The Rockets Daily – November 25, 2014

John Eby   | November 25, 2013 at 7:03 am

Misery Loves Company – James Harden is out Monday night with a sore left foot, according to ESPN:

Harden missed Saturday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and will sit out their following game Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies before being re-evaluated.

The soreness in Harden’s left foot has been troubling him to various degrees since the middle of training camp, according to sources.

The good news for Rockets fans is that he’s not in the same boat as Marc Gasol, Andre Iguodala or Derrick Rose, who are all out indefinitely. For fans of excellent basketball, it’s just all bad news.

Sportsmanship - And then there’s this from ESPN Dallas:

A few hours after Dwight Howard selected the Rockets over Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks and other suitors, Morey sent Cuban a text message asking about his willingness to trade Dirk Nowitzki.

There obviously was no way the Mavs would deal Nowitzki, who has a no-trade clause in his contract and has vowed to finish his career in Dallas. This seemed to be a case of Morey rubbing the Rockets’ win in the recruiting battle for Howard in Cuban’s face.

Cuban told the story after Houston lost to Dallas last week, and then twisted the knife.

“They were bad for so long, it wasn’t really there, other than that one playoff year,” Cuban said of a rivalry with the Rockets. “But now they’ve got good people. I think there’s more of a rivalry building.

“It’s still early in the season for that. But now that we’ve played them two times, we can help them sell tickets next time. I think they need a little help.”

If the fact that two extremely accomplished intelligent men still trade barbs like 14-year-olds doesn’t restore your faith in humanity, then. . . okay.

The Katana – Scott Rafferty at Hardwood Paroxysm looks into the reasons why Terrence Jones has been effective, which include his ability to cut to the basket. On a related subject, Terrence Jones needs a nickname. Somebody call Bill Worrell and tell him to start referring to Jones as “The Katana,” because he is just so good at cutting.

Good On Ya – First I saw this tweet from Donatas Motiejunas:

Then this one:


Then this one from Chandler Parsons:

Now bring us home, James Harden:


  Got any sweet links or suggestions? Email them to [email protected] or message @EbyNews on Twitter.

View this discussion from the forum.

This entry was posted in columns and tagged . Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
Login to leave a comment.
Total comments: 10
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago

    Lol.

  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    I don't care if it was taunting or due diligence, I don't like Cuban so a chance to stick a fork in him can not be passed up. he had it coming to him ;)

  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago We will have to agree to disagree. I'm fine with Morey gloating. I don't know if this occurred but it's pretty clear that Dallas and Dirk are tied together. They chose him over Nash. Like I said, I'm sure Morey really wanted him. But he also knew it wasn't likely to happen and was rubbing it in a little. That's all I'm going to say.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago I disagree. If Dirk could have been acquired, Morey would have finagled the roster to make it happen. And I have no doubt Leslie Alexander is more than willing to pay luxury tax for a couple of seasons. It's the repeater tax that is a killer, but as long as the Rockets don't exceed the salary cap 3 seasons in a row going forward, the repeater tax isn't much of a factor, if any at all.

    So you are saying that Morey should have waited, what---30 days after the D12 acquisition, before inquiring on Dirk's availability?

    It doesn't really matter when Morey made the inquiry because the Devil, Mark Cuban, would always try to make up something in the media anyway.
  • timetodienow1234567 says 3 months ago

    As an avid Rockets fan, I would have been very disappointed if Morey didn't reach out to the devil, Mark Cuban, in asking about Dirk's availability. Could you imagine a Rockets front line of D12, Dirk and Parsons for the next 3-4 seasons?

    Leave it to the devil, Mark Cuban, to twist the story.


    Lol if you truly believe it wasn't taunting. I'm sure Morey wanted him but the fact that it took place so soon shows the gloating. We don't seriously have the assets to get Dirk.
  • rocketrick says 3 months ago As an avid Rockets fan, I would have been very disappointed if Morey didn't reach out to the devil, Mark Cuban, in asking about Dirk's availability. Could you imagine a Rockets front line of D12, Dirk and Parsons for the next 3-4 seasons?

    Leave it to the devil, Mark Cuban, to twist the story.
  • rockets best fan says 3 months ago

    good stuff Jeby................man we're gonna miss you :( I saw the stuff between Morey and Cuban too :lol:Morey must have really insulted him because he is pissed :lol:that Dirk inquiry got to him :lol:however sticking a fork in him after some of the nasty D-12 fallout.....I say Morey 1 Cuban 0. he had it coming :lol:as for the rash of injuries in the league.........man I FEEL for D-Rose :(however some big names are already injured. I hope that's not a trend.

  • Buckko says 3 months ago Parsons is the Hair or Chandler Bang.
  • 2016Champions says 3 months ago

    Parsons is the katana, Masamune, and Jones is more of a broad sword, Excalibur.

  • Buckko says 3 months ago

    The Katana! I like it.