Dallas Mavericks

Rockets Confounding Season of Ups and Downs Continues with a 45-Point Win in Utah

For all their inconsistency this season, there is a certain amount of relative consistency to the Rockets season. Whenever they lose a few, they come back and win a few, or vice versa. The league's youngest team will struggle to shoot with any consistency and turn the ball over like playground balle ... More >>

Linsanity Finally Shows Up, Rockets Lose Anyway

Jeremy Lin reminds me of an NFL quarterback. He probably didn't deserve the mounds of praise heaped on him during his transcendant run last year in New York and he hasn't deserved the beating he's taken on message boards and radio call in shows during his struggles in Houston. He didn't get signed t ... More >>

Remembering the ABA: 5 Things That Would Never Happen in the NBA

Thirty-six years ago this week, avant-garde basketball went away when the American Basketball Association merged with the National Basketball Association. The old ABA (1967-1976) helped revolutionize the game through the invention of the three-point shot and the drafting of underclassmen. At one t ... More >>

NRBQ's Al Anderson Now a World Famous Headliner

Above: Al Anderson (l) and World Famous Headliners in the studio. There are people in Nashville, highly successful people, the average fan or casual music listener has little if any clue about. Chris Stapleton comes to mind. Mike Henderson is another. Everyone in Nashville knows and admires them, f ... More >>

Why the Rockets Have to Suck Before They Can Improve

For quite some time, I have resisted the sentiment that to improve in the NBA, you must first have a substantial downturn. I don't like the idea of losing on purpose. Calling it "tanking" only makes it worse. The entire concept feels like the exact opposite of what players, coaches and fans are taug ... More >>

Rockets Mediocrity: Blame the Strategy of the Owner

There's something unholy about a team playing out the string of games knowing it won't make the playoffs. It's even weirder when said team felt its season end with a thud after a horrid stretch of games that lasted right up until the second-to-last game of the year. Going one step farther, that game ... More >>

4 Thoughts On Delonte West's Wet Willie On Gordon Hayward

After allowing me to fall into the trap of proclaiming them a lock for the playoffs on my radio show, the Rockets lost their fourth straight game last night. Logic dictates that I should post something about that, but I need to step away from the Rockets just to be able to rationally assess them rig ... More >>

NBA Purgatory

Neither the best nor the worst, the Rockets remain stuck in professional basketball's great midsection.

So How Much Do You Really Know About the Astros and the DH?

​There has been a strange uproar over the Astros' possible move to the American League. There's been whining over start times, bitching about Bud Selig, and much, much discussion about the designated hitter not being real baseball. And while people are upset, it needs to be noted that the As ... More >>

Remember Lil Flip's #KissThePinkyRang?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or un, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Lil Flip #KissThePinkyRang (Self-released, 2011) Lil' Flip is, by even the most ardent applica ... More >>

2011 NBA Draft -- A Reminder of the Rockets' Purgatory

NBA Draft: Do Rocket fans have anything to look forward to?​In the second season of The Sopranos, after getting shot in the abdomen and nearly dying, Christopher has dreams while in a coma about going to a place where people die every day the same painful way they died on earth. Convinced that ... More >>

Rhys Hickey: Habitual Beer Thief Allegedly Breaks Ex-Wife's Face, Chokes Son

"The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems"​Way back in May of 2005, Rhys Hickey was already divorced from his ex-wife, the mother of their son. That was when he threatened her life. Two years after that, he was convicted for that offense and given a month in jail. His wife took ... More >>

Rappers: Which NBA Player Would You Be And Why?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn't the day after a gigantic local music festival, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​This Week's Panel: Bun B, Zavey, Kyle Hub ... More >>

Saturday: Jack Freeman & Radio Galaxy At The Breakfast Klub

Photos by Shea SerranoJack Freeman (left) and Montana​Jack Freeman (feat. Montana), Radio Galaxy The Breakfast Klub May 28, 2011 12:30 p.m.: Jack Freeman, local R&B wunderkind, attained "I Need To Listen To Whatever This Guy Sends Me As Soon As He Sends It To Me" status* last year when he rel ... More >>

Astro Jordan Lyles' Big League Debut Is Tonight, So I'm Actually Making A Point To Watch

Jordan Lyles: Either clean-shaven, or doesn't need to shave yet.​As Tuesdays in the ho-hum, post-Memorial Day part of the calendar go, this one actually has a few juicy television nuggets tonight -- Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Mavericks, the season premiere of America's G ... More >>

Kevin McHale Is The Rockets New Head Coach

Do not read the subhed​In what would have been classified as a fairly startling upset at the beginning of the search process, the Houston Rockets have chosen former Boston Celtic great/Minnesota Timberwolves coach and general manager Kevin McHale as the next head coach of their franchise. In ... More >>

The Final Play

After traumatic knee injury, Case Keenum has one more season to prove his talents.

Drayton McLane Officially Puts Astros On The Block (World Series Championship Not Included)

Photos by Paul KnightDrayton McLane and Astros: Looking for buyer from Texas? Eh, maybe. Buyer with lots of money? Yes, definitely. ​Astros owner Drayton McLane officially announced this afternoon, in very Texas-y fashion, that he's ready to sell the team. He held up his hand like a pistol and sai ... More >>

NBA 2010-2011 Preview -- Reconstructing LeBron

Please, no more operations on Yao Ming​"What should I do?" -- LeBron James, over and over and over again his new Nike spot The fact that LeBron James is posing the question in his new Nike spot perhaps tells us that he is not completely devoid of self-awareness, as he appeared to be last summer. ... More >>

NBA Rumors: Carmelo Anthony Is Interested In Bringing His Talents To Houston

'Melo is eyeing up the Rockets​Carmelo Anthony is interested in coming here? To Houston? To play for the Rockets? Don't be messing with us, Sports Illustrated.Supposedly it's so.SI reported that the Rockets are on a short list of teams Anthony would be interested in joining if he and his current e ... More >>

Mark Cuban: With Nolan Ryan Out, It's Now Up To You To Save The Astros

Mark Cuban: Houston needs you, desperately​My dream for the Houston Astros was destroyed very, very early on Thursday morning when Nolan Ryan and his business partner, Chuck Greenberg, won the bankruptcy bidding for the Texas Rangers. I've written before that I was hoping Ryan's bid would lose, an ... More >>

Game Time: NBA Free Agency -- Watch Me Compare Daryl Morey to Bobby Baccala

Like Baccala, Morey's got an unpopped cherry​Okay, let me get this out of the way... Daryl Morey knows what he's doing. In Daryl we trust! In Morey we trust! Daryl Morey is the NBA GM version of William Wallace with an undergrad degree from the Jedi academy and a PhD in ninja skills! I love Da ... More >>

Game Time: What If Gordon Hayward's Shot Goes In?

As sports fans, I think we probably let single events define players and coaches more than we should. In this era where we want to evaluate things quickly and neatly, it's always easier (and oftentimes, lazier) to just let one play on a big stage define somebody. It's clear, it's concise, it's also ... More >>

John Goodman, Bazillionaire Polo Patron, Awaits Possible Charges In Fatal Palm Beach Bentley Wreck

Randall Patterson's 1998 feature on Houston / Palm Beach polo patron John Goodman ends with the billionaire playboy getting a champagne bath. Right now, Palm Beach police want to know if he also soaked in a little too much booze last Thursday night. That was when Goodman, the founder of the Palm B ... More >>

Game Time: For Sale -- NBA Two Guard, 30 Y/O, Excellent Condition, Trades Accepted

​First, I want to thank everyone for their reaction, positive or otherwise, to my post yesterday which chronicled the high points of the era of Tracy McGrady's Expiring Contract I seem to learn something with every new post that I generate here on Hair Balls, and yesterday I learned that there are ... More >>

Game Time: Woke Up This Morning, Got Myself LeBron

​Those of you who listen to my show know that I am fond of placing the "occasional" friendly wager. While handicapping the day-to-day and week-to-week ebb and flow of a football, basketball, or (if you're really sick) baseball season can be enjoyable and, at times, lucrative (especially when betti ... More >>

Do You Believe In Miracles? Rockets Advance

May 17, 1997.Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer were in sixth grade. The Oilers were only a year removed from their Houston existence. The Texans were still more than five years from their birth. The Astros had yet to make the playoffs in the Biggio-Bagwell era. Then-President Bill Clinton was still eight m ... More >>

Rockets-Bobcats: Yao-Artest Form Improved Dynamic Duo

At some point during the will he, won't he saga of Tracy McGrady's ongoing knee problems, the heart and identity of the Rockets shifted from a Yao Ming and McGrady-led team to one led by Yao and Ron Artest. So far, the Rockets seem all the better for it. Artest scored 26 points on five three-point ... More >>

Rockets-Bobcats: Yao-Artest Form Improved Dynamic Duo

At some point during the will he, won't he saga of Tracy McGrady's ongoing knee problems, the heart and identity of the Rockets shifted from a Yao Ming and McGrady-led team to one led by Yao and Ron Artest. So far, the Rockets seem all the better for it. Artest scored 26 points on five three-point ... More >>

Rockets Fast Break: Adelman Stresses Consistency at Point

To Rockets coach Rick Adelman, consistency trumps contrast. When fans initially heard the Rafer Alston trade Thursday afternoon, much of the immediate reaction was negative. In addition to questioning the team going forward without an experienced starting point guard, many wondered why the team w ... More >>

Rockets Fast Break: Adelman Stresses Consistency at Point

To Rockets coach Rick Adelman, consistency trumps contrast. When fans initially heard the Rafer Alston trade Thursday afternoon, much of the immediate reaction was negative. In addition to questioning the team going forward without an experienced starting point guard, many wondered why the team w ... More >>

The Houston Rockets: Goodness Greatness

NBA Playoff Preview: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Rockets-Pacers: All Aboard the Chuck Wagon

Super Bowl TV: What to Watch Before the Big Game

Jason Friedman's NBA Predictions: Mavs Beat the Jazz, the Suns, the Rockets and the Pistons, Take the Championship in '08

Rockets Should Improve, But Will It Matter?

Stop the Hatin'. Unless You're Talking about the Mavericks, Of Course.

Is It Time to Trade T-Mac?

When Steve Met Tracy

The Rockets' past and future face off at the Clutch City Classic

Late, Late Show

DJ Leon puts his spin on Saturday night with Sounderground

Fire in the Belly

Rice's new basketball director reveals the secret of his fall from NBA stardom

Adieu, Monsieur Mojo

...And other SXSW adventures

When Online Got Off Base

Or: How Mark Cuban would have--and could have?--saved the music biz

Racist Radio?

A rights group forms after local airwaves flow with anti-Chinese sentiments

Speed of Light

Doug Eagle was an elite racquetball player till a car crash ruined his life. He rebuilt himself, finding God in the process. Now, he says, he's faster and better than ever.

,,, And Don't Talk to Barkley

Pinched for fat. Put in their place. The Rockets Power Dancers don't care, just as long as they're given a chance to make their moves.