Charles Dickens would call it a tale of two cities. A doctor would say it’s bipolar disorder. Whatever you want to call it, the Houston Rockets’ play was diametrically opposed in their back-to-back games to open the 2008-2009 season.
Game one against Memphis was uglier than that nappy headed hoe, Don Imus. The Rockets looked disheveled on offense, shooting a pathetic 36.8% from the field, scoring only 82 points to start a season hyped around the addition of Ron Artest. Luckily for everyone who got red Wednesday night, the Rockets were still able to flex their muscle on defense and shut down the Grizzlies’ young guns.
Last night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks was definitely a showcase of the Rockets’ better half. Yao Ming and company peppered the Mavs with a barrage of points, dropping 62 in the first half alone, and topping the night off with a 112-102 victory.
The Great Wall of Yao was an impressive 11-15 from the field, for a total of 30 points. Thuggish Ruggish Ron added 29, and Sleepy Eyes McGrady dropped in for 16. The surprise performance of the night was definitely the encore set by Aaron Brooks (nickname to be determined upon further play), who slashed and dashed for 14 points, 11 of which came at crucial moments during the fourth quarter.
The mainstream media has been creaming their pants over the Artest deal this offseason (and rightfully so), but you can mark my words…Aaron Brooks will be the proverbial X-factor this season for the Rockets. Of course Ron-Ron should be the missing link in what’s been the Rockets’ rusty chain, but we already know what he brings to the court.
It’s always the roll players; the endorsement-less hustlers; the unsung heroes that win championships. Remember Mario Elie? Or Tayshaun Prince? Consider last year even…everyone knew how good the trio of KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen was, but Boston would never have beat LA without the solid play of surprise point guard sensation, Rajon Rondo.
My point is this: of course the Rockets’ triple-stuffed burrito will fill up the stat sheet and win column, but it will come down to the “other guys” when June creeps its sunny face around the corner. I said it last year, and I’ll say it again this year—Sampson Simpson, I stick by my story!—Aaron Brooks will be the sweet, sweet icing on the Rockets’ red cake.
But that’s dessert. Let’s not skip the main course here. 2 down, 80 to go. From the looks of these first two games of the season, the Rockets could be the second deepest team in the league behind the Lakers. Especially when Shane “every middle-aged woman wants me” Battier returns to the line-up. No matter who the media wants to drool over, the Rockets will definitely be one of the hottest teams in the west this year. Let’s just hope they can stay healthy.
Friday, October 31, 2008
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