Rockets' Comeback Bid Falls Short

Buck hand Houston second straight preseason loss

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - The Rockets came into this preseason with plenty of questions to answer and problems to solve. There were new faces to integrate and tweaks to be made on both sides of the ball. Four games in, a bit of clarity has, in fact, been acquired. But with this year’s club still very much in its embryonic stage, only one thing has become perfectly clear: the new Rockets are still very much a work in progress.

That reality was hammered home Monday night when Houston was ultimately undone by inconsistent play in its 96-92 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks at Toyota Center. After a solid start in the first quarter, the Rockets struggled to find their way offensively from that point forward. Making matters worse, a sloppy second stanza on the defensive end put Houston in a hole from which the team could not quite recover, although a furious fourth quarter rally forced the Bucks to work until the final buzzer before walking away with the win.

In a way, however, games like this are what the preseason is all about: find out what works and what doesn’t, then map out a path from there. That’s exactly what head coach Rick Adelman and his staff plan to do during the days and weeks to come.

“I was kind of disappointed in the way we played but it’s a good learning tool for our team at both ends,” said Adelman after the game. “(Milwaukee) shot the heck out of the ball in the first half; a lot of it was they had really good ball movement but a lot of it was also the mistakes we made.

“Offensively, too, I did not think we played well at all. We’re forcing stuff. Some guys are doing things that aren’t to their strengths and those are things we have to keep working at. I’ve got to really look at it and make some judgments to find out what really is going to be good for this team. Right now I see some glimmers but not enough. Maybe some of the things we’re trying to do are not going to work with this group and that’s what we have to make a decision on as to how we become more efficient. Maybe we’re doing too much but that’s what this is all about: trying to find out.”

Shortcomings aside, there were plenty of positives coming out of Monday night’s game as well. The Rockets’ defense tightened up considerably in the second half, limiting the Bucks to a mere 33 total points during the final 24 minutes of play. And newcomer David Andersen continues to look increasingly comfortable every time he hits the floor. He totaled a game-high 17 points; a number Adelman said could have been even higher if his teammates had looked his way more often.

“I thought (Andersen) did a nice job,” he said. “He’s not as strong and physical as some people but, as you can see, he’s got very good skills and we have to keep finding ways to use him. I thought we missed him three or four times when he was all by himself and our guys have to find people. They can’t just put their heads down and go; they have to find open people on the floor. When David is on the court, they have to be aware of that and know that he’s almost always going to be open on the perimeter, just like people used to do with Yao.”

Andersen's response: no worries, of course. He knows he's still finding his way, as are his new teammates. For both, he believes it’s only a matter of time before things start to click.

“You start to have a better feel of what to do on the court and where to be,” he says. “You start to learn the offense and it’s kind of like growing up as a player. I’m getting more confidence out there.”

“There are a lot of new guys so it’s always difficult at the start. That’s part of it. But the main thing is everyone is still focused on the goal and that’s getting better. We’re working hard, trying to improve as a team and trying to find things we need to work on. We’ll get out the video and figure it out - it’s just all part of growing as a team.”

And 1s: Lots of injury issues to address Monday night and, thankfully, the news is good on all accounts. Last night’s game marked Shane Battier’s preseason debut after he missed the first three games due to a hamstring injury. The 8th year forward played nearly 23 minutes in all and though he admitted to feeling the usual rust, he was generally pleased with the way his hamstring responded.

Also notable: Luis Scola sprained his right ankle after a monster start which saw him score 8 points and grab 11 rebounds in just 13 minutes of play. Scola said he was scared at first but later felt as if the injury was not serious at all.

“We’re not really worried right now,” he said. “It was just a little scary at the beginning. We’ll see tomorrow to confirm but I think it’s nothing.

“It didn’t swell a lot so that’s a good sign. It hurt the first five minutes. I was worried when it got cold that it was going to swell and be really painful but it really wasn’t at all. I think that I was ready to go back in (laughs).”

Finally, Trevor Ariza experienced a frightening moment of his own when he landed hard on his back after getting tangled up with Milwaukee’s Luke Ridnour. Ariza left the game for a few minutes but later returned to action, saying that he had the wind knocked out of him and though he expects to be somewhat sore tomorrow, he doesn’t see the injury being anything to worry about.

QUOTES

RICK ADELMAN

One difference between their team tonight and our team is they looked for shots in their first option but they were also patient enough to look to the other side and find the open people. We’re not doing that and that’s just something we’ve got to learn. We cannot force the issue. We’ve got to have more ball movement, player movement and that’s up to me to look at it and figure out. Maybe some of the things we’re trying to do are not going to work with this group and that’s what we have to make a decision on as to how we become more efficient. Maybe we’re doing too much but that’s what this is all about: trying to find out.

That was one of my concerns: if you looked at our first three games I think we’re averaging 12 assists per game – that’s ridiculous. Sometimes it’s guys just not making shots but I think we can be a lot better, especially the guys who can create. It’s just going to take them some time that, if this is closing down, then you have to look here and it’s also who you have on the court with you. That’s what they need to understand when David is on the court.

We’re trying to tweak what we’ve done in the past. I don’t know yet who’s going to step up and take command. I thought Trevor in the first half did a better job attacking but it’s hit and miss right now with us. I’ve got to really look at it and make some judgments to find out what really is going to be good for this team. What’s going to give us the best chance to keep going? Right now I see some glimmers but not enough. Tonight was disappointing but more on the defensive end than anything else in the first half.

LUIS SCOLA

(on his sprained ankle): It was responding pretty good. We’re not really worried right now. It was just a little scary at the beginning. We’ll see tomorrow to confirm but I think it’s nothing.

It didn’t swell a lot so that’s a good sign. It hurt the first five minutes. I was worried when it got cold that it was going to swell and be really painful but it really wasn’t at all. I think that I was ready to go back in (laughs).

SHANE BATTIER

When you’re making shots offense seems to come pretty easy. The really good offensive teams in this league find ways to score when the shots start falling. To our credit, we did a much better job of getting to the free throw line and trying to manufacture some points but we just had a poor shooting night. When we have one of those nights we can’t succumb to a lack of movement because then you become even easier to guard.

(on how his hamstring responded): It was OK. It was about par for me. I didn’t have my explosiveness but that will come. I was able to move around fine so it was a good game to build on.

(felt good enough to sit on bench for a few minutes then come back in): Yeah, that’s the big test. It was a little tight in the second half but that’s to be expected as well so I was pleased.

(On the Rockets progress) “We have a lot to work on. Our pick and roll defense wasn’t very good in the first half and as a result, because we had to help so much in pick and rolls, we left the 3 point line open. With this team we have to protect the paint and we have to protect the 3 point line and when we don’t do one of those things, we get broken down and beat.”

TREVOR ARIZA

(On the game) “They got hot for a minute and we didn’t close out to the shooters. They hit open shots and we didn’t.”

(On injuring himself) “I should be alright. I will probably be a little sore in the morning but I’m not injured. It wasn’t my shoulder. I fell on my back. I couldn’t breathe for a second. I couldn’t breathe. It knocked the wind out of me and then I couldn’t catch my breath. There was no point in being out there if I couldn’t breathe, so I just stopped for a second.”

(On his predictions for the season) “We’re just going to work on the chemistry right now and go out and play hard every night and see what happens.”

DAVID ANDERSEN

(On the Bucks) “It was tough. They (Bucks) were hitting a lot of 3’s. They had a great percentage from there which made it hard. To our credit, the guys really dug down and clawed all the way back and almost had a chance to win. So I think the fight of the team is a good thing.”

KYLE LOWRY

(On the game) “It was a tough game. They hit a lot of shots. We didn’t execute the way we could have but we still had a chance at the end to win. We fought back well.”

(On the prediction for the season) “It’s too early to make any predictions. It’s a learning process. We are learning each other. We are a young team. We just have to get out there and get better.”

BUCKS COACH SCOTT SKILES

(On his team's play) “Delfino was good and was hitting his shots. After the first 14 minutes of the game our defense improved but then we stopped running our offense. We have some good things to build on from this game.

(On Michael Redd's play) “He has recovered and will play him normal.

He has rehabbed and is stronger than before the injury. Sometimes it takes guys awhile but he has worked very hard and it showed out there tonight. He was shooting the ball well.”

(On the Rockets) “Obviously, without the league's best center (Yao Ming) and Tracy (McGrady) out, it's going to be tough. Rick (Adelman) does a good job of adjusting to the team he has. However good they can be, Rick will get them there.”

CARLOS DELFINO

(On his play) “I had open shots and it felt good. We have to run the court and then we have so many weapons that can shoot the ball.”

(On playing against Scola) “It's always nice but it is also kind of different. We have been on the same side and have had many battles and wars we have played together. It is not easy to face my teammate and good friend.”

MICHAEL REDD

(On return from his injury) “Finally, it's coming around. It's part of the process and I was very happy with the way we played as a team. I wasn't thinking about my knee and I just played hard and it felt good. I hadn't played like this since January. You have to work, work and just keep working. It is a challenge.”

NOTES

With a 96-92 victory tonight, Milwaukee picked up its first-ever victory in Toyota Center. Including preseason, the Bucks are now 1-7 at Toyota Center.

Houston was 33-of-44 (.750) from the free throw line tonight. The Rockets have now attempted at least 30 free throws in each of the last three games.

Milwaukee recorded 63 points in the first half. Houston has now surrendered a 60-point half in back-to-back games after allowing the Magic 63 second-half points at Orlando (10/9/09).

The Rockets clamped down defensively in the second half, holding the Bucks under 20 points in each the third (15) and fourth (18) quarters for a second-half total of just 33 points.

David Andersen set his personal preseason high with 17 points (5-9 FG, 7-8 FT) tonight, including a 13-point first half (4-4 FG, 5-6 FT). Andersen came into this game off a 12-point night at Orlando (10/9/09).

Luis Scola posted eight points (4-7 FG) and 11 rebounds before leaving the game with a right ankle sprain in the second quarter. He becomes the first Rockets player to reach double figures in rebounding this preseason. Scola had 33 double-digit rebounding performances last season after notching just 14 over his entire rookie campaign.

Trevor Ariza finished with 10 points (3-8 FG) and a game-high five assists. Ariza has now recorded consecutive double-figure scoring nights after a 12-point outing at Orlando (10/9/09).

Kyle Lowry recorded 12 points (7-12 FT), three assists and three steals tonight. Lowry entered tonight’s game off an 8-of-9 performance from the free throw line at Orlando (10/9/09).

Michael Redd, who recorded a 14-point first quarter (6-8 FG), netted a preseason-best 18 points (7-10 FG) for the Bucks. He entered tonight’s game with 20 total points in three preseason appearances.

Carlos Delfino added 16 points (6-15 FG), eight rebounds and four steals tonight. Delfino was also 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, leading the Bucks to an 11-of-30 (.367) night from 3-point range.

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