Shane Battier

The Rockets Are Back In The NBA Playoffs! Their Complete Rebuilding Anthology

With four games to go in the 2011-2012 season, the Rockets were coming off a 117-110 loss to Dallas, a loss in which Dirk Nowitzki provided a stark reminder to last season's Rockets team that they were devoid of a superstar caliber player by dropping 21 points on them in the fourth quarter. To call ... More >>

Twitter War! The Iron Sheik Calls Out Arian Foster!

I've mentioned in this space a few times, during the 2011 NFL season I did a weekly show with Texans running back Arian Foster on Yahoo! Sports Radio. In my five years and change in talk radio, those sessions with him were some of the more fun moments I've had doing radio. The first few weeks we di ... More >>

NBA Finals: Series Prediction and a Few Prop Bets

Finally, it's here! If you had allowed David Stern to sit in a room with all 16 playoff teams on the wall by conference, and allow him to pick his dream matchup for the NBA Finals, it's without a doubt the Miami-Oklahoma City matchup we're getting here. LeBron versus Durant, big market versus small ... More >>

Houston Rockets 2009 Draft Lottery Posse -- Final Scorecard

I've mentioned this in previous posts, but one of the most amazing and envy-inducing pictures I've ever seen is a picture on Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's Mobile Uploads page on his Facebook account. It's a shot of a blackjack hand, split three times (for four hands total), with a blackjack ... More >>

Video Proof That Chase Budinger Can Dunk With Flair

Maybe I'm in the minority on this one, but I'll put it out there -- I enjoy the Saturday festivities at the NBA All-Star weekend even more than the game on Sunday night. The slam dunk contest, the three-point shooting contest, the "whatever-they're-calling-the-game-with-rookies-and-sophomores-this- ... More >>

NBA Purgatory

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

Famous Triple Doubles (NBA and Otherwise)

The Jim Rome triple double: He's Big O-esque​Ah, the triple double. The semi-elusive NBA statistic whereby an NBA player gets double figures in a game in three performance categories (points, rebounds, assists are usually the big three, but steals and blocked shots are sometimes allowed in the ... More >>

Houston Rockets -- Screwed City

Daniel KramerDaryl Morey needs to go big time​It's no surprise that Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey has a Facebook page. And it's not one of those aloof "Fan" pages, either, where all you can do is click "Like." Morey has one of those "regular guy" Facebook pages where you can send him me ... More >>

Rockets Trade -- Hasheem Thabeet Scouting Report (It's Not Good)

Your newest Rocket is tall​The NBA trade deadline came and went today and the Rockets managed to muster up some activity. The good news is (stop me if you've heard this before) General Manager Daryl Morey appears to have gotten the best of both deals. The bad news is the Rockets are no closer ... More >>

Five NBA Love Stories (For Valentine's Day)

The NBA: Love is in the air​Let me be the millionth to say that I hate Valentine's Day. It's a sham. It's a farce. It's a fabrication designed to stimulate the economy and jump-start jewelry, flower, restaurant and sex toy business for a random day in the dead period of February. And yet, as ... More >>

Houston Rockets -- Chuck Hayes Needs To Ease Up

Chuck Hayes, ripping off the dunk-seeking consumer​"He is as good as any defender in this league in the low post. I'm going to start talking to the coaches at the end of the year when they have the (All-NBA) defensive team. If he's not on one of the defensive teams, there's something wrong. . ... More >>

Houston Texans - Kubiak Believes In Bush (and #Kubiakbelievesinyou)

Guess which one the Texans are!​"I believe in him (defensive coordinator Frank Bush). I think we played much better defense. I think if we finished the game, we'd be talking about how much better we were. There were a lot of good things that went on. I believe in the guy. That's why he's here ... More >>

Gourmet Prep Meals: Giving Prep a New Meaning

I made this salmon! (Sort of.)​There are plenty of nights that I feel up to cooking, but not nearly as many nights that I feel up to braving the grocery store's long, rush hour-style lines. And there are plenty of times I want to cook but don't want to go out and buy an entire pound of ground ... 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 >>

Get on Board the Burger Bus

Photos by Katharine Shilcutt​Justin Turner is one of those rare people who has found it relatively easy to open a food truck in Houston. Owner of Bernie's Burger Bus, which began operating just over a week ago, Turner decided to leave his very cushy job -- personal chef to the Rockets' Shane ... More >>

Houston Rockets: In Yao We Must Hope, Pray And Trust (Or Use As Drinking Game Material)

Power walkers are tough to pick out of size 18s.​'Melo ain't coming. Rockets Nation has to resign itself to that fact.But that should be all right. With the current roster, we're young, we're quick, and we don't have a scorer (we'll discuss Kevin Martin later). But you heard the young and quick pa ... More >>

Saturday Night: Michael Franti & Spearhead At House Of Blues

Photos by Jason Wolter​Michael Franti & Spearhead House of Blues October 2, 2010 Check out photos from the show. Hands are in the air immediately with the stupidly fun show opener "Love Don't Wait," as Michael Franti and his Spearhead instrumentalists file out onstage. Franti is a big dude, ... 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 >>

Patrick Patterson & The NBA Draft: Pass The (Trade) Chips, Mr. Morey

Photo by Daniel KramerThe dealing has begun, as Van Morrison almost sang​The Rockets had what most analysts considered a strong draft on Thursday, but its true genius may take another week or two to see.No, former Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson isn't likely to go to Toronto in any long-awaited ... More >>

Chron's Feelings Are Hurt

HBO drama didn't celebrate Houston as best-est place.

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 >>

Game Time: Mark Down "April 6," Because I'm About To Talk Nice About Duke

​With 7:10 left in last night's men's college basketball championship game, Duke senior guard Jon Scheyer hit two free throws to put the Duke Blue Devils up 56-51. I turned to the person next to me at the establishment where I was watching this instant classic unfold and said, "Well, go ahead and ... More >>

Why Wait On Prospects? Morey Opts For Star As Rockets Acquire K-Mart

​Daryl Morey, as always, had us all fooled.We assumed the Rockets' general manager had little on the table for the dead carcass of Tracy McGrady, save the Bulls' and Knicks' offers centered around future draft picks that could later be used as assets to trade for a star. The offers weren't bad ... More >>

The Top Ten Rockets Moments Of The Decade, For Better Or Worse

Photo by Daniel Kramer​For the Rockets, the decade of the 2000s began with Hall of Fame legend Hakeem Olajuwon starting at center. It finished with 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes, the shortest listed starting center in NBA history.It started with promising rookie sensation and No. 2 pick Steve Francis at po ... More >>

Game Time: The Week In Tweets

​Maybe I'm biased because I use it all the time, but I'm going to make the bold statement that Twitter has surpassed "fad" status and that it's here to stay. Even at this point, people who don't use Twitter recognize kinda sorta how it works, and even recognize a Tweet when they see it -- "it's go ... More >>

In Make-Or-Break Year, Rockets' Landry Looks To Fill Low-Post Void

Photo by Jeff Balke​There's a popular belief in NBA circles that the third year is when a player makes the transition to stardom, if he's going to make it. Among point guards, that worked for Chris Paul and Deron Williams, and much has been said about Aaron Brooks making a similar - though sma ... 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 >>

Oh, The Lakers Will Learn All About Ron Artest

On the way to his fourth championship, Kobe Bryant was guarded by Mickael Pietrus, Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Dahntay Jones, Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, and all of the Jazz players whose names Jerry Sloan could remember. None of them had the combination of speed, size, and advanced weaponry ne ... More >>

No Matter Game 7 Outcome, These Rockets Have Heart Of Champions

Photo: Jeff BalkeScrapper Chuck HayesThirty-seven million of the Rockets' approximately $70 million payroll sits on the bench in luxury suits instead of basketball uniforms. With Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady sidelined, the Rockets counter the Lakers' top scoring option -- only one of the best players ... More >>

No Yao, No T-Mac, No Problem: Hayes Sets Tone As Rockets Tie Series

Photo byJeff BalkeThe opening to the Rockets' player introductions sounded as unlikely and frightening as the task of defeating the vaunted Lakers without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Somehow, "a 6-foot-6 center out of Kentucky" didn't deliver the same punch and energy as the booming "7-foot-6 ... More >>

Game 3: Early Missed Opportunities Haunt Rockets

The box score to Game 3 shows the second period as the only frame in which the Rockets weren't outscored on Friday night at Toyota Center. But in reality, it proved pivotal in Houston's 108-94 loss, which allowed Los Angeles to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The normally dynamic La ... More >>

Five Ways To Fake Your Way Through A Rockets Conversation

Photo by Keith Allison It's been a long time since the Rockets were of any interest to most of Houston, but now that they've actually advanced past the first round of the playoffs, the bandwagon is getting full.A Houstonian will now be expected to be able to talk confidently about the team in order ... More >>

Rockets-Magic: Landry makes triumphant return

Photo courtesy of Jeff BalkeIt was just over three weeks ago that Carl Landry was running for his life, attempting to dodge bullets from assailants who sideswiped his car, punctured his left calf and chased him until he hid between a house and a fence, waiting for emergency help while blood gu ... More >>

Rockets-Magic: Landry Makes Triumphant Return

Photo courtesy of Jeff BalkeIt was just over three weeks ago that Carl Landry was running for his life, attempting to dodge bullets from assailants who sideswiped his car, punctured his left calf and chased him until he hid between a house and a fence, waiting for emergency help while blood gu ... More >>

Rockets-Suns: Brooks, Lowry Bring Small Ball to Houston

If the Rockets needed any additional evidence to the potential success of a two point-guard system, they only needed to look on the other end of the court on Friday night at Toyota Center. The Phoenix Suns (34-28) have been the model of up-tempo basketball in recent years, routinely playing small g ... More >>

Rockets-Suns: Brooks, Lowry Bring Small Ball to Houston

If the Rockets needed any additional evidence to the potential success of a two point-guard system, they only needed to look on the other end of the court on Friday night at Toyota Center. The Phoenix Suns (34-28) have been the model of up-tempo basketball in recent years, routinely playing small g ... 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 >>

NBA Playoff Preview: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

Rockets-Kings: The Art of Adelman

Rockets-Heat: A Pair of Pleasant Surprises

Supersonics vs. Rockets: Post-Game Talk with Rick Adelman, Yao Ming, Rafer Alston, Shane Battier and Tracy McGrady

Q&A with Daryl Morey: Surprise! Rockets Need Better Point Guard Play

Rashard Lewis Won’t Be Singing That Ozzy Tune Anytime Soon

Speculation Time

Rockets Should Improve, But Will It Matter?