Houston
Rockets
Southwest
| Team Rating | |
| Offense | Defense |
| 109.3 | 106.1 |
| 15th Overall | 5th Overall |
Statistics through 1/25/09
W
28
L
17
PCT
.622
GB
8.0
CONF
18-9
DIV
4-4
HOME
15-5
ROAD
13-12
LinksStatistics | Tickets
|
Category | Grade | ||
 C Yao Ming (19.6 ppg, 9.5 rpg) and PF Luis Scola (12.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) have been two of few constants. SF Ron Artest (16.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has dealt with ankle issues.
|
b |
||
 SG Tracy McGrady (15.5 ppg) can't stay healthy and when he plays, his production is way down. PG Rafer Alston (5.2 apg, 37.4 FG%) can't buy a basket.
|
c |
||
 With an overall rating of fifth, and placing eighth in both points allowed (94.9) and rebounds (42.6), protecting the basket hasn't been a problem. Don't force enough turnovers.
|
b |
||
 The unsung brigade -- led by Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry -- is an athletic mix that has kept the Rockets in contention while their higher-profile teammates recover.
|
a |
||
 Rick Adelman often doesn't know who's available until tip. Somehow, he manages to work around it all and piece together a rotation that has Houston on a 50-win pace.
|
b+ |
||
b
Summary
Bringing in the maligned Artest was supposed to give the Rockets a trio on par with Boston's. It hasn't quite worked out yet. Yao has been surprisingly healthy coming off foot surgery. McGrady and Ron-Ron haven't been able to shake their various maladies.
Despite all the injuries, including Shane Battier missing about half the season, Houston remains in the thick of the West race. A collection of no-name reserves has stepped up and done whatever Adelman has asked. Free-agent signing Wafer is lighting it up from downtown, while helping solidify the backcourt.
Like most teams in the West, the Rockets haven't played their best basketball in the first half. And though they're coped with injuries better than can be expected, the uncertainty may be causing some strain in the locker room. Word filtered out about a possible rift between Yao and T-Mac. No one knows if the Rockets can get healthy ... or happy. -- Art Garcia
Explanation of Marking System
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