Houston Rockets Blog – Page 66 – NBA Blog

Rockets recall Ishmael Smith from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled guard Ishmael Smith from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Smith is expected to join the team in Minnesota in time for tonight’s game against the Timberwolves.

The rookie guard was originally assigned to the Vipers on 1/17, and averaged 12.8 points, 7.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds in four games (one start) with Rio Grande Valley. During his assignment, Smith led Rio Grande Valley to a perfect 4-0 record, and in his last game with the Vipers against the Dakota Wizards on 1/22, posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 10 assists in 37 minutes to fuel a 114-101 Vipers win. Smith is the second Rockets player to be assigned to the Vipers and recalled this season; following rookie forward Patrick Patterson, who played in nine games for Rio Grande Valley during a month-long assignment from 11/9-12/13.

Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest), who earned a roster spot a

Rockets assign Ishmael Smith to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned guard Ishmael Smith to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. The rookie guard will be available to play in the Vipers’ next home game on Tuesday, Jan. 18 against the Maine Red Claws.

Smith is the second Rockets player to be assigned to the Vipers this season, following rookie forward Patrick Patterson, who played in nine games for Rio Grande Valley during a month-long assignment from 11/9-12/13.

Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest), who earned a roster spot as an undrafted free agent this summer, has averaged 3.1 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 24 games (three starts) with the Rockets.

Smith has also been inactive for 11 games and a DNP-CD for five others. As the team’s starting point guard during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Smith posted averages of 7.8 points (.581, 18-31 FG) and a team-best 4.8 assists in five starts.

Rudy Gay suspended for foul on Luis Scola

Apr. 07, 2010: Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay shoots free throws and finished with 23 points during an NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX Dallas defeated Memphis 110-84.

Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies has been suspended one game without pay for his Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two against Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident, in which Gay made contact with his right shoulder and forearm to the back of Scola and was ejected following the Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two call, occurred with 6:00 remaining in the 4th period of the Grizzlies’ 103-87 loss to the Rockets at Toyota Center on Dec. 17.

Gay will serve his suspension tonight when the Grizzlies visit the San Antonio Spurs.

Yao Ming has stress fracture in left ankle

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) holds on to the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on October 26, 2010. The Lakers won 112 to 110. UPI/Lori Shepler Photo via Newscom

An MRI performed today on Rockets center Yao Ming revealed a stress fracture of the Medial Malleolus in his left ankle. The fracture, which is related to his previous injury of the Tarsal Navicular bone, presented itself during the course of his current rehabilitation program. There is no timetable for his return at this time.

The team will have no additional comment at this time. Information regarding his treatment program will be made available at a later date.

Yao has played just five games this season, and is averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game.

The Rockets have a 10-15 record, which currently places them 11th out of 15 Western conference teams.

Rockets trade Jermaine Taylor to Kings

The Sacramento Kings today acquired Jermaine Taylor and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in exchange for a heavily-protected, second-round pick, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

A 6-5 guard out of Central Florida, Taylor saw the court eight times this season for the Rockets, averaging 4.9 ppg (.500 FG% .400 3pt, .833 FT%) and 1.1 rpg. Originally selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and later traded to Houston, Taylor appeared in 31 games (four starts) for the Rockets in 2009-10 and averaged 4.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg. He also made eight appearances for the Rio Grande Vipers of the NBA D-League, posting 19.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg.

Taylor was most recently named to the 2010 NBA Summer League All-Tournament Team after leading Houston in scoring, averaging 18.4 ppg (.471 FG%), 4.8 rpg and 2.0 apg in five games.

Nets trade Terrence Williams to Rockets; Nets get Sasha Vujacic, Lakers get Joe Smith

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012. The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception. In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers. New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey.

Smith, currently in his 16th NBA season, was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft, after averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in two seasons with the University of Maryland.

After garnering multiple National Collegiate Player of the Year awards, being named First Team All-America by the AP, and being selected ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season with Maryland, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first NBA season with Golden State.

In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

Lishouk, a 6-11 forward from Ukraine, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, was traded to Houston in 2008 and currently plays for Valencia in Spain (ACB).

Vujacic, currently in his seventh season, was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons for Snaidero Udine of Italy’s top professional league. In 420 career games (12 starts), Vujacic is averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.3 minutes.

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Rockets recall Patrick Patterson from D-League

Mar. 25, 2010 - Syracuse, Kentucky, USA - Kentucky's Patrick Patterson was all smiles as he left the floor as Kentucky defeated Cornell 62-45 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament on Thursday March 25, 2010 in Syracuse, NY. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled forward Patrick Patterson from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky) averaged a team-leading 18.3 points (.555, 61-110 FG), 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.56 steals and 1.56 blocks in nine games (nine starts) with the Vipers. Patterson currently ranks tied for first in the D-League in double-doubles with five and stands second in the league in rebounds per game. He is actually one of just three players in the D-League averaging a double-double on the season.

Assigned to Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 9, Patterson was on the inactive list for Houston’s first six games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in six games for the Rockets during the preseason. Patterson also averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games (four starts) with Houston during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft as an early entry candidate, Patterson finished his three-year career at Kentucky with averages of 16.1 points (.585, 617-1054 FG; .329, 24-73 3FG), 8.2 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 97 career games (97 starts). He was one of five Wildcats picked in the opening round of the 2010 NBA Draft, which was the first time five players from one school were chosen in the first round of the draft. A 2007 McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Patterson became the 10th fastest player to reach the 1,000-point club at UK (58 games). He was a two-time All-SEC First-Team pick as a junior and sophomore, as well as a Second-Team selection as a freshman.

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Mario Elie arrested on suspicion of DUI

The AP reports

An assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

The California Highway Patrol says 47-year-old Mario Elie was taken into custody at 1:15 a.m. Thursday in downtown Sacramento after an officer pulled him over for a broken taillight.
The officer reported smelling alcohol in the car and said Elie showed signs of being intoxicated.

The CHP says a breath test showed the first-year Kings coach had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Connections between Rockets and Pacers

Connections between Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers:

Houston forward Jared Jeffries averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds over 70 games in two seasons at Indiana University.

Rockets guard/forward Courtney Lee was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Houston center/forward Brad Miller was a collegiate standout at Purdue and played over the course of two seasons with the Pacers (2001-03).

Indiana guard T.J. Ford attended Willowridge High School in Houston prior to his standout career at the University of Texas.

Pacers forward James Posey played in 58 games with 47 starts in his lone season with the Rockets (2002-03).

John Wall gets first NBA triple-double

The AP reports:

Rookie John Wall got his first professional triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 98-91 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Yao Ming missed most of the game after he strained a tendon in his leg in the first quarter.

Washington used a 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter to pull away after blowing an 11-point lead…

Kevin Martin scored 31 points for the Rockets, who have lost six of seven.