COVERITLIVE.COM

8:34

Jeffrey Martin - Welcome! We'll be here all night as the Rockets try to sneak in and out of Portland for a win in the season opener. It's going to be, well, a fascinating season for the Rockets, as there are so many subplots to follow - beginning tonight. What are some of the things you're keen on seeing? Anyone you can't wait to watch?

8:36	Jeffrey Martin - OK, I'll start: is Trevor Ariza going to be "That Guy"? You all know exactly what I mean. I'm not certain he needs to carry the Rockets from a scoring standpoint, but there needs to be a presence in the lineup, someone who can get you a bucket, and I wonder if he's "That Guy."

8:38	Jeffrey Martin - Can't wait to see if Chase Budinger can continue his fine play. I want to see if Joey Dorsey can assume a larger role. I wonder how much David Andersen will give the Rockets.

8:40	Jeffrey Martin - Will this team feel like a college team? A lot of penetrate and kick on offense, as well as a quicker pace. On defense, a lot of junk to mask deficiencies inside... Just an observation. It should be interesting.

8:42

Jeffrey Martin - As for tonight's game, I don't think it's a great matchup. Curious to see if the reports of Greg Oden looking more like the Oden we saw at Ohio State are premature and merely wishful thinking from the folks in the Pacific Northwest... It's safe to say the Rockets will want to run, run and run, but I think the Blazers have the personnel to keep up. Brandon Roy is a monster, and LaMarcus Aldridge is developing into one of the League's best low-post threats.

8:44	Jeffrey Martin - I should have introduced myself. This is Jeffrey Martin, and I'll be helping out Jonathan Feigen occasionally with Rockets coverage. Tonight, I'll be your blogger.

8:44	[Comment From HtownBoy1999] we are definitly losing this game...i just wanna see how everyone does tonight

8:45	Jeffrey Martin - Hey, thanks for logging on! Who are you looking forward to seeing? You don't think the Rockets can steal this one?

8:47	Jeffrey Martin - OK, I'll throw out more topics - how good is Aaron Brooks? What we saw in the playoffs, or just serviceable? I'm torn...

8:48	Jeffrey Martin - Battier, Scola, Hayes, Ariza and Brooks will start for the Rockets.

8:48	[Comment From HtownBoy1999] everyone really...especially brooks and ariza...and sure anything can happen but i dont see it happening

8:49	Jeffrey Martin - I love Ariza's game. Like everyone else, I wonder if can translate to a larger role.

8:50	[Comment From HtownBoy1999] is oden starting?

8:50	Jeffrey Martin - Not sure. I'm checking on that right now.

8:52	Jeffrey Martin - If this style is successful, I wonder if more teams will follow suit. The League is so star-driven, but if a team can win without an abundance of stars, won't other teams want to mimic that strategy? And to be honest, I think the Rockets can win with this team.

8:52	[Comment From John Smith] Artest was our best player. Better than Yao or Tmac in his prime, without him the season is very doubtful.

8:53	Jeffrey Martin - Artest was the Rockets' best player? Really? Better than Yao? Really? Um, maybe you want to re-consider that...

8:53	[Comment From Nietzsche] How many minutes do you think Budinger will get? Who will he match up with?

8:54	Jeffrey Martin - I'd like to think Chase could play between 12-18 minutes. That's going to be the problem - who would you put him on? He's going to struggle right now guarding anyone.

8:54	[Comment From Nietzsche] Will you be blogging during the game? I'm on the road & will have to watch Lakers game. Thanks.

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