Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 12 rebounds, Luis Scola also
scored 14 and the Houston Rockets beat the Detroit Pistons 97-80 on
Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Kyle Lowry had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists for the
Rockets, who outrebounded the Pistons 42-35 to offset 21 turnovers.
Houston shot 49 percent (40 of 81) from the field and scored 21
points off 17 offensive rebounds.

Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points, Ben Gordon had 18 and Rodney
Stuckey added 16 off the bench for the Pistons, who’ve dropped
eight of nine.

The Pistons missed six of their first seven shots as the Rockets
built an early lead. Detroit coach Lawrence Frank was hoping to
strengthen his team’s interior defense by starting Ben Wallace, but
Dalembert had three dunks in the first 9 minutes.

Chandler Parsons swooped in for another slam, and Lowry cut
inside for a layup as the Rockets used a 13-2 spurt to take a 24-10
lead. Houston helped Detroit with six turnovers in the quarter, and
the Pistons cut the deficit to eight by the start of the
second.

The Rockets got sloppy again just before halftime, and the
Pistons closed the gap to 42-38. Lowry made a 3 in the final 30
seconds of the half, and Houston led 47-40 at the break.

Lowry hit three 3s in the game, and Houston finished 8 for 19
from beyond the arc.

Detroit missed 12 of its first 16 shots in the third quarter,
and the Rockets stretched the margin to 62-49. Houston has held
double-digit leads in seven consecutive games, its longest streak
since the 2008-09 season.

The Rockets controlled the boards early in the fourth quarter to
preserve a comfortable lead. Backup point guard Goran Dragic turned
two steals into breakaway layups to extend the gap to 80-66 with
just under 7 minutes left.

Dragic found a cutting Parsons for a two-handed dunk with 2:45
remaining to make it 89-72. Dragic sank a 3-pointer a minute later
to give Houston its biggest lead of the game, 92-74.

The Rockets improved to 5-1 at home, and 4-1 against Eastern
Conference teams this season. The Pistons are 0-9 this season when
they get outrebounded.

NOTES: Houston has won 17 consecutive games when holding its
opponent below 90 points. … Dalembert recorded his second
double-double of the season. … Rockets G Courtney Lee returned
after sitting out eight games with a right calf strain. F Jordan
Hill left with flu-like symptoms and did not return. … Wallace
made his first start of the season at power forward, replacing
Jonas Jerebko. Frank says he’ll try the switch for “a period of
games.” … Pistons G Will Bynum sat out for the second straight
game with a strained right foot. … The Pistons are 0-10 when
trailing after the first quarter, and 0-11 when trailing after
three quarters this season.

HOUSTON
– Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 12 rebounds, Luis Scola also scored 14 and the Houston Rockets beat the Detroit Pistons 97-80 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.

Kyle Lowry had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Rockets, who outrebounded the Pistons 42-35 to offset 21 turnovers. Houston shot 49 percent (40 of 81) from the field and scored 21 points off 17 offensive rebounds.

Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points, Ben Gordon had 18 and Rodney Stuckey added 16 off the bench for the Pistons, who’ve dropped eight of nine.

The Pistons missed six of their first seven shots as the Rockets built an early lead. Detroit coach Lawrence Frank was hoping to strengthen his team’s interior defense by starting Ben Wallace, but Dalembert had three dunks in the first 9 minutes.

Chandler Parsons swooped in for another slam, and Lowry cut inside for a layup as the Rockets used a 13-2 spurt to take a 24-10 lead. Houston helped Detroit with six turnovers in the quarter, and the Pistons cut the deficit to eight by the start of the second.

The Rockets got sloppy again just before halftime, and the Pistons closed the gap to 42-38. Lowry made a 3 in the final 30 seconds of the half, and Houston led 47-40 at the break.

Lowry hit three 3s in the game, and Houston finished 8 for 19 from beyond the arc.

Detroit missed 12 of its first 16 shots in the third quarter, and the Rockets stretched the margin to 62-49. Houston has held double-digit leads in seven consecutive games, its longest streak since the 2008-09 season.

The Rockets controlled the boards early in the fourth quarter to preserve a comfortable lead. Backup point guard Goran Dragic turned two steals into breakaway layups to extend the gap to 80-66 with just under 7 minutes left.

Dragic found a cutting Parsons for a two-handed dunk with 2:45 remaining to make it 89-72. Dragic sank a 3-pointer a minute later to give Houston its biggest lead of the game, 92-74.

The Rockets improved to 5-1 at home, and 4-1 against Eastern Conference teams this season. The Pistons are 0-9 this season when they get outrebounded.

NOTES: Houston has won 17 consecutive games when holding its opponent below 90 points. … Dalembert recorded his second double-double of the season. … Rockets G Courtney Lee returned after sitting out eight games with a right calf strain. F Jordan Hill left with flu-like symptoms and did not return. … Wallace made his first start of the season at power forward, replacing Jonas Jerebko. Frank says he’ll try the switch for “a period of games.” … Pistons G Will Bynum sat out for the second straight game with a strained right foot. … The Pistons are 0-10 when trailing after the first quarter, and 0-11 when trailing after three quarters this season.

The Washington Wizards tried their hand at a matinee game on January 16. Celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, The Wizards hoped to fare better in the daylight than they have in night games this season. There were plenty of positives at the end of this one. John Wall set a new career high with 38 points scored. The team cracked the century mark for the first time this season. In the end though, it all added up to a 114-106 loss to the Houston Rockets and now a 1-12 record.

John Wall was simply spectacular on the day, as seen on CSN Washington. 38 points topped his career best and hopefully signals better days ahead for the second year pro. He added eight assists and six rebounds. His hands seemed to be everywhere and produced a number of timely steals. Maybe when Flip Saunders sat him in the second quarter against Philadelphia on January 14, it awoke something in him. He looked like the Kentucky Wall, flying around the court and having fun.

If he can keep that going and keep his emotions in check, the Wizards will be okay. Both he and Andray Blatche took unnecessary technical fouls for griping at the refs, giving Houston an automatic two points from the line. That was because Houston only missed one foul shot on the night. With all that said though, the Wizards had the game within five down the stretch, but the turnover bugaboo crept up again and bit this team in the butt.

That was not the only thing that got them in trouble though. I felt this game was actually lost in the third period when I saw the single most, it is about me play in the history of the game. John Wall and Trevor Booker fight hard to turn a steal into a fast break. They feed the ball to JaVale McGee, who all of the sudden thinks he is at the All-Star game. He tosses the ball off of the backboard so that he can do a highlight reel dunk.

What a smart move, to try and show up the other team. Houston promptly came out and blew the Wizards away the rest of the quarter, outscoring them 19 to 4. Flip Saunders yanked him from the game later on and left him out for most of the fourth quarter. The Washington Post had comments after the game that showed that McGee did not understand the uproar and Nick Young thought it was a great maneuver.

If you want to know what is wrong with this team, look no further than that. Too many guys that are in it for themselves. Take as many shots as you can and see what personal number you can get to. The Wizards need constant reminders that this is a team sport and not an all-star weekend one on one showcase. Until guys like McGee and Young figure out what the team concept is all about, this team will flounder in its own stupidity.

John Atchison is a Washington based writer that enjoys the Washington Sports scene. He has followed the Bullets/Wizards since the early seventies and hopes for a return to glory soon. Follow him on Twitter @John_Atchison.

Sources: CSN Washington

washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards

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CBSSports.com wire reports
Jan. 16, 2012

WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards have the NBA’s worst record, and their coach believes some of the players are trying to be too flashy.

Early in the third quarter of a 114-106 loss to the Houston Rockets, Washington center JaVale McGee had a breakaway. Instead of choosing simply to dunk, McGee, who finished second in the NBA’s dunk contest last February, threw the ball against the backboard and stuffed it.

His coach, Flip Saunders, glared at him and watched as the Rockets promptly turned a four-point lead into a 19-point advantage. McGee sat out the last nine minutes of the game while John Wall’s 38 points made it somewhat competitive.

Saunders couldn’t hide his disdain for his fourth-year center’s antics.

“That’s unacceptable. Maybe I’m too old school. Save that for the All-Star game,” Saunders said. “We have some players that look for highlights instead of substance.”

Washington lost for the 12th time in 13 games, and its next four games are against Oklahoma City, Denver, Boston and Philadelphia.

“Apparently if you get a fast break and throw it off the backboard in the third quarter and you’re 1-11, you’re not supposed to do stuff like that,” McGee said.

Saunders has called out his 22-year-old center several times for showboat plays. McGee defended his play, and said he didn’t regret it.

“I feel like I was trying to get the team hyped and make a good play. I felt like we did that – and we went on a run there,” McGee said.

Actually, Washington didn’t start their run until the fourth quarter — with McGee on the bench. Wall’s 18 points in the quarter cut the Rockets’ lead to five with 4:47 remaining.

“They made a little run on us, but part of that was just our turnovers and we missed some shots,” Houston coach Kevin McHale said. “I was mildly concerned, but I thought our guys would get it back.”

Kevin Martin scored 25 points and Samuel Dalembert added 20 for the Rockets.

Wall scored his career-high 38 on 13-of-22 shooting. He began the game making under 35 percent this season.

“I know it’s great to have those type of numbers, but it don’t mean nothing if you don’t have a win, so I just think I had a good game, but I didn’t get the win,” Wall said.

Luis Scola had 18 and Kyle Lowry had 16 for the Rockets in their highest-scoring game of the season.

Houston outscored the Wizards 25-6 during an eight-minute stretch in the third quarter. Dalembert hit all six of his shots in the period.

The Rockets made 25 of 26 foul shots in winning their third straight game.

Martin hit all 10 of his free throws. In Saturday’s win against Portland, he made 12 of 13. He also had a career-high eight assists against the Wizards.

In his first 11 games this season, Martin averaged 3.4 free-throw attempts per game — well below his career average. He says he’s adjusting to a new NBA rule that restricts shooting fouls.

“I’ve got to adapt to it,” Martin said. “Just be aggressive. If they want to give me the call, they will. If not, I’ve got to find other ways.”

Washington lost despite its highest point total of the season. Jordan Crawford had 17 points.

Crawford ended the first quarter with a 38-foot 3-point shot to give Washington a 28-27 lead. In the second quarter, Houston went on a 17-4 run to take a 52-44 lead with 3:32 remaining.

Notes

• Washington F Andray Blatche, who missed three games with a sprained right shoulder, returned and had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Blatche and Wall were assessed with technical fouls within a minute in the third quarter.
• Wizards F Rashard Lewis was out with a sore right knee.
• Rockets swingman Courtney Lee missed his eighth straight game with a strained right calf.
• McHale fired Saunders when he was general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves in February 2005. It was their first on-court meeting as NBA coaches.
• The Rockets have held double-digit leads in their last six games. Last year, they never had double-digit leads in more than five straight.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have gotten a couple of much-needed days off
following one of the most hectic opening schedules in the league. They won’t get
any more rest this weekend.

They’ll play three games in three days beginning with a home-and-home series
against the Houston Rockets that starts Friday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Oklahoma City was one of two teams along with the Los Angeles Lakers to play
seven games in the first 10 days of the season, and the Thunder (5-2) appeared
to show signs of fatigue toward the end of that stretch.

They dropped back-to-back games following their first 5-0 start since
winning six in a row to open the 1998-99 season when they were the Seattle
SuperSonics.

Oklahoma City averaged 90.0 points and shot 41.9 percent over its two
defeats after averaging 102.0 points on 48.0 percent shooting during the
unbeaten start. The Thunder are 10 for 39 (25.6 percent) from 3-point range in
two games this month after leading the Western Conference in December at 41.7
percent.

They haven’t played since Tuesday, when Kevin Durant was 1 of 7 on 3-point
tries and missed 18 of 26 shots overall in a 103-93 loss to Portland. While
Durant had 19 points for his second-lowest total of the season, James Harden
scored a team-best 23 starting for an ill Thabo Sefolosha.

“We definitely miss (Sefolosha), but there are no excuses,” coach Scott
Brooks said. “We have enough in our locker room to get the job done. … We just
have to play better. We understand that sometimes it takes a tough loss.”

The two-day break could lead to an improved performance Friday, as could a
matchup with a Rockets team which is winless in four road games. Oklahoma City
has won four of five over Houston (2-4), including three straight at home by
double digits.

The teams meet again Saturday night at the Toyota Center before the Thunder
host San Antonio on Sunday.

“Three in a row is going to be tough, but it’s something we’ve got to fight
through,” Durant said. “The two days off before is going to help.”

Durant reached 30 points in each of the first four games but hasn’t done so
in the last three, averaging 19.3. He’s scored at least 30 in the last two
matchups with the Rockets.

“I’m a scorer, so I can’t get down on one game,” the two-time scoring
champion said. “I can’t let it snowball to the next.”

Houston, meanwhile, is trying to salvage the end of a three-game trip that
included its most lopsided defeat of the season, 117-89 to the Los Angeles
Clippers on Wednesday.

The Rockets gave up 41 points in the first quarter – the most allowed by any
team in one period this season – and scored 14 in the fourth, their fewest in
one period.

“We made mistakes offensively and defensively,” said guard Kyle Lowry, who
scored a team-high 17 points. “It’s just something we’ve got to figure out. We
can’t have nights like this. It was a terrible day for us.”

Lowry was one of six players in double figures during Houston’s lone win
over Oklahoma City last season, 99-98 on Nov. 28, 2010. Kevin Martin had a
team-best 23 points and has averaged 23.3 over his last 15 matchups with the
Thunder.

Martin has averaged 12.8 points in Houston’s four road losses, compared to
26.0 in its two home wins.

By Brian McDonald

– Staff Writer

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Jan 3, 2012 – All 30 teams were put in a tough spot this season with a shortened pre-season and regular season, but few teams have a tougher opening stretch than the Houston Rockets. Not only are the Rockets having to learn a new system under a new coach, work in a few new players, but on top of those issues, they have a killer first 10 games on their schedule. Nine of their first ten opponents were either playoff teams last year and/or strong favorites to make the playoffs this season, and 7 of those 10 games are on the road.

They have games remaining at both LA teams, 2 games vs. the Thunder, and another game with the Spurs during the first 10 games; if they can get out of this stretch at 5-5 or even 4-6, it’s a positive sign. During their next 10 games, they’ll only face 3 likely playoff teams. The Rockets record will probably make it look like they haven’t turned the corner after the first 10, but be patient, this team will continue to improve and the schedule is about to get much softer.

So what should we look for even when the game ends in a loss? In the season preview I wrote for the Rockets, I mentioned needing to get their defensive ranking from 22nd where it had been the last couple years, into the middle of the pack to at least 15th; they’re currently ranked 17th this season. They’re scoring is a little down but with the players they have, that shouldn’t remain a problem. Right now they’re giving up 96 points a game, if they can keep that number under 100 as an average during the first 10 games, I’d take that as a very positive sign. During these next 6 games I’d also like to see Dalembert’s playing time start to increase. I’d like to see Patrick Patterson get into shape after his surgery and find the game he had towards the end of last season. I’d also like to see Chase Budinger make some progress or I feel it will be time to consider Courtney Lee or Terrance Williams to take his place. I’d also like to see them play better on the road even in losses. So far they’ve lost their two road games by an average of 14.5 points per game; they have road games remaining at the Lakers, Clippers, Thunder, and Spurs.

I believe this team is better than it has been over the last two seasons. That being said, they still have a lot of work to do to prove it. A strong showing in their next 6 games is a great way to start.

Read More: Courtney Lee (G – HOU), Chase Budinger (F – HOU), Patrick Patterson (F – HOU), San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers

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The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets January 3 in the Staples Center after a much-needed day of rest. The Lakers split their series with the Denver Nuggets and now they will see a Houston team that is tough to figure out.

Andrew Bynum is never afraid of contact under the bucket.
Photo By Bridget Samuels Wikimedia Commons

The Rockets have a 2-2 record and their games have ranged from a 20-point win over the aging San Antonio Spurs to a 20-point shellacking at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies. This early in the season it is difficult to measure any NBA teams as they play back-to-back games and struggle to learn new offenses and new faces.

The teams with the advantages are teams with little or no personnel changes and teams that have not switched coaches since last season. The Lakers are dealing with both situations and it shows on nights when they play back-to-back like they did with the Nuggets over the New Years holiday.

The Lakers age showed in their game with Denver and the altitude did not help the veteran team. A rested Andrew Bynum contributed in his first two games of the NBA season and he capped off the home and home with Denver by hauling down 16 rebounds and taking the pressure off Pau Gasol down low.

Gasol scored 20 points in the Lakers 99-90 loss to Denver but it shows that the Lakers have a tough time winning when Kobe Bryant gets marginalized by an aggressive defense. Bryant scored 16 points against Denver and this Lakers team must pitch in when Kobe has an off night.

Bryant will be tough to contain against the Rockets with a day of a rest under his belt. Bryant went 1-8 from three-point range and shot a miserable 6-28 overall from the field against the Nuggets in the altitude at Denver but that is already a memory and Bryant will be back in the comfort of Staples Center for his game against the Rockets.

Metta World Peace has been hard to get a handle on early in the season. He went without a point in the first game against the Nuggets and then went 1-4 from three-point territory in the second game while scoring 10 points.

The Lakers three losses early in the season are a concern but there are still 60 games left on the schedule and the Lakers have a deeper team than last year. New free agent acquisitions like Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts got the Lakers front office laughed at in the off-season but they are making their presence known in the early games.

McRoberts, nicknamed the “White Shadow” by Lakers head coach Mike Brown, is a nice addition off the bench and he has contributed as a change of pace component coming into the game at key times. The season is just beginning and the Lakers nation needs to relax and enjoy watching this team develop into a contender. Starting the season with 10 consecutive wins is nice but this year will be a fun year as the team builds for the post season.

*Todd Jacobs is a native Southern Californian and longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan since the early ’70s.

Sources:

ESPN Clubhouse: Los Angeles Lakers news and stats.

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MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Zach Randolph scored 23 points, Marc Gasol added 20, and the Memphis Grizzlies earned their first victory of the season, beating the Houston Rockets 113-93 on Friday night.

Randolph shot 11 of 14 and grabbed nine rebounds. Gasol and Rudy Gay, who finished with 10 points, each had eight boards as Memphis outrebounded the Rockets 42-33.

Six Grizzlies finished in double figures, including Jeremy Pargo’s 14 and 13 by Quincy Pondexter.

Kevin Martin led the Rockets with 21 points, while Kyle Lowry had 15 points and eight assists. Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 13 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, all in the fourth quarter.

Memphis shot 56 percent and forced 20 Houston turnovers. The Grizzlies put away the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets 31-16.

Memphis opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run for a double-digit lead and eventually carried a 57-51 lead into the locker room, shooting 56 percent.

Randolph had 15 in the half, while Gasol scored 13. Martin had 19 points at the break for the Rockets and Lowry contributed 13, going a combined 10 of 16 from the field.

Memphis extended its lead by opening the second half with an 18-7 run, claiming a 75-58 margin just past the midway point of the third period.

The Grizzlies continued to pour on the offense, fueled by defense. The Rockets were 6 of 20 in the quarter, leading to Memphis outscoring Houston 31-16, giving the Grizzlies an 88-67 lead entering the fourth.

Houston made a small dent in the advantage as Parsons began hitting, scoring all his points in the fourth quarter. He was 5 of 9 from the field, connecting on all three of his shots outside the arc.

But even with a rally behind the rookie, the Rockets never really threatened.

NOTES:  Hasheem Thabeet, drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 2 overall pick in 2009, returned to the FedExForum for the first time since he was traded to the Rockets last February. He was on the inactive list for Friday’s game. .Rockets coach Kevin McHale said fast-paced teams seem to be dominating the early games in the league, partially because of the short training camp. “Open court, free-flowing basketball is pretty instinctual to most of the NBA players,” McHale said before the game. “You don’t have to have as much structure in that as you do when you get sets. .A lot of things happen in those five-man sets with 14 seconds on the shot clock that are not good right now in the NBA.” .Patrick Patterson, in his second season out of Kentucky, saw his first action of the season after being inactive for the first two games with a right ankle injury. .Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley did not dress for the game, still suffering from a left ankle injury suffered in the opening minutes of Memphis’ Wednesday night loss to Oklahoma City.

Zach Randolph led the Memphis Grizzlies in scoring, though coach Lionel Hollins wanted to talk about something else.

“That’s the best defense I’ve seen Zach play since he’s been here,” Hollins said after Randolph’s 23 points led the Grizzlies to their first victory of the season, 113-93 over the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

Marc Gasol, who was 6 of 8 from the field, added 20, as the Grizzlies had six players in double figures. Randolph shot 11 of 14 and grabbed nine rebounds. Gasol and Rudy Gay, who finished with 10 points, each had eight boards as Memphis outrebounded the Rockets 42-33.

“Any time you have Randolph and Gasol go 17 of 22, you are going to have major issues,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said.

Randolph, who doesn’t have a reputation as a strong defender, was part of a Grizzlies front line that held Houston starters Chase Budinger, Luis Scola and Jordan Hill to a total of 17 points, 11 from Budinger.

While Randolph didn’t necessarily agree with Hollins’ assessment of the defensive effort being his best, he did acknowledge trying to concentrate more on that end of the floor.

“That’s what I’m trying to focus on, just better D, helping my guys out and being in the right position,” Randolph said, adding, “Defense wins games. I know I can score with the best of them, and rebound with the best of them. (Working) on defense there’s going to be a trickle-down effect, and everybody gets to playing defense and moving their feet and helping each other out.”

Jeremy Pargo, starting in place of injured Memphis point guard Mike Conley, finished with 14 points, while Quincy Pondexter, picked up in a preseason trade with New Orleans, had 13.

Kevin Martin led the Rockets with 21 points, while Kyle Lowry had 15 points and eight assists. Rookie Chandler Parsons scored 13 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, all in the fourth quarter.

Memphis shot 56 percent and forced 20 Houston turnovers. The Grizzlies put away the game in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets 31-16.

The victory was another step in Memphis establishing its identity as an inside force that carried the Grizzlies to the semifinals of last season’s Western Conference playoffs.

“Defensively and offensively, we can get a lot better,” Gasol said, “but this is more who we are. You saw some things last game (Wednesday’s 98-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder) and today for longer periods, we played better.”

Memphis opened the second quarter on a 10-2 run for a double-digit lead and eventually carried a 57-51 lead into the locker room, shooting 56 percent.

Randolph had 15 in the half, while Gasol scored 13. Martin had 19 points at the break for the Rockets and Lowry contributed 13, going a combined 10 of 16 from the field.

“We started off the game, and (Randolph) made some shot that we didn’t want him to take, those long jump shots, and he just got on a roll,” McHale said. “We couldn’t stop him.”

Memphis extended its lead by opening the second half with an 18-7 run, claiming a 75-58 margin just past the midway point of the third period.

The Grizzlies continued to pour on the offense, fueled by defense. The Rockets were 6 of 20 in the quarter, leading to Memphis outscoring Houston 31-16, giving the Grizzlies an 88-67 lead entering the fourth.

Houston made a small dent in the advantage as Parsons began hitting, scoring all his points in the fourth quarter. He was 5 of 9 from the field, connecting on all three of his shots outside the arc.

But even with a rally behind the rookie, the Rockets never really threatened.

“I think as guards, we should help our big men,” Lowry said. “They had their hands full given those two (Randolph and Gasol) are really great players. They definitely wore down our defense.”

Meanwhile, Memphis players are recognizing the importance of defense on their own end of the floor, and that an aggressive approach leads to more scoring opportunities.

And Randolph was the one getting the accolades for his defense.

“He understands for us to go to the next level, we need everybody to be engaged defensively,” Gasol said.

NOTES: Hasheem Thabeet, drafted by the Grizzlies with the No. 2 overall pick in 2009, returned to the FedExForum for the first time since he was traded to the Rockets last February. He was on the inactive list for Friday’s game. .McHale said fast-paced teams seem to be dominating the early games in the league, partially because of the short training camp. “Open court, free-flowing basketball is pretty instinctual to most of the NBA players,” McHale said before the game. “You don’t have to have as much structure in that as you do when you get sets. .A lot of things happen in those five-man sets with 14 seconds on the shot clock that are not good right now in the NBA.” .Patrick Patterson, in his second season out of Kentucky, saw his first action of the season after being inactive for the first two games with a right ankle injury. .Grizzlies starting point guard Mike Conley did not dress for the game, still suffering from a left ankle injury suffered in the opening minutes of Memphis’ Wednesday night loss to Oklahoma City.

San Antonio fans came back to Earth on Thursday night (December 29, 2011) after watching their Spurs get demolished by the Houston Rockets by a score of 105-85. The Spurs had been sharp at home to start the season at 2-0, but the short trip to Houston marked their third game in four days and they were sluggish from the opening tip.

Houston won its first home game of the season in fine style, putting on a strong defensive performance as well as showcasing their new offensive talent. The Spurs were in the game until the second quarter, when they were outscored by 13, leading to a 53-35 halftime bulge for the Rockets. The Spurs played a bit better in the second half, but couldn’t muster a serious run on their tired legs. You also have to give the Rockets credit for playing solid defense throughout the game.

Center DeJuan Blair led the Spurs with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Manu Ginobli, who had led the Spurs in their previous two games, only scored 8 points in limited action. Coach Pop called off the dogs early, and let Tim Duncan, Manu and Tony Parker sit most of the second half. When questioned about the early benchings after the game, he commented he did it because he wanted to play some other guys and try some different looks.

Houston put in a well-balanced team performance and effectively executed a quick-switching defensive game plan. The Rockets were led by Kevin Martin with 256 points, and point guard Kyle Lowry came close to a triple double with 16 points, eight assists and nine rebounds. New 6’11″ acquisition Samuel Dalembert also provided a strong inside presence for Houston.

San Antonio has Friday off and then travels to Salt Lake City to play Utah on Saturday night. Houston plays the Grizzlies in Memphis Friday night.

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FedExForum, 7 p.m.

TV, radio: SportSouth/NBA TV; WMFS 92.9-FM/680-AM

Records: Grizzlies: 0-2. Rockets: 1-1.

Lineups

Grizzlies: Jeremy Pargo, 6-1, Tony Allen, 6-4, Rudy Gay, 6-8, Zach Randolph, 6-9, Marc Gasol, 7-1.

Rockets: Kyle Lowry, 6-0, Kevin Martin, 6-7, Chase Budinger, 6-7, Luis Scola, 6-9, Jordan Hill, 6-10.

The skinny

The Griz will try to earn their first victory of the season after losing to Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Memphis starting point guard Mike Conley was still in a walking boot Thursday to treat his left ankle sprain. The team is officially listing Conley’s status as day-to-day but he’s sure to miss the next few games. Pargo, a free-agent acquisition in the offseason, will replace Conley. Who to watch? Gay, who has amassed double-doubles in each of the first two games. Gay is averaging a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds.

– Ronald Tillery

Instead, the NBA killed the three-team deal and the Rockets were forced to prepare for the season with much of the same team that missed the playoffs last year with a 43-39 record.

So that means point guard Kyle Lowry and swing forward Chase Budinger will rejoin Martin and Scola in the starting lineup. It means Jordan Hill or Patrick Patterson are the likely candidates to fill the power forward spot vacated when the team couldn’t re-sign workmanlike Chuck Hayes.

And it means that Dragic, shooting guard Courtney Lee, versatile scorer Terrence Williams and rookies Marcus Morris and Chandler Parsons are going to have to provide support off the bench.

“We feel comfortable going into the season with this group,” general manager Daryl Morey said. “We’ve got a lot of young players who might be able to prove something, and get us to the next level. We really believe in many of the guys and we’ve got a lot of really talented players.

“We’re going to need our vets, like Kyle or Luis or Kevin or Courtney or Chase, we need them to step up and take it to the next level. A lot of them have that ability.”

The Rockets are breaking in a new coach trying to mix it all together.

Houston parted ways with Rick Adelman and turned to Kevin McHale, the former Celtics great who has two partial seasons coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves on his resume. Lowry, beginning his fourth season with the Rockets, said he hasn’t noticed much of a difference in their coaching styles after a week of training camp.

“It’s not rocket science,” Lowry said. “It’s simple plays, simple offense, simple movement. We’ve just got to go out there and execute. We’ve got good offensive players, so it’s always going to be hard to stop professional athletes from getting to the hole.”

The Rockets ranked third in scoring last season (105.9 points per game). McHale said he sees plenty of offensive talent, but wants crisper execution.

“These guys can make plays,” McHale said. “What we don’t do, and what we’ve got to get way better at, is a lot of little stuff. We’ve got to cut harder, we’ve got to set better screens. These guys make shots and plays, they can play offensive basketball. We’ve got to do all of the little things, because when you get in dogfight games, when the ball’s not going in the hole, you’ve got to do all of the little stuff that’s going to help you win games.”

Houston ranked 22nd in total defense (103.7 points per game) last season and McHale emphasized team defense during the first week of practice. McHale said the Rockets made basic errors in their preseason opener, even though they held San Antonio to 35 percent shooting in a 101-87 victory.

“Our defensive mistakes are all correctable,” McHale said. “Making a better close-out, chucking out on the boards to make sure we don’t give up long offensive rebounds, better stunting, better positioning in the post, all that stuff is correctable.”

The schedule is demanding from the start, with seven of the first 10 games on the road starting with Monday’s opener at Orlando. The Rockets will play 23 back-to-back sets in all, and conclude 14 of them on the road.

McHale and the players are all just glad they can concentrate on basketball after the tumultuous first few days of training camp. Martin, Scola and Dragic awkwardly returned to the team after the trade fell through and met with McHale.

Martin, last year’s leading scorer (23.5 points per game) seemed frustrated by the chain of events, while the good-natured Scola, last year’s top rebounder (8.2 per game), laughed it off.

A week later, everyone seemed to have moved on.

“I think we’ve got a good team,” Scola said. “We may be one or two pieces short. Maybe, maybe not. But we have a lot of players who can play, and we have a lot of players at different positions, which is good. We’ve got depth.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys, that you never really know if they’re going to flow or not,” he said. “Hopefully, some of these guys surprise us.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Houston Rockets extended a contract for the services of Memphis Grizzlies Center Marc Gasol.  The $55 Million Dollar 4 year deal is the most the Rockets can offer Gasol, as he is a restricted free agent.  Being a restricted free agent means that the Grizzlies have the option to match any offer received by Gasol and he has to stay if they do.  Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told NBA.com on Sunday that his team would match the offer.

The Houston Rockets originally had arranged for a multi-team trade for Gasol’s older brother Pau but the move had been vetoed by the NBA. No stranger to trade talk involving the Gasol Family, the Los Angeles Lakers had previosuly traded their rights to Marc Gasol in order to secure the trade for the older Pau Gasol.  This is the first time in NBA history that one brother was traded for another.

Marc Gasol stands at 7’1 and has had an amazing run in his two seasons in the NBA.  He broke the Memphis Grizzlies franchise rookie record of the highest field goal percentage at the end of the season by shooting 53%. The previous record was held by his older brother Pau, who shot 51.8% from the field his rookie season.He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

Do you agree with the decision to tender Marc Gasol a contract by the Houston Rockets?

Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore has learned who the Orlando Magic will play in their 2011 home opener.

Pingalore said the Magic will host the Houston Rockets on Dec. 26.

The Magic will open their season on the road against Oklahoma City on Christmas night.

The Magic will play preseason games against the Miami Heat on Dec. 18 in Miami and the Dec. 21 in Orlando.

Training camp is set to start Dec. 9.

The NBA will release all schedules Tuesday at 7 p.m., Pingalore said.

NBA players were officially allowed back into team facilities last Thursday.

HOUSTON – Houston Rockets forward Patrick Patterson knows a thing or two about making the most of his opportunities.

He didn’t get his first real chance to show what he could do as a rookie last season until New Year’s Eve.

Patterson responded with the first double-double of his career, 15 points and 10 rebounds against Toronto, and from that point on only missed two games the rest of the season as he became a permanent part of the rotation.

Patterson decided to use the NBA lockout in a similiar fashion.

Bothered for three years by bone spurs in his right ankle, he decided in August to do something about it.

Patterson underwent a procedure to eliminate the problem.

“Extremely important,” Patterson said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “I’ve had it for a long time and I’ve always told my trainers about it. They said if it got to the point where it hurt all the time then have surgery, but if not keep playing and I kept playing.

“During the lockout I felt the need to finally go ahead and get it done since it was the perfect time and now I feel a whole lot better. I feel like I can play like I used to play in high school.

“It was a blessing in disguise as far as getting the procedure done. So I finally got that situation settled and fixed and I’m ready to go.”

Patterson may have been bothered by the sore ankle for three years, but he still played at a high level in college and his rookie season in the NBA.

“It’s all about your pain threshold,” Patterson said. “How much you can tolerate it? Just constantly going to the trainers every single day and treating it as a regular ankle sprain. That’s what I did through college and that’s what I did in Houston my rookie year.”

The hilight of Patterson’s rookie season came during a three game stretch at Toyota Center against Phoenix, Charlotte and Boston in March when he had three consecutive double-doubles.

He got it done with a painfully sore right ankle.

Patterson predicts the Rockets will notice a difference in him as he plays with his pain-free right ankle.

“I had a lot of exposion during my rookie year, but I could jump out of the gym back in high school and I was lot more active,” Patterson said. “I had a lot more agility in high school than I did throughout college and my rookie year in the NBA.

“Now I’m hoping I can get back to what I was back then. I’m more comfortable, (have) more flexibility. I’m able to jump higher and just do more without pain.”

Patterson, who averaged 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, said it was critical for him to show the folks who drafted him that they did the right thing.

“When I finally got my chance it was great,” Patterson said. “I just wanted to prove to the coaching staff and to my teammates and to the Houston Rockets and the fans, that it was wise to choose me with the 14th pick in the draft.

“The second half of the season when I started playing more and got in the lineup I felt like I did a good job at that. That was my base. I want to continue to rise up from that.”

Patterson knows the experience he was able to get his first year in the NBA will help him a great deal going forward.

“Now since I’ve gotten some games under my belt I definitely feel more comfortable on the court,” Patterson said. “I know what I need to do. I feel like once we start playing in the games now I’ll be able to perform a lot better and help out my teammates anyway I can.”

And Patterson said he can’t way to play for new Rockets Coach Kevin McHale.

“I’m definitely blessed that I have Coach Kevin McHale as my head coach, being the great player that he was and the tremendous coach that he is right now.
He knows how to win and he’s a big man coach and hopefully I can flourish under his system and his teachings.”

Patterson played for two different coaches at Kentucky and doesn’t consider it a big deal that he will have his second coach in two years with the Rockets.

“Having a new coach now, it’s all about getting to know him and getting to know the system and just doing what he expects and wants of me,” Patterson said.

Like all NBA players Patterson is hopefull Rockets fans will treat them this year, like they did last season before the Lockout.

“With arms wide open, with excitement and just excited that basketball is back and support us like they did throughout last year when we had our injuries, when Yao went out, when Shane (Battier) got traded, through all the ups and downs that we had, still showing that great fan support game in and game out.

Patterson will certainly use every opportunity he gets to make sure Rockets’ fans get what they came for.

MIAMI (AFP) – Former Boston Celtics great Kevin McHale said he has agreed to coach the Houston Rockets, taking over from Rick Adelman.

“I was a little uncertain whether I was going to jump in with both feet — I wanted it to be the right situation — but after spending time with them, I felt this is a good situation to get involved in,” McHale told NBA.com prior to game one of the NBA finals.

McHale’s name had been linked with the Rockets last week. They reportedly made him an offer on Friday after a month-long search to replace Adelman, who was not retained after a 43-39 season that did not include a playoff berth.

If 2.26-metre Chinese star center Yao Ming, who missed all but five games last season with a broken foot, is able to return to the NBA and the Rockets, he will have a former NBA star big man as his new coach.

McHale, 53, spent 13 seasons with the Celtics and together with NBA legend Larry Bird helped them capture three NBA titles in the 1980s. He was twice named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year as top reserve and averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds for his career.

Off the court, McHale takes over a club at the start of the season for the first time after two interim coaching stints with Minnesota.

McHale went 19-12 as an interim coach at the end of the 2004-2005 season after the Timberwolves fired Flip Saunders.

During the 2008-2009 campaign, the T-Wolves ownership asked him to return to a coaching job and he went 20-43 but was removed from the job after the season.