For the Rockets, It's on the Players; No More Ultimate; Wex on Roids

For a moment, let's absolve GM Daryl Morey and head coach Rick Adelman of all fault for the Rockets most recent of their many embarassing losses this year. This is on the players. If they give nothing, then we all get nothing. Their effort, time and time again this year has been atrocious - and the worst part? They know it and they openly admit it. Just since '09 arrived - the Rockets have been beaten by - check that - embarassed by Toronto, Memphis and now Milwaukee. They half competed in losses to New York, Indiana and Philadelphia (twice). Not a single one of those teams is remotely close to being a legit team. Philly's the only one over .500 and they weren't when the Rockets played them.
This is not solely a McGrady issue. It's a Yao issue. It's an Artest issue. It's a big time Battier issue and on down the line. Just look at the numbers.
Yao - worst ppg in 4 years. Taking roughly the same number of shots in the same minutes as he did in his 2nd year!!!
Artest - lowest ppg since '02-'03. Back then he was still two years away from running into the stands to beat someone's face in. He's also never shot below 40% in his career. He's at 38% now and that is actually on the way up.
McGrady - just like Artest - never below 40% shooting, but this year 39%. He lopped 6 points off his average from last year, which was already down 3 points from the prior year. So 24.6ppg to 15.6ppg in just two years.
Battier - never been below 43%. This year he's at 38%!! Not much of a scorer to begin with, but bringing just over 6 ppg in nearly 32 minutes a night is simply not good. If he was still an above average defensive player, this could be forgiven. But that does not appear to be the case, injury-related or not.

These are the four highest paid Rockets and they eat up nearly 70% of the total payroll and each of them are essentially turning in the worst seasons of their careers.

Oh and by the way, Houston is still 31-21 and two games better than both Phoenix and Utah for one of the final two Western Conference playoff spots. The Rockets will make the playoffs.
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The Texans saved nearly $9 million bucks by waiving Ahman Green and Morlon Greenwood. Green was an $11 million dollar mistake as he played in only 8 this year and 6 games in 2007. But consider this - had he been healthy in his first year, the Texans likely would not have drafted Steve Slaton - even though they viewed him as a third-down back anyway.
In Greenwood's case, he was just another guy. A solid player, but a good defense would have replaced him after his first year here. Wait, a good defense with good personnel people would never have signed him to the deal Chuck Casserly gave him!
But a real nice guy so enjoy this tribute to Ultimate.

You can always keep tabs on Greenwood right here.
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Sports By Brooks is yet another outstanding sports blog. Their Sports by Brooks girls are without question worth a look, but the postings are quite clever, too. They conduct regular caption contests and today Rick Adelman was captured on the bench during the debacle in Milwaukee. Check out the responses.-------------------------------------------
Don't be fooled by the headline. I'm not on the juice, I have thoughts on those who have admitted to being on the juice. You can hear them weeknights on SportsRadio 610. Our sports director, Robert Henslee, and I give you our thoughts on the latest information revolving around Alex Rodriguez's admission that he used performance enhancing drugs.

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