Rockets 89, Kings 87.
What a shot! My wife and I love Steve Novak, ever since the first time he showed up on the big screen at the games. We thought he was hilarious.
My wife has met him a couple of times the past few weeks as he came into her restaurant, and she said he was the nicest guy. He made reservations after a game one night, and he apologized for being late, because he had to speak to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes group after a game. Uhhh...yeah Steve, just don't let it happen again, ok?
Professional sports needs more guys like Novak. I watched the entire game last night and was so mad they let that lead slip away, but I couldn't have been happier with who ended up with the Rocket's final shot. As T-Mac kicked him to him I jumped off the couch and waited for the outcome: Swish! I gave a good "Woooo!" and settled in for the last play. I was so relieved for the Rockets' winning streak, but I just couldn't help but thinking how happy I was for that guy.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Bring On Kidd
I think the Dallas Mavericks are insane for making a trade for Jason Kidd. So, you had one bad series against a team you match up poorly against? You don't match up too poorly with anyone else, not even them (Golden State) anymore now that they traded away Jason Richardson.
As a Rockets fan, I will admit -- Dallas has owned us since Game 7 in 2005. I will also admit that I could not be happier to see this trade happen. After dreading a matchup with Dallas or New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs, I would now much rather see the Mavs than the Lakers, Suns, or Spurs.
Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse were enough, but then you throw in Diop and George and Ager to boot. Harris and Stackhouse were two players who killed the Rockets. Harris was too fast for Rafer Alston to guard and Stackhouse flat-out hits open shots, just like Josh Howard and Jason Terry. The Mavs are going to need Diop's extra fouls, because Yao usually plays well against Dampier.
I like it, I like it, I like it. Alston is still going to have problems with Kidd, but the Rockets are now free to put Battier or T-Mac on Howard and Scola has gained enough respect to hold his own with Dirk. Dirk is going to get his, but it's the rest of the team that will suffer. If Dirk does start to get it going, the Rockets can switch Battier onto him. The Mavs' spot-up shooting now suffers, which leaves Yao free to stay inside.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying. Other teams in the west might be worried, but I welcome this deal. It wasn't going to get any worse for the Rockets against the Mavs than it already was.
As a Rockets fan, I will admit -- Dallas has owned us since Game 7 in 2005. I will also admit that I could not be happier to see this trade happen. After dreading a matchup with Dallas or New Orleans in the first round of the playoffs, I would now much rather see the Mavs than the Lakers, Suns, or Spurs.
Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse were enough, but then you throw in Diop and George and Ager to boot. Harris and Stackhouse were two players who killed the Rockets. Harris was too fast for Rafer Alston to guard and Stackhouse flat-out hits open shots, just like Josh Howard and Jason Terry. The Mavs are going to need Diop's extra fouls, because Yao usually plays well against Dampier.
I like it, I like it, I like it. Alston is still going to have problems with Kidd, but the Rockets are now free to put Battier or T-Mac on Howard and Scola has gained enough respect to hold his own with Dirk. Dirk is going to get his, but it's the rest of the team that will suffer. If Dirk does start to get it going, the Rockets can switch Battier onto him. The Mavs' spot-up shooting now suffers, which leaves Yao free to stay inside.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying. Other teams in the west might be worried, but I welcome this deal. It wasn't going to get any worse for the Rockets against the Mavs than it already was.
I Don't Know Why, But I Don't Think Anything Is Going to Happen to Clemens
I've watched so much "Law & Order" that I can see how Roger Clemens may come out of this unscathed. All that evidence Brian McNamee has screams consiracy theory. How long has he held on to that stuff? None of it is admissable in court. Clemens' legacy may be forever tarnished, but that beats going to jail. Who knows? If he comes out of this OK, it may bolster his legacy because he did everything clean.
The main reason I think Clemens will avoid jail time is because he has never failed a drug test and has medical support of his physical condition throughout his career. The other is what I mentioned before, there's no physical evidence that is admissable in court. I also kind of believe him, because I thought he would have given up by now and admitted to something.
I think Rusty Hardin is holding the ace of spades, while McNamee is holding polaroids of crushed beer cans and syringes. I guess we'll see, but Clemens isn't acting like a guy who is guilty.
The main reason I think Clemens will avoid jail time is because he has never failed a drug test and has medical support of his physical condition throughout his career. The other is what I mentioned before, there's no physical evidence that is admissable in court. I also kind of believe him, because I thought he would have given up by now and admitted to something.
I think Rusty Hardin is holding the ace of spades, while McNamee is holding polaroids of crushed beer cans and syringes. I guess we'll see, but Clemens isn't acting like a guy who is guilty.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Do some research, Legler
From Tim Legler on ESPN.com's Daily Dime (Feb. 5):
Houston Rockets (Grade: C-) -- Granted, the Rockets have a new coach and have dealt with the annual absence of Tracy McGrady due to injuries, but they earn a below-average grade nonetheless. The offensive freedom that was expected in the post-Jeff Van Gundy era hasn't turned into wins and they have taken a step back defensively.
I don't care when someone grades my favorite team poorly. C- is probably a better grade than I would give them at this point. My problem with capsules like these, is the author has to make up things on the fly and chooses not to research his statement. I really like Legler, but this is just plain lazy. The Rockets have not taken a step back defensively -- they are freaking second in the league statistically behind Boston! What the freak to you want them to do? They lost because they couldn't shoot and had no other threats besides Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Now they have started playing Luis Scola and Carl Landry more and they are winning. No one could have predicted the force Landry would be this early in his career, so he didn't play early. I think Adelman has a pretty good grasp on his rotation now and McGrady is playing unselfishly and just taking over games when he needs to. They'll make the playoffs, then we'll see if T-Mac can finally get them over the hump. I think they're playing well enough to do it -- they just need to avoid Dallas or New Orleans in the first round.
Houston Rockets (Grade: C-) -- Granted, the Rockets have a new coach and have dealt with the annual absence of Tracy McGrady due to injuries, but they earn a below-average grade nonetheless. The offensive freedom that was expected in the post-Jeff Van Gundy era hasn't turned into wins and they have taken a step back defensively.
I don't care when someone grades my favorite team poorly. C- is probably a better grade than I would give them at this point. My problem with capsules like these, is the author has to make up things on the fly and chooses not to research his statement. I really like Legler, but this is just plain lazy. The Rockets have not taken a step back defensively -- they are freaking second in the league statistically behind Boston! What the freak to you want them to do? They lost because they couldn't shoot and had no other threats besides Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Now they have started playing Luis Scola and Carl Landry more and they are winning. No one could have predicted the force Landry would be this early in his career, so he didn't play early. I think Adelman has a pretty good grasp on his rotation now and McGrady is playing unselfishly and just taking over games when he needs to. They'll make the playoffs, then we'll see if T-Mac can finally get them over the hump. I think they're playing well enough to do it -- they just need to avoid Dallas or New Orleans in the first round.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Day After the Big Game
Monday after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday. I have always had a terrible time picking the Super Bowl, ever since 1991 when I lost $20 to a high school friend when I took the Bills. As a Houston fan, I've never had a rooting interest in a game, so I usually just root against the team I don't like. That makes it a difficult game for me to gamble on. Believe what you want, but I picked the Patriots to cover because I wanted the Giants to win. I've been wrong about so many Super Bowls, that I figured if I picked the Pats here, that would give the Giants a better chance. I actually thought the Giants would cover, but that would have led to a Patriots blowout. I will gladly trade my loss for the Patriots loss. Here's how I finished for the season.
Regular Season Totals
Straight Up: 176-80 (.688)
Against the Spread: 139-108-9 (.561)
Playoff Totals
Straight Up: 8-3
Against the Spread: 7-3-1
Combined Totals
Straight Up: 184-83 (.689)
Against the Spread: 146-111-10 (.566)
Regular Season Totals
Straight Up: 176-80 (.688)
Against the Spread: 139-108-9 (.561)
Playoff Totals
Straight Up: 8-3
Against the Spread: 7-3-1
Combined Totals
Straight Up: 184-83 (.689)
Against the Spread: 146-111-10 (.566)
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