Utah Jazz Notes

Some quick thoughts from Jerry Sloan regarding tonight's opponent, the Houston Rockets:

Question: Without Yao Ming, who is out for the season after foot surgery, I assume the Rockets are playing differently? Is that true?

Sloan: "They play bigger than what they are. They are a tough team. They push the ball on you a lot. They take three-point shots. They are capable of scoring a lot of points and they put a premium of your ability to change ends."

Question: Does coach Rick Adelman deserve some credit for the Rockets' 2-1 start, which includes a 108-107 win at Golden State and a 111-107 victory over Portland?

Sloan:  "He does a great job. To see what he's lost and see what he's gained. He still keeps knowing how to put people out there who can play."

Question: One of the Rockets' strengths this season appears to be point guard, where they have Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry. Do you agree?

Sloan:  "They have added a lot to the way they want to play. Both of them can push the ball and they both get after you on the defensive end. They don't wait for you."

Question: I know you have always liked Carl Landry, Houston's Paul Millsap-like forward. Why?

Sloan: "He's a very tough guy. They have three guys -- Landry, [Luis] Scola and [Chuck] Hayes. They rotate them in there and they are tough. They are just hard-working guys. If you don't respect that, you don't respect basketball."

-- Steve Luhm