I just got back from Rockets practice, the first one which I had time to attend all season. Sam Dalembert said that they had a ‘players only’ meeting earlier today because of last night’s embarrassment. Also said, when I asked him if the trade deadline affected his psyche, that it didn’t and that he was “thankful to have a job.” Just a very nice guy which leads me to ruminate, as I have in the past: it’s so different doing this these past two years than it was that first year before I came to Houston and had the credential. When you meet a person, interact with them, get to know them, are subject to their polite attitude and respect, how can you turn around and rip them? But I have to. I’m supposed to write this blog to provide direct analysis on the Houston Rockets. That entails honesty. And the blunt truth is that Dalembert has, with his play these past few weeks, affirmed the negative labels which have followed him his entire career. After a torrid start, he’s been part of the problem in many of these losses. It pains me to say that about such a good guy.
Funny moment: Kevin McHale was talking about the lack of effort by the team yesterday etc etc. He seemed to be in a better mood than last night. So I asked him, “how much of a factor is the nature of this season?” If I was even recording video, I wouldn’t post it. The look he gave me was the same one my father gave me when I told him I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to law school. Have you ever been in a situation when you’re in the midst of saying something really stupid, but you haven’t finished yet, but the other guy is already in the midst of his reaction, has the look on his face already, and you have to squeeze out a few more forced words at the end to try to mitigate the whole thing…? Yeah, this was that. I mumbled something or the other about “the lockout maybe having an effect on effort” while one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, a guy who played on a broken foot, stared at me blankly, and then replied, “Really?” Silence. I smile and then thankfully he expands, saying lethargy isn’t an issue when playing a kid’s game.
While it might have not been the best question to ask, in journalistic theory, philosophically, I whole-heartedly disagree. There’s no doubt fatigue has played an issue in the bizarre nature of the Rockets’ performance, if not physically, then you can be damn sure mentally. While the body may or may not feel the wear and tear of a strange year, the mind certainly is affected from the constant strain. It’s easy to see how a few games can get away. But of course, you don’t expect a coach to admit that, and definitely not one as tough as McHale.
That’s about it from practice. I really wanted to see what Marcus Morris was doing but it wasn’t too interesting. They had him taking jumpers and running baseline to baseline during the time I watched. Why? I’m not a coach, and admittedly, this may not be the extent of what they do, but why not ball-handling drills? Why not dribble moves? Kind of puzzling considering the whole point was to make him a small forward.
