Brooks had collided with Garrett Temple, who was setting a pick, with 5.8 seconds left in the scrimmage. Brooks remained still on the floor long enough to seem hurt. He wasn't, joked about it later and inspired one-liners from Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and coach Rick Adelman.

"He laid there like Rod Tidwell," Morey said, comparing Brooks to the wide receiver in the movie Jerry McGuire.

"There were five seconds left, so I think he saw the clock," Adelman said.

"I ran into a wall, it seemed like," Brooks said. "My right side was numb. I was fine. I didn't lose consciousness or something. (Adelman) thought I just fell on my own. He thought I was just trying to get out of running. That wasn't it. It wasn't a vet move or anything."

Brooks had been having a strong practice, leading several fast breaks.

"We did better than yesterday," Brooks said. "We put in some new sets. We're trying to run. In the beginning, things were a little helter-skelter, but I think we're doing a good job."

one-on-one

On Tuesday night, Romel Beck was watching television at home when his agent called and said the Rockets wanted him in training camp. Less than 24 hours later, he had signed a non-guaranteed contract, gone through his physicals and was guarding Trevor Ariza in the Rockets' scrimmage.

"Crazy," Beck said. "I'm happy I'm here. I thank God for this opportunity. I'm going to do my best to make this team. I think I bring my shooting, my all-around game, my experience playing in Europe (in Italy), and on the national level, and all-around game."

Beck, who grew up in Los Angeles and played at UNLV, goes by his mother's name "Castro," when playing in and for Mexico, and his father's name in the United States or overseas.

Lately, things have been moving quickly, though he had no complaints.

"I'm blessed to be playing Basketball," he said. "A lot of people wish they could be in my position. The NBA doesn't make or break me. As long as I'm playing this game and having fun and competing, that's what I live for."

free throws

Romel Beck's full name is Romel Roberto Beck Castro, with Roberto included because Roberto Clemente was his father's favorite baseball player. ... Only hours after Rick Adelman said he had too few players for camp at small forward, small forward Shane Battier pulled a hamstring. Adelman has a solution. "After I talked to you guys, Shane went down the next practice," he said, "so I'm not talking about it."