For the past few decades, the Western Conference has been known as the premier conference in the NBA. Just ask the Rockets. They are 32-31, .508 and are not even in the playoff seeding, ranking 10th in the conference. Meanwhile, the Raptors have the exact same record and are 8th seed in the East.  It’s even worse for the Grizzlies who have an even better record than the Raptors. This is a sad fact, the Eastern conference just isn’t as competitive as the other. And the unfortunate teams just have to accept that they have to play even better in order to compete in the post season.

Last game: Jan 18, Houston Rockets 101 - Milwaukee Bucks 98
Next game: @ San Antonio Spurs, Jan 22 8:30pm ET

Yao Ming is out for the season and who knows if or when Tracy McGrady will be ready to play and without them the Rockets lack scoring punch. The Rockets were last in the league in fastbreak points last season, but i expect for them to be in the top-half of the league this season as they will be forced to run with Yao out. Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola should continue the strong play they showed in the postseason, newcomer Trevor Ariza is coming off his season and at 24, his best days are clearly ahead. Rookie Chase Budinger should provide scoring off the bench, big time range on his jumper and he can move without the ball, his game is for real. The Rockets will be challenged on the interior this season, and i dont see them making the playoffs because of it but im giving them a chance based off how this team always seems to find ways to win in the past without Yao or T-Mac or both.

Key Additions: Trevor Ariza David Anderson, Chase Budinger, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Jermaine Taylor

Key Subtractions: Ron Artest, Von Wafer, Dikembe Mutombo

Projected Starting Lineup: Aaron Brooks/ Shane Battier/ Trevor Ariza/ Luis Scola/ Chuck Hayes

Key Reserves: Tracy McGrady, Kyle Lowry, Carl Landry, Chase Budinger, Jermaine Taylor, David Anderson

-Bennice

When it comes to injuries for the Rockets, it’s been one thing after another. Not only has Tracy McGrady been in and out of the lineup due to injuries in the past, but recently the Rockets received the news that Yao Ming’s broken foot has not been healing and not only is he at risk of missing the entire 2009-10 season, but his career is at jeopardy as well. With Ming’s future being up in the air, that puts more pressure on McGrady to remain healthy and try to keep the Rockets afloat in the tough Western Conference. For the first time since Ming has been in the NBA, he finally experienced a playoff series victory as Houston up-ended the Blazers in the first round of the playoffs. Now the Rockets want to build on that success but with Ming possibly being out and McGrady pretty much destined to miss half the season, it’s a tough call.

Ron Artest walked away from Houston to sign with the Lakers and shortly after that, Lakers forward Trevor Ariza walked away from Los Angeles to sign with Houston. So in other words, Artest and Ariza were pretty much traded for each other. Ariza’s main point of going to Houston was because he knew he’d be able to start right away and that’s why he chose the Rockets over the Cavaliers and other contenders trying to sign him. But if he doesn’t have Ming and McGrady on the floor with him, will he still be able to produce like he did in Los Angeles and perhaps even more?

With Houston getting out of the first round of the playoffs without Tracy McGrady, what’s next for him and the Rockets? Yao Ming has injury issues, McGrady has injury issues, the Rockets will be without a first round draft pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and Ron Artest is a free agent. So how do they attack this off-season? There is no doubt about it that when healthy, the Rockets have an amazing roster, on paper atleast, and the young guys who don’t get a lot of exposure have proven that they can be productive when given the opportunity. Do they re-sign Artest? Can they get anything worthwhile for Tracy McGrady that would entice them to trade the former All-Star? Will Yao Ming ever not be a huge injury risk while on the floor?

I don’t think that a major shake-up will happen in Houston. Instead, they’ll re-sign Artest and hope and pray that Ming and McGrady will can rehabilitate and come back at 100% and try to make another crack at the Western Conference Finals. They have the coach to get the job done, they have the star power to get the job done (when healthy of course) and they have the bench and role players that can be effective when put on the floor. Those thoughts are why I think the Rockets and their front office will try and not shake things up and hope that this current roster can get it together and make another push.

By: Dustin Chapman

Transactions

• Selected Nicolas Batum 25th overall and traded his rights to Portland for the rights to Darrell Arthur (27th overall) and Joey Dorsey (33rd overall).

• Traded the rights to forward Darrell Arthur to Memphis for the rights to Donte Greene (28th overall) and a future second round draft pick.

• Selected Maarty Leunen 54th overall.

After an interesting sequence of trades, the Rockets did a great job of getting great value with each pick. First and foremost, Donte Greene fell from projected lottery pick status, and is well-worth the risk near the end of the first round. He’s got a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do, but his size and upside is undeniable. Houston will be able to bring him along slowly, where he’ll get outstanding tutelage on both ends of the floor from Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, and head coach Rick Adelman.

Houston has been a team that has also lacked a reliable defensive presence off the bench up front. They’ve now gotten that in Joey Dorsey, who is perhaps Ben Wallace-light. Adding Dorsey to the mix allows Dikembe Mutombo to return without much burden, on account of Yao Ming’s shaky health.

Grade: B

From The Houston Chronicle:

That one player isn’t going to fall to the Rockets when they pick 25th in the upcoming draft. Morey is confident, though, that the Rockets can land a rotation player in that spot. It just might not be next season’s rotation.

Don’t look for much help from the free-agent market, because re-signing Carl Landry won’t leave them much below the luxury tax level.

“We’re probably going to have to upgrade through trade,” Morey said, “as opposed to free agency.”

The Celtics got well in a hurry when Danny Ainge swung a seven-for-one deal to pry Kevin Garnett from Minnesota and packaged the No. 5 overall pick to Seattle for Ray Allen.

Just like that, the Celtics had two All-Stars to complement long-suffering Paul Pierce.

The Lakers, for their part, became instant contenders shortly before the trade deadline when the Memphis Grizzlies gave the gift of Pau Gasol.

Bryant can’t win a championship alone, but Gasol and Lamar Odom give him plenty of playmaking company.

“We’re really focused on being able to upgrade for next year’s playoffs,” Morey said. “Don’t judge the team on Oct. 1. We think we’ve got a lot of assets that a lot of teams want — a lot of ways to upgrade. Often the best opportunities to use those come at trade deadlines.”

It will be interesting to see what kind of players Morey and the gang will covet. Clearly, Houston needs an upgrade at the power forward position, as well as a stronger and more reliable bench.

An intriguing trade asset that they will have to dangle is Bobby Jackson’s approximate $6.1 million expiring contract, which could be packaged with young role players (such as Luther Head, Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes, etc.) and/or draft picks to appease opposing teams.

Outside of that, however, it’s tough to imagine many teams banging on the door for Houston’s spare parts. Morey may have to make a bold move in order to bring something of helpful value. Keep your eyes peeled.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that Rockets forward Shane Battier will forgo his chances to participate in the 2008 Olympics with Team USA.

With his rehabilitation from last week’s ankle surgery expected to extend well into July, Rockets forward Shane Battier said on Wednesday that he will no longer be a candidate for the United States Olympic team that will compete in Beijing beginning Aug. 8.

“I just got off the crutches today,” Battier said. “After talking to Dr. (Tom) Clanton, I won’t start running until after July 4. There is a (USA Basketball) minicamp the last weekend in June. If you can’t play in the minicamp, you probably can’t make the team, so that that probably means the decision has been made.

“It’s disappointing. At the same time, I was honored to be considered. I feel good about what USA Basketball has done. I think they’ll be a great team and win the gold medal.”

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Battier, 29, said he does not plan to play internationally in other events.

“I think I will move on,” Battier said. “It was a great experience for me. But with my family and my off-court commitment growing, they will get my undivided attention.”

Battier, known as one of the better defensive players in the league, was named to the NBA’s 2007-2008 All-Defensive Second Team this season. The seven-year veteran held averages of 9.3 points, 5.1 rebounds (his most since joining the Rockets in 2006), 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game to go with those defensive credentials.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman

“It is what it is,” said McGrady after another first round exit, making it seven straight post-seasons where his team has failed to advance. Despite being “a one-man wrecking ball out there” as described by Rockets forward Shane Battier, Tracy McGrady and the Rockets were bounced out by the Utah Jazz in six games. Despite having won game 5 by 26 points forcing a game 6, the Rockets came out cold from the start and never really got themselves going. Their only run came late in the second quarter, were the Rockets, in large part due to 28 first half points by McGrady were able to erase a 16 point Utah lead, and bring it to one just before half time before Okur hit a 3 to stretch the Utah lead back to 4. However, after halftime the Rockets lost all momentum they had gained and were outplayed on both sides of the court. Despite McGrady’s 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists the Rockets lost by 22.

Despite the loss the Rockets were positive about their future, not a surprise considering that this team was not supposed to make the playoffs after Yao went down halfway through their historic 22 game winning streak; much less force a game 6 against one of the contenders in the West.

From here the Rockets can only move forward. With a healthy Yao next year the Rockets will have another scorer accompanying McGrady, taking some of the focus of the shooting guard star. However, the Rockets do not to address certain needs. This series showed that the Rockets still need a relievable back-up point guard, as it is obvious that Bobby Jackson is no longer the player he once was. The Rockets also need to find another shooter, as they were unable to knock down open 3 point shots this series. Luther Head struggled dramatically this series leaving his future roll up in the air, and unless Steve Novak learns how to play defense anytime soon, he will continue to play limited minutes.

-TMG

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets signed Dikembe Mutombo to a one-year contract on Monday, extending the 41-year-old center’s NBA career into a 16th season.

Mutombo:

“I’m going to enjoy every second and every minute of my last year in the NBA,” he said. “I hope my farewell tour will be a nice memorable one.”

The 7-foot-2, 260-pound Mutombo ended up playing a pivotal role for Houston last season, when Yao Ming broke a bone in his right leg and missed 33 games. Mutombo started in his place and averaged five points, 10 rebounds and 1.45 blocks.

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Great News for the Rockets. The rockets look ready to take the next step this year as they made a few moves in the off-season to get a lil better. Keeping Mutombo allows that to happen. Would be awesome to send the bigman out of top with a ring wouldn’t it?