Yao Back, Summer League and Other Notes

Yao Ming, Yao Ming, Yao Ming Yao Ming
Yesterday Yao Ming took part in a warm up game for the Olympics with his native Chinese National Team. He put up 11 points in 12 minutes and looked rusty by all accounts that aren't full of crap. AP on ESPN article here I have no idea if Yao is rushing back at all, but it seems to fall in line with what most thought, he'd be out until July or August, and here we are right in the middle. My hope is that he doesn't play any more in the warm ups, but I highly doubt I get my wish. And since that is the case, I'll just amend it to say that I hope he plays less than 15 minutes in any non-Olympic game before the NBA season starts. Yao and Lebron also have a pretty cool new Coke commerical out (h/t on the video to Clutchfans)

Summer League Game 2 Action
Unfortunately I did not get to see last nights game, because, well... as much as I love the Rockets, I can only watch so many Summer League games. They are BRUTAL in a lot of ways to watch. I can read a box score though.

1. Greene Machine
Donte Greene had his inevitable fall back to earth. He shot 4-17 (3-8 from behind the arc, so 1-9 inside it) and scored 17 points. I know we've been watching Tracy McGrady for a long time, so we all know that this was not a good 17 points. Greene also went from 0 turnovers in game one to 4 in game two. He did go 6-6 from the line though, so that is nice.

2. The Midget
Great to have a better game from Aaron Brooks. He shot way too many times and not so well at that, but he had 7 assists and only 2 turnovers. MUCH better than Monday's debacle of a game for him. Brooks even cut down on on his fouls from 9 all the way down to 3!

3. The Guy I'm in No Way Thrilled with
Joey Dorsey made his debut last night. I have no idea why I didn't realize the issue on Monday is that he didn't have a contract. Dorsey is still without one, but the Rockets have insurance in place in case he gets hurt so he will play the rest of the Summer League. He went 4-4 from the field, but paired that with a cute 0-6 from the line. He had 14 rebounds, but they were almost all nullified by his 6 fouls and 6 turnovers. I want to like this guy, but he was a lazy bastard in college, played for a coach I think is sleazy and I just genuinely didn't like him before he was a Rocket. But Joey, I tell you what, I'm going to put all your stripper loving, lazy stuff behind us. From now until you screw up, and hopefully you never do, I'm going to try and like you.

4. My parents loved the letter A Leunen
Like I said, I didn't get to watch the game, but it sure seems like Maaaaarty is better than I was hoping for. 17 points on 5-9 shooting (3-5 3s and 4-5 FT) and 5 rebounds for him. I don't think there is any room on the roster for him, but maybe later in the season, or even next season we'll see how he make the NBA transition

Stephen A Smith
F you. Actually, F you and anyone that employs your pathetic excuse for an NBA reporter existence. First of all, screaming something louder makes it seem more wrong, not all of the sudden un-idiotic. Second, Tracy telling you he just wants to win does NOT mean "I want to be traded". It means, I want to win. You cannot extrapolate out that now he'd "Welcome a trade to Detroit". All you can take out of that is that he wants to win, period. And guess what fuckstick, he IS winning in Houston. 55 times just last year alone, even 22 in a row. Yes, they lost in the first round, but no Yao had at least a little effect on that, don't you think? In short, you are the worst NBA reporter with any sort of exposure that I've ever seen, please stop talking completely. Actually, stop talking, writing, typing or even using sign language.

Luther Head
Yes, I saw that Head was selected to the USA Select Team, no I do not think he deserved it. Here is my hope: Luther plays phenomenally, moves without the ball and shoots lights out. This in turn ups his value to a stupid GM, somewhere that has a low 2nd round pick up for grabs and the rights to someone they can't sign even. Then we trade him and get him off of the Rockets. Personally like him as just a guy, but not as a basketball player on my team. It's all business

Rockets vs Cleveland in Summer League Action

Catch it online at NBA.com at 9:30PM CST

The Cavaliers roster looks terrible, so I'm thinking the Rockets win by 10+

Greene drops 40 in Summer League Action

One day after agreeing to his slotted contract offer, Donte Greene showed his range last night shooting 5-10 from behind the arc, and 7-10 inside it. Put that with 11-12 free throw shooting and it adds for 40 points. He also had 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 0 turnovers. That's right, the guy shot 20 times and didn't commit a single turnover. Now, I know what you're thinking, "It's the Summer League, no one plays defense", and partially you are correct. The problem with that assertion is that in the Summer League, these guys aren't exactly polished yet, so turnovers are inevitable, even if it's one bad pass, or a good pass where the other guy didn't make his spot in time. The rest of the team shot 47 times and turned it over 13 times, Greene went 20 and 0. His 3rd assist of the night to Leunen put the Rockets on top for the first time all night, 98-97 and Houston went on to win 100-97.

(h/t to Clutchfans for the video)

Other notables from the night:
Maaaaaaarty Leunen had 16 points and EIGHT fouls
Mike Harris was a beast scoring 21 and boarding 13, to go with his 6 fouls. I thought there was no way he'd be making the team this year when he came on a the end of last year. Now I'm not so sure about that.
Joey Dorsey was a DNP last night

Little known fact: (h/t Clutchfans)
Since 2004 the Rockets are now 20-1 in Summer League play

My shout out to our Aggie readers:
Your boy Joe Jones was the antithesis of good last night. He shot 0 times and rebounded the ball once. He did somehow manage 5 fouls in his 11:44 on the court. Or for the mathematically challenged 1 every 2.34 minutes or so. I still think he has potential in the NBA though, everyone has a tough night.

The worst stat of the night:
Aaron Brooks posted 9, that's right 9, fouls. I'm guessing he's in a cold bath still after the beating he delivered and I'm sure he received. Brooks did not have a good game, shooting 4-14 and had a 4-6 Assist to TO ratio.

One Released, One Signed on, Minor Trade coming?
Loren Woods was released from his contract after requesting to be yesterday. Morey said that he appeared to have a big deal to play overseas and he didn't want to hold him back. They quickly signed Chris Daniels out of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He was the Southland player of the year and went undrafted. Morey also stated that a minor trade would happen within the month. I think he's getting rid of Novak, Head or Hayes, maybe more than one of them.

My personal pet peeve of the Summer League: Get these guys some jerseys that are better than the local YMCA kids league. If you are on the Rockets Summer League team, you deserve a Rockets jersey.

Another reason I love the NBA:
Slotted cost for a first round pick. This rules on every level. No hassles, no ridiculous singing bonuses, and a guarantee that you get a guy for 3 years.

Ron Artest:
Yes please! If you don't like Artest as a player, then you know less than you think about basketball.

Links:
Clutch written recap at Clutchfans
NBA.com writeup
Box score
Rockets Summer League page at NBA.com

I guess I missed this(Nike - Hyperdunkrecoverycenter), but isn't this a little cold after the McGrady dunking over James Felton article recently?
And if you haven't seen the article, it is a must read.

Summer League Team Announced and Carl Landry Notes

Yesterday the Rockets set the roster for their summer league team:

Aaron Brooks - PG
Donte’ Greene - SG/SF
Joey Dorsey - C
Maarty Leunen - SF/PF
Mike Harris - SF/PF
Loren Woods - C
Lanny Smith from UofH - PG
Joseph Jones from A&M - PF
Russell Robinson from Kansas - G
Dijon Thompson out of UCLA- SG/SF
Mark Tyndale out of Temple - SF
Gustavo Barrera out of Uruguay.

I had not seen the Joseph Jones or Lanny Smith pickups before that. While I'm a professed Longhorn grad and fan, I really like Jones and hope he can do something in the NBA. He'll be a good backup 4 for someone down the road I believe.

I am wondering if Landry will join this team if he signs in the next few weeks. That would make a lot of sense for his seasoning, but given all the forwards on the team, as it already stands, it might not. The Rockets may want to see what the other guys can do. I've been hearing rumors that Landry is working on his outside shot, and if so, that he could potentially move to SF. That would be a move that would help the Rockets if he can seriously improve his shooting and somewhat improve his handles. I don't see it actually happening, but hell, it's the off-season, a guy can dream, right?

I'd also like to say this to Mr. Landry's agent, STFU. That's right, STFU. Stop spouting off that Carl Landry is getting all kinds of offers, it's not true and it will eventually hurt your client. As a guy with only one client you are not allowed to even attempt to bully a team. All that will get you is fired by your one client. Don't be stupid, negotiate with the team that can give you the most money and that fits your client's game very well. Figure out what similar players have asked for, then ask for that plus 5%, don't go asking for that times 3 which is effectively what $8MM a season is. Your client has proven that he can play well when given minutes, he's also proven that his knee is a hazard to an NBA club's payroll.