Houston Roundball Review: Men's Hoops

Head on Select Team

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:33:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- Houston Rockets guard Luther Head was one of 10 top young NBA players named today by USA Basketball to the 2008 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team, which will help prepare the 2008 USA Senior National Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, scheduled to take place Aug. 10-24 in Beijing, China.

Joining Head on the USA Basketball Select Team will be LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Jeff Green (Oklahoma City), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings), O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) and Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons).

In addition, USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo announced that two rising stars from the 2008 NBA Summer League will also be selected to join the 2008 USA Select Team. As he did last summer, Oklahoma City Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo will serve as head coach of the USA Select Team and will be assisted for a second straight summer by Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach Jay Triano.

The select squad will begin training July 20 in Las Vegas and is expected to train and scrimmage against the USA Senior National Team from July 21-24.

Rockets Introduce Brent Barry

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Brent Barry to a two-year contract (for $3.9M).

"We're really excited to have Brent Barry join the Rockets," Morey said at the morning press conference. "In our push next year to get in the playoffs and hopefully replicate some of his past success as a two-time NBA champion (with the San Antonio Spurs."

"He has a high basketball IQ; and, he's someone who can play the 1 (point guard), 2 (shooting guard), or 3 (small forward). He's someone who can play with all our guards."

Barry cited Rockets' head coach Rick Adelman style of offense as a reason he decided to join the Rockets.

"After talking with Coach Adelman, and being in my situation," Barry said. "I'm really just looking to play. I think I have two more years that I'm going to play and try to run around with these guys. "I think the opportunity here in Houston to get out and play the style of basektball I'm more accustomed to is exciting to me. I think sometimes when you get later on in your career you look at things differently; and, I just think this is a great opportunity to go out playing. It's something fresh and new to re-charge my battery. I'm looking forward to it."

Barry was not taking a shot at the Spurs' organization with those comments; and, he did elaborate on the "style of play" comment.

"Coach Adelman and his past success in Sacramento with the way he likes to move the ball and spread the floor I think is a really exciting thing. Then, you add to that the opportunity to play with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady in the prime years of their careers. Obviously, the Houston Rockets are not far off in competing for a championship.

"If the team stays healthy this year, obviously, this team will compete on a championship level; and, that's something that's very exciting."

Rockets sign Greene

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:57:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- Monday the Houston Rockets announced the signing of rookie forward Donté Greene to a multi-year contract. As usual, per team policy, financial terms were not released. Greene, who was picked 28th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2008 NBA Draft, had his draft rights acquired by Houston along with Memphis’ 2009 second-round pick for the draft rights to Darrell Arthur (27th overall).

Greene scored 40 points (12 for 20 from the field, 11 for 12 on free throws) in a 100 to 97 Rockets win over the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas Summer League action. Mike Harris added 21 points and 13 rebounds while rookie forward Maarty Leunen scored 16 points. Aaron Brooks scored 13 points; but, Brooks also added nine personal fouls (no fouls out in NBA Summer League) and six turnovers.

The Chronicle's Jonthan Feigen also reported the Rockets agreed to release center Loren Woods.

Rockets sign Brent Barry

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:09:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- This evening the Houston Rockets announced the signing of free agent guard / forward Brent Barry to a two-year, $3.9 M contract.

Years ago, Brent was known as "Bones" and could fly through the air and dunk the basketball with ease. Now, at age 36, Barry is a very good perimeter shooter.

Brent joins his father, Rick, and brother, Jon, in completing a family trio to play for the Rockets. Rick spent two seasons (1978-80) of his Hall-of-Fame career with the Rockets, as Jon also played in Houston over the course of two seasons (2004-06).

“Brent is a proven winner who brings a wealth of championship experience,” said Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander. “His playmaking and long-range shooting abilities are an ideal fit for Coach (Rick Adelman) Adelman’s system while his versatility allows us to use him in a variety of roles. Brent has been a consistent scorer in the playoffs and played a vital part in winning two NBA Finals championships. ”

While Barry's signing should improve the Rockets' three-point shooting, it will be interesting to see how the team utilizes his skills. Barry (6'7", guard / forward from Oregon State) holds career averages of 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 856 NBA games.

The Chronicle's Richard Justice discusses how he sees the Rockets using Barry's passing and shooting skills.

NBA Suspends Brad and JamesOn

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:46:00 +0000

New York, NY -- The NBA just announced two suspensions:

JamesOn Curry of the Chicago Bulls has been suspended without pay for one game for pleading guilty to resisting or obstructing an officer and public urination, in violation of the laws of State of Idaho and City of Boise, respectively.

Curry will be suspended for the first game of the 2008-09 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

Also, the NBA announced today that Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

Miller's suspension will begin with the first game of the 2008-09 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

According to the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, players are randomly tested four times a year, from October 1 through June 30. After the first positive test for marijuana a player is entered into the league's substance abuse program. The second positive test carries a $25,000 fine. The third a five-game suspension and the fourth a 10-game suspension, with each subsequent positive test carrying a five-game incremental suspension.

The penalties for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs will be increased from suspensions of 5, 10, and 25 games for the first, second and any subsequent violation, respectively, to 10 and 25 game suspensions for the first two violations, a one-year suspension for the third violation and disqualification from the league for a fourth violation. Penalties for testing positive for marijuana will be increased from a $15,000 fine for a second violation to a $25,000 fine and, for each subsequent violation, incremental 5 game suspensions. The first violation of the marijuana program will continue to result in the player being placed in a counseling program, with no financial penalties.

NBA Salary Cap Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:22:00 +0000

The National Basketball Association tonight announced that the Salary Cap for the 2008-09 season will be $58.680 million. The new Cap went into effect at 11:01 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 8, when the league’s “moratorium period” ends and teams can begin signing free agents and making trades.

The tax level for the 2008-09 season has been set at $71.150 million. Any team whose team salary exceeds that figure will pay a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million.

The mid-level exception is $5.585 million for the 2008-09 season and the minimum team salary, which is set at 75% of the Salary Cap, is $44.010 million.

For the 2007-08 season, the Salary Cap was set at $55.630 million, the tax level was $67.865 million and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million.

SWIC is back at UH

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:09:00 +0000

Speading the word...
From Jim Hicks of RCSSports.com

John Lucas is about to do it again! On Saturday (July 5th) & Sunday (July 6th) seventy-two players from across the country will compete in a variety of skills and drills @ the state of the art Wellness & Recreation Center on the University of Houston campus. The "Pied Piper" of resurrecting NBA careers and developing amateurs into prospects will be conducting his 2nd Annual SouthWest Invitational Camp. This event is specifically for high school stars, who may have been slighted or overlooked by the prestigious sneaker camps.

"We didn't go after the high major kids, nor do we compete with LeBron or Reebok Camps (for campers). That would be crazy!", explained Lucas who has a longstanding relationship with Nike Basketball.

Ironically, the Nike sponsored LeBron James Skills Academy kicks off this weekend in Akron, Ohio, while the invited campers must report to RBK All American camp in Philly on July 6th. While trying to go after birds, Lucas has appeared to nab a few young eagles in the process. Rising juniors, Tobi Oyedeji and Daniel Alexander (Austin, TX) are both ranked among the Top 8 players in Texas, and have several high major D1 offers withstanding. New Mexico native Alex Kirk (a 6'9 rising jr) is already drawing Kevin McHale comparisons and could turn out to be one of the nation's biggest sleepers. Other out of town underclassmen making the trip to Houston this weekend, hoping to live up to the hype include; Patrick Lucas Perry (Michigan), Tank Mayberry (Corpus Christi), Jacob Holmen (Whitehouse, TX), and Darius Milburn (Louisiana), and Arsalan Kazemi (North Carolina). Also, a new and improved Notre Dame bound Joey Brooks will continute his quest to develop into an impact at the next level while Marquette recruit Erik Williams will be making his return to the hardwood after undergoing leg surgery this past January.

Last year's event consisted of 60 campers, including 29 seniors (22 of those have inked Division 1 scholarships) was attended by 43 college coaches including Florida's Billy Donovan who was fresh off his national championship season. The SWIC is supported by the University of Houston MEAD Student Group, and is approved for D1 coaches to attend (only on July 6th)!

Admission is FREE to all family, friends, and coaches.

SITE ADDRESS
4500 University Drive, Houston 77204-6056 (Ph # to front desk for directions, 713-743-7529)

IMPORTANT TIMES TO REMEMBER!

Saturday, July 5th (10:30am Uniform pickup & Registration)
Saturday, July 5th (11am NCAA academic workshop - MANDATORY for ALL CAMPERS)
Saturday, July 5th (12pm Camp begins)
*Guest Speaker - Former NBA coach Del Harris
Sunday, July 6th (8am Camp resumes, Live for D1 coaches)
Sunday, July 6th (2pm Camp concludes) ***Yes, the camp ends at 2pm***

Yao Ming Foundation to Raffle

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:57:00 +0000

I'm spreading the word...

July 2, 2008 (HOUSTON)—NBA All-Star and Olympian Yao Ming is offering a fan and his/her guest the unique opportunity to experience the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“I’m so proud that my country is hosting the 2008 Olympics and I am thrilled that I can help fans visit China, experience the Games and, at the same time, help raise money for the Yao Ming Foundation as we begin our campaign to rebuild schools in the earthquake damaged provinces,” said Yao.

The winner of the raffle will receive:
· Seven days and six nights in Beijing with hotel accommodations from August 7 – August 14 (Single Room, Double Occupancy)
· Round-trip airfare for two from a city with an international airport to Beijing
· Two tickets to the Team China vs. Team USA Olympic Basketball Game
· $1,500 cash stipend for meals and expenses
· A Guided Tour of the Great Wall of China
· Two autographed Yao Ming Houston Rockets jerseys
· Two tickets to a Houston Rockets game in the United States
· A meet and greet with Yao Ming in the United States after a Houston Rockets NBA game
· A cash prize to mitigate the Winner's tax liability

Proceeds from the raffle go to the Yao Ming Foundation, which focuses on rebuilding efforts in China following the recent earthquake. By logging on to http://www.netraffle.org, fans can use their credit cards to purchase $2 tickets (minimum five ticket purchase) for a chance to win an all expenses paid trip to Beijing from August 7 through August 13. The $2 ticket price will decrease with higher quantity ticket purchases. Contestants may enter as often as they wish and there is no limit to the number of tickets purchased. A winner will be selected at the close of the raffle on July 21.

The Yao Ming Foundation’s first mission is to support the rebuilding efforts in China with an emphasis on rebuilding earthquake-resistant, high quality schools. Information on the Yao Ming Foundation can be found at http://www.theyaomingfoundation.com. The Yao Ming Foundation is part of The Giving Back Fund, (http://www.givingback.org), a national nonprofit organization established in 1997 to provide professional philanthropic management and consulting to athletes, entertainers and other high profile individuals. With offices in Boston and Los Angeles, The Giving Back Fund has worked successfully with more than 100 professional athletes, entertainers, and business entrepreneurs, helping them achieve their philanthropic goals. While The Giving Back Fund has developed special expertise in providing philanthropic consulting to athletes and entertainers, its services are available to anyone committed to increasing the impact of their philanthropy.

Rockets Announce Summer League Roster

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:54:00 +0000

A few players with Houston area ties will participate on the Houston Rockets 2008 Summer League Roster.

HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets announced today the team's roster for the 2008 NBA Summer League. Guard Aaron Brooks, Forward Mike Harris and big man Loren Woods will be joined by 2008 NBA Draft class members Donté Greene, Joey Dorsey and Maarty Leunen on the 12-man roster. The Summer League entry, which will be coached by Rockets Assistant Coach Elston Turner, will play five games from July 14-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

The Rockets open play on Monday, July 14, against the Phoenix Suns at 7:30 p.m. (CDT), and follow up with a contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 16, at 9:30 p.m. (CDT). Houston then plays the Denver Nuggets on July 18, (9:30 p.m. CDT), before a meeting with the Washington Wizards on July 19, (7:00 p.m. CDT), that will be televised on NBA TV. The Rockets conclude their five-game schedule against the Sacramento Kings on July 20, (7:30 p.m. CDT).

Houston Rockets 2008 NBA Summer League Roster
No.
0 - Aaron Brooks ---- G, 6'0, 161, Oregon.
3 - Russell Robinson - G, 6'1, 205, Kansas.
5 - Donté Greene --- F, 6'9, 222, Syracuse.
6 - Gustavo Barrera - G, 6'5, 180, Uruguay.
7 - Dijon Thompson - G / F, 6'7, 195, UCLA.
10 - Maarty Leunen - F, 6'9, 220, Oregon.
13 - Mark Tyndale - G, 6'5, 210, Temple.
15 - Joey Dorsey -- F, 6'7, 268, Memphis.
19 - Mike Harris -- F, 6'6, 240, Rice.
25 - Lanny Smith -- G, 6'3, 194, Houston.
30 - Joseph Jones - C / F, 6'9, 255, Texas A&M.
33 - Loren Woods - C, 7'2, 260, Arizona.

Rockets Pick up Novak Option

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:52:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has picked up the option on the contract for forward Steve Novak. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

According to this article by the Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen:

The Rockets did avoid free agency with their 2006 first-round pick, Steve Novak. They exercised their option to extend Novak’s contract for a third season, worth $797,581. Novak averaged 2.7 points in 79 games in his first two seasons.

“Steve is a valuable asset to the Rockets,” Morey said.

Rockets Extend Qualifying Offer to Landry

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:19:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- This news was merely an expected formality:

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent forward Carl Landry. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, this offer establishes the Rockets’ right of first refusal. Restricted free agents may sign an offer sheet with any team, but the Rockets have the ability to match any offer.

Landry averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds while playing in 711 minutes during his first season with the Rockets.

Fran Blinebury of the Houston Chronicle goes into a bit more detail:
"Rockets move step closer to retaining Carl Landry"

Rumors have circulated for a while the Rockets would re-sign Landry to a five or six-year contract worth at least $30 M. That amount would average out to be the equivalent of the mid-level exception (approximately $6 M) which is available to the Rockets this off-season.

Greene and Dorsey Good Fit

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:06:00 +0000

HOUSTON, TX -- Friday afternoon, the Houston Rockets introduced rookies Joey Dorsey (6'7, 270) and Donté Greene (6'9, 225) to the local sports media.

Both young men came across as very likable and should become fan favorites in H-town.

Dorsey is definitely more outgoing than Greene; and, he isn't shy to speak his mind which should make him a friend of the media very quickly.

Both young fellas are from Baltimore and knew each other from the playgrounds of B-more.

Here's what each of them said about their strengths and weaknesses.

"I'm similar to Rashard Lewis (shooting forward for the Orlando Magic)," said Greene.

"I'm Ray Lewis with a basketball," joked Dorsey. (For those who don't know, Ray Lewis is one of the top defensive players from the linebacker position in the entire National Football League.)

What do you need to work on?

"Free throws for me," Dorsey said. "Free throws. I think my defense is going to be great for this team. My toughness. I'm a defensive specialist; so, coming in right away and playing and bringing that defense and that energy."

"I'm the exact opposite," Greene added. "I think my free throw shooting is good. My shooting is a strength. Being at Syracuse (Syracuse University), we played zone we didn't play much man-to-man; so, I definitely need to come in and work on hard on the defensive end."

Dorsey physical presence should definitely help the Rockets; and, unlike new teammates Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes, Dorsey finishes his shots at the basket with dunks not lay-ups.

Greene length and athleticism are an upgrade for the Rockets at the wing positions. He's more of a scorer than a shooter right now; but, that is mainly due to his shot selection -- Donté was a gunner at Syracuse.

Rockets in Las Vegas Summer League

The Rockets will tip-off their summer league action July 14, in Las Vegas, inside the Thomas & Mack Arena versus the Phoenix Suns. The Rockets will also play on July 16th (versus the Cleveland Cavaliers); July 18th (Denver Nuggets); July 19th (Washington Wizards on NBATV); and July 20th (Sacramento Kings).

Rockets Get Greene, Dorsey and Leunen

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:39:00 +0000

The wait is finally over. After waiting for final approval from the NBA, Daryl Morey, Houston Rockets GM, finally spoke with the media and summarized the Rockets busy Thursday night on 2008 NBA Draft Night.

"Thanks for waiting everybody," said Morey. "I know it's been a really long night."

Here's what the Rockets accomplished Thursday night.

"First, we traded 25 (draft rights to Nicolas Batum) for 27 and 33," stated Morey. "Then, we traded 27 to Memphis at 28 and picked up their 2009 second-round pick. At that spot (28th), we picked Donté Greene from Syracuse.

"At 33, we picked Joey Dorsey from Memphis and at 54 we got Maarty Leunen from Oregon."

Got all that?

Morey added, "We wanted a balance of future players who could help the Rockets at two different positions -- the wing and the big. We felt like both were, for us, the best players on the board."

On paper, these deals look like very astute moves by the Rockets which could reap benefits in the short and long-term.

Morey gave his thoughts on each of their newest acquisitions.

"Donté Greene is 6'9. Legit size. Athletic small forward who can slide over to the 4 spot. He can shoot the ball. He was a freshman at Syracuse. We think he's a great future bet."

"Picking up Joey Dorsey, we feel good about his future as a big. He can play either the 4 or the 5. His combination of athleticsm and a big body that can move like he does. He can jump. He's a great finisher at the basket. In our opinion, he's the best defensive big in the country."

"Maarty Leunen is going to play on our summer league team. He's going to play overseas. He's someone will keep the rights to. He's someone who's a shooting, spacing 4 who we think has a chance down the road."

Morey also added the Rockets hope to sign "another vet or two" this summer.

Dorsey is someone Morey believes can have an impact "right away" for the Rockets.

"Dorsey takes good shots. He takes dunks. He can run the floor. He can anchor a transition game. We feel like he was a top five rebounder in the country on both ends; so, he's creating extra possessions on the offensive end.
"He is 6'7; but, he's long; and he makes up for any perceived size limitations with his athleticism and speed."

Morey believes Greene can fill a need at the wing position.

"At the wing spot, we need size, we need athleticism, and we need shooting. He (Greene) has all those things."

Overall, the Rockets wanted to acquire at least one rookie who would make impact this coming season.

"We wanted to come out with (at least) one rookie we thought could be an impact. If we could get two, we'd do it, but, we wanted to do it across those two positions.

"We were comfortable coming out with just one rookie. We're a team that is more focused on winning this upcoming season than down the road. We're not too focused on adding rookies unless we felt they were potential impact players in the future or a little bit shorter than that; and, we felt were able to do that."

For fans who believe the Rockets may now have to many frontcourt players, Morey was quite candid in his comments.

"We do have some depth at the bigs; but, we also have a lot of players with injury history with Yao Ming and Carl Landry. So, we don't feel deep at the big at all. We feel if we do have injuries at the bigs, then Dorsey is a guy who can contribute right away. He's more ready to play than Donté."

Morey feels very good about the Rockets selections; and, as of right now, he should. The Rockets may not have hit a proverbial home run; but, they could have come very, very close.

Rockets Select Leunen in 2nd

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:42:00 +0000

While we wait for official word of a trade involving the Rockets, the Rockets selected forward Maarty Leunen (Oregon) with the 54th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Last season, Leunen averaged 15.2 points per game for the Ducks. He shot 55.9% from the field and 78.9% from the foul line. In 32 games, Leunen pulled down 293 rebounds.

He's described as a "versatile forward who excels at facing the basket and shooting from the perimeter. Is an outstanding defensive rebounder and possesses above-average ball-handling and passing skills for his size."

Back to waiting...

Rockets Get Batum

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Updated -- 10:18pm: Jason Quick at The Oregonian states Batum has been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for the draft rights to F Darrell Arthur (27th overall) and big man Joey Dorsey (33rd overall).

Updated -- 9:30pm: Check out DraftExpress.net for live blogging from the Draft. Very, very interesting info.

With the 25th overall pick in the first round, the Houston Rockets selected F Nicolas Batum.

Batum is listed at 6'8". He played ball for LeMans in France.

According to the NBA's Draft Guide his strengths are:

Long, athletic and versatile swingman who competes hard on both ends. Can hit the three-point shot, dribble and pull-up or drive and finish at the rim.

Batum averaged 8.2 points per game in the French ProA League in 64 games. He shot 48.7% (212 for 435) from the field and 70.7% from the free throw line. Batum also averaged 3.8 rebounds per game and 2 steals per game.

However, in 2007 - 2008, he averaged 12.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 3.6 apg in the French ProA League.

One career highlight: Batum scored 23 points on 9 for 13 shooting for the World Team at the 2007 Nike Hoop Summit held in Memphis, Tennessee.

I'm assuming Batum will stay overseas and play for at least a year or two.

I thought the Rockets should select Chris Douglas-Roberts from Memphis; but, what the hell do I know. Time will tell...

Now Win the Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:41:00 +0000

USA Basketball announced the 12 players who will represent the USA in the upcoming 2008 Olympics.

Check out the roster and some quotes from USA Basketball.

I'm not worried about the team's lack of low post centers because international play is won on the perimeter and with good guard play.

Pressure the ball; knock down perimeter shots; remember to knock opponents' shots that hit the rim away from going into the basket; and the bottom line is bring the Olympic gold back to the USA!

Houston: 1 of 10

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:21:00 +0000

Here's hoping the city of Houston (re: Reliant Stadium) becomes a part of "the rotation" to host the NCAA Men's Championship b.ka. the Men's Final Four...

"Ten Cities Submit Bids to Host Men's Final Four"

Don't forget: Reliant Stadium will host the Men's Final Four in 2011.

Big 12 and Pac-10 Matchups

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:02:00 +0000

While hoop fans take a few breaths before Game 6 of the NBA Finals tomorrow night, here's some college basketball news that isn't about the NBA Draft, the NBA refs, or Indiana University, Kelvin Sampson, and their NCAA investigation...

Fans of Big 12 and Pac-10 basketball mark your calendars for November and December as the Big 12 and Pacific-10 Conferences have announced the dates and matchups for the 2008 Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

Check out the matchups.

The Yao Ming Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Kudos to Yao Ming...

-- Yao Ming announces major initiative to help rebuild schools in China --

June 10, 2008 (HOUSTON) - Houston Rockets center Yao Ming announced the launch of "The Yao Ming Foundation" at a press conference today at Toyota Center. The foundation, under the auspices of The Giving Back Fund, will help raise funds and awareness of children's wellness and welfare issues in China and the United States.

May 12, 2008 will forever be a date to remember, as China's Sichuan and Gansu provinces fell victim to the devastation of a deadly earthquake. The Yao Ming Foundation will respond to this tragedy as its first initiative by creating a call to action and inviting others to follow. The foundation's primary earthquake relief efforts will focus on rebuilding earthquake-resistant, high-quality schools.

"It is very hard to put into words how difficult it is to see this kind of destruction," said Yao. "My thoughts and actions are now focused on helping to rebuild the schools that were destroyed in this tragedy and I hope that others around the world will join in our efforts."

Yao begins the relief efforts by making an initial, personal commitment of two million US dollars.

"Yao Ming is fully committed to helping the people of China recover from this tragedy," said Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander. "I am pleased to assist him with his goal of rebuilding the schools that were destroyed and I commend him on his quick response to this terrible event."

Alexander has committed $100,000 to the relief effort through the team's charitable organization, The Clutch City Foundation. Cold Stone Creamery pledged a minimum donation of $100,000 to be raised through an in-store promotion in China, where a percentage of sales will go to The Yao Ming Foundation. Fellow NBA players Steve Nash, Baron Davis, Greg Oden, Raymond Felton, Andris Biedrins, Marko Jaric and Marcus Williams along with WNBA player Diana Taurasi also donated to the foundation. Houston Mayor Bill White presented The Yao Ming Foundation with over $100,000 in donations from Houston companies and private contributors.

"Houston has shown it has a big heart, and helping to build new schools for people so devastated by the earthquake in China demonstrates it again," said Mayor White. "We're proud to work with Yao Ming and generous contributors to make it happen."

More than 8,000 schoolrooms and 185 schools were destroyed during the 8.0 earthquake in China. A donation of $100,000 will rebuild a permanent school for approximately 300 students while a gift of $3,500 will provide one prefabricated classroom for 50 students, including desks and chairs. Yao will support all of the foundation's administrative costs. A full 100% of all contributions from the public will go directly to earthquake relief. To partner with Yao in helping to rebuild China and to learn more about The Yao Ming Foundation, visit http://www.theyaomingfoundation.org.

The Giving Back Fund (www.givingback.org) is a national nonprofit organization established in 1997 to provide professional philanthropic consulting, mentoring and management to athletes, entertainers and other high profile individuals. With offices in Boston and Los Angeles, The Giving Back Fund has worked successfully with more than 75 professional athletes, entertainers, and business entrepreneurs, helping them achieve their philanthropic goals. While The Giving Back Fund has developed special expertise in providing philanthropic consulting to athletes and entertainers, its services are available to anyone committed to increasing the impact of their philanthropy.

Yao Ming to make Major Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:31:00 +0000

Tuesday, June 10, Houston Rockets All-Star Center and Chinese National Team member Yao Ming will make a major announcement regarding his involvement with relief efforts for victims of the China earthquake disaster of May 12, 2008, and towards raising funds and awareness of children’s wellness and welfare issues in China and the United States.

Lakers vs Celtics

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:36:00 +0000

Back in October, I predicted an NBA Finals match up featuring the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs.

WRONG!

The Boston Celtics defeated the Pistons in six games while the Los Angeles Lakers topped the Spurs in five games to set up a Cs - Lakers match up for the first time since 1987.

I won't make a prediction based on any logic except this -- if the Pistons aren't playing, then I pick the team that won the Eastern Conference Championship. (Except for last season because I truly doubted the Cleveland Cavaliers had a chance in HELL of defeating the Spurs.) Therefore, based on the fact the Celtics are the Eastern Conference Champs, I'm picking the Cs to win title number 17 in franchise history.

I'll says Celtics in seven.

EA SPORTS™ NBA LIVE 09 has predicted that the Lakers will capture their 15th NBA Championship by defeating the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals simulation.

See for yourself.

Pastner to Memphis

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Josh Pastner, an assistant coach at the University of Arizona the past six years, has been recommended to join the Memphis men’s basketball coaching staff, head coach John Calipari announced Monday. Pastner’s hiring is pending approval of the University and Tennessee State Board of Regents.

“We are excited that Josh is joining our staff,” said Calipari. “To add a coach with the experience and success Josh has is a plus for our program and the University. We are always looking to move forward and improve our basketball program in every way, and I believe Josh can help us to do that.”

“This is a great opportunity for me to be able to work not only for one of the nation’s top basketball programs but also under one of college basketball’s best coaches in John Calipari,” said Pastner. “I want to thank and give credit to the former assistants whose tremendous efforts helped make the Memphis program what it is today. I just want to assist in continuing the momentum they started.

“I’m also excited about moving to Memphis. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the University and city and look forward to getting involved in the community.”

With Pastner's joining the Memphis coaching staff, the chances for the Houston Cougars (and the rest of the teams in Conference USA) to top the Tigers in hoops may have gotten even smaller than usual.

Clock Malfunction

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:38:00 +0000

I know the Detroit Pistons got a break in Monday night's game versus the Orlando Magic at the end of the third quarter.

Here's a statement from the NBA on the clock malfunction:

Joel Litvin, NBA President, League and Basketball Operations, issued the following statement today regarding the inadvertent clock stoppage that occurred at the end of the third quarter of the Detroit Pistons’ 100-93 win over the Orlando Magic last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals:

“After reviewing the video of last night’s Pistons-Magic game, we determined that the play that concluded with Chauncey Billups’ three-point field goal at the end of the third quarter took approximately 5.7 seconds. Because there were only 5.1 seconds remaining in the quarter when the play began, the shot would not have counted had the clock continued to run.

"The referees followed proper procedure in addressing the clock malfunction by estimating the elapsed time and using their judgment as to whether the shot was taken in time. Under NBA rules, the referees did not have the option of using instant replay and a timing device to determine exactly how much time had elapsed, nor do the rules allow for a re-play after a clock malfunction is discovered. The NBA Competition Committee was scheduled to discuss the possible expanded use of instant replay at its meeting at the end of the month and we will raise, for the Committee's consideration, the use of replay in situations like this.”

The NBA determined that the clock stoppage resulted from a technical malfunction in the arena timing system. As with all NBA playoff games, the timekeeper who worked last night's game was from a "neutral" city.

HRR's Semifinal Picks

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Sun, 04 May 2008 18:56:00 +0000

I know two semi-final series began Saturday; but, those results won't impact my picks.

Here we go:

Eastern Conference

#2 Detroit Pistons vs. #3 Orlando Magic

HRR Prediction: Pistons in Six.

Why?
Detroit's balance on offense and their flexibility on defense should put them over the top in this competitive match up.

Game 1 - Sat May 3 Orlando at Detroit -- Pistons 91, Magic 72.
Game 2 - Mon May 5 Orlando at Detroit --- 6:00 PM, TNT.
Game 3 - Wed May 7 Detroit at Orlando --- 7:00 PM, TNT.
Game 4 - Sat May 10 Detroit at Orlando --- 4:00 PM, ESPN.
Game 5 * Tue May 13 Orlando at Detroit --- TBD, TNT.
Game 6 * Thu May 15 Detroit at Orlando --- TBD, ESPN.
Game 7 * Sun May 18 Orlando at Detroit --- TBD, TBD.

Though the Celtics are still playing in Game 7 versus the Atlanta Hawks, the Cs are well on the way to advancing to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in Round 2. So,...

#1 Boston Celtics vs. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers

HRR Prediction: Celtics in seven.

Why?
Putting the stars aside (KG, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Lebron James), this series will probably be decided by the role players. As long as Sam Cassell doesn't shoot Boston out of the series, the Cs should win in seven games.

Game 1 - Tue May 6 Cleveland at Boston --- 7:00 PM, TNT.
Game 2 - Thu May 8 Cleveland at Boston --- 6:00 PM, ESPN.
Game 3 - Sat May 10 Boston at Cleveland --- 7:00 PM, ABC.
Game 4 - Mon May 12 Boston at Cleveland --- 7:00 PM, TNT.
Game 5 * Wed May 14 Cleveland at Boston --- TBD, TNT.
Game 6 * Fri May 16 Boston at Cleveland --- TBD, ESPN.
Game 7 * Sun May 18 Cleveland at Boston --- TBD, TBD.

Western Conference

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #5 Utah Jazz

HRR Prediction: Lakers in five.

Why?
I know Utah plays defense -- which the Denver Nuggets absolutely did not versus the Lakers in the first round -- however, I believe the Lakers have too many advantages in the individual match ups versus the Jazz.

Game 1 - Sun May 4 Utah at L.A. Lakers --- 2:30 PM, ABC.
Game 2 - Tue May 6 Utah at L.A. Lakers --- 9:30 PM, TNT.
Game 3 - Fri May 9 L.A. Lakers at Utah --- 8:00 PM, ESPN.
Game 4 - Sun May 11 L.A. Lakers at Utah --- 2:30 PM, ABC.
Game 5 * Wed May 14 Utah at L.A. Lakers --- TBD, TNT.
Game 6 * Fri May 16 L.A. Lakers at Utah --- TBD, ESPN.
Game 7 * Mon May 19 Utah at L.A. Lakers --- TBD, TNT.

#2 New Orleans Hornets vs. #3 San Antonio Spurs

HRR Prediction: Spurs in six.

Why?
I know the Hornets top the Spurs in Game 1; and they were impressive in the victory. However, I'm sticking the defending champs to find a way to defend Chris Paul and get Tim Duncan more shots (than the nine he got in Game 1) and win the series.

Game 1 - Sat May 3 San Antonio at New Orleans --- Hornets 101, Spurs 82.
Game 2 - Mon May 5 San Antonio at New Orleans --- 8:30 PM, TNT.
Game 3 - Thu May 8 New Orleans at San Antonio --- 8:30 PM, ESPN.
Game 4 - Sun May 11 New Orleans at San Antonio --- 7:00 PM, TNT.
Game 5 * Tue May 13 San Antonio at New Orleans --- TBD, TNT.
Game 6 * Thu May 15 New Orleans at San Antonio --- TBD, ESPN.
Game 7 * Mon May 19 San Antonio at New Orleans --- TBD, TNT.

Rockets Force Game 6

noreply@blogger.com (Kris Gardner) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:37:00 +0000

It's amazing how badly the Utah Jazz look when the Houston Rockets disrupt Utah's rhythm with physical play.

The Rockets routed the Jazz 95 to 69 in Game 5 Wednesday night to send the best-of-seven series back to Utah for Game 6 on Friday night.

Both teams shot poorly in the first quarter; but, the Rockets led 18 to 16 at the end of the game's first 12 minutes.
The Rockets limited the Jazz to 16 more points in the second quarter while Houston's bench players scored 18 points in second stanza alone. Bobby Jackson scored nine of those points.

The Rockets led the Jazz 43 to 32 at halftime.

The third quarter was much of the same as the Rockets outscored the Jazz 31 to 23.

Tracy McGrady finished the game with 29 points; five rebounds; and five assists. Luis Scola scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Rafer Alston scored 14 points and Carl Landry added eight points and five rebounds.

The Rockets out rebounded the Jazz 46 to 38 in the game. Dikembe Mutombo helped Scola on the glass by pulling down 10 boards.

The Jazz shot a pedestrian 27 for 74 (36.5%) from the field for the game and a sorry 13 for 23 (56.5%) from the foul line.