Gameday Pictures + Rockets Shootaround Recap
by Ben Golliver on Apr 18, 2009 1:29 PM PDT
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You're sitting around all day geeking out for this game aren't you? Make sure you have a defibrillator handy. These pictures from the Rockets' Rose Garden shootaround this morning have the potential to cause seizures, heart attacks, and [you know whats] that last longer than 4 hours.
Click through below for a brief shootaround report.
Note the new Rip City Uprise signage.
Rockets Shootaround Recap
I was very impressed with the mood around the Rockets. The first takeaway impression from this group is that it's no surprise they bumped Aaron Brooks into the starting role: his energy is infectious, really overflowing his older teammates, as he is very loose, calm, confident and goofy. He is shockingly comfortable for being such a young point guard.
He was the center of attention during the post-shootaround halfcourt shot contest (Chuck Hayes nailed a halfcourt shot all net on his first attempt, by the way... impressive stuff) as he shimmied around the court, slapping hands with coaches, teammates and pretty much everyone else present.
After watching him for less than 5 minutes it was clear why so many people in Houston see Brooks as the X factor.
The Rockets group in general seems like a happy, fun-loving bunch. They swung by the media room to watch the end of the Bulls vs. Celtics game and were cracking lighthearted jokes and providing impromptu commentary down the stretch. It was a surreal experience watching Joey Dorsey watch his former teammate Derrick Rose light up Boston.
The Rockets' team bus had to leave to return to the hotel with about 30 seconds to go in overtime and the team groaned loudly in unison. Funny stuff.
Ron Artest's knees were covered in ice and he looked lower-energy than I expected. Hey, it was early in the day. Yao,also, was surrounded by Chinese reporters and he looked ready to be done with the fuss and start the basketball.
Apropos of nothing, it's strange to see Von Wafer in the Rose Garden corridors. What a difference a year makes.
One major change for the playoffs is the postgame press table set up that accomodates coaches and the teams' star players. Here's a shot.
During the regular season, this area features long cafeteria-style tables where Kevin Pelton types on his computer throughout dinner and I harrass him with questions like, "can you please fundamentally redesign the box score?" and he says, "later, Ben, later."
I'll be heading back down to the Rose Garden in a few hours. If there's anything in particular you'd like to see today, please leave a note in the comments.
This is my first time at the rodeo, so we'll play it by ear.
And, yes, I must confess just like Dave, I am pure hyphy right now.
Call/Text/Pix the bat phone with your thoughts before, during and after the game!
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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So any chance you might need someone there with you to take pictures?
lol jk
"It was like some sort of crazy torture in the movies. How do people do that so long without taking a breath? I think my ears are still ringing."
-Adrian Peterson, describing Autzen
o ben already has people for that
"It was like some sort of crazy torture in the movies. How do people do that so long without taking a breath? I think my ears are still ringing."
-Adrian Peterson, describing Autzen
Now I'm curious
I saw the number up and ben followed your advice. The question is why? Oh and are you Kevin Pritchard?
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
LOL i took it as a threat… the number is still on the main page… not sure if he realizes i have a diff cell than the bat phone…
by Ben Golliver on Apr 18, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions
you have a different cell?
that’s an insult to the bat phone… you just hurt the bat phone’s feelings…
The first photo brings tears to my eyes
I spent a good two minutes looking at that photo just taking it all in…
i feel u. i stood there for about 10 minutes after taking it.
by Ben Golliver on Apr 18, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
it is my background
so i will take it in a little at a time
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on Apr 18, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm feelin' postive...
….in ever way!
Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around
i wasn’t at the blazers shootaround, only the rockets, this is all i’ve seen/heard…
by Ben Golliver on Apr 18, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
well thats good news
thank you
Those pics make me want to go to the Rose Garden right now and just sit there and wait 5 hours for tip off
by Peteyhasnohead on Apr 18, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
" GO will go"
That’s what I thunk.
Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around
Man
I am soooo geeked out right now. I was pumped watching Chicago vs. Boston and I dont even like those teams.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
hehe, Bumpity, Bumpity
Knows whats yous means.
Elizabeth had a partner and he had a rap from the cops, Him and Lenny Suckerpunch were just out Tooling around
by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 18, 2009 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions
that picture with the "playoffs" sign on the court made me too excited..
I have been staring at my tickets for tonight for the last hour…
Go BLAZERS!!!
No one still believes in us
I say we prove that we belong, starting tonight….
Proud member of Duck nation!
GET GEEEKED
and rise with us
I am starting the coalition to BRING BACK IKE.
Anyone know
If they are going to do the same intro thing they did (with the flame barrels) when we were last in the playoffs?
Proud member of Duck nation!
L*ker Game
I brought an LA friend to the L*ker game and she could not believe our intro, the intensity of the opening video on the jumbotron, the deafening PA music and it all getting drowned out by the raucus crowd. Our “Beat LA” chant before the opening tip was shaking the building and had her covering up the L*ker jersey she wore to the game.
Can’t imagine what tonight is going to be like.
quid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur
Only in the PNW
Would people say things like ‘Get geeked’ and be enthusiastic with it, haha. I LOVE IT!
Not like the Utah Jazz... it's about REAL jazz. Go Dawgs, Go Blazers!
BEN!
do a favor for us, go up to the 300 level and take a picture of the court itself…and then have it at high res, for the backgrounds for our screens…this would rock!
WE WANT T-SHIRTS!!!
by nateinaloha on Apr 18, 2009 3:33 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Rip City Uprise! Yao is big, but we are many (well, don't tell his countrymen)
Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
If everything goes wrong, we can take comfort in the Rockets not having a single draft pick in 2009
i'm hand washing my jersey right now
i just got an outlaw jersey shirt to wear underneath it too.
i’ll be in 333.
the batphone is now programmed into my phone.
i’m ready!!!!
It looks great down there!
We just got back from the garden a few minutes ago. We stopped by to pick up will-call tickets (a completely painless process btw).
It’s going to be nuts tonight.
This is the first time I've been online today
Is there any confirmation of Oden’s status? Didn’t see anything on o-live.
First time in forever that I didn't read the thread
And of course it’s the one with the question listed above. :) (Thanks)
Pshhh. I was playing horse last week and swished my first attempt at a half court shot
Chuck Hayes Schmuck Chayes!
I did, however, fail to hit anything for the next 10-15 attempts….
Frye-lock and I'm on top rock you like a cop
In the past they did concerts
Before the game, also a possible set-up for the pre/post game shows….
Proud member of Duck nation!
Man, I'm nervous
I probably shouldn’t be. But that’s the kind of person I am. Houston has some pressureo on them, but so do the Blazers. Dropping a game at home…after all the hype the Rose Garden has received…would be…uh…not good. I’m confident Greg will play. I’m just not TOTALLY confident in the result of the game.
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
I understand
Is it 7:30 yet? About to head out to my pre-game meal near the RG, I’ll be up in 310 cheering til my lungs burst, and then I’ll keep going….
Proud member of Duck nation!
i think you should be...
frankly, i’m surprised that almost no one is even giving houston a chance in this one. we matched your second half hot streak (after we got rid of the dead weight of mcgrady). i’m giving my rockets a much better chance than any of the espn experts.
That's Great
I got a Houston fan trying to “lift” my spirits. I’m feeling SOO much better now!
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
From a rockets fans perspective
it is great news that the team and especially brooks is loose and having fun. I believe a weight was taken off the teams’ back when they knew they wouldnt have to play the Jizz and that they dont care about the recent playoff failures. This team has three different starters from last postseason, a pg (brooks) who plays well against portland and is loose, a sf/sg (artest) who brings playoff experience and a toughness this team hasnt had in years past, and the big chinaman.
Should be a great series and i cant wait for it to start.
GO ROCKETS!!
Waiting for the day Houston gets some sports respect.
Good luck
And condolences from Portland on the flooding you’re having right now, we want your team to lose, not your people….
Proud member of Duck nation!
thanks skywaker
its nice to see people caring about other people and not letting sports get in the way. at first i thought you meant the flooding of blazers fans on The Dream Shake but then i realized you meant actual flooding, like rain flooding, like bad flooding.
p.s. flooding is a funny looking word
Waiting for the day Houston gets some sports respect.
by TexasHoosier on Apr 18, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions
thanks man
im in galveston, and stuck at home cause i dont feel like swimming to the library. but don’t worry about us, we go through this stuff all the time. its one of the breaks about living on the beach.
Galveston is great.
Good friend from there.
Not like the Utah Jazz... it's about REAL jazz. Go Dawgs, Go Blazers!
by jazzaholic17 on Apr 18, 2009 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Here's to a great series!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWPRtr70C4Q
quid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur
Is there anyone playing in the playoffs other than Lebron?
Watched the NBA Countdown this morning and it was a complete lovefest of Lebron.
Don’t get me wrong. Lebron is a great player. I want to root for him, but they keep this up, and I’ll want anyone other than him to win just so we can get some balanced coverage.
its just for ratings cause everybody loves lebron
i hate it too, but he is amazing
Waiting for the day Houston gets some sports respect.
by TexasHoosier on Apr 18, 2009 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Ok I'm here
At the RG I mean….party can start now!
"The match in Los Angeles is a good opportunity to begin to demonstrate that we want to make war." Rudy Fernández (translated)
Hey
Anyone who wants Roy’s older style shoes, eastbay.com has them on sale for 59.99
only size 7.5 and 8.0 are left.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Haha!
CIP and Dawson are total dorks! Never seen ’em in person before….
"The match in Los Angeles is a good opportunity to begin to demonstrate that we want to make war." Rudy Fernández (translated)
i feel like a kid thats about to open all his presents on Christmas mourn
Welcome to Rip City, America!!
The magic # is 0!!!
My 3 year old just wants to say
111111111111111111112222222222222222222222233333333334444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444455555555555555555555555555555555555555556666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666777777777777777777777777777778888888888888888888888888888889999999999999999999999999999990000000
Golly Gee, I sure hope I didn't huwt anybody's feewings.... sniff...sniff....
GO G.O. ! You've got a calcium supplement endorsement waiting for you!
More on Mr. Brooks...
IMO Brooks still is the x factor. After watching him for four years in Eugene, I am NOT surprised. The guy can flat out ball. Good luck to the Blazers! We must stop the Rockets and dominate! Go Blazers!
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