Hallelujah.

It took a week, but the media was finally allowed in early enough to see some Rockets scrimmage action on Thursday (Day 6 of Training Camp). That means we got our first glimpse of Dwight Howard with his new Rocket teammates.

Dwight did have a couple of dunks, including an alleyoop feed from Omri Casspi. I thought Terrence Jones looked really good — he nailed a couple of threes, worked inside and hit the boards and slammed home a missed free throw just before the final buzzer. I thought Donatas Motiejunas looked good as well, hitting a long three early in the first game and scoring inside twice (one was a goaltending block by Dwight).

The Rockets’ coaching staff was really stressing that both teams push the tempo — that much was evident. White Team, led by Jones, Jeremy Lin and Aaron Brooks, knocked off the Black Team, led by Dwight, James Harden and Patrick Beverley. This was the full “second game” with lots of editing to save time on the video. We walked in during the “first game,” but Harden and Howard were both out of the game when we came in. The footage from the first game is now found below as well.

So here you go, hot off the press:

Houston Rockets Scrimmage Action

Additional Scrimmage Footage from the First Game

We came out on to the floor when this short scrimmage was pretty far along, so there’s not as much there. It was the first game, before the one you saw above this. Harden and Howard were out when we came in but quickly returned to the court. Motiejunas had some nice plays in this one.

Dwight Howard Slams

Harden to Ronnie Brewer to Howard for the slam

Casspi finds Howard for the alleyoop

Rockets practice was scheduled to end Wednesday at noon, so I got there at 11:15am, plenty of time to get settled in before the media would be called in.

I knew I was in trouble when I got out of the elevator and Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin were hanging out in the hall. Practice was already over… ended by McHale early without warning (same as Day 3). It’s been that kind of week. However, I have a feeling tomorrow will be the day we will finally see some live scrimmage action.

What was left after practice? Dwight Howard staying later to practice free throws and Omri Casspi shooting on the other end. No offense to Casspi, but I opted for Dwight.

Dwight Howard Free Throw Practice

Dwight Howard’s Eurostep Success

Kevin McHale

Dwight Howard – Full Interview

Hakeem Olajuwon was there again on Day 2 of Houston Rockets training camp, and though we again did not get to see any scrimmage, we did see Olajuwon work on post moves with young Rocket Donatas Motiejunas.

D-Mo called it a “pleasure” and an “honor” that Hakeem invited him to workout with him.

“You see, he moves faster than me on the court,” said Motiejunas. “I don’t know how old is he. He didn’t tell me how old is he. I was impressed. I was thinking he’s like a center, a big guy, but he moves like a forward. There are many things I can take from his game and apply to mine.”

Here is some video of the workout as well as interviews with both Motiejunas and Olajuwon.

Donatas Motiejunas Interview

Hakeem Olajuwon Interview