Official Houston Rockets 2013 Offseason Thread: Welcome D12 to Houston!

Speaking of Delfino, that real life Gatorade commercial he put on KD will always be a favorite.
 
Camby to miss several more weeks, maybe much more

Rockets center Marcus Camby, expected to be out another two weeks with a foot injury, could be out much longer if things don’t improve soon. Camby said Wednesday that the therapy he has been trying is to improve his condition enough to avoid surgery that would likely keep him out for as much as two months.

“My plantar fascia is torn,” Camby said. “I’m trying to do whatever I can to avoid surgery. We’re just going to rehab it and see how it goes in the next two weeks and take it from there. We don’t want to rehab it and nurse it and have it still be lingering. That is something I’m going to sit back and figure out and definitely look toward long term, as the season progresses to the second half of the season. I have to be smart about it.”

Signed to return to the Rockets as a free agent to join the mix backing up Dwight Howard, Camby has not participated in practices in training camp this season. Camby played in just 24 games last season.

Guards Reggie Williams and Francisco Garcia, who missed the preseason opener on Saturday with groin injuries, are questionable to play Thursday, though Garcia did practice Wednesday in Manila. Center Omer Asik is out with a strained calf, but hopes to return to practice and to play in Taipei on Sunday in the second half of the trip.

I sort of saw this coming. I think he was mostly signed as an insurance policy for Asik in the first place, but with him possibly being out longer, this all but guarantees an Asik move isn't made, which I'm all for. Plus, with Camby having a home here for almost 10 years, I can easily he he transitioning to a Juwan Howard role where he's practically a coach.
 
^Wonder how he passed the physical :lol:
Me thinks he has known before going to Houston so he can get some money and chill in his hometown :lol:
I ain't eem mad.. I'd rather give the minutes to Smith
 
Waking up at 5:00 am to watch a preseason game 
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Damn, someone needs to step up on that 4 spot smh 
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That Brooks/Lin combo looks deadly

Parsons/Howard PNR 
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2013-14 outlook: Houston Rockets
Originally Published: October 9, 2013
ESPN.com
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Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Ready for liftoff? Dwight Howard and James Harden will try to bring Houston to new heights.
What's in store for the Houston Rockets? Our panel of five looks back at the offseason moves (and non-moves) and forward to what lies ahead in the 2013-14 NBA season.


1. What grade would you give the Rockets' offseason?


J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: A. They got their target, Dwight Howard, the marquee free agent after Chris Paul took his name off the board. This comes on the heels of the A they earned in 2012 by nabbing James Harden from the Thunder and retroactively makes every move that paved the way for this (be it talent acquisition or cap clearing) an A as well.

Curtis Harris, Hardwood Paroxysm: A. By signing Howard, the Rockets secured the NBA's best center -- so long as Dwight fully regains his health. In a vacuum, that's enough of a coup, but securing Howard's services while offering less money than the Lakers could earns bonus points.

Rahat Huq, Red94: A. It wasn't just getting Howard. It was getting him without sacrificing a major part of their core, though much of the heavy lifting there was done prior to the offseason. The team also managed to bring back Francisco Garcia -- a revelation from the Thunder series -- while unloading Royce White at close to no cost.

Michael Pina, TrueHoop Network: A. Convincing Howard to move on from the Lakers was obviously a huge win, but GM Daryl Morey didn't stop there. The Rockets then added 3-point-shooting complimentary pieces like Omri Casspi and Reggie Williams, grabbed Ronnie Brewer (the wing defender they didn't have last season) and convinced underrated veteran Francisco Garcia to re-sign for less money.

Justin Verrier, ESPN.com: A-plus. Pat Riley's 2010 coup will forever be the gold standard, but he was luring three friends with a desire to play together. Morey did it the hard way: years of small pawn moves to create a package for a star, then putting him in a player-friendly system, then using that success to land a second top-10 player. Truly remarkable.

2. What's the biggest question facing the Rockets in 2013-14?

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Adande: Defense. We saw in Los Angeles last season that merely putting a defensive player of the year emeritus on the back side of a flawed defense isn't enough. How much can a healthier Howard improve a defense that ranked 28th in the NBA in points allowed (102.5 per game) last season? Perimeter defense matters more in an increasingly perimeter-oriented league.

Harris: How will things work out at center and point guard? Omer Asik was clearly unhappy with the Howard signing since it means a cut in his minutes. Meanwhile, Patrick Beverley is nipping at Jeremy Lin's heels for the starting PG spot. How amicably these two situations are resolved will say a lot on how this team will compose itself throughout the season.

Huq: Power forward. Will Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas emerge? Will they play Asik major minutes next to Dwight? Will they trade Asik to bring in someone else? The team will likely close out games with a smaller forward to start the season, but they'll need a more permanent solution at that position if they want to go far.

Pina: Can Harden improve as a defender? He was dreadful on and off the ball last season with nearly all his energy and attention directed towards offense. His development as a complete superstar remains level until he improves on that end.

Verrier: What do they do with Lin? He started in the Rockets' preseason opener, but Beverley played more, better minutes. Lin seems best suited for a reserve role, in which he can dominate the ball in ways he couldn't next to Harden. Either way, with Lin now 25 years old, we should get a clearer picture of what he is in this league.

3. Who's the Rockets' most intriguing player?


Adande: Patrick Beverley. His playoff run was most notable for its impact on Russell Westbrook's meniscus, but before and after that moment, Beverley showed he belonged in the NBA playoffs by averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. Where does he go from here? And will his reception in Oklahoma City be even worse than Howard's return to L.A.?

Harris: Dwight Howard. After two seasons of unending drama punctuated by indecision, awkward Stan Van Gundy news conferences and a rocky relationship with Kobe Bryant, Dwight finally has a chance for stability and contention. How he plays and comports himself this season will do a lot toward rehabilitating his shattered image.

Huq: Terrence Jones. The sophomore forward was the star of training camp, drawing rave reviews from Howard. He has all the physical tools and showed flashes last season, but can he put it all together and, more importantly, is his skill set the right fit with the starters?

Pina: Patrick Beverley. A fiery on-ball defender who can also make 3s and attack the paint, Beverley deserves more playing time than the average backup point guard. Will he get it?

Verrier: James Harden. The microscope will deservedly be on Dwight, but the Bearded One faces the bigger adjustment. Harden rose to superstardom on a team that gave him as many shots and as little defensive responsibility as he wanted, but he now must make way for a demanding player who was anointed team savior upon arrival and whose skill set as a roll man is far greater than his desire to be one. Harden slowly assumed alpha-dog status in high school, college and the pros. How will he and his game change now that he has to give some of that back for the first time?

4. What's one bold prediction about the Rockets?

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Adande: The Rockets will shoot 3,000 free throws. Howard's foul-shooting woes have led opponents to send him to the line as many as 916 times in a season. Last season, Harden led the league with 792 free throw attempts. With those two on the same team, officials will wear out their whistles during Rockets games.

Harris: This will be their final season with their current jersey design. Since winning the NBA title in 1995, Houston has ditched their simple, classic style for buffoonish cartoon rocket ships and strange torso ovals. After two decades of horrific designs, the time has come for a return to the classic look.

Huq: Lin will silence his critics. He looked great in camp, showing off a new and improved shooting form. The Rockets will need Lin to continue upon his hot shooting late last season (over 40 percent on 3s in February and March), and I think he will end any debate over who should be the starter at point guard.

Pina: Kevin McHale will piece together an offense that allows Asik and Howard to play together without capsizing Houston's ability to score. Also, Asik will not be traded before next summer.

Verrier: The Rockets won't be nearly as fun to watch as they might seem. Houston was basketball Cirque Du Soleil last season: young, athletic wings flying around at the league's fastest pace, shooting a ton of 3s, wearing lots of hair product. But Howard would back his man down for 23 seconds if he had his druthers, and Harden's best skill is his crafty way of manufacturing free throws. The Lakers are still waiting for all that fun, too.

5. Prediction time: How far will the Rockets go next season?


Adande: The second round. Newly formed teams usually don't, uh, blast off into the NBA Finals. It's more of a gradual ascent. Harden will have to learn when to drive and when to dump the ball to Dwight. Howard has to figure out where he can best help his teammates on defense. They'll win their first playoff series since 2009 in the process, but they're not ready to go much deeper.

Harris: Western Conference semifinals, barring injury. However, I think that's as far as they go this upcoming season. Harden and Howard will need at least a season to fully realize the great potential they hold as a duo. 2014-15 is the season to really watch out for the Rockets.

Huq: Western Conference finals. The Westbrook injury changes everything out West, in which home court could prove the difference. It's going to take time for the Rockets to jell, but they should still finish in the top four in their conference. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I don't see Houston making it all the way to the Finals just yet.

Pina: They'll win a playoff series with home-court advantage, but that's as far as I'm willing to go in the loaded West.

Verrier: Western Conference semifinals. The Rockets still have an above-average supporting cast in the wake of their two big offseason swings. But, like any upstart, they'll need time to figure it all out, and the West this season isn't the place to do it, successfully, on the fly.

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MarkAngelo said:
Waking up at 5:00 am to watch a preseason game :smokin
Damn, someone needs to step up on that 4 spot smh :smh:
That Brooks/Lin combo looks deadly
Parsons/Howard PNR :pimp:
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:smh: :smh: I need a replay of this.

Rockets put on a show in 116-96 win over Pacers in NBA’s first game in The Philippines

MANILA, The Philippines – A nation of basketball fanatics finally got NBA basketball.

A game, or at least a yearning, six decades in the making gripped Manila as preseason game normally could not, as finally the Rockets and Pacers put on the show they had promised, inspired it seemed to have been cherished so greatly.

As the game moved to its final seconds, with the Rockets dribbling out the clock on a 116-96 wire-to-wire rout of last season’s Eastern Conference Finalists, the crowd roared and then rose to offer a final salute.

They had gotten what they came for, particularly if they had been hoping to see the Rockets’ offense roll. For the second preseason game, the Rockets starters had dominant stretches with James Harden leading the Rockets with 18 points in his 24 minutes before sitting tout out the entire fourth quarter. Patrick Beverley started at point guard with Jeremy Lin coming off the bench and made four of five shots with his 12 points, adding four assists, four steals and his usual sticky to the point of annoying defense.

Chandler Parsons went 6 of 9 for his 15 points. Donatas Motiejunas and Omri Casspi combined for 33, blowing the game open in the fourth quarter.

Yet for all, the Rockets had to find encouraging in the strong performance, they could not have been as happy as those that witnessed it.

For all the trappings of NBA basketball, complete with the music and dancers, acrobats and mascots, there was something of a different feel to the event.

More than two-and-a-half hours before the game, when the Rockets second team bus arrived, it was greeted with raucous cheers of ‘Rockets, Rockets, Rockets’ as players made their way into the arena. And when James Harden, halfway to the lockerroom, turned and returned to the throngs pressed against the metal barricades, bringing out a camera to video the scene as he pumped his fist.

Yet when the game began, the crowd at first might have seemed like any NBA crowd, but there was a difference, too.

For the most part, the fans in Mall of Asia Arena sounded like typical NBA fans, much as they were described. They were generally quiet, with a smattering of Lin and Harden shirts mixed among the crowd (including one fan in the front row who wore Lin’s Harvard uniform).

Yet, it soon became clear that they were watching the game too intently, studying almost, for the madness accompanied team appearances through the week. They reacted to everything. The excitement level rising when Lin – who came off the bench – had the ball, but there were cheers for everything accomplished, and not just highlights.

Chandler Parsons and Donatas Motiejunas finished breaks with slams and the crowd cheered, but they had already reacted to the passes from Harden and Lin that set them up. They groaned when Dwight Howard picked up his fifth foul in the third quarter after a game on what appeared to be a Roy Hibbert flop in which Howard had shut down the towering Pacers center. But they also cheered comically when Howard made his first free throw, clearly keenly aware of his shooting issues from the line.

In the fourth quarter, when Lin passed out of a double-team to a cutting Ronnie Brewer and Brewer sent a slick dish inside to Casspi, the cheers began even before Omri Casspi put in his reverse for a three-point play and a 12-point Rockets lead.

Much of the crowd arrived late, stalled by the near-monsoon storm that hit Manila. But once they got to their seats, no one left. There did not seem to be anyone in the crowd with any food or drink as if that would be a distraction.

As with many NBA games, the loudest cheers were to get giveaway t-shirts, but in the fourth quarter, when YMCA played, relatedly few joined in. They were here for the basketball. They had waited long enough.
 
These damn games need to be on TV. Nothing like the worst team in baseball holding the Rockets and Comcast hostage from making a deal. SMH. 
 
recorded the game and watching it now. Beverly started and the starting unit killed it. interesting to see Dwight and hibbert matchup. both finished with pretty meh numbers, but Dwight was outplaying him early on.

so excited for this season to start.

really want to buy a jersey, but I'm almost certain that they'll change the jerseys after this season...they almost HAVE to. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they actually like them. might just get an alternate, but I'll wait to see what xmas day short sleeve jerseys look like first.
 
PugLife said:
recorded the game and watching it now. Beverly started and the starting unit killed it. interesting to see Dwight and hibbert matchup. both finished with pretty meh numbers, but Dwight was outplaying him early on.

so excited for this season to start.

really want to buy a jersey, but I'm almost certain that they'll change the jerseys after this season...they almost HAVE to. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they actually like them. might just get an alternate, but I'll wait to see what xmas day short sleeve jerseys look like first.
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i bought the home harden jersey for 30% off. figured if i have season tickets i midas whale buy a jersey. if they change next year i'll just have to buy a new one then too i guess
 
^That's the reason I mostly just get the Rockets shirts. the regular jerseys are ugly and badly dated, but on the team shirts it looks much more appealing.

And Patrick Beverly starting wasn't an accident either. The plan for this season is to have Lin and Bev alternate starts, which I think would keep things pretty fresh.
 
I really wish they would officially go back to red and yellow. The alternate jersey is legit, but the home and aways have always been meh. Time to move away from the Chinese influenced jerseys and font from the Yao years.
 
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^ I agree. Let's go back to the old school red and yellow.. Simple and clean :smokin
I hate the cut of our jersey, it looks so f****** gay :x
 
Struggling or not, Howard makes game easier for us, says Rockets star Harden*


JAMES Harden sees the Houston Rockets guards and wingmen flourishing with the presence of a legitimate threat in the middle in superstar acquisition Dwight Howard.

Harden said the muscular 6-foot-10 Howard was a crucial inside the paint during the Rockets’ 116-96 rout of the Indiana Pacers even if the former Los Angeles Laker struggled in the first-ever NBA preseason game to be held in the Philippines on Thursday night. *

Howard, acquired by the Rockets in a blockbuster off-season, only had nine points, but helped spread the floor for the team with his towering presence inside.

Nonetheless, Harden likes the prospects of having a legitimate big man aside from*Omer Asik, who sat out the Manila game due to a calf injury, by attracting a lot of attention from the defense in the post.

“They open a lot of space, that gives us (guards) an opportunity to make easy shots. I’m happy to have those guys on the team,” said Harden, a three-time Manila visitor.

“Our fours are pretty good shooters, very versatile, can pass the ball and shoot it. It makes them difficult to guard,” he added.

Harden had a game-high 21 points but credited their defense in the early goings, now anchored by Howard, for their preseason victory against the Pacers at the Mall of Asia Arena.

He said the Rockets’ fast 12-0 start and holding a 15-point spread in the first period had something to do with their defense.

“Our defense was phenomenal. First quarter, I think we had a 15-point lead so just getting stops and creating points off turnovers,” said Harden.

“Obviously having Dwight (Howard), he really helped us contest shots, guards getting deflections. It is really a variety of things (on offense),” he added.

The bearded guard said the defensive effort easily led to easy points with almost everyone contributing to their cause, with Omri Caspi and Donatas Motiejunas chipping in 17 and 16 points, respectively.

“Just got good shots on the offensive end, moving the ball and finding Dwight if he is open. Our guards kept moving the ball and making easy passes to our teammates,” said Harden.



struggling-or-not-howard-makes-game-easier-for-us-says-rockets-star-harden
 
agree completely. his presence alone is something you have to respect as a defense. is his post game stellar? no. but he can still physically dominate games. see: the last regular season game the rockets and lakers played, that bumped us to the 7 or 8 seed. he manhandled omer. last year on PnRs with omer it felt like teams would let him roll free and just double the ball handler which won't work with howard running the roll. i think lin, harden of course, and beverly's playing styles help dwight as well because of their tendency to attack the rim and draw a second defender who won't be able to box out dwight anymore if he commits to the ballhandler. interested to see how chandler develops his game going forward. does his role on the team change his playing style into a guy who camps at 3 catches and shoots and plays defense, or does he become a go to option with the ball in his hands. 

im really excited for this season guise
 
i was still impressed with the way dwight played against hibbert in the first quarter. dwight was a little sloppy on offense, but he forced like three straight turnovers on hibbert at one point i believe. we'll see how he does when they play again eeeeeeeeearly sunday morning.


for anyone else that may be interested in the short sleeve jerseys: i did a little research and the rockets xmas day jerseys last year were unveiled by the nba on nov 12th. that means we have roughly one more month to go until we see what they'll look like this year.
 
Just chiming in here. Not a Rocket's fan, but I'm a fan of alot of the players on ths team. I think you guys are primed for a nice playoff run. What do yall think about playing small ball with Parsons at the 4?

He can be similar to what Hedo was in Orlando, and provide an extra ball handler while spacing the floor. Dwight thrives in pick and roll, and being surrounded by four shooters. Just look at those Orlando teams he led to the Finals, and ECF.
 
WavyCrocket said:
Just chiming in here. Not a Rocket's fan, but I'm a fan of alot of the players on ths team. I think you guys are primed for a nice playoff run. What do yall think about playing small ball with Parsons at the 4?

He can be similar to what Hedo was in Orlando, and provide an extra ball handler while spacing the floor. Dwight thrives in pick and roll, and being surrounded by four shooters. Just look at those Orlando teams he led to the Finals, and ECF.
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i'm iffy on the subject. we tried that with delfino and consistently got beat down low. pause. would prefer t jones being our "small 4" because he's an athletic 4 that's more able to guard tradition 4s than parsons.
 
@wavyrocket -- I think it depends on the team matchup. The beauty of this team is the versatility in terms of going small ball or going big with Asik/Howard... I do like having Parsons at the 4 spot if Mchale decides to go small ball, but if the matchup is against an Indy, Memphis, SAS, then I wouldn't risk it.. That's the added bonus of having Asik and Howard, Mchale can really mix n match, depending on the matchups. I'm really intrigued with the Brooks/Lin or Bev/Lin combo tho for the 1/2 8)
 
And to think people said out PG situation was weak...then we unleashed TONEYGAWD on them for half a season before we sent him down to the Kings.
 
Peep Game said:
And to think people said out PG situation was weak...then we unleashed TONEYGAWD on them for half a season before we sent him down to the Kings.
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Patrick held that starting job fine..Lin coming off the bench might not be such a bad idea 
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Lin

Brewer/Garcia

Casspi

Dmo

Asik 

This lineup can definitely wreak havoc 
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