The Rockets might not be considered championship contenders, but the NBA clearly thinks of them as being as popular as the teams that are.
Not only will the Rockets move into a new arena this season, but the NBA schedule released Tuesday places them in a spotlight they have not seen since they last reached the playoffs.
The Rockets will begin the season on national television -- with their first game in Toyota Center Oct. 30 against the Nuggets -- and will maintain a regular presence there.
The Rockets will be featured on 22 nationally televised games, including four on ABC. Last season, 10 Rockets games were chosen for national TV, with none over the air on ABC. The Rockets' 22 national TV games this season rank behind only the Lakers and Kings' 24 and the Timberwolves, Mavericks and Spurs' 23.
"I love the fact that we're TV darlings," said Rockets vice president for marketing Tim McDougall. "It's a good indicator of interest in the team."
Via Houston Chronicle
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Cybersleuths were back at work Tuesday, uncovering what they believe to be the first hints at the design of the Rockets' new uniforms.
In a picture posted at the NBA's Taiwanese Web site, http://taiwan.nba.com, fans can get a tantalizing look at what appears to be the team's new red and white road uniforms, modeled by Cuttino Mobley.
Amare Stoudamire of the Suns and Jalen Rose of the Bulls share the picture, part of the NBA's promotional campaign for the new season, with Mobley. But Rockets fans have eyes only for Mobley -- at least, what they can see of the new uniform he's wearing.
Mobley is shown sitting in an office cubicle, and only the side view of the jersey is visible.
Still, it was enough to put the Rockets, who within the last week have rolled out a new logo and a new naming rights partner for the new downtown arena, back in clarification mode as the photo drew comments from fans.
"It's not the final version of the uniform," said team spokesman Nelson Luis. "There are some similarities, but the one you see there is one or two generations away from what we expect for the final model."
Via Houston Chronicle
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After nine years as the Clipper who didn't complain, didn't change and most of all didn't leave, Eric Piatkowski knew the time had come.
He could put up with all it meant to be stuck on Los Angeles' junior varsity and even signed a then-unheard-of long-term deal to keep banging his head on that hard wall. But immediately after Piatkowski joined the Rockets on Saturday, he spoke of aspirations he never could before.
He talked about winning.
"I just really, really want to win," Piatkowski said. "We haven't been successful in the past nine years in LA. There's an opportunity to come in here, win a lot of games and be very successful in the playoffs."
For Piatkowski, the Rockets' four consecutive lottery seasons amount to a brief postseason dry spell. Still, as Piatkowski and general manager Carroll Dawson spoke Saturday of how Piatkowski will fit in, there was a sense he could fill needs for the Rockets to get back to the playoffs.
He was signed Saturday, less than a week after forward James Posey signed an offer sheet with the Memphis Grizzlies. Dawson would not say that the Rockets had decided to pass on their option to match the four-year, $24 million offer and luxury-tax hit. But the Rockets seem certain to let Posey go now that they have signed Piatkowski.
Via Houston Chronicle
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Rockets Jul 2003 Archive
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 26, 2003
The Rockets' roster is incomplete, but they expect to move one sharpshooter closer today.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 26, 2003
If mixing the words "fracture" and "Yao Ming" in the same sentence kept the Rocket up at night this week, they learned Friday that they could rest easy.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 25, 2003
The Rockets reached a verbal agreement with Clippers free-agent forward Eric Piatkowski on Thursday, finding a replacement for forward James Posey almost before the ink was dry on Posey's deal to jump to Memphis, according to league sources.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 25, 2003
Never again will anyone wonder what the Rockets call their new home.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jul 24, 2003
The Grizzlies entered this offseason in dire need of front court bulk and backcourt defense.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 24, 2003
The Rockets had long since made keeping James Posey their top free-agent priority.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 24, 2003
The Houston Rockets cashed in on their international appeal when sources close to the team confirmed Wednesday that Toyota Motor Corp.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 24, 2003
Something happened to Yao Ming's face in China.
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New York Post | Jul 24, 2003
Jeff Van Gundy wishes the Timberwolves were in the East.
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People's Daily | Jul 23, 2003
Chinese center Yao Ming suffered a minor injury to his eyebrow and was expected to rest for a week, local media said on Tuesday.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal | Jul 23, 2003
After missing deals with Scottie Pippen and Ira Newble, the Grizzlies turned to Houston Rockets free agent James Posey Tuesday and agreed to sign the swingman to an offer sheet.
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| Jul 22, 2003
Houston Rockets forward James Posey has agreed to a four-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to broadcast reports Tuesday.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 19, 2003
A face-to-face meeting between John Paxson and James Posey established interest on both sides, and the Bulls are optimistic they can outbid Houston for Posey, a restricted free-agent small forward, if necessary.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 19, 2003
With most of their free-agent efforts focused on keeping forward James Posey, the Rockets saw another suitor begin moving in position to compete for the restricted free agent.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 17, 2003
For all the corners of the world to which Juaquin Hawkins has taken his game in search of a career -- from China to the Continental Basketball Association, the Philippines to the Globetrotters -- this was the most familiar of spots, but still different.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 15, 2003
The biggest and perhaps best player at the Summer Pro League was not issued a uniform, will not play and for that matter, is no longer a player.
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New York Daily News | Jul 14, 2003
Patrick Ewing went after Mike Sweetney the same way he tested Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo in the weeks before they became first-round draft picks.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 14, 2003
There is much Tito Maddox can say when he returns to Houston and is asked by his teammates to describe the Rockets' new coaching staff.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 13, 2003
The crowd that filled the old arena first buzzed and then built to a roar at the mere sight of Bostjan Nachbar.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 10, 2003
If the Rockets wanted their new twin-tailed, flying R logo to create some buzz for the team's debut season in the downtown arena, they got their wish.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 9, 2003
It's only one letter, scarlet though it may be.
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Palm Beach Post | Jul 5, 2003
The Heat, now armed with $11 million, is a major player in the free-agent market, and guard Anthony Carter is a free agent as the result of a mind-boggling set of circumstances.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 3, 2003
The Rockets did not offer the usual photo op act, posing their draft pick with his uniform for the cameras.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 3, 2003
Patrick Ewing could not resist offering a little freelance mentoring.
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Washington Times | Jul 3, 2003
The Washington Wizards lost Patrick Ewing from their coaching staff yesterday but wasted little time replacing him when coach Eddie Jordan named Phil Hubbard to take his place.
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Houston Chronicle | Jul 2, 2003
The Rockets began the free-agent bargaining season by adding to the list of free agents and reaching out toward the one of their own they most want to keep.
