BIG Free Agent signings and retentions.. and a Yao injury update...

TREVOR ARIZA SIGNS WITH THE ROCKETS
YAO WAITING FOR HOPE FROM INJURY
BUT ARTEST JOINS WORLD CHAMP LAKERS
TURKOGLU HEADING TO TORONTO
GORDON AND VILLANUEVA JOIN THE PISTONS CAUSE
OKUR AND BOOZER STAY WITH THE JAZZ

This has turned out to be a wild free agency season in the NBA. As Trevor Ariza who played a huge role during the Lakers championship run will join the Houston Rockets this year. Ariza would get $32 million, over the next five years with the Rockets.

Meanwhile, Yao Ming is waiting for hope after the Rockets announced he is out indefinitely and possibly the whole of next season, as team doctors found something worse on Yao's left foot that could threaten his basketball career. Yao has missed a lot of games  due to injuries since the 2004-05 season.

The Rockets signed Ariza fromt the Lakers after Ron Artest signed with the World Champion Los Angeles Lakers for the next 5 years. The 29-year old Artest will join forces with Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and guys like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, etc.

Hedo Turkoglu, fresh from his NBA Finals stint with the Orlando Magic will now head to Canada with the Toronto Raptors in a 5 year $60 million deal with the Raptors. Turkoglu declined a earlier offer with the Portland Trail Blazers after the Trail Blazers gave their best efforts to get Turkoglu to Portland.

The Pistons got a boost in their lineup, as Ben Gordon from the Bulls, and Charlie Villanueva from the Bucks will join the Pistons. Gordon and Villanueva signed 5-year deals with the Pistons.

The Utah Jazz can now breathe well as star forwards Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur will stay another year with the Jazz.

RON-RON is NOT WELCOME ANYMORE!
-kArLc-

Rockets 21 Game Win Streak

More than 6 weeks ago, the Rockets were 24-20 fighting for the 8 spot in the West. But after 21 straight wins later which is the 2nd all-time longest winning streak in NBA history (1971-1972 Lakers had a 33 game winning streak). The Rockets are now tied for the 1 spot with the Lakers. Nobody expected this winning streak would last much longer. With the injury to Yao Ming stunning the franchise. The Rockets kept working hard during the streak and throughout the rest of the season and playoffs. They have a great defense which was brought by Jeff Van Gundy the former coach. And a great offense by current coach Rick Adelman. T-Mac has steped up his game, Rafer Alston has defied his early season critics. Luis Scola, Carl Landry, and Aaron Brooks are getting better every game. Shane Battier has done well on both offense and defense. Dikembe Mutumbo is blocking strong like his first season in the NBA, And Bobby Jackson who also played for Adelman in Sacramento is providing a veteran backup role for Rafer. With big matchups against the Lakers and Celtics coming up. I believe we can still keep this up. So for those who are skeptical about this team. And those who keep hatin: We say "_____, Quit Hatin' the Houston Rockets". We believe we can pass the first round and win the title and gold.

Anyway: Magic, Bird and Jordan became champions but they never had a 20 game winning streak during their careers. The '71-'72 Lakers an '70-'71 Bucks who had won a 20+ win streak went on to win the championship.

"Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion" - Rudy Tomjanovich

Don't forget to waive your index finger, when Mutombo blocks a shot!

IT'S TIME!

-kArLc-