SC1211's 09 Rockets | Going for a repeat (1-0)

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INTRO

Apologies about starting two stories back to back, super lame on my part not backing up my saves. Anyways, having just gotten in to the UBR Mod, I'm really enjoying playing some of my favorite teams. I decided to load up the 2007 Roster included and take control of the Houston Rockets during the Yao/McGrady era. I simulated the first two seasons and I'm now doing the 2008-2009 season, coming fresh off a championship win.


Game: NBA 2K12 PC
Roster: 2007 Mod included in UBR
Sliders: sevin0sevin's
Settings: 82 Games/7-7-7-7 Playoffs/12 Minute Quarters
CPU Trades: Only enabled for one weekend a month and a week and a half before the trade deadline in order to prevent excessive deals.

An important note: in order to compensate for Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady's health problems, I will be setting their durability at 25 and 35 respectively. If either one of them suffers an injury I deem sufficient (broken bone, ACL/MCL tear etc.), I will drop their ratings significantly to reflect the real effects of such an injury. I.e., Yao is currently rated a 92 in my game, if he breaks his ankle, I will probably drop it to an 82. If the injury occurs twice, I will drop it significantly again and retire the player. This should make things more interesting.

I'll begin by giving a recap of the previous two seasons, and then I'll begin the season.


The 2008-09 Houston Rockets: Going for a Repeat

"It's a tall task. People don't really understand how tall a task it is to win back-to-back. It's very difficult. The challenge is the duration of the season, and the pressure of playing every single night wears and fatigues the players physically, mentally and emotionally. It's a tough task." - Phil Jackson

"We had non-believers all along the way. I have one thing to say to those non-believers: don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion." - Rudy Tomjanovich

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Current Roster

Starters

9 Rajon Rondo|1 Tracy McGrady|2 Mickael Pietrus|7 Rashard Lewis|11 Yao Ming

Bench

6 Bonzi Wells|25 Bruce Bowen|12 Rafer Alston|44 Chuck Hayes|4 Chris Webber|20 Steve Novak|14 Carl Landry

Reserve

40 Kyrylo Fesenko|3 Serge Ibaka

Current Statistics
Coming soon

Current Standings
Coming Soon

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RECAP

Off-Season 2007: Overcoming Disappointment
Houston Rockets:
The Houston Rockets concluded their 2006-07 campaign on a disappointing note. Although they had secured the second seed in the playoffs, they were defeated in the second round by the eventual NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. New General Manager Daryl Morey wasn't shy about making significant upgrades in order to support his superstar duo. Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were surprisingly healthy during the season, playing 77 and 82 games, respectively, but had little offensive help to put them over the top.

"I think that we had constructed a top-tier defensive roster, but there was no one to take the load off of those two offensively," said Morey. "At the end of the day, we felt that we had a great defensive coach in Jeff (Van Gundy), and so we felt comfortable making some moves that had the potential to increase our offensive output a little bit." Although both Van Gundy and Morey were in love with defensive guru and newcomer Shane Battier, whom they had acquired for the eighth overall pick in the 2006 draft, Morey saw an opportunity to add a potential playmaker and to clear some cap space for the upcoming free agent class. Jumping in on the blockbuster trade that would send veteran Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics, Morey sent Battier, forward Juwan Howard, and a 2007 and 2009 first round pick away, and in exchange received Rajon Rondo, a raw but exciting point guard prospect coming off of a disappointing rookie campaign, forward Ryan Gomes and Minnesota's 2008 first round pick. The Rockets had found the perfect trading partner, one who wanted desperately to win now, and took advantage.

Although still raw, the Rockets hope Rajon Rondo is their point guard of the future

"Obviously we thought that Rajon gave us a lot of upside in the future, but we also thought that it gave us some flexibility in the off-season to add a significant piece to our roster to compete the next year." The Rockets had enough cap space to sign a free agent to a starting contract at around nine million dollars, and they planned to use it. At midnight, when the free agency period started, Daryl Morey rang Rashard Lewis' doorbell, and held up a Rockets jersey with his name on it. "Rashard was our number one target. We love what Chuck (Hayes) did for us at the power forward position defensively, but with Rashard we thought we had the opportunity to add a top-tier scoring threat, that could really stretch the floor for Yao inside."

Rashard Lewis is the perfect complement to established stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady

Lewis, who attended Alief Elsik, a high school in Houston, was more than amenable to the idea of playing for his hometown team. Signing a five year deal worth nearly fifty-seven million dollars, Rashard Lewis made his homecoming.

Long-time defensive ace Dikembe Mutombo announced his retirement, so the final piece of the puzzle was finding a big man to back up Yao. Morey signed Chris Andersen to play that role. With Andersen in tow, the Rockets had a formidable defensive frontcourt bench.

With a new big three in Lewis, McGrady and Yao, the Rockets looked ready to contend.

Around the League:
The 2007 offseason saw many of the young stars from the talented 2003 draft class change teams. After informing the Denver Nuggets that he wanted to be let go in restricted free agency, Carmelo Anthony was part of a blockbuster sign-and-trade deal that landed him with the Cleveland Cavaliers. With LeBron James shifting to a point guard role, the Cavs now feature one of the most formidable duos in the league

Newcomer Carmelo Anthony is sure to make life easier for LeBron James

Another young star from the same draft, Chris Bosh, also forced his way out of town, to none other than the Boston Celtics, who as mentioned before, later acquired Kevin Garnett. The Celtics weren't done dealing. They then sent their high draft pick in the 2007 draft to the Seattle Sonics in exchange for veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen. With Bosh, Garnett, Allen and Battier now in Boston alongside Paul Pierce, the Celtics seemed prepared to dominate the NBA.

Bosh and Garnett make up a star-studded frontcourt

The 2007 draft contained two players that most experts believe will end up being sure-fire stars in center Greg Oden and forward Kevin Durant. The ping pong balls bounced the way of the Los Angeles Clippers, who selected Oden with the top pick. Oden would go on to have a solid rookie outing, averaging just over 11 points per game to go along with 8 rebounds, though injury concerns remain an issue, as he missed 14 games. The Clippers also got some help in the backcourt by signing superstar Vince Carter in the offseason. The Indiana Pacers received a pretty good consolation prize with the second overall pick, and selected Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant, who also averaged 25 points per game in his first season. He also secured an all-star appearance.

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RECAP

The 2007-08 Season: The Road to the Championship
Expectations were high in Houston at the beginning of the season. The Rockets would eventually deliver, but only after a slow start. Other contenders from the West included the reigning NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the division rival Dallas Mavericks, featuring 2007 MVP Dirk Nowitzki. From the East, there was the rebuilt Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers with their up and coming superstars, and the defensive, scrappy Chicago Bulls. The Rockets were solid in the first three months of the season, holding on to the 3rd seed behind the Lakers and Mavericks. Nearing the all-star break, there were two glaring holes that the Rockets needed to fix, their point guard play and their play at small forward. Rafer Alston, although never a great scorer, was posting dismal shooting numbers with a field goal percentage of 34%. And Ryan Gomes, while solid offensively, was struggling defensively. "I think every great team needs a premier perimeter defender, and I told Daryl that we needed one," said Coach Jeff Van Gundy. "Luckily, he delivered." On February 2, 2008, the Houston Rockets sent Ryan Gomes, 2007 first round pick Dominic McGuire and two second round picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for swingman Mickael Pietrus

Mickael Pietrus gave the Rockets some much needed athleticism and defense

With Pietrus concentrating on the defensive end of the court, Van Gundy decided to make another change, promoting sophomore point guard Rajon Rondo to the starting position. Rondo proceeded to play a unique role for the Rockets, averaging only 2.5 points, but over 7.5 assists per game. The Rockets new line-up began clicking immediately. The All-Star game rolled around, and the big three from Houston were selected. Just when the Rockets had attained the top seed in the Western Conference, edging out the Lakers in a hotly contested game for the coveted spot, Yao Ming sprained his ankle and was out for two months. Luckily, Chris Andersen proved to be more than a capable back-up, and the Rockets held on to the number one seed in the West, going 61-21. The big three all scored 20+ points per game, with Rashard Lewis averaging 23.8, Tracy McGrady averaging 23.0, and Yao Ming averaging 21.8.

At the season's end, Rajon Rondo took home the NBA's Most Improved Player award. LeBron James became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon to win Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player in the same season. He put up monster numbers next to Carmelo Anthony, averaging 34 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds per game, while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the second seed in the East with a record of 60-22. Tracy McGrady and Rashard Lewis took home All-NBA Third Team honors, with Yao Ming missing out on the award due to his injury.

The Houston Rockets faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets took care of business swiftly, sweeping the Warriors. In the second round, Houston faced the Sacremento Kings, lead by Kevin Martin, Ron Artest and Mike Bibby. Although the Kings managed to snag one game, they had no answer inside for Yao Ming, who averaged 27 points per game during the series. Down in the other bracket out West, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks played an intense, drama-filled seven game series. In the end, a 48 point effort by Kobe Bryant allowed the Lakers to move on to face the Rockets in the conference finals, a rematch of last year's second round.

The Rockets had the upper hand this time. Although Kobe Bryant's sheer will allowed the Lakers to extend the series to six games, Yao Ming and Rashard Lewis both averaged over 25 points per game to put the series away. The defining performance was game 6, where Yao Ming poured in a playoff career high 37 points to give the Rockets the victory. Said McGrady: "Man that was one of the most dominating big man performance I've witnessed. Kobe and Lamar (Odom) did a pretty good job defending Rashard and I, and it allowed Yao to take us home." Out East, the third seeded Chicago Bulls upset the top seeded Boston Celtics in six games, giving the Bulls their first trip to the NBA Finals since Michael Jordan retired in 1998.

There were interesting match-ups all around. At the point guard position, Kirk Hinrich was an excellent defender and great perimeter shooter. Although Hinrich's defensive abilities weren't necessarily needed for Rajon Rondo, he could help out on Tracy McGrady if Ben Gordon got in trouble. Gordon was an outstanding outside shooter coming off a monster season, where he averaged 26 points per game. McGrady would have his hands full chasing Gordon around the court. Luol Deng was also having a career year, averaging over 20 points per game and wreaking havoc on the defensive end. Mickael Pietrus would be utilizing all of his defensive tricks to hold him in check. Although Tyrus Thomas had been somewhat of a disappointment so far, he was athletic, which didn't bode well for the Rockets. Rashard Lewis was most effective when dealing with a more traditional power forward that he could use his quickness against. Luckily, Thomas wouldn't expose any of Lewis' defensive shortcomings. Finally, Ben Wallace provided excellent post defense for the Bulls. Unfortunately for the Bulls, that post defense was at a serious disadvantage when it came to the height difference between him and Yao (6-9 to 7-6).

The Rockets won their first two games at home, with Yao Ming pouring in 25 and 30 points in each game. Ben Wallace, and backup Joakim Noah struggled to contain him. Luol Deng also struggled to create offense for himself, which allowed the Rockets to take advantage.

Yao Ming got off to a hot start against the Bulls

The tables turned, however, when the series moved to Chicago. Ben Gordon poured in 40 points in game three, propelling the Bulls to a 25 point victory. Then, in game four he put on a repeat performance, scoring 36 points, including 6 three pointers. Jeff Van Gundy knew that an adjustment had to be made on the defensive end if they wanted to win the series. "Gordon was lighting us up, so I decided to switch the defensive match-ups a little bit." Instead of having McGrady continue to chase Gordon around, Van Gundy switched Rajon Rondo onto him. In game five, Gordon went 4-19 and the Rockets picked up their third victory.

Switching Rajon Rondo onto Ben Gordon made a world of difference for the Rockets...and for Ben Gordon
Coming home for game six, the Rockets knew that they had a chance to close it out. It was a close game all the way through, with 11 lead changes and six ties. The Rockets lead at halftime 53-48, but that lead quickly evaporated early in the third quarter, when Luol Deng caught fire. Deng, who had struggled for most of the series, scored 26 points through three quarters, giving the Bulls a 78-67 lead. Yao Ming then went to work in the post, scoring 10 straight points for the Rockets to open the fourth quarter. Tracy McGrady, who had been phenomenal through three quarters, began to struggle, and Rashard Lewis went out with a severe back strain midway through the fourth quarter. With just under a minute to go, the Rockets inbounded the ball, down 103-102. McGrady brought the ball up the court, as Yao settled into position down in the post. One on one with Joakim Noah, Yao caught the ball, faked to the baseline, and nailed a beautiful fadeaway post shot to give the Rockets the lead.

Yao Ming sinks a clutch shot to give the Rockets the lead in the final minute of the game

With 30 seconds to go, Kirk Hinrich hurries the ball up court. In his haste, he began to lose control of the ball, and Rajon Rondo swooped in to grab it. After evading defenders and managing a pass to Yao Ming before the intentional foul, the young point guard was swamped with cheers from the home crowd. The Rockets had won the NBA Championship, 106-103.

Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming lift Rajon Rondo up in celebration of their victory

Yao Ming was named the Finals MVP after averaging 26.7 points per game in the series.

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RECAP

2008 Off-Season: Retooling for a Repeat
Rockets:
The Houston Rockets entered the 2008 off-season with one goal in mind: keeping the current core intact. They had several interesting decisions to make regarding free agency and the draft. The draft came first, and the Rockets were fortunate enough to have a very high first round pick, due to owning the Timberwolves' first rounder from the Rondo-Garnett-Jefferson deal a year ago. With the number 6 pick in the draft, they were excited to land a top-tier prospect. Unfortunately, all of their targets were off the board when it was their turn to pick, so they decided to move back. "We were in a luxurious position," said General Manager Daryl Morey. "With a top-tier roster, we weren't looking for a rookie to contribute immediately. It allowed us to move back a few slots and take a guy that's more of a project."

They contacted the Golden State Warriors, and agreed to swap the number 6 pick in the draft for forward Carl Landry and the number 13 pick in the draft. With that pick, they drafted unheralded athletic big man Serge Ibaka. Ibaka doesn't figure to fit into the Rockets' plans immediately, but could provide monstrous defensive help down the road.

Serge Ibaka should have an opportunity to learn from some of the best defensive big men in the league

Following the draft, the Rockets had some tough decisions to deal with regarding free agency. Three of their key contributors were hitting the market, and figured to command significant interest due to their successes in the playoffs. Starting small forward Mickael Pietrus, big man Chris Andersen and sixth man Bonzi Wells were all hitting the open market, and the Rockets planned to retain them all.

They started with Mickael Pietrus, offering him a 4 year deal worth $21 million, with a player option for the 5th year. Enjoying his year in Houston, he quickly accepted. Next, they moved onto Chris Andersen. Andersen had a phenomenal playoff run, especially in the finals, where he averaged 2.6 blocks in a mere 18 minutes per game. As such, he was offered a large deal by the Boston Celtics, and the Rockets simply couldn't afford to match it. Luckily, Bonzi Wells, who was now on the wrong side of 30, and struggled during the playoffs, came cheap for the Rockets. With their wing positions retained, the Rockets explored the market for another big man to replace Chris Andersen's impact. Unfortunately, they weren't able to find a defensive presence on par with him, so instead, they went in a totally different direction.

They reached out to veteran big man and former all-star Chris Webber. Webber, who wasn't offered a contract by his previous team, the Detroit Pistons, was eager to join the Rockets in pursuit of a championship. Said Coach Jeff Van Gundy: "Chris gives us a significant offensive upgrade at both frontcourt spots. We think his excellent passing can really give us an advantage on that end of the court. With a dry market for defensive big men, we felt this was the best way to go."

Chris Webber warms up against Chuck Hayes to get into game shape

Houston also wanted to look for some wing help to shore up their depth their. Although they were able to get a healthy year out of Tracy McGrady last year, that certainly wasn't something to be counted on. They also had very few options at the wing, behind the two starters, only Bonzi Wells and sharpshooter Steve Novak were on the roster. They decided to reach out to defensive guru Bruce Bowen, formerly of the Spurs. Although he was no longer the top perimeter defender in the league, he could certainly hold his own against some of the league's best. Bowen decided to sign for the veteran's minimum and chase a championship with the Rockets.

Bruce Bowen provides an instant boost to the Rockets perimeter defense

With the additions of Bowen and Webber, the Rockets look poised to be a contender again this year.

Around the league:
The off-season of 2008 was a relatively quiet one for the NBA. The 2008 draft featured several potential stars. First overall pick Derrick Rose went to the New Jersey Nets to learn from one of the NBA's best point guards in Jason Kidd. Aside from that, one blockbuster trade occurred. All-star big man Pau Gasol and veteran swingman Mike Miller was traded to the New York Knicks in exchange for young swingman Wilson Chandler, forward David Lee, the expiring contract of Steve Francis and forward Renaldo Balkman. Gasol figures to be one of the top centers in the East, as the Knicks try to contend after years of mediocrity, while the Grizzlies successfully reloaded with young talent.

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Pre-Season Power Rankings and Team Previews - Part I

30. Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies start out last in our monthly power rankings. Last year they struggled with star center Pau Gasol in the middle, finishing second to last in the Western Conference last year with a record of 31-51. Realizing it was time to rebuild, they jettisoned Gasol to the New York Knicks and received some young talent in return in the form of Wilson Chandler, David Lee and Renaldo Balkman. Emerging star swingman Rudy Gay is now the unquestioned number one option on this team, and it will be interesting to see if he can handle his increased offensive load without a consistent low post presence on the team. Although this is a nice team to watch in the future, with the aforementioned potential, in addition to young talents like Rodney Stuckey and second overall pick in the 2008 draft Kevin Love, it's unlikely that this team will put together any success this year.

Projected starting line up:
Rodney Stuckey | Wilson Chandler | Rudy Gay | David Lee | Stromile Swift
X-Factor: Can Kevin Love make an impact as a premier sixth man in his rookie season?



29. Seattle Supersonics
Last year, the Seattle Sonics finished with the worst record in the Western Conference after trading Ray Allen and letting Rashard Lewis walk in free agency. They were rewarded with the fifth pick in the 2008 draft, and used it to draft ultra-athletic combo guard Russell Westbrook. The Sonics have some young talent in the form of Aaron Afflalo and Kendrick Perkins, but they'll probably need another trip or two to the lottery to get the talent necessary to compete with the best.
Projected starting line up:
Russell Westbrook | Aaron Afflalo | Devean George | Nick Collison | Kendrick Perkins
X-Factor: Will Russell Westbrook fulfill his high expectations and compete for Rookie of the Year?



28. New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets finished with an abysmal 11 wins last year following the departure of star swingman Vince Carter. They were rewarded, however, with the number one pick in the 2008 draft, and used to it take Derrick Rose, who most experts agree is as close to surefire bet as you can get. Derrick Rose will have the luxury of learning from one of the league's best point guards in Jason Kidd. Coach Lawrence Frank says that he plans to play both on the floor at the same time, though he will take Rose's development slowly, keeping him out of the starting line-up for now. Besides Rose, Kidd, and small forward Richard Jefferson, the Nets are pretty thin on talent. They did pick up a long-term project in DeAndre Jordan, who may be able to be a defensive force in the future. Although they project to suffer a losing record again this year, Rose's addition should give them more than 11 wins. On the other hand, don't be surprised by a major trade in the upcoming season to send them back to the top of the lottery.
Projected starting line up:
Jason Kidd | Gerald Green | Richard Jefferson | Nenad Kristic | DeAndre Jordan
X-Factor: Can young talent like DeAndre Jordan or Tiago Splitter provide the Nets some help on the inside?



27. Charlotte Bobcats
The NBA's newest team, the Charlotte Bobcats, are still struggling to acquire talent that allows them to compete in the Eastern Conference. Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton are solid players, but with the exception of Wallace, none of them seem to have superstar potential. Beyond that, young center Nikola Pekovic may pan out to be a solid contributor one day, but that seems far off. Forward Sean May is talented but can't stay healthy. Adam Morrison has been a major disappointment is in his rookie and sophomore seasons. Owner Michael Jordan can't stand losing, so don't be surprised if this roster looks a lot different by the end of the season. For the time being however, they look to be going nowhere fast.
Projected starting line up:
Raymond Felton | Luther Head | Gerald Wallace | Emeka Okafor | Primoz Brezec
X-Factor: Will Michael Jordan keep this core together for a full rebuilding process, or will a flurry of trades change the future of the franchise?



26. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors had a surprisingly successful season following the departure of superstar power forward Chris Bosh. They displayed great resolve and fought their way to the 9th seed in the East last year. Unfortunately, we have to rank them this low from a simple perspective of talent. Although its certainly possible they put together another amazing run, probability says it won't happen. TJ Ford led the way last year, scoring 20 points a game, and established an effective pick and pop game with young forward Andrea Bargnani. Beyond those key pieces, Jose Calderon and Kris Humphries were extremely effective off the bench, and project to be again this year. Also unfortunate is due to their successful season, they didn't get a particularly high pick in the draft, and took a high risk and high reward prospect in Brandan Wright. If he pans out in the future, Wright and Bargnani can complement each other well in the frontcourt. If not, the Raptors will have to rely on another improbable run to have a shot at making the playoffs.
Projected starting line up:
TJ Ford | Morris Peterson | Joey Graham | Andrea Bargnani | Rasho Nesterovic
X-Factor: Can TJ Ford stay healthy throughout the season to lead the Raptors again?



25. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have the potential to be a fringe playoff team, but health has been a major issue for them in the past couple years. Andew Bogut is a talented defensive force and has the potential to be one of the best centers in the league, but his nagging injuries have stifled his development. Similarly, sharpshooter Michael Redd is one of the league's best scorers, but his inability to stay healthy have held back the Bucks' success. They are talented, however, with young scorers in Mo Williams and Charlie Villanueva. They're future can also be bright if Ersan Ilyasova and Jared Dudley develop into solid players. The power rankings of the future may prove this one wrong, but for now, precedent says that despite a talented roster, health issues and lack of chemistry from playing together may cause Milwaukee to be near the bottom of the East this year.
Projected starting line up:
Mo Williams | Michael Redd | Jared Dudley | Charlie Villanueva | Andrew Bogut
X-Factor: The obvious question is: Will the Bucks stay healthy enough to develop the chemistry to compete in the East?



24. Minnesota Timberwolves
One of the pleasant surprises of the season last year was that the Minnesota Timberwolves weren't totally awful following the departure of Kevin Garnett, due to some smart draft choices and the play of rising star Al Jefferson. Jefferson was a strong post presence in the middle, and newcomers Aaron Brooks and Thaddeus Young were major contributors in a run that saw the Timberwolves beat some top talent in a three week period near the end of the season. We should temper our expectations due to a lack of defense, and a young, variable roster, but this is a team on the rise and will be one to watch in the coming years.
Projected starting line up:
Aaron Brooks | Randy Foye | Thaddeus Young | Al Jefferson | Mark Blount
X-Factor: Can Aaron Brooks continue his rise to being an elite scorer in the league?



23. Denver Nuggets
It is now safe to say that the Allen Iverson experiment in Denver has failed. After Carmelo Anthony became frustrated with his lack of touches and left Denver, The Nuggets turned in their worst season in years. Although the Nuggets have plenty of talent in Iverson, Nene Hillario, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, and young guard Ramon Sessions. That amount of talent should propel the Nuggets to a safe playoff spot in the West, but clear chemistry problems have plagued Denver, and unless Denver can find a home for Iverson (which sources say they've been desperately trying to do), it's unlikely things will change. They were rewarded for their struggles with the eighth pick in the 2008 draft, and they took promising guard OJ Mayo. Unfortunately, Mayo is another player who needs the ball in his hands a lot to be successful, and seems like a poor fit for the Nuggets as currently constructed.
Projected starting line up:
Delonte West | Allen Iverson | J.R. Smith | Kenyon Martin | Marcus Camby
X-Factor: Can the Nuggets move Iverson for a better team player, and if not, how will George Karl bring this team together?



22. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has the opposite problem that the Denver Nuggets have. The Hawks have some solid core pieces, but very little depth to surround them with. Superstar Joe Johnson has been consistent as one of the top shooting guards in the league, and forward Josh Smith has begun to flourish after making the official switch to the power forward position, where he can use his athleticism to get to the rim. The Hawks also still hold out hope that Marvin Williams can put it together, and young big man JJ Hickson looks to have some potential. Aside from that, the Hawks need to lure more talent to Atlanta if they wish to truly compete, because Joe Johnson and veteran swingman Ricky Davis are carrying too much of the offensive load.
Projected starting line up:
Alvin Williams | Joe Johnson | Ricky Davis | Josh Smith | Zaza Pachulia
X-Factor: Can Josh Smith finally rise to superstardom? If so, the Hawks may have a shot at the playoffs.



21. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are a hard team to rank, because their outcomes can be so variable. This is a very young team brimming with potential, but putting it together will rely on defensive grit and good bench play from a group without much talent. Andre Iguodala has been an all-star caliber player for years, and big man Al Horford had a fantastic rookie season, and looks like he's on his way to stardom as well. The other pieces rounding out the line-up have limited upside, but know their roles well. Andre Miller is an extremely competent point guard who knows how to distribute the ball and post up smaller guards. Samuel Dalembert is an elite shot blocker and defensive presence, and Willie Green brings a shooting touch that complements Iguodala's slashing abilities. The 76ers also have high hopes for young guards Louis Williams and DJ Augustin, who both have potential to become elite bench scorers. The 76ers simply don't have experience and talent to be considered a threat in the East, but if Horford really explodes, you never know what will happen.
Projected starting line up:
Andre Miller | Willie Green | Andre Iguodala | Al Horford | Samuel Dalmbert
X-Factor: Will the 76ers bench of Augustin, Williams, Rodney Carney and Steven Hunter be sufficient to make them competitive?

Stay tuned for part 2 of our NBA preview, featuring teams 20-11!

[jyap18]

I will follow this

[Lamrock]

Perhaps I'm just a sucker for that Sonics court, but this looks like a great retro story.

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I will follow this

Perhaps I'm just a sucker for that Sonics court, but this looks like a great retro story.

Thanks guys! Doing part 2 of the power rankings now!

Things should come up fairly quickly in the next couple of days, as I've already finished the first month of the season. Just have to post the recaps and screens.

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Pre-season Power Rankings and Team Previews - Part II

20. Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have fallen rapidly from their status as NBA Champions, which they had in 2006. The Heat missed the playoffs last year, despite retaining the same basic core as their championship team. Although superstar shooting guard Dwyane Wade has continued to be a top guard in the NBA, the rest of the Heat's roster is filled with aging veterans, who aren't nearly as effective as they once were. Center Shaquille O'neal, forward James Posey, and forward Antoine Walker have all seen their production drop dramatically. The Heat hope that an injection of younger talent will help them, as they have added rookie point guard George Hill from the draft and signed swingman Josh Childress to come off the bench. Unfortunately for Miami, it's unlikely either of these pieces will lift them to contention. Don't be surprised if O'neal is moved for a significant piece before this year's trade deadline. Although his production has fallen, his name alone still carries significant value for some teams. Team president Pat Riley has never been satisfied with losing.
Projected starting line up:
George Hill | Dwyane Wade | James Posey | Udonis Haslem | Shaquille O'neal
X-Factor: Will the Heat stay the course? Or will Shaquille O'neal be traded to give Dwyane Wade some much needed help?



19. Indian Pacers
If you're looking for an ultra-exciting, up and coming team, look no further than the Indiana Pacers, who have a lot of young talent on the rise. Led by veteran all-stars Jermaine O'neal and Danny Granger, the pacers feature a nice inside-out game...when O'neal is healthy. O'neal has suffered many knee problems, and only managed 43 games last season. Because of that, and their relative inexperience, the Pacers rank in the bottom half of the league. Sophomore swingman and reigning Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant, however, should give Pacers fans hope. Durant was phenomenal in his rookie campaign, averaging 25 points a game. If Durant can diversify his game and continue making a leap, this ranking might look very foolish soon. The Pacers also have a young sharpshooter in Mario Chalmers, who should give them potential at the point guard spot. Although health continues to be a concern for the frontcourt (which also features an injury prone Troy Murphy), the Pacers should be able to post a decent record in the East with their talented backcourt.
Projected starting line up:
Mario Chalmers | Danny Granger | Kevin Durant | Troy Murphy | Jermaine O'neal
X-Factor: Can Jermaine O'neal turn in a healthy season to push the Pacers to the playoffs?



18. Phoenix Suns
What's wrong with the Phoenix Suns? It's the question that no one can seem to answer. Although they boast an extremely talented roster with the likes of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, they just can't seem to put it together, missing the playoffs in the last two years. Although each has performed individually well, health problems to Stoudemire and an underperforming surrounding cast is to blame. Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw have attempted to provide support, but have been effective. The Suns are hoping that young prospects Glen Davis and Courtney Lee might be able to provide support. Barring that, look for a trade to happen, most likely involving Marion. If that doesn't happen, 7 seconds or less guru Mike D'Antoni may find himself out of a job very soon. This roster is way too talented not to be making noise in the playoffs.
Projected starting line up:
Steve Nash | Raja Bell | Shawn Marion | Boris Diaw | Amare Stoudemire
X-Factor: Can Glen Davis and Courtney Lee provide a much needed boost to the Suns bench? Or will General Manager Steve Kerr look elsewhere for talent?



17. San Antonio Spurs
It seems like every year we write off the spurs due to age, but every year they prove us wrong. Until last year, that is. The Spurs struggled to make the playoffs, as they finished as only the 7th seed in the Western Conference with a losing record of 40-42. Tony Parker struggled to stay healthy and Tim Duncan showed his age. The Spurs have recruited some help, however, adding veteran Elton Brand, and young prospects Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Spencer Hawes. None of these assets are proven, however, and unless the Spurs can expect an improvement from starting small forward Corey Maggette, who posted a dismal 38% field goal average last year, it may be a long ride for Spurs fans. If, however, Hawes and Mbah a Moute can provide some valuable minutes off the bench, you never know what damage Duncan, Parker, Manu Ginobli and coach Gregg Popavich can do in the playoffs.
Projected starting line up:
Tony Parker | Manu Ginobli | Corey Maggette | Elton Brand | Tim Duncan
X-Factor: Can newcomers Brand, Hawes and Mbah a Moute push the Spurs back to the top of the Western Conference?



16. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks certainly have a talented roster, the only question is if they can put together a chemistry to be successful. They traded away some of their young prospects and brought in veterans Pau Gasol and Mike Miller. The Knicks certainly have a boatload of offensive talent between Gasol, Miller, Eddy Curry, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury. The question will be: where is the defense going to come from? This won't be a fast paced team with Curry in the middle, so if they're going to play a half-court game, they have to hope their personnel will quickly develop some defensive rhythm. The Knicks have an exciting young prospect in Eric Gordon, who they drafted this past off-season. They certainly have the talent, but until we see some results, it will be difficult to rank them any higher.
Projected starting line up:
Nate Robinson | Jamal Crawford | Mike Miller | Pau Gasol | Eddy Curry
X-Factor: Will the Knicks be able to utilize their new talent to contend? Or will their defensive shortcomings prevent them from being successful?



15. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons, like the Miami Heat, are a team that has held onto their championship core for far too long. Although their core was once a talented group of all-stars, their age is starting to show, and the Pistons are now an aging group of veterans desperately in need of an injection of young talent. Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace aren't going to win a championship without some help, though their talent should be sufficient for a playoff berth. The Pistons lost starting center Chris Webber to the Rockets in free agency, so it's likely that they will insert a young athletic big man in Jason Maxiell to replace him in the starting line up. Beyond that, the Pistons acquired another young big man through the draft: Jason Thompson. The Pistons are another candidate for a mid-season blow up if things don't pan out well. Stay tuned.
Projected starting line up:
Chauncey Billups | Richard Hamilton | Tayshaun Prince | Jason Maxiell | Rasheed Wallace
X-Factor: Can the Pistons 2004 Championship core find the fountain of youth to contend again? If not, who will provide the needed help?



14. Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a team poised to do big things in the future: if their core can stay healthy. Despite losing Elton Brand, the Clippers didn't miss a beat last season after acquiring Greg Oden as the top pick in the 2007 draft. Although Oden missed some time due to injury, he is projected to be one of the top centers in the league if he can stay on the court. The Clips plan to go ultra big this year, inserting Chris Kaman at power forward next to Oden. In addition to a talented frontcourt, the Clippers now have Vince Carter back for a second year. Carter had a good debut for the Clips last year, averaging 23 points per game. They also have some young talent in high risk, high reward prospect Anthony Randolph. Add to that sharpshooters Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, and the Clippers could be dangerous in the Western Conference this year.
Projected starting line up:
Cuttino Mobley | Vince Carter | Tim Thomas | Chris Kaman | Greg Oden
X-Factor: Can Greg Oden make the leap this year if he's healthy?



13. Sacramento Kings
The Sacremento Kings have immense talent at their one through three spots, but beyond that, things get a little sketchy. The combination of Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, and Ron Artest is a match-up nightmare for most teams, and will be enough for the Kings to give the Western Conference some trouble. However, their frontcourt definitely needs some help, as aging veterans Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Brad Miller are growing more ineffective by the year. The good news is that the Kings have two young prospects that may help out in that area. Marreese Speights is a talented offensive rookie, and although sophomore forward Yi Jianlian had a disappointing rookie campaign, the Kings hope he'll turn it around to be a long term answer at the four. The Kings took a game off of eventual champions Houston Rockets last season. With a little more luck and a couple of steps forward in their young big men, the Kings may finish the season higher in these rankings. If things go south, expect to see one or all of the three backcourt players gone before the end of the season.
Projected starting line up:
Mike Bibby | Kevin Martin | Ron Artest | Shareef Abdur-Rahim | Brad Miller
X-Factor: Will Yi and Speights be able to fill the void in the frontcourt?



12. Golden State Warriors
Golden State might be one of the highest variance teams we have on our list. Playing Nellie-ball, and featuring some highly volatile players, the Warriors might win the Western Conference, or they might miss the playoffs. They are lead by a mammoth of a guard in Baron Davis who has been explosive in the past. He is joined by high octane scorer Jason Richardson, and a highly variable-but-sometimes-star Stephen Jackson. They're brand of smallball has a typical small forward, in this case Matt Barnes, playing power forward. In addition, the Warriors tout one of the best benches in the NBA, which features Monta Ellis, who could be a Sixth Man of the Year contender and potential all-star off the bench, Ryan Gomes, whom they acquired from the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline last year, and Al Harrington, who has the ability to turn a game around with his shooting. The Warriors might not be the best team in the league, but no team is going to look forward to facing them on any given night. You never know what might happen.
Projected starting line up:
Baron Davis | Jason Richardson | Stephen Jackson | Matt Barnes | Andris Biedrins
X-Factor: Can Don Nelson keep the volatile personalities on his team channeled positively in order to bring the team to success?



11. Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard has continued to close the gap between himself and Yao Ming in the fight for being the best center in the NBA. The Magic have quietly built a supporting cast around Howard that may not jump out at you on paper, but compliment him well. Joining him is sophomore point guard Mike Conley, who ranked 3rd in the NBA in assists his rookie year, emerging defensive stopper Trevor Ariza, and playmaker/sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu, quietly becoming a force on the offensive end. In addition, the Magic have one of the league's best bench duos in Grant Hill and Jameer Nelson. This past draft, they added big man Brook Lopez, who figures to be a top big man in this league eventually.
Projected starting line up:
Mike Conley | Trevor Ariza | Hedo Turkoglu | Alexander Johnson | Dwight Howard
X-Factor: Will Dwight's supporting cast step up in crunch time so he can succeed on the biggest stage?

[jyap18]

What NBA is this? is it a Live or 2k?
(I wish it is NBA Live 08 because there`s no Thread Starter who plays NBA Live 08 in Dynasty)

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Pre-Season Power Rankings and Team Previews - Part III

10. New Orleans Hornets
The Hornets are a perennially dangerous team, featuring the league's best point guard in Chris Paul. The Hornets are projected to be a solid playoff team, but Chris Paul is going to need some offensive help if the Hornets want to make it to the NBA Finals. David West has emerged as a nice pick and pop option for Paul, and Tyson Chandler knows hows to throw it down in a pick and roll alley-oop. The Hornets, however, have had some health problems in Chandler's case, and Peja Stojakovic has also struggled to perform consistently with nagging back issues. The Hornets do have a nice defensive core with Chandler, young guard Corey Brewer and athletic swingman Desmond Mason. Key performers off the bench will be Stojakovic, young prospect Danilo Gallinari and Brandon Bass. If Gallinari can live up to the hype, perhaps Paul will finally be able to make it to the big stage.
Projected starting line up:
Chris Paul | Corey Brewer | Desmond Mason | David West | Tyson Chandler
X-Factor: Can Chris Paul's supporting cast be healthy enough and contribute enough to push the Hornets to the next level?



9. Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have one of the most fearsome pick and roll combos in Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, continuing a Utah Jazz tradition from the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. The supporting cast has propelled the Jazz to some success in the past, though bad match-ups in the playoffs the last couple of years (the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, both years), has prevented them from achieving what coach Jerry Sloan envisions. The Jazz do have a supporting cast that does have potential. Returning defensive, athletic wings Andrei Kirilenko and Ronnie Brewer figure to be a match-up problems for opposing offensive forces on the wings. The Jazz also have a bench that could make a jump to the elite this year as well, with sixth man Paul Millsap being one of the best bench players in the league, with swingman Matt Harpring personifying the Sloan style of play, and with young guns Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez providing potential to be explosive.
Projected starting line up:
Deron Williams | Ronnie Brewer | Andrei Kirilenko | Carlos Boozer | Mehmet Okur
X-Factor: Can Batum or Fernandez provide a steady high potential presence off the bench?



8. Portland Trailblazers
The Blazers have developed an ultra-talented young core that has the potential to be a force in this league for a long time to come. They have three young stars in Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Zach Randolph. They also have a decent supporting cast with young talent Jeff Green (whom the Blazers think can be a star) and Jarrett Jack. The bench has struggled in recent years, as sixth man Travis Outlaw hasn't developed the way they originally envisioned. The Blazers biggest need is depth in the frontcourt, as they will be relying in Joel Pryzbilla and Michael Doleac to provide all the back-up big man minutes. In addition, Brandon Roy missed 24 games with a knee injury last year. Portland fans are praying this won't be a nagging issue going forward.
Projected starting line up:
Jarrett Jack | Brandon Roy | Jeff Green | Zach Randolph | LaMarcus Aldridge
X-Factor: Can the Blazers maintain an inside presence without a lot of depth?



7. Washington Wizards
The Wizards didn't make the playoffs last year, so why are they ranked this highly in our rankings? The main reason is health, as the big three Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison played together in only 37 games last year. If the Wizards can stay healthy, they have an ultra-talented roster that has a shot to be one of the best teams in the East. In addition to the big three aforementioned, the Wizards also have very young but very productive players in Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur and Nick Young. With one of the best back-up bigs in Brendan Haywood, the only thing stopping the Wizards from greatness is health.
Projected starting line up:
Gilbert Arenas | Nick Young | Caron Butler | Antawn Jamison | Marc Gasol
X-Factor: The question is simple, can they stay healthy?



6. Dallas Mavericks
2007 MVP Dirk Nowitzki has enjoyed incredible post-season success, but has struggled in the playoffs. The Mavericks felt the sting of defeat like few other teams have felt after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games in the second round of the playoffs last year. Dirk is bona-fide superstar, and the Mavericks will be taken seriously by any other Western Conference foes. He has a solid supporting cast in scoring extraordinaires Jason Terry and Devin Harris, and has a worthy sidekick in Josh Howard. They do have serious gap in the middle however, with Eric Dampier manning that position again. Mavs fans have to hope that newcomer Omer Asik, a relative unknown international prospect, can do a good job backing him up. One thing is for sure: Dirk Nowitzki has the potential to lead this team to the championship. Can his supporting cast help him?
Projected starting line up:
Devin Harris | Jerry Stackhouse | Josh Howard | Dirk Nowitzki | Eric Dampier
X-Factor: Can Dirk finally get over the hump and lead his team to the NBA Finals? Will their defense in the middle allow it to happen?



5. Los Angeles Lakers
Ask anyone around the league: no one expected the Los Angeles Lakers to be successful following the departure of Shaquille O'neal. Leave it to Kobe Bryant to prove the doubters wrong. In the 2006-07 season, Bryant lead the Lakers to the NBA Championship, defeating a slew of talented teams along the way, including the Houston Rockets, the Dallas Mavericks and the Detroit Pistons (whom they swept). The key factor? Lamar Odom, who put together a 20-9-5 season in the Lakers championship season. As Odom goes, so do the Lakers, as his averages dropped to 15 and 7 last year. Lakers fans have to hope that Odom puts it together again this season if the Lakers want to get past the Mavs and Rockets again, not to mention the top Eastern Conference contenders. The Lakers have also established a couple of supporting guys who will help Odom and Bryant in their championship pursuit. Andrew Bynum continues to be an emerging force, with his scoring and rebounding averages continuing to increase each year, and Carlos Delfino, who provides an energetic sharpshooting persona to the small forward position. The Lakers are Kobe's team, and he has the potential to cement his legacy if he can lead this team to the championship again.
Projected starting line up:
Jordan Farmar | Kobe Bryant | Carlos Delfino | Lamar Odom | Andrew Bynum
X-Factor: Will Lamar Odom regain his all-star form?



4. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland fans must be feeling pretty good about the next 10 years, free agency notwithstanding. They have combined two stars with the brightest futures in LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James won the MVP award last year, excelling at the point guard position, putting up historically good numbers (33-8-5) next to Carmelo Anthony, who has made his life much easier. The supporting cast may be a little shaky, but those two could pick up bums off the street and put this team in the playoffs. Luckily, they have some solid players in Drew Gooden and Anderson Varajao. They even got a bonus with Darko Milicic, who has made a turn around (coincidentally, the Cavs now have the top three picks of the 2003 draft). Expect the Cavs to do great things. The top three in the Eastern Conference will be very close, and it could easily be the Cavs at the top.
Projected starting line up:
LeBron James | Bill Walker | Carmelo Anthony | Drew Gooden | Darko Milicic
X-Factor: The Cavs biggest weakness is their interior defense: will Milicic finally put it together to rectify it?



3. Boston Celtics
The astounding amount of talent on the Boston Celtics made it shocking that they lost to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals last year. They have four bona-fide stars on their team in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Chris Bosh, and an intriguing supporting cast surrounding them. Shane Battier is one of, if not the best one on one perimeter defender in the league, and back-up big man Chris Andersen might be the best one on one defender as a big man. In addition to those names, they have a perceived hole at point guard, but it's filled by intriguing prospect Goran Dragic, who could be an explosive scorer if he reaches his potential. If the Celtics lose, it's only because they've beaten themselves. Age is of course a concern, but Doc Rivers has enough depth to rest his stars when need be.
Projected starting line up:
Goran Dragic | Ray Allen | Paul Pierce | Chris Bosh | Kevin Garnett
X-Factor: Can the Celtics step up to the occasion and deliver in the playoffs? They've had a year to develop chemistry now.



2. Chicago Bulls
On paper, it looks like the Bulls shouldn't be near the top of these power rankings. But these Bulls represent what the 2004 Detroit Pistons brought to the table, a perfect combination of talent and chemistry that delivers results. Although they don't have any flashy superstars, the Bulls took out the Celtics in a heated series, which was almost universally expected to be in favor of the Celtics. The Bulls faltered in the finals under the might of Yao Ming, so can they avoid a similar fate this year? They believe that young big man Joakim Noah can make a leap this year. Noah, standing at 7'1, is projected to take over for Ben Wallace in the starting line up. He can be a defensive force if all works out well. In addition, Luol Deng had an outstanding season last year, scoring 23 points per game and establishing himself as a premier perimeter defender. Ben Gordon is one of the most explosive scorers in the league as well, scoring 26 points per game. The Bulls also have Kirk Hinrich and Thabo Sefolosha in the backcourt to be elite defensive presences. And forward Tyrus Thomas still has believers that think he can be a star in the future, despite his struggles in his first two years. If he can make the third year leap, the Houston Rockets and other teams should watch out. Their first test will take place opening night, when they face the Houston Rockets in a championship rematch.
Projected starting line up:
Kirk Hinrich | Ben Gordon | Luol Deng | Tyrus Thomas | Joakim Noah
X-Factor: Can the Bulls match the intensity this year that led them to the championship last year?



1. Houston Rockets
It's hard to project anyone else at the top of the power rankings than the defending NBA Champions. Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Rashard Lewis formed one of the most formidable big three's in recent memory. Though health has always been a concern with Yao and McGrady, they finally put it together last season when they brought home Houston's first championship since the days of Hakeem Olajuwon. Although they're currently number one in our power rankings, repeating as champion has always been a tall task, and there are questions that remain about this team. Can Rajon Rondo continue to provide a steady presence at point guard? Or will opposing coaches take advantage of his offensive inabilities? Will Chris Webber fill the gaping hole left by Chris Andersen? If not, will the Rockets' defensive game suffer? Mickael Pietrus was a steady defensive presence last season, but is still largely unproven. The Rockets joined the elite club as an NBA champion. Can they repeat?
Projected starting line up:
Rajon Rondo | Tracy McGrady | Mickael Pietrus | Rashard Lewis | Yao Ming
X-Factor: Can Yao and McGrady stay healthy for a repeat campaign? And can the new supporting cast in Bruce Bowen and Webber help them in their pursuit?

[SC1211]

What NBA is this? is it a Live or 2k?
(I wish it is NBA Live 08 because there`s no Thread Starter who plays NBA Live 08 in Dynasty)

NBA 2k12 PC version, with 07 Rosters as the base (using real draft classes)

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Rockets put on show for fans

The Houston Rockets decided to put on a little show for the fans by hosting a street game before the season starts next week. Tracy McGrady and Rashard Lewis were each designated the captain of a team of 5, and got to choose their teammates to battle against one another. What resulted was pure entertainment for Houston fans, as the all-star type feel of the game provided numerous highlights. The teams were Lewis, Bruce Bowen, Chris Webber, Rajon Rondo, and Steve Novak against McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Mickael Pietrus, Carl Landry and former streetball legend Rafer "Skip to my Lou" Alston, who dazzled the crowd with his dribble moves and passing.

Skip throws an alley oop to Carl Landry

The game only lasted 24 minutes, but the offensive display (and distinct lack of defense) resulted in a 92-90 final score, with McGrady's team taking it at the end. There were several impressive performances in the game, including McGrady's 46 points (half his team's score!), Alston's triple double (12 points, 14 assists, and an insane 16 steals), and Lewis' perfect night from beyond the arc (5-5, 16-19 on the whole, resulting in a 37 point effort).

McGrady throws down an alley-oop, even though it bounced off Bruce Bowen's hand!

Most importantly, the players seemed to be enjoying themselves, as friendly joking and smiles were present all around. This has to be a good sign for a team wanting to build some chemistry before the season begins. "We had a good time," said McGrady. "We always have fun together, and we hope that we made it fun for the fans too." McGrady said he was particularly impressed with Alston's performance. "Man, Skip was incredible. I've never seen passing like that." Alston was responsible for multiple thunderous dunks off perfectly placed passes. The crowd went wild with anticipation every time he led the break, wondering what highlight they were going to see next.

Rafer Alston had his hands everywhere, picking off the ball 16 times

One guy who benefited from Alston's performance was newcomer Carl Landry, who doesn't project to be in the rotation at the beginning of the season, but may make his case later. He certainly showed that he's among the most athletic big men today, throwing down powerful dunks and swatting 3 shots. He has at least one supporter in Alston, with whom he connected on alley oops four times. "Carl's great man," said the point guard. "I hope we get to do that on the court some time. He and I could make a pretty good second unit duo. That man can jump out of the building." Asked if he missed playing streetball, Alston declined. "It's fun, but I wouldn't go back. I love playing in the NBA, and I love playing for this team. I wouldn't mind making this thing an annual game though. The fans seemed to like it."

Carl Landry throws down a powerful dunk

One fan seemed to enjoy it in particular, and he happens to pretty important. Owner Leslie Alexander sat next to Yao Ming in the stands and couldn't stop smiling. "I just love this group. They seem to enjoy being with each other, and they have a passion for the game. I think the fans really loved it today. It's a great time to be a basketball fan in Houston, because I think we're going to win it again." Whether they can win it all again won't be settled for some time. But for now, this team is coming closer together, and that's a start.

Highlights:

phpBB [video]

Special thanks to JaoSming for the Street Mod.

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Rockets defeat Bulls in championship rematch; lose McGrady to injury

It was a bittersweet night for the Houston Rockets. After receiving their championship rings in a pre-game ceremony, they defeated their finals challenger, the Chicago Bulls, handily after breaking open a big lead in the third quarter. Unfortunately, they also lost Tracy McGrady for 2-4 weeks. McGrady, who has had chronic back problems, landed awkwardly after making contact with Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas whilst in the middle of a shot. This was particularly unfortunate for the Rockets, because McGrady looked fantastic in the short 7 minutes he played, scoring 8 points on only 4 shots. Luckily, the Rockets had other players step up to the plate. Rashard Lewis poured in 30 points, while Yao Ming chipped in 26.

It wasn't an easy road though, as the Rockets trailed at halftime 47-44. The Bulls came out motivated after witnessing the championship ceremony. Ben Gordon scored a sizzling 25 points in the first half, finishing the game with 34 points. And Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas scored all 11 of his points in the first half, including a ferocious dunk over Yao Ming that's sure to be available at your nearest poster store soon. Yao was contained for much of the first half by a frenzied Joakim Noah, but he find his rhythm in the second half, where he scored 19 of his 26 on an efficient 11 of 16 shots for the game. "I thought I just wasn't in good position (in the first half)," added Yao. "I made an effort to get a little lower, and go up more quickly with my shots."

Another player who excelled was back-up shooting guard Bonzi Wells, who filled in admirably for McGrady. Wells took advantage of the smaller Ben Gordon down on the low block. Wells scored 12 points. Unfortunately, the injury bug is going to be an even bigger pain for the Rockets, as Wells suffered an elbow injury in the 4th quarter and didn't return. Coach Jeff Van Gundy was understandably gloomy during the post-game press conference. "I don't know what we're going to do. I know Tracy is going to be out for a couple weeks. We'll have to wait for the MRI on Bonzi, but it didn't look good. I hate to do it to a new guy, but Bruce (Bowen) may have to step in and start for us next week."

The Rockets will face the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic next week, certainly not an easy schedule. If Yao and Lewis can play like they did tonight, however, they should fare well.



Top Performers:
Rashard Lewis | 30 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 stls, 11-19, 2-5 3pt
Yao Ming | 26 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 11-16
Mickeal Pietrus | 15 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blks


Top Performers:
Ben Gordon | 34 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 13-25, 5-10 3pt
Kirk Hinrich | 19 pts, 11 ast, 2 stls, 5-14, 8-8 ft
Luol Deng | 18 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 8-13


Player of the Game: Rashard Lewis


Bonzi Wells, one of the best post up guards in the league, was effective before going out with injury

Tyrus Thomas threw down a nasty jam over Yao Ming