
TONIGHT: INDIANA Pacers at Rockets
When/where: 7:30 p.m.; Toyota Center. TV/radio: FSH; 610 AM, 850 AM (Spanish).
Key matchup: Danny Granger vs. Ron Artest. At least until Shane Battier is back at full strength in the rotation, it doesn't get any easier for Artest. After chasing Dwyane Wade around the perimeter in Miami on Monday, Artest returns home to square off with the young Pacers gun who can match him physically.
Rockets update: After living the life of traveling salesmen for the first month of the season, the Rockets finally get to unpack their luggage and stay at home for a while. They'll play five of their next seven at Toyota Center just as Shane Battier is returning to the lineup and their overall game seems to be rounding into shape.
Pacers update: Mike Dunleavy (bone spur right knee) has not played this season, and his return to the lineup is not expected any time soon. Ex-Willowridge High and University of Texas star T.J. Ford is averaging a career-high 15.6 points. For a team that is fourth in the league in rebounding and third in blocked shots, the Pacers don't defend very well, giving up just under 100 points a game.
- FRAN BLINEBURY
Getting out of foul mood
Carl Landry spent much of the first two weeks of the season as his own worst enemy, constantly in foul trouble, limiting his minutes and his effectiveness. Three times in the first 15 games, he finished with five fouls, and in those games he averaged 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.
During the just-completed three-game road trip, Landry never picked up more than four fouls and averaged 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds.
"I definitely had to go back and look at film, spend hours upon hours," Landry said. "After practice, I was getting with the coaches and going over some of the bad habits and the bad angles and places that I was on the court. It was a lot. First and foremost, I have to be in a stance, and I wasn't always down in a stance. After that, it's a lot of little things."
Rebounding tells tale
One of the easiest ways to gauge the Rockets' success this season is by examining the glass. They have outre-bounded foes 10 times in the first 15 games. When the Rockets have lost the battle on the boards, their record is 1-4. Led by Yao Ming's 9.6 average, the Rockets have four players pulling down at least five rebounds a game.
"Rebounding is probably 80 percent willingness," said Luis Scola, who is averaging 6.9 boards and has hauled in nine or more eight times. "You've got to want the ball."