2006-07 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position	Player, Team (1st Team Votes)	Points
Forward	Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (125)	634
Forward	Tim Duncan, San Antonio (94)	573
Center	Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix (36)	351
Guard	Steve Nash, Phoenix (129)	645
Guard	Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (128)	643

2006-07 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position	Player, Team (1st Team Votes)	Points
Forward	LeBron James, Cleveland (64)	494
Forward	Chris Bosh, Toronto (8)	234
Center	Yao Ming, Houston (38)	333
Guard	Gilbert Arenas, Washington	295
Guard	Tracy McGrady, Houston (10)	278

2006-07 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position	Player, Team (1st Team Votes)	Points
Forward	Kevin Garnett, Minnesota (5)	225
Forward	Carmelo Anthony, Denver (1)	142
Center	Dwight Howard, Orlando (1)	108
Guard	Dwyane Wade, Miami (1)	241
Guard	Chauncey Billups, Detroit	86

- 야오 올여름 드림과 훈련

드림 옹과 훈련을 검토 중이라고.. 야오는 복도 많네요. 킹콩에다 마운틴 그리고 드림옹까지 ㅎㅎ
발톱수술과 함께 올여름엔 중국 국대와 같이 연습을 할꺼라고.. (중국 올림픽 대비?)

Yao & Hakeem?

Rockets center Yao Ming said he has discussed working with former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon in the offseason.

"It would be a great chance for me, if I can learn from him, one of the best centers in the NBA history, and particularly a legend for the Rockets," Yao said. "I would love to. I'm working on it."

Yao's summer plans

Yao Ming will have what he called a "small surgery" on a toe, possibly preventing the troublesome toenail from growing back. He said he expected that procedure to keep him from working out for only "a couple weeks."

He said he will likely train with the Chinese national team for a short period this summer but will have no competitions.

"I need some training," he said. "I'll take the first month off and then get back to training and work on my skills."

Reports: Adelman interviews with Rockets for Van Gundy's job

© 2007 The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Former NBA coach Rick Adelman has talked to the Houston Rockets about the coaching job currently held by Jeff Van Gundy, according to media reports Tuesday night.

KRIV-TV, citing anonymous league sources, reported Adelman flew to Southampton, N.Y., for a meeting at the home of Rockets owner Leslie Alexander.

The Houston Chronicle, citing a person with knowledge of the team's decision-making, reported that general manager Daryl Morey also was part of the meeting.

Rockets spokesman Nelson Luis declined comment on the reports when contacted by The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Van Gundy has one year left on his contract, but it's not guaranteed. There's a timeframe for him to decide whether to return, and the Rockets can terminate him without owing him any more money after June 30.

Van Gundy has been in Houston four years without winning a playoff series, something the club hasn't done since 1997. The Rockets went 52-30 this season despite long absences by stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, then lost to Utah in the first round.

Morey has told the Chronicle that Van Gundy "is open to coaching again in certain scenarios," adding that each side has goals "for things to be different."

Adelman has coached Portland, Golden State and Sacramento. He was out of coaching this year after being fired by the Kings following last season. He took the Trail Blazers to the NBA finals twice.

Notes: Mutombo once again considering retirement

HOUSTON -- Dikembe Mutombo is planning to wag his finger at would-be dunkers for at least one more season.

Or is he?

The Rockets reserve center is once again considering retirement after having a reduced role in the second half of the season and playoffs.

Mutombo said he'd take some time over the summer months to make his decision. Mutombo and forward Chuck Hayes are the lone free agents on the team.

"I just spent the week with my kids and talked to my wife about it again," Mutombo said. "I'm going to see how my summer goes. I'm just frustrated with the fact that there was a chance for us to go to the second round."

Mutombo, the league's second oldest player, will turn 41 in June. He initially said after the All-Star break that he didn't want to leave behind the game because he was having too much fun. However, the center has had second thoughts since playing reduced minutes over the final two months of the season. He played a total of 40 minutes in the playoffs.

"After contributing the way that I did over the course of the season, I felt like I did deserve a little bit of time to play," Mutombo said. "I was disappointed about it and I'm frustrated that we're still not playing."

The Rockets center helped keep Houston among the top teams in the Western Conference even though Yao Ming missed almost two months with a fractured right tibia. During Yao's absense, Mutombo averaged 5.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. He moved past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier this season into second place on the NBA's all-time blocked shots list, although he said he won't play long enough to catch Hakeem Olajuwon.

The center will focus most of his attention this summer on opening the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The hospital is named after his mother, who passed away nine years ago.

"I'll probably think about the people in Africa and how I can help change their lives right now," Mutombo said. "After that, I'll think about basketball and if I want to do that."

- 밴 건디, 로켓츠 코치직에서 물러나다.

Rockets fire Van Gundy as coach

By CHRIS DUNCAN AP Sports Writer
© 2007 The Associated Press

HOUSTON — Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was fired Friday, less than two weeks after Houston made yet another first-round playoff exit.

The Rockets went 52-30 this season but lost to Utah in seven games, raising the possibility Van Gundy was going to resign or be dismissed. This was the Rockets' third first-round loss in four seasons under Van Gundy.

Van Gundy had one nonguaranteed year left on his contract, meaning the team held the option to retain him. The team reportedly has contacted Rick Adelman, the former coach of Portland, Golden State and Sacramento.

General manager Daryl Morey scheduled an afternoon news conference. The firing comes days after Morey took over for the retiring Carroll Dawson following the Rockets' playoff elimination.

"Obviously, it is a disappointment for me personally with the decision they made to fire me," Van Gundy told Houston television station KRIV. "I was hopeful all the way up to last night they would change their mind."

The Rockets said in a statement they talked with Van Gundy during a "prolonged negotiating period," and he was offered a position with the team as a senior consultant.

"He asked for, and was granted, additional time to evaluate his situation with the agreement that we would begin looking into other candidates," Morey said. "During that process it became clear that Jeff did not want to continue in any capacity with the team other than as head coach."

Van Gundy led the Rockets to a 182-146 record in four seasons. But Houston went 7-12 in three postseason appearances and more was expected from teams anchored by All-Stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming.

The biggest disappointment was losing Game 7 at home to Utah, which then took advantage of Golden State's first-round upset of Dallas and advanced to the Western Conference finals by beating the Warriors in five games.

"You have to win that seventh game at home, certainly," Van Gundy told the Houston Chronicle. "If you win, you have a chance to continue on."

McGrady dropped to 0-6 in playoff series with the loss to the Jazz.

"I feel bad that I wasn't able to help McGrady and Yao and the rest of the guys get over the hump ... and also that I won't be with them as they go on because I know they have a lot of success ahead of them," Van Gundy told the Chronicle.

Van Gundy now may be headed back to one of his old jobs. He was scheduled to work as a guest analyst for ESPN on Friday night's playoff game between Phoenix and San Antonio.

Van Gundy was working in television when the Rockets hired him before the 2003-04 season. Before that, Van Gundy coached the New York Knicks for seven seasons, leading them to the NBA finals in 1999.

He joined the Rockets as the 10th head coach in franchise history in 2003. Van Gundy's career coaching record is 430-318, but only 44-44 in the postseason.

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


결국 7차전까지 왔다. 하지만 홈코트 어드밴티지 덕분에 로켓츠 홈에서 승부가 벌어진다. 지난 12월 야오가 부상으로 나가떨어진 이후에 포기하지 않았던 것도, 4월 1일 홈에서 재즈에게 통한의 패배를 당한 이후에 계속해서 재즈를 따라잡으려 했던 이유도 다 지금 이 순간을 위해서였다.

아마 어떤이들은 지난 2005년 1라운드에서 댈러스에게 패했던 7차전의 악몽을 떠올릴지도 모른다. 올 플옵에서도 로켓츠와 재즈는 7차전까지 왔고, 지난 2005년과는 달리 홈에서 1라운드 마지막 게임을 펼치게 되었다. 10년만에 2라운드에 올라서게 될 마지막 기회인 것이다.

역대 NBA 플옵에서 7차전까지 간 96번의 시리즈에서, 홈팀이 승리를 거둔 경우는 모두 78번이다.로켓츠는 홈에서 벌어진 7차전에서 3승 무패를 거뒀고, 재즈는 원정 7차전에서 모두 2패를 기록했다.

로켓츠 팀에선 단지 4명의 선수만이 플옵에서 7차전을 경험했다. 바로 티맥,야오,무톰보,앨스턴이다. 거기다 앨스턴과 무톰보만이 7차전에서의 승리를 경험했다. 7차전을 홈에서 뛰어본 로켓츠 선수는 아무도 없다.

Late lift from crowd

"홈코트 어드밴티지를 얻었더라도 우리가 잘 해내지 못하면 아무 소용이 없는 겁니다. 우리가 게임을 잘 풀어나간다면 마지막 3-4분에서 홈팬들의 응원은 커다란 도움이 될겁니다." 라고 밴 건디는 말했다.

밴 건디는 홈코트의 의미보다는 팀 개개인이 가지는 승리에 대한 의지가 더 중요하다고 강조했지만, 홈코트에서 게임을 펼치게 된다는 것은 분명 유리한 점이 있다. 지난 6차전 유타 원정에서 휴스턴 선수들을 마지막 8분동안 혼란에 빠뜨리게 한 것처럼 말이다.

Factor down the stretch

"홈코트 어드밴티지가 분명 커다란 팩터이긴 하지만, 우선은 게임을 잘 풀어나가야만 합니다."라고 밴 건디는 말했다.

로켓츠는 유타 원정에서 23게임중 21패를 당했다. 그 차이는 분명한 것이다. 솔트 레이크 시티를 벗어나서 게임을 한다는 것은 분명 로켓츠로서는 다행이다.

로켓츠는 홈에서 조금이나마 더나은 슈팅력을 보였다. 솔트 레이크 시티에선 39.6% 야투와 30% 3점 성공률을 기록했지만, 홈에서는 각각 40.5% 33.3%를 기록했다. 하지만 턴오버에 있어서는 원정에서 18턴오버를 기록한데 비해 홈에서는 13.7 턴오버만을 기록했다.

Comfort zone

티맥은 에너지솔루션 아레나를 "여태까지 경험해본 플옵 시리즈 중에서 가장 시끄러운 곳"이라고 했다. 그러나 로켓츠는 올시즌 도요타 센터에서 28승 13패를 거뒀다. 홈에서 뛴다는 건 큰 도움이 될 수 있다.

"우리 팀은 홈 게임에서 뛴다는 것에 편안함을 느낍니다. 정말 다들 홈에선 슛이 더 잘 들어가는 것처럼 보이죠. 관중들의 응원도 큰 힘이 됩니다. 우리 팀은 좀더 편안하게 해주고 승부처의 압박 속에서도 균형을 잃지 않게 끔 기운을 붓돋아 줍니다."

Last chance

"우린 길고도 힘든 시리즈가 되리라는 것을 알고 있었습니다. 7차전까지 오게 된 데에 놀랍지 않습니다. 마지막 한 게임으로 끝나는 것이 스포츠의 가혹함이라고 말할 수도 있겠죠. 분명한 건 우리팀은 이 상황과 이 게임의 중요성을 잘 알고 있다는 겁니다. 그러나 우리 팀이 이번 시리즈에서 배운 게 있다면, 기록이나 과거 역사에 의존할 수 없다는 겁니다. 우린 이겨야만 합니다. 그것이 우리팀 팬들을 위하는 길이고 우리 자신들을 위하는 것이니깐요." 라고 쉐인 배티에는 말했다.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

Go Rockets!!!

April 21, 2007, 2:07AM
Rockets vs. Jazz: Five keys to victory ...

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


... for the Rockets

April 21, 2007, 2:12AM
Rockets vs. Jazz: How they match up

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

April 20, 2007, 1:59AM

Rockets, Jazz want to be best in glass

First-round Western Conference series may well come down to rebounding

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Mailbag: Will McGrady be healthy for the playoffs?

Rockets.com's Damien Pierce opens his mailbag to answer fans' questions

Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Rockets.com beat writer Damien Pierce opens up his mailbag each week to answer fans' questions.

So ask Pierce anything about the Rockets or the NBA. He'll come up with an answer or an answer that sounds right. His answers, of course, are entirely his own opinion.

Pierce will be checking his mail again on April 13, so send in your questions.

Let's get to your questions ...

Carrol Dawson's 주요 transactions:(출처 : hoopshype.com)

96-97 : trade 샘 카셀,로버트 호리, 마크 블런트,처키 브라운 for 찰스 바클리(피닉스 선즈)

98-99 : trade 로이 로저스, 99or 00년 2라운드픽 for 스카티 피펜 (시카고 불스)

99-00 : trade 마이클 디커슨,브렌트 프라이스, 오델라 해링턴, 안투완 카, 컨디셔널 1라운드픽 for 스티브 프랜시스, 리 메이베리, 로드릭 로즈에 대한 드래프트 권리, 토니 마센버그, Makhtar N'diaye, 마이클 스미쓰 (밴쿠버 그리즐리스)
trade 스카티 피펜 for 왈트 윌리암스, 스테이시 오그먼, 켈빈 케이토, 카를로스 로저스, 에드 그레이, 브라이언 쇼(포틀랜드)

01-02 : trade 리차드 제퍼슨, 제이슨 콜린스, 브랜던 암스토롱에 대한 드래프트 권리 for 에디 그리핀의 드래프트 권리 (뉴저지)
trade 하킴 올라주원 for 토론토의 2002년 1라운드 픽, 2라운드 픽

02-03 : draft 야오밍(전체 1번픽), 보스챤 나크바(전체 15번픽 - 토론토 픽), 티토 매덕스(전체 38번픽)

03-04 : 제프 밴 건디 를 감독으로~

04-05 : trade 스티브 프랜시스, 커티노 모블리, 켈빈 케이토 for 티맥, 타이런 루, 리스 게인스, 주완 하워드 (올랜도)

05-06 : trade 마이크 제임스 for 레이퍼 앨스턴(토론토)

06-07 : trade 스트로마일 스위프트, 루디 게이의 드래프트 권리 for 쉐인 배티에(멤피스)