Grading The Deal: Hornets, Rockets Keep Up With Joneses
If Jackson stays healthy, the Rockets might actually get an upgrade over James off the bench, but they lost a significant amount of talent in Wells. The only reason Daryl Morey pulled the trigger on this deal was to dump some salary without completely breaking up the roster.
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Point Guard Solution Rests On Bench?
In Rick Adelman’s offense, the point guard needs to be able to create for himself and others, hit open shots, lead a break, and stay in front of his man. All of which are attributes that Aaron Brooks boasts.
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2007-2008 Season Preview: Houston Rockets
The Rockets accomplished one of three things they addressed as needs heading into the 2007 off-season. They got depth in the backcourt. But they still need a legit, bruising power forward who can rebound and score up front (and who knows, perhaps Scola is that player, but it’s unlikely to be this year), and they still need a true point guard who can pass, thinks team first, and can hit open 3-pointers at a high rate.
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30 Teams, 30 Days: Houston Rockets (26th)
Because of the Mike James trade, the Rockets will turn their sights on the power forward position.
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A Kobe Breakup Would Be Best For Houston AND Los Angeles?
If the Lakers want to get equal value, they need to look no further than Houston. While it would not be smart to trade Bryant to a Western Conference rival, it makes the most sense.
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Rockets New Hire No Sure Thing
Rockets management wanted a new face, new blood, new life. With Rick Adelman, they feel they have just that. Adelman said all the right things; swearing to make T-Mac's life easier, making better use of Yao's passing skills and even having kind words for Bonzi.
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2007 Draft Preview: Houston Rockets
Tracy McGrady feels the Rockets need a more athletic power forward, as well as a playmaker and a backup point guard. We agree with him and since that 4 won't be available for them with their 26th pick, there will be several point guards.
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Houston Playoff Preview
For all the accolades given for Tracy McGrady’s playmaking abilities or the unstoppable progression of Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets have been unable to translate star power into an appearance in the second round of the playoffs. However, something is different about this year’s Rockets team. This year’s team has shown a newfound resiliency, a never-say-quit attitude written all over the organization.
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New Style For The New Year
Fortunately, Jeff Van Gundy has dismissed the stubbornness and has done something he has never accomplished during his ten years of coaching NBA basketball—establish a consistent running attack that puts pressure on opposing defenses.
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Here's A Puzzle
What happens when your superstar player is condensed into little more than a glorified playmaker? What happens when your supposed third scorer ends up sitting the first few weeks of the season due to being out of shape and not being prepared to play basketball?
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Rockets Have That Same Old Uncertain Feeling
Fans will say that this team has every opportunity to do well, and sure, they do. They’re one of the top three teams in talent alone – on paper. Ay, there’s the catch. The newcomers are of the same prototype as last year’s acquisitions.
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Can Houston lean on the Great Wall of China to a Championship
From Hakeem Olajuwon to Yao Ming, the great lineage of Houston centers has been carried on. In 1984 NBA Draft Houston selected Nigerian born center Hakeem Olajuwon with its first overall choice; eighteen years later they will again use there number one pick to select another International center in Chinese born Yao Ming. The impressive legacy left behind by the great Olajuwon has placed a enormous amount of pressure for the twenty five year old Ming. Yao's own path to super stardom will only be complete and fulfilled by bringing a championship to Houston.
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McGrady Hopeful, Yet Back Pain Will Always Linger
Tracy McGrady has always been one of the league's most explosive players, however, with lingering back problems, Rockets fans need to come to terms with T-Mac not being the same explosive player that they remember.
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Rockets Make Small Strides Towards Contention
The Houston Rockets were plagued with injury last season, but that did not stop them from continuing to build towards being a Western Conference contender.
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Can The Rockets Blast Off With Battier?
Most analysts were shocked to see Rudy Gay drop to the #8 spot. Rumors were swirling before the draft that he could go to Charlotte at #3 or even be taken with the top choice by Toronto. For him to fall to Houston was a blessing. Most fans were thinking, “Finally, a 3rd uber-talent to play alongside T-Mac and Ming!” And then, the bomb was dropped…
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T-Mac's Back?!?
No... not T-Mac is back. Nobody questions the production that T-Mac gives when he's in their lineup. Coming off his late-November back injury, McGrady averaged 27 PTS, 1.4 3PTM, 6.4 REB, 5.4 AST, 1.2 STL and 1.1 BLK. That's top-10 fantasy basketball material. The question most people are asking is: Will T-Mac be a reliable option down the stretch? The answer to that question is... no.
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Rockets Season Preview
After losing to Dallas in the first round, the Rockets were left with a bad taste in their mouth. A long four months later, training camp has began and all focus is on wiping last season’s end from their memory. Rockets' columnist Jason Linnard gives fans a preview of things to come.
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Flurry Of Moves Help Position Rockets For Run
Houston Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson should be getting paid overtime.
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Mid-Offseason Report
No matter what happens between now and the beginning of training camp, the Rockets offseason can still be considered a success. Adding a key piece in Swift and bringing back Bowen, Barry, and Mutombo could be enough to put the Rockets up to the next level. Expect a battle between the Texas Triangle teams for the top spot in the Southwest division.
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Stalling Rockets, Awaiting Vet Backcourt
After agreeing to terms with Stromile Swift, the Rockets frontline seems to be finished. But work still needs to be done, apparently the backcourt is still awaiting some moves. The Houston Rockets have tried to bring Damon Stoudamire to Houston via the LLE, both sides are happy about the discussions, but just nothing's official.
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Swift Joins Houston
According to his agent Andy Miller, free agent forward Stromile Swift has agreed to terms on a contract. It’s been two weeks since Swift originally met with the Rockets.
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The Swift Decision
The New Jersey Nets are still in the midst of trying to pry Shareef Abdur-Rahim from the Portland Trailblazers, meanwhile the Sonics and Rockets are battling it out for the 6-9 LSU product. Fox News in Houston reported that Stromile Swift will make his decision between the three teams during the middle of next week.
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A Stromile Swift Signing Would Complete The Rockets Line-Up
Given that Stromile Swift’s basketball hero growing up was Hakeem Olajuwon, will that put the Rockets over the top in the race to land the young talent chalked full of potential?
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Swift’s New Home In Houston, Or Is Money Talking?
Whether it’s playing for your favorite team while growing up, or playing for money, Stromile Swift has taken the Houston Rockets into deep consideration. Swift’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told the local newspaper, the Houston Chronicle, that the 6-9 Power Forward has some interest in becoming apart of the Houston Rockets.
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Summer Update In The Lone Star State
According to sources, the Rockets contacted Mark Bartelstein, agent for Antoine Walker. Houston expressed interest in the power forward, who played for both Atlanta and Boston last season. Walker, in turn, showed interest in the Rockets, and is expected to visit with Houston this week.
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Head-ed For the NBA
Luther Head is a versatile guard from Illinois. Many people doubted that he could play the point. He was forced to play out of position in college due to the presence of Deron Williams and Dee Brown. Head proved he could play the point at the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp.
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Rocket’s Draft Preview
In Houston, the consensus is that we need to get younger, as we have the highest average age among NBA teams. (31.4 years old) As the draft approaches, Houston executives and scouts begin to look at all the players who could possibly don the Rockets' red this next season.
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Summer in Space City: Rockets' Offseason Preview
Though the season is over, the Rockets have a bright offseason ahead of them. Word is that Houston is the place to go this year. Guard/forward Tracy McGrady and Center Yao Ming are both young and will be locked up as Rockets for the better part of a decade. Many players would love to play alongside these two superstars.
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Houston Has Big 4th Quarter, Ties Series
Houston, we have a series. The Rockets outscored Dallas 32-13 in the 4th quarter, leading to a 101-83 win in Houston, tying the series at 3 wins apiece. Tracy McGrady led Houston with 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
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Heartbreaker Late, Mavs Up 3-2
Tracy McGrady and the Rockets couldn’t convert in the 4th quarter as they lost to the Dallas Mavericks 103-100 to make the series 3-2 in favor of Dallas. Though, some questionable calls by the officiating staff could’ve been Houston’s downfall.
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Rockets Skim By Mavs, Go Up 2-0
When Houston’s dynamic duo gets started, just get out of the way. Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming combined for 61 points and 16 rebounds as the Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 113-111. Dirk Nowitzki had 26 points, but was held to 8-21 shooting, and did not convert an attempt from the arc.
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Rockets Take Early Lead, Go Up 1-0
In the I-45 Showdown, the Houston Rockets take the holeshot. Led by Tracy McGrady’s 34 points, the Rockets defeated the Mavs 98-86, giving them the early 1-0 lead. McGrady also added 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
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Rocket’s Playoff Preview: The I-45 Series
This is the Rocket’s first legitimate chance at going somewhere in the playoffs, but certainly not the last. The duo of McGrady and Yao will be powerful for many years.
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Rockets Knock Off Red-Hot Nuggets
The Rockets became the first team other than the Suns to defeat the Nuggets in several weeks.
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Rockets Slip By The Suns
Tracy McGrady, welcome back to the playoffs.
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Howard Hurt As Rockets Down Warriors
The Rockets went 4-0 on their West Coast road trip as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 97-94. Tracy McGrady let Houston with 20 points.
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McGrady, James Lift Rockets Over Kings
The Rockets defeated the Kings 111-96 on Sunday, giving them 4 straight wins, each against top 5 Western Conference teams.
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Rockets Burn The Suns
Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming combined for 65 points as the Rockets defeated the Suns, 127-107, their largest home loss of the season.
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Rockets Beat Short-Handed Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks were without their two top scorers Sunday, and the Rockets took full advantage of it.
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The Truth Of The Yao
In his third year in the league, Yao Ming is proving his worthiness of the top selection in the draft. He probably won’t be the next Kareem or Chamberlain, but he will be a great center in this league for many years.
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Rockets Rock The Bulls
In a valiant effort, the Rockets routed the Bulls 119-89, snapping their 3 game losing streak and the Bull’s small winning streak of two games.
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Rockets Played By the Jazz
After an eight game winning streak, the Rockets were handed their third straight loss, losing to the Utah Jazz 99-92, snapping Utah’s four game losing streak.
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Booted By the Spurs
The Rockets loss to the Spurs 91-89, their second loss in as many nights. The Rockets are 2-1 against the Spurs this season.
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Heartbreaker in H-Town
The Rocket’s stepped on the court Tuesday night as winners of eight straight. That’s where it would stop, losing a heartbreaker to the SuperSonics.
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Rockets Rout the Wizards
4 All-Stars stepped on the Toyota Center floor Tuesday night, but only 2 stepped off as winners. Tracy McGrady totaled 34 points, while Yao put in 23 of his won as the Rockets extended their season-high 8 game winning streak.
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Rockets Back To Respectability
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Rockets Having Trouble With Lift Off
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3
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The Rocket Guy Invades Real GM . . .
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The Rockets Beyond 2000-2001
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Danny Granger, who has just three years of NBA experience under his belt, will undoubtedly be the man in Indiana beginning this summer.
The Orlando Magic will be limited by the NBA's Luxury Tax in terms of filling the remaining spots on their roster. It is also possible it could cost them Keyon Dooling or Maurice Evans.
The Raptors are bringing in a player who will have an immediate impact (unlike Hibbert or whomever the Raptors would’ve drafted at 17), plays a position of need (unlike Ford,) and carries a reputation of intimidation (unlike Nesterovic).
It ended up not being Roy Hibbert for Utah, which could be a good thing because Kosta Koufos has more upside.
The Cavaliers have many options with the 19th pick in the draft. The burning question is will they draft a proven college player who can contribute right away, or will they select a project player who has a little more upside. 
By virtue of their late-season surge, the drafting process has become a much harder proposition for the Philadelphia 76ers.
What the Griz lack is a household name. Someone that your grandmother knows about even if she can’t tell the difference between a pick on the hardwood and an interception on the gridiron.
The Lakers’ big issues next season will be re-integrating Bynum and Ariza, and shifting Odom to small forward. That, instead of a big trade, should be all that is done to tinker.
The Celtics are still celebrating their recent NBA Title victory, but decisions will still have to be made this Thursday.
Fans are extremely optimistic about the future in New Orleans after they came within a game of the Western Conference Finals this season.