After months of anticipation and one of the best off-seasons in recent memory, the Rockets will begin their 2007-08 campaign tonight in LA against the Lakers. With a new frontcourt featuring Argentine sensation Luis Scola and a fully healthy Yao, the Rockets will be able to give the Spurs and Mavs a run for their money as the best team in the state. The focus tonight, however, will be on the matchup between Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant.
The oft-disgruntled Bryant has been the subject of trade rumors for the past several months, to the point of distraction for the rest of the Lakers team. This is perhaps for the best, as the rest of the cast around Bryant is weak, and one of the reasons why the Lakers are thinking that addition by subtraction might be a good idea, given that they would probably be able to net several good players for the undeniably great Kobe. So as the Lakers focus on getting Kobe out of LA, the Rockets will have to keep him away from the basket at the Staples Center. The last time the two teams faced off, Kobe went off for 53 points but went home winless as the Rockets won in OT. While the Rockets no doubt would prefer to keep Bryant's scoring lower than the mid-century mark, they'd certainly understand if the game outcome were the same.
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As the Rockets have shaped up their roster this preseason, one of the least-likely outcomes has become a reality: Steve Francis is the odd man out. In spite of a troubled off-season for Rafer Alston, the fact that Mike James is not a true PG, and the reality that Aaron Brooks too green to contribute, the erstwhile Stevie Franchise does not currently have a spot in the Rockets' rotation. What was supposed to be a chance to turn around a career that never quite lived up to its hype looks to be turning into a nightmare for Francis. Coach Rick Adelman has made it clear that Francis's effort is part of the equation, so hopefully this snub will light a fire under him.
Another player to watch during the early part of the season will be newly acquired power forward Luis Scola. After making a name for himself in the Euro leagues and as a member of the flashy Argentinian National Team (along with San Antonio's Manu "Life Alert" Ginobli), the 6' 9" Scola was unable to negotiate a contract with the Spurs (who had originally drafted him), allowing the Rockets to pick him up for pennies on the dollar. Long considered one of the best players in the world not playing in the NBA, Scola will be a huge upgrade over the lumbering mass that was Juwan Howard. He'll draw attention away from Yao in the post, and provide an outside threat in Adelman's new, fast-paced offense. With Lamar Odom as his counterpart on the Lakers, he'll have a legitimate test right out of the gate. Once again: watch Scola. He's the lynchpin of the Rockets season.
After the Lakers contest, the Rockets travel Thursday to Utah to face the Jazz team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Their home debut will be Saturday night against the Portland Trailblazers. The game tonight will air on TNT at 10:30pm (damn west coast start times). Check back with Houstonist throughout the season for continuing Rockets coverage!
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