http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/10/the_wor..._hard_at_c.html</p> Feigen gives a very nice recap of what's gone on in training camp, based on his discussions with Rockets personnel. I'll summarize his comments for each player here:</p> <ul>[*]Yao: at ease in new offense [*]McGrady: has blown away the coaches with his vision and passing [*]Head: playing great in new offense; a great cutter and shooter [*]Alston: looking very good; ran the offense well [*]James: shooting very well, should flourish in new offense [*]Lucas III: has shot well; is an NBA-quality player [*]Francis: can still get to the rim, but he's struggled in a new half-court offense [*]Harris: playing great from day 1; familiarized himself with offense in the offseason [*]Hayes: got raves about his passing and defense [*]Scola: like Hayes, did well [*]Battier: apparently he struggled with his shot, but he says that's normal for him early on [*]Brooks: struggled defensively, but got himself good shots in the offense [*]Landry: struggled against Chuck's defense, apparently [*]Mutombo: in pretty good shape; flattened Francis with an elbow on Sunday[/list] <hr width="100%" size="2" /> </p> Some Q/As for this blog:</p> Jason writes: Any word on how Bonzi, and Synder is doing? Will JL3, and Harris seemingly playing well, who's now most likely to be released?</p> Thanks for all the insights.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(It's too soon to say any performance so far -- good or bad -- will determine roster or rotation decisions. I know they like Harris, a lot. I heard that Snyder and Justin Reed did some good things, but I did not ask much. There are probably a lot of gaps in what I heard about and how much more there was to see. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635370"> mick writes: Looks like the Rockets will have to make some pretty difficult cuts. Based on what you know so far what's your prediction on who's likely to be gone after camp, or is it still impossible to tell right now? Assuming the players who will definitely be there come opening night, I think there'll be only one spot left on the active roster. I would probably go with Harris who has the athleticism and experience. Either way we're losing talent.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I would think they will want to keep Landry. They invested too much in the trade to get the rights to him to not keep him for awhile. Just a guess so far, but I'd think Steve Novak and Justin Reed will have tough times making the team. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635372"> Ghost-In-The-System writes: Not quite what I expected but realistically, what I thought it would be. Guys breaking out thr rust, getting back in shape and trying to master that free-style offense. By the way, you missed out on Steve Novak - give it to us; he' heading to the D-League, right?</p> I'm surprise Francis is struggling in this offense. I would think it's ideal for the way he play. Oh well....about T-Mac, can you tell us if he feels "alive" in this offense. We all know he can rip passes like a hybrid between Magic and Nash but what about his scoring, attacking the rim, shooting and just being the TMAC like his first two seasons with the Rockets ?</p> And finally - how his Yao's speed-adapting to the offense coming along ?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I only included what I heard. I hardly saw anything. I'm not sure the D-League fits for Novak, if you mean as a Rockets' roster player. If he makes the team, he might stay with the team. I did ask a lot about Yao and everything is that he is adjusting to the offense extremely well and had his best practice in terms of conditioning on Sunday. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635576"> Deepak writes: Great recap, I really appreciate it. I'm glad to see Chuck Hayes is doing well. I was worried the coaches wouldn't appreciate what he can do out there.</p> Based on the comments about McGrady, do you think his role in the offense changes much? I assumed he would be more of a finisher this year, with the ball in his hands less and scoring off cuts to the basket and catch and shooting on the wings. But if the coaches are raving about his vision and passing, does Adelman try to incorporate more isolation/PnR plays for McGrady?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(So far, they have not done iso or pick-and-roll at all. Adelman does not plan to start putting in the set plays until next weekend. For now, he can apparently get McGrady plenty of opportunities to score and to find teammates within the flow of the offense. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> </p> Hayesfan writes: What is the final deadline for the 15 man roster? Midnight before the first game? How close to opening night does Morey/Adelman have to make the cuts?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Oct. 26. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> Jonathan writes: Do you think Mcgrady or Yao have a chance at winning the MVP award this year? Who would be more likely to win the MVP under adelman's offense.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(McGrady would have the better chance, but not because of Adelman's offense. If the Rockets really excel, putting up wins along the lines of the Mavericks, Suns and Spurs, both would have a big role, but McGrady might have more political momentum in voting as a slightly more celebrated player. More likely, if the Rockets had a year that good, they would split votes and have a smaller chance than players from teams with one, clear candidate. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635651"> David Stoneking writes: Do you know if Aaron Brookes is breaking down his defenders with his quickness and will the Adelman play him this year? I hope so. I love his game.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I think he might work his way in eventually, but clearly he has a long way to go to earn playing time on this roster. We'll know more when they start playing preseason games. You certainly cannot judge a rookie by one week of practices. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> Ron writes: Will you finally admit Bonzi and JVG had a personality conflict last year? After reading Fran's excellent article it seem ver clear. Even pig headed Fran seems to finally get it.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(No one ever questioned they had a personality conflict. Of course they did. It is just inaccurate to think that was to blame for Bonzi's poor season. He showed up in terrible shape and left the team repeatedly for personal reasons before and after the season began. He was put in the rotation Dec. 12. He went out twice with back injuries, the second on a bad fall in Toyota Center that did not need any interpretation about what really happened. Even when he removed from the rotation in March, it was more because Van Gundy believed other players, primarily Luther Head, could be of more help with that team. And when he was given one last look, he walked out. Those are just the facts, though I'm sure you would agree because you apparently frown on people being pig-headed. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> Tracy writes: P.S.:One not so important question,we all know both Yao and T-mac missed the media day,will they take the picture with the rest of the team during the six day break between the pre-season games or some other time before the season?Just curious.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I don't think preseason starters have been decided, or are indicative of much. Yao and Tracy will have the media day photo shoots on Friday. Team pictures, however, are not shot in media day, but usually late in the season to account for trades and other roster changes. Some media day photo shoots are in combinations with teammates, though. I don't think they are asking other players to come back in. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635859"> jai writes: So are you saying the rockets are more likely to drop Novak than Mike Harris... Does this mean, if ever, it would be then between Landry and Harris?</p> what's your predictions?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I asked Morey the other day if he had some good ideas about what he would do but just could not share them. Morey attended six of the seven practices and said he thinks about it all the time, but really didn't know what he would do if he had to right now. I have seen almost nothing. I really don't know. It would be cheaper to cut Harris and Landry. But I like to make my predictions based on more information than I have so far. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635899"> Shay writes: The organizatiojn trying to up Rafer's trade value before trading him maybe? Jon in the off season the Rockets were tryng to trade Rafer , do you know if they are still trying to move him? I am 100% sure he won't start , you don't bring 3 more points and start the same guy. It will be James or Francis , possibly James since he is doing good in camp and might fit better with Yao and T-Mac.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Teammates told me Rafer was playing well and I don't think they concern themselves with increasing his trade value. Also, I'm not sure that every NBA GM reads this blog. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c635934"> !Alek the Great!:_) writes:I just wanted to put pure, simple, direct question.From 20 men in Austin right now, we all know that Sura and JL III will not make the roster for sure, so that leaves us with "only 18" to choose from. You mentioned yourself Jonathan, that Reed and Novak will have hard time making the roster, so assuming that you were right about that one, who is most likely to be the last victim of the roster cutting?The ones left are Jackie Butler, Mike Harris, Carl Landry and Kirk Snyder.Since you said that Harris is having a good camp and the rockets will not want to let Landry go so lighly cuz they spent all that money just to get him here, it all seems that the choice will be made between Snyder and Butler.Am I right?And if I am, who do you think it's gonna make it? Anyways it's always nice to here those infos,thx!!!</p> <font color="#0000ff">(It's too soon to say. It's too soon to say that Novak will have a hard time making it, that Harris is ahead of him or what role the salaries will play. They have not played their first game, yet, or even put in any plays. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c636047"> Ghengis Hasan writes: Do you think that Adelman will use more than 8 players come end of season for the finals? Maybe 9 or 10 even as compared to jeff whom only used 8 when he really, at the end of the day, could have put Bonzi or Snyder up against that Harpring prick of a huslter! At times he used Luther head to try and defend Harpring. What a goose. Im confident in Adelman. He's here to fix things. They get better naturally I think. Its too bad Jeff left a big mark on this team. Just like Bonzi said, 'I am a man. I expect to get treated like one. Jeff can coach those little kids out there but he cant coach us men. I am not afraid of him.' I can understand completely as I have experienced coaches like that before. It seems as if there is more room to breathe now for both him and the Rockets.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Adelman typically will use nine in the post-season. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c636058"> AK writes: Jonathan, do you know any more details on why Yao can not be fitted with a hearing aid for his left ear?</p> I would think better hearing from both sides of his head could only help his game.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I don't know, but I would imagine the top of the line aids would be nice to have if they could help. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> CR writes: Does Adelman's offensive strategies (Princeton offense) often make it difficult for players to get back on transition defense?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Yes, they can. Players must be extremely careful about floor balance, especially when guards that normally go back first, are moving toward the rim. Bigs typically are not accustomed to being on the perimeter and having that responsibility. On the other hand, it can be more difficult to break after defending Adelman's offense. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> Dre writes: My question is kinda unrelated to the topic, but can i ask if the rumors about andrei kirilenko not happy to play for the utah jazz true?</p> And if its true how good is our chances on picking him up?</p> Thanx^^</p> <font color="#0000ff">(He said he was unhappy and wanted to be traded. He seems to have accepted that he won't be. The Rockets chances of getting him are in the neighborhood of none. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> TheRealPrivate writes: We haven't heard a word about Bob Sura. How is he fitting back into the action? Do you expect him to get more minutes this year?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Bob's career with the Rockets, and probably in the NBA is over. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> </p> <div id="c636402"> mick writes: Those faciliating and initiating the offense questions are starting to be like parasites on these blogs. The guy using a bunch of different names to ask the same questions over and over again need to find something else to do.</p> But anyways Jonanthan, I was wondering if we're still be seeing guys like Luther and Battier take those open threes this season with all the cutting and constant movement. It doesn't seem like Adelman's style to just let guys camp out in the corner, although you have to admit it's pretty effective when they drain those shots.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(They will move more, but there will always be people at the 3-point arc. Spacing is invaluable in the NBA. These days, with the current rules, only shooting or the threat of good shooting can create spacing. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c636426"> J.B. writes: The last line in Jonathan's blog was just HILARIOUS and I'm surprised no one picked it up...</p> "Dikembe Mutombo ... also landed elbows all over the gym, flattening Francis on Sunday."</p> Someone last season took the pain to compile a list of all the players flattened by Mountain Mutombo and the list read like a All-Star NBA player list. ... To give you an idea, just in the late half of last season he put down LeBron, Derron Williams, T-Mac (yeah, Dike is so leathal even his own teammates are not spared!).</p> Haha, I'm still cracked up about this!</p> <font color="#0000ff">(My son and I put together an All Star team of players, -- I believe going three deep -- knocked out of games by Dikembe. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> E-mac writes: I wrote Fran's blog about his story on Bonzi. I was upset that Bonzi just ran his mouth and gave some awful qoutes about how he admits to not playing tough defensive on smaller guards in the past and even how he was bitter all last season over the Blazer's 40 million dollar contract extension HE turned down. I was one of the few supporters of Bonzi last season and I'm not so sure he is somone I want to support any longer. BUT, as long as he is wearing a Rockets jersey it's hard not to want pull for him. Personally, I don't think I like his attitude. Why can't he just be professional and stop talking smack about last season. I think his attitude weighs him down more so than the 30 lbs he dropped. How is he with his teammates? Obviously, he is no Juwan Howard in the locker-room. Does he have the respect of his teammates, because he is losing some of that with fans ( unless those fans think anything and everything was JVG fault)?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(Players will almost always give the benefit of the doubt to players and Bonzi is very much a cheerful locker room guy. I don't remember anyone rushing to his defense last season. The issue with Van Gundy seems to be with how much he was willing or unwilling to forgive. Bonzi easily surpassed the amount Van Gundy could excuse and what I think any NBA coach would accept. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </p> <div id="c636765"> poptarts writes: Adelman will not use 9-10 man rotation. I can see this coming from fans but Jonathan you should know better that Adelman never liked to play too many guys. When he was with the Kings, he practically only used 6 guys.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(He should know better, too. He said today he envisions a nine- or 10-man rotation. Now that I think about, he said something along those lines last week, too. I'll have him check with you next time. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> Travis B. writes: I was wondering if you had a chance to read Hollinger's article on ESPN.com? He is predicting the Rockets as his favorite to win it all this year. I know this is a stretch considering this is a team that hasn't made it out of the first round in over ten years but its still nice to see us get a little respect from the national media for a change.</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I read it and I enjoy Hollinger's work. I get his book every season. But his use of statistics is like they say of betting lines, for entertainment purposes only. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c636871"> Cortez718 writes: So is " Training Camp " officially over ? How frequent will the ROX have practice and when/who do they play in their 1st preseason game ?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I tend to think of training camp as the portion of the preseason before games. The team is back in Toyota Center. The first preseason game is Tuesday in Oklahoma City. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> </p> hamza writes: You should probably just stop accepting the comments that have to do with Yao being a facilitator or T-Mac a point-forward. By the way do you think of the cuts. I know that's probably been asked a million times as well but hey at least it is important. I think Sura, Reed, Lucas for sure (obviously). Then two out of Novak, Reed, Landry. Adleman really likes Harris and i don't think he will let him go. Wow, I sure am captain obvious. Oh well, Tomorrow is a game!</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I would include Butler in your second group with Novak and Landry, and Harris still is not off that bubble, either. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> pocket writes: Do you think Rafer has a shot at starting PG this year?</p> <font color="#0000ff">(I'd know more if I had seen even one game, but for now, I'd guess he has a shot. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> <div id="c637097"> Rashid writes: Hey Jonathan i have one question to ask you how is t-mac's shape i mean does he look any different as in lost weight or gained it</p> <font color="#0000ff">(He is slightly lighter, but looks about the same to me. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </p> RoxFan writes: do you know if Pete Carrill will be one of Adelman's assistant coaches for the Rox? <font color="#0000ff">(He is not. -- Jonathan)</font></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </p>
sounds like its gonna be hard to decide how to distribute the minutes amongst the players....ugh I'd hate that decision too if everyone started playing really well</p>
