemed to struggle as the team seemed to play in slow motion.

Head coach Kevin McHale said in his post-game press conference that watching the offense was like going to the dentist. The team was saved by Francisco Garcia who started lighting up the Bobcats with 3’s finishing with 19 points. The team was able to remaining in the game while the offense stalled early with both Dwight Howard and Omer Aisk combining to snag 40 rebounds, 3 more rebounds than the entire Bobcats team. In the end the team was able to best the lowly Bobcats at home 96 to 83 and hold the 37% shooting.

Below is Francisco Garcia talking about tonight’s game     

Rockets vs. Bobcats starting lineups

Its here game 1 of the NBA season for the Home team Houston Rockets and the traveling Charlotte Bobcats. Below is the starting line up for each team.

Rockets                                                                                              Bobcats
F - Chandler Parsons (25)                                                                  F - Michael Kidd Gilchrist (14)
F - Dwight Howard (12)                                                                    F - Josh McRoberts (11)
C - Omer Asik (3)                                                                             C - Al Jefferson (25)
G - James Harden (13)                                                                      G - Gerald Henderson (9)
G - Patrick Beverley (2)                                                                     G - Kemba Walker (15)

Texans health update

During the rain and wind while you were indoors the team took to the field another day with Case Keenum as QB 1. Coach said the team practiced well and with “good energy” coach said. Today not taking the practice field for the Texans were RB Arian Foster, LG Wade Smith and MLB Daryl Sharpton. Coach did describe that it is no biggie that Wade Smith did not practice and it will be this way the whole season. “It’s just routine” in reference to Smith continuing to miss practice time, he also followed with “he’ll only practice 2 days a week weather he likes it or not”. Coach Kubiak also mentioned that Arian Foster still could be in the mix come the end of the week “he went out and stretched, did some stuff, did some walkthrough” but he knows Foster will do everything he can to be there. Below is coach Kubiak talking about all the 3 new running backs he signed on Monday…

Remembering The Legend Bum Phillips

How do you remember the man in the Stetson hat, you remember have well..... And that's what happened 10-29-13, the service was MC'd by former Houston Oilers Tight End and current minister Mike Barber. The crowd may not have been max capacity, but the atmosphere was electric! Former players, politicians and even a warden from the largest maximum security prison all came to pay their respects and share stories of the legendary Bum Phillips. The night started with the ole Luv Ya Blue fight song, the crowd sung along and clapped in unison.

Carl Mauck a former Oilers Center shared “Our numbers are shrinking, we lost our head coach, but we still got our town” followed by a verse from the Oiler Cannnonball.

Everyone Oiler, every person that came up to speak mentioned to just how awesome and special of a person he was. The overall take away from the event is this love for one person one coach will never be duplicated again because their will never be another Bum Phillips again. Bum was a marine raider survived through war, Bum coached the Houston Oilers to the greatest highs in team history, but overall Bum was a person will could only hope to be.  

Afterwords I was able to catch up with one of the nights speakers a should be Houston Oilers Hall of Famer Robert Brazile aka Dr Doom and we talked about Bum's send of and Robert shared for the younger generation what exactly is Lov Ya Blue...... 

NBA Start of the Season Power Rankings

Season starts tonight and right now here are the power rankings for game 1. Lots of changes happened this offseason players being moved including lots of coaching changes. So which teams are the hot teams at the start of the season and who is down near the bottom......

1. Heat - They won the championship last season and they still got Lebron James so they get the number 1 spot in my power rankings.

2. Pacers - 2nd best team in the Eastern conference is the 2nd best team in the NBA, plus they got stronger and they get back Danny Granger who spent almost all of last season injured.

3. Clippers - The team was good last season, they kept Chris Paul and they finally get a REAL NBA head coach in Doc Rivers.

4. Spurs - Last season they were a 3 pointer away from winning an NBA Championship, but their BIG THREE is OLD so you have to wonder if they can hold up.

5. Rockets - James Harden and Dwight Howard per NBA GM's are the top players at there positions, plus they have an ever improving Chandler Parsons.

6. Grizzles - New coach same hard nosed defense? You sure as hell hope so, plus they add sharpshooter Mike Miller.

7. Warriors - Last season they had the highest 3 point efficiency in the league at .403% and the come back with almost the same team plus they add ultra athletic Andre Iguodala.

8. Thunder - Just having a Kevin Durant on your team makes you a top 10 team, if Russell Westbrook was starting the season uninjured they'd be a top 5 team.

9. Bulls - They were right behind the Pacers without D-Rose last year, now they get D-Rose back it's kinda like picking up a top tier free agent in the offseason.

10. Nets - This is the 2000 All NBA name team, but really is a collection of old stars enough to get you very far in the playoffs. If that wasn't enough they will be coached by 1st time coach Jason Kidd.

11. Knicks - Carmelo Anthony is the only reason the Knicks are this close to the NBA top 10, with out Anthony they would sure contend for the bottom 10 rather then the top 10.

12. Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki gets something he hasn't had in a while, fairly good guards Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon join the team, plus hopefully an added focus on the D.

13. Hawks - Reworked roster that still has a very decent center in Al Horford, but adds Paul Millsap who could have a breakout season with the Hawks.

14. Pistons - This isn't your brothers Pistons but hey this year they wont be that bad, Josh Smith makes these guys a playoff team for the 1st time in the long time.

15. Nuggets - They were a good team last year, but traded George Karl for Brian Shaw and I am not sure that really helps your team.

16. Pelicans - A loaded young team outside of center, you wonder how long it will take for these guys to gel but they sure are a fringe playoff team.

17. Trailblazers - 33 and 49 last year Damian Lillard is a star in the making and he alone his continued growth pushes them ever closer to .500

18. Wizards - John Wall and Bradley Beal make a good 1-2 punch plus they get a sorta kinda good big man in Marcin Gortat look for them to finish 10 through 8 in the East.

19. Lakers - Can they hang around till Kobe gets healthy, they got a decent team but for so many years they have been Kobe heavy… What will they do with out Kobe?

20. Timberwolves - I am a believer in Rick Adelman and his scrappy group of Kevin Love and friends will surprise some teams but will still finish below .500

21. Cavaliers - The growth of sensation Kyrie Irving and now he gets a real head coach in Mike Brown, who can hopefully make these guys competitive.

22. Jazz - These team was blown out last year and is different at every position, you gotta wonder how long it will take till they gel

23. Raptors - 1, 2, and 3 not to bad for the only Canadian team but at 4 and 5 the just has bodies and not real NBA talent

24. Bucks - Brandon Knight breakout player?? Why not, this team might come up and bite some people but just wont be consistent.

25. Celtics - Don't really feel Rondo makes it a whole season in Boston, but if he does they could finish high, Rondo is that good!

26. 76ers - This team might be good one day, but not this year not sure if I believe in the MCW and J-Rich back court

27. Kings - DeMarcus Cousins a futrue top 3 center, or will he continue to be a head case….. Will Ben McLemore work well with Cousins?

28. Bobcats - Micheal Jordan would make this team better! As a player, not as an owner…. The team is a waste of an NBA Team.

29. Suns - You wonder how the backcourt of Dragic and Bledsoe work out, porbaly not bad but the rest of the team sucks.

30. Magic - In the mix for the most ping pong balls next season already, most teams have 1 star Magic have negative 0 stars