30 October 2001

Rockets Win Opener

I took in the season opener tonight for the Houston Rockets, which they won in overtime. Overall, it was a fairly sloppy game, with both teams missing way too many open shots, but that's to be expected at the start of the season. At the end, the Rockets made plays when the game mattered, and played some tough defense.

I've been in Houston since 1995 (the second Rockets championship season), but tonight was my first trip to see them at Compaq Center, which is kind of hard to believe. I've taken in other events there, but not the Rockets. It was a fun experience, and I look forward to taking in more games. Especially now that the horribly BORING Rockets offense of the past (headed by hobbled, brittle players like Barkley and Olajuwon) has been replaced by the high octane excitement of Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis (the best NBA player nobody in Houston knows). And the pre-game patriotic display (God Bless America AND the national anthem AND a rather strange address from President Bush that rambled on about the NBA being a very important part of the war effort or national life or.... something) was impressive, for the most part.

Sadly, the place was not a sellout, even though the tired facility is one of the NBA's smallest (the new arena will be sweet, though). That's a shame. This year's team is young and exciting, and has a decent shot to make the playoffs after last year's team had the best record in NBA history of any team NOT to make the playoffs.

[Posted @ 11:10 PM CST]