Print
Wednesday October 8, 2008 1:12 AM

Rockets Outlast Grizz 96-93


Carl Landry leads the way with 18 points, 9 rebounds

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

HOUSTON - Appropriately enough, the Ron Artest era in Houston began with a steal. And after a couple hours of inconsistent, error-laden basketball befitting a preseason opener, Artest picked up his first win as a Rocket, too.

Rocket Ron scored 15 points in his Houston debut, as the Rockets survived a game Grizzlies team 96-93. Twelve of Artest's points came in the opening quarter - one which began with the former defensive player of the year collecting a steal on Memphis' opening possession.

"A steal," said a smiling Artest after the game. "That was a great way to start it off. I couldn’t have written a better beginning.

"I was just trying to attack the butterflies. I had to stomp on them a little bit, just to kind of get them out of the way. It was definitely fun putting that jersey on, so I had to make sure I enjoyed [the experience]."

A significant part of Artest's enjoyment came from the fact Houston managed to win a game which was up for grabs until the final buzzer. Both teams suffered through extended stretches which bore witness to more turnovers than made buckets. Even the Rockets' star of the game, Carl Landry (18 points, 9 rebounds and an abundance of energy) committed a costly error by throwing an ill-advised pass in the final minute.

But Aaron Brooks hit a contested runner in the lane with sixteen seconds left to put Houston ahead for good, and Kyle Lowry missed a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer to ensure the hometown fans went home happy.

The head coach on the other hand - that's a different story. After the game, Rick Adelman expressed his disappointment with an offense that too often shot itself in the foot.

"You have to understand what the defense is doing," said Adelman. "The cuts are there and your guy is open, but you have to see the defense. You can’t just throw the ball into a crowd… They just sagged in and surrounded the cutter, so somebody else is open all the time – usually it’s the weakside perimeter person – [but] we were so intent on trying to throw it to the guy going to the basket.

"It’s just one of those things you have to learn. I was disappointed in the way we played offensively because we’ve been better than that all week long… But I think it’s a great game as far as us breaking the film down and showing it to them."

Of course, nothing about this game - not even the win - mattered more than seeing a healthy Yao Ming and Rafer Alston back on the court. Both players logged about twenty-two minutes of game action, and while Alston said he felt right at home in his return, Yao admitted that it took him awhile to find his comfort zone.

"[In the third quarter] I make some adjustments," said Yao. " I feel like, ‘Okay, this is the game I’ve played before,’ unlike the first quarter when I was like, ‘What do I need to do?’ I’m a little bit like a rookie in the first quarter."

And 1's: Anyone who followed the Rockets closely last year knows what a bugaboo free throw shooting was for the team. So it was a welcome sight to see the club knock down 26-of-30 (.867) from the charity stripe Tuesday night. Coach Adelman was impressed. Sort of.

"Yeah, we did make free throws – we couldn’t hit a shot, but we did make free throws," he said while stifling a small chuckle. "It’s always one thing or the other. But we’ve got some guys who can make them. It’s nice to put someone like Brent [Barry] in at the end of the game knowing that he’s going to make two free throws. But we should be an improved team at the free throw line this year, I really believe that."

A reporter asked Yao Ming why the Rockets had difficulty running coach Adelman's offense in the past when both Adelman and Artest insist that it's easy. Yao' s response: "[Coach Adelman] has coached this offense his entire life. Of course he knows more than anybody. And for Ron, he played for coach before at Sacramento – for how long?"

The reporter answered, "One year."

"Oh, well that means I’m not smart," quipped Yao.

More fun from the victorious locker room: Brent Barry says he has to be in constant movement when he's out on the basketball court because, "If I slow down, I’m so old that I can’t move anymore."

And finally, we end with Barry extolling one of the numerous benefits of good team chemistry: "I think what’s great is that we’ve got some pretty open lines of communication during training camp. It’s important to talk to one another and try to work things out so that you become more efficient in the way you play. Because when teams become efficient, the game really becomes easy. And that’s when it really gets fun."

Have a question for Rockets.com? Send it to Jason Friedman via email at: jasonf@rocketball.com.