Part 2 of the Rockets Report CardBut before I get to that - did I mention that Danny & I are taking the show Friday night to Lucky's Pub in downtown Houston. We start at 6pm and take you right into the Rockets game, Lucky's is hosting the Official Viewing Party which means 3 things. Power Dancers, Power Dancers, Power Dancers.
Forwards
Bonzi - Somebody needs to tell Adelman he doesn't coach the Kings and it isn't the 2005 Playoffs. Bonzi is not a consistently productive player. He tries to play defense maybe once every 4 trips down the floor and he takes almost as many unmakeable shots (for him) as Rafer does. Yet he always gets his number called. On the nights that he brings good energy, he's a valuable role player, but those nights have been far too infrequent. I'd rather see other guys absorb his minutes, now that T-Mac is back.
GRADE: C
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Hayes - God bless him. Nobody on the team plays harder - and that is every night, no questions asked. Now I'm not sure how he did it, but he found away to regress offensively and I mean significantly. He literally can't make a lay-up or any other shot no matter how close to the basket he is. He's scoreless in his last 3 games and has missed 9 shots in a row. Every team knows and it kills the Rockets offense, no matter how many offensive rebounds he can snare. He's their best paint defender, yet he can't really shut anybody down since they can always just shoot over him. Based on his minutes, he's already been passed by Scola and soon the same should happen with Landry. Yet, Chuck still made a game-saving block on Kevin Durant's drive late in the 2-point win on Monday night. I love Chuck, but his big-minute days are dwindling.
GRADE: C-
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Scola - Highway robbery. That is the only way to describe the thievery of Scola from the San Antonio Spurs. I don't care what the Spurs or their fans have to say about the deal being a money-saving venture. Hooey. Rockets gave up nothing. Spurs gave up an NBA caliber starting power forward, who makes less than $4 million per for the next 3 seasons. He has been making steady progress and is becoming more and more consistent. He will be more of a scorer than a rebounder which isn't exactly what they need, but it is a huge help considering for the first half of the season he's been sharing minutes with Hayes. Scola logs minutes at the center spot, backing up Yao and he has shown no signs of losing any energy or intensity as he continues his first NBA campaign. Could use a haircut. (see photo)
GRADE: A
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Snyder - I could see this coming. It's just a numbers game for him. He plays the same position as the best player on the team. He's not a good shooter, nor a particularly good defender. I happen to think he still could be a player in this league. He just has too many guys in front of him here and he needs to find a Memphis or Toronto or some team that actually likes to run, not one like Houston that pretends to like to run. He played well enough in camp to make the team, but he could be moved merely to get the team under the cap.
GRADE: D
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Novak - His shortcomings must be enormous since I have no doubt whatsoever that he'd be the Rockets top 3-point shooter if he received consistent minutes. But he's only played in 4 games and spent a couple weeks in the D-League. For a team with major shooting issues, I'm very surprised that he hasn't been used more. I don't know what he can do to get on the floor, heck he's lucky when he gets to wear a uniform to the games.
GRADE: C
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Landry - Anyone as baffled as I am about why Landry couldn't get onto the court, but for 8 games in the first half of the season? He does exactly what a coach would ask a backup to do. He plays his ass off, hustles, and thankfully he finishes - unlike any other interior player on the roster - and that includes Yao. He takes shots he can make, he doesn't try to do too much. He busts it on defense and is crazy active. At least I'm finally convinced that he will receive a lot more minutes - and meaningful ones - in the second half. That began last night when Adelman had him on the floor for the majority of the Rockets 4th quarter comeback. You could see the passion in his game when he was nears tears upon fouling out on a disastrously bad call.
GRADE: A
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Deke - He does what he does. Mostly that is chewing out refs and cheerleading. He can still rebound and defend at an above average level, but he has bricks for hands and simply can't make a shot unless he's close enough to the rim to touch it. I thought it was a questionable signing before the year started and even though he's good insurance if Yao had a long-term injury, it still seems like a waste of a roster spot. A phenomenal teammate
GRADE: B
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Yao - He's been pretty good, but it would be mighty difficult to say he's been an improved player. He's in year 5 and even though he's probably the 3rd best center in the league (Howard, Stoudemire), it always seems like he should be able to grab another rebound or two and drop in a couple points per game. His passing skills are there, but he is too slow in deciding what to do with the ball. The same is true when he gets the ball in the post. He doesn't recognize the defense as quickly as he should. He is being more forceful around the basket, though surely not as forceful as many still wish. He needs to get better, but he shows ever night and he gets beaten up and many nights it's not his fault that his guards can't get him the ball.
GRADE: B
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Surfing the Net
- Here's a perfect example why Pete Carroll is a great college coach and should not be on NFL teams radar anymore. An in-house behind-the-scenes of Carroll roaming around the Rose Bowl before kick-off. You must at least watch until Lee Corso has difficulty taking a picture. (USC Rips It)
- Here's the apology that nobody has been waiting for, unless your name is Al Sharpton. I wonder if they'll another unnecessary beef, since the audio guy at the Golf Channel didn't bring the mic up until Ms. Tilghman was halfway through her heartfelt apology. (The Sporting Blog)
- Giants K Lawrence Tynes hit Letterman last night. Letterman was good, Tynes had a few good lines and obviously has a sense of humor. Which of course he wouldn't have, had he missed a third time. (AOL Fanhouse)
- Probably more throughout the night, but go ahead and blast me if you think the grades are whack.
-------------- WEX
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