Time to Report for Work (updated 4:00pm)

Both the Rockets and Astros report to work today. The Rockets have 30 games to go to lock down their playoff spot. Btw, any hopes of the Suns demise should be tabled. Steve Nash returned last night for the Suns and won the MVP award again. They lost 3 straight without him for the first time since the first week of the season and suffered their only two double-figure losses in his absence. The Suns completely destoyed the likely-playoff bound Clippers, Nash had 7 dimes in the 1st quarter!!

The Rockets have 30 games left and are 5th and will continue along the same path I have been describing since the second month of the season. They are going to play Utah or SA most likely, the battle is for home court. The Jazz opened their second half of the season with a loss to the Blazers last night, so a Rockets win over the Heat tonight leaves them just one game behind the Jazz for the home court advantage. The Spurs put a serious beatdown on the Nuggets who had 'Melo, AI and Camby on the court together for just the 5th time. Rockets are 2 back of SA. The Spurs are just sleepwalking thru the season and just waiting for everyone to get down on them, which has happened - which will signal their rise once again. I doubt they will not end up in 3rd place.

Full squad workouts for the 'Stros start tomorrow so The Big Puma and El Caballo will show themselves today. Over the next six weeks discussions on this blog will focus on the lineup and the 4th and 5th starters, among other things.
Garner suggested his opening day lineup yesterday would be...
Biggio-2B
Burke-CF
Berkman-1B
Lee-RF
Ensberg-3B
Scott, Lane or Hidalgo-LF
Everett-SS
Ausmus-C
with Roy O getting the opening day start.
- I'm actually fine with Biggio at the top....for now. Maybe for two months, then when he starts to slow down (and he will) then Burke assumes the top spot for good. Especially since Burke, if healthy, is likely to make 150+ starts, while Biggio is more like 120 - get a set leadoff guy once Burke is comfortable as an everyday player.

The Scott or Lane or Hidalgo is merely a facade. Scott is going to be the starter. One of the other two will make the team as the 5th outfielder (and sadly the back-up in CF) the other will be released or gasp! traded.

- Interesting QB news coming from Atlanta regarding back-up Matt Schaub as possibly available.

Surf's Up - Your Daily Link/Video Dump
- It was great for Emmitt, I guess, so why not Clyde. Drexler is putting on his dancing shoes.
- Here's the clip of Vandy Coach Kevin Stallings keeping the ball from Florida's Joakim Noah over the weekend. Noah would still have needed to give the ball to the ref, so this is really no big deal, yet still rarely seen. Quality is brutal.
- Sit down and take a deep breath because this will be very hard to believe. Here goes, Pac-Man Jones is in trouble with the law....AGAIN!!!
- Still trolling the net for video of this hockey goalie who had it with the refs.
- more coming........

---------- WEX