Ron Artest News

As much as the Rockets like to put their small guards together in the same backcourt, they played a team Wednesday that has in recent seasons been as eager to put small, quick guards together.

So far, judging by the numbers, Pau Gasol's game is back in form. Two games into his season and the 7-foot power forward/center is averaging 19.5 points on 50 percent shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 32 minutes.

When they are playing well, when they are scoring and playing sound defense and providing highlight-reel plays, the Lakers' second unit is as valuable as any group of backups in the NBA.

Ron Artest took things to the edge -- if that's possible when you consider the Lakers' forward.

Didn't we do this last season? Last season, the Rockets came in to Atlanta dragging from a tough schedule and shorthanded, with all the attention on Tracy McGrady, who was not playing.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy.

There would be a new style to master, adjustments to make. There would be rough spots.

The Phoenix Suns will try to become the first NBA team with 10 wins tonight, when they pay a visit to the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Houston 101, LA Lakers 91: The Rockets' bench trumped the Lakers' reserves 48-18 and Ron Artest tossed Trevor Ariza's shoe.

They don't show it in the championship highlight videos, but the Lakers have seen this act before.

Of all that had been worthy of Rockets coach Rick Adelman's concern, the production of his bench seemed down the list.

The Houston Rockets came into this season as a wild card. Experts thought they could finish anywhere from 12th place to potentially an eight or even a seven seed considering what happened last year against the Lakers in the playoffs.

Rockets at Mavericks 7:30 tonight, American Airlines CenterTV: KTXA/Ch. 21  Radio: ESPN/103.3 FM, KFLC/1270 AM Scouting the RocketsThat exchange of free agents in the summer doesn't look so one-sided early in the season.

Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets shoots over Brandon Roy #7 and Joel Przybilla #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers during Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2009 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.

He's out in Venice Beach - no, make that Muscle Beach, Ron Artest clarified Wednesday - where one of his favorites pastimes is working out with "guys on the street." "I go hard," he said.

Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest, the player the Lakers chose instead for their title defense, generally played to a draw.

Ron Artest left the Houston Rockets to sign with a Los Angeles Lakers team he felt gave him the best chance to finally win a ring.

The Energy Solutions Arena seems not long the dire straits for Houston Rockets with power center Yao Ming and genius shooting guard Tracy McGrady on the injury list as eight players scored in double digits in Rockets' 113-96 thrash over Utah Jazz on Monday.

Alexander said he does not expect the Rockets "to win the championship," as he has in past seasons, but he has been pleased with the developments in the preseason and first week of the season.

Winning a third consecutive game won't be an easy task for the Houston Rockets, who will face a tough road test tonight against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena.