Chron: Norris is slimmer, more eager Rocket

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1605392

Oct. 5, 2002, 9:48PM

Norris is slimmer, more eager Rocket
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN -- By the end of Friday's marathon practice, Moochie Norris felt like his often-troubled feet were crossing hot coals. The backs of his legs were tired and sore. Exhaustion was all over the gym but had to be suffered alone, in the company of only ice packs.

For Norris, it was a good sort of pain. It reminded him that he was where he belonged, and that soreness now might prevent the kind of agony that came last season when he paid for skipping all this fun.

"Training camp always does make a big difference," Norris said. "Training camp is where you fine-tune your game, and the stuff you need to do during the season, gelling together, believing in one another, just getting after it when you're tired.

"For me, missing training camp last year wasn't a downfall for me, because I ended up having a good year anyway, but I know for a fact that if I was here in training camp, I would have had a better year and we would have won more games."

Norris, 29, missed all of training camp as a free-agent holdout last year, but his stance did not amount to much. The Rockets did not change an offer of $18.3 million over five years, other than adding a team option for another year, worth $4.3 million.

But Norris carried a reminder of his stand in the form of 35 excess pounds into the season.

"It really does affect you, the timing the conditioning, especially if you have to watch those kind of things," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said of missing training camp. "You don't get the sharpness because you're not out there scrimmaging. He was a lot heavier last year. He got worn out. His feet started bothering him. In a year he didn't have the conditioning, to be thrown into a situation like that, he did as well as he could, but it wears you out."

Norris was bothered last year by plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of heel tissue.

Unable to use the first-step quickness he had the previous two seasons, he had to rely on endless head fakes to get free. He became more of a jump shooter and made just 39.8 percent of his shots, averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 assists per game.

When Steve Francis went on the injured list with a foot injury, the Rockets' losing streak reached 15 games. Norris blamed himself and almost a year later, he still points to the time he missed in October.

"There were situations I was out of shape," Norris said. "I was way out of shape. I had to play myself into game shape. When Steve was hurt, I couldn't burn it all off the way I wanted to because I had to be ready for games. I had to lose it in games.

"It was definitely hard for me personally. Most of those games we could have won. At least 75, 80 percent, we could have won. We were into the game into the fourth quarter, then we fell apart. I don't know if it was fatigue or not having those veteran guys out there. But it was tough."

Norris reported to Austin at 200 pounds this year and has been markedly more effective as a playmaker, especially in the open court.

"That's the reason the Rockets kept me around," Norris said. "I was a high-energy guy. I have to get back to that. Last year I finally coasted, just being overweight. I had to dig myself out of a hole. Steve being injured and having migraine headaches, it forced me to be ready, but it took a lot out of me."

This season, he can concentrate on more than just shedding pounds and getting through games. With Francis back, Norris can return to his previous role as a reserve spark off the bench and playmaker, qualities that he said are forged in training camp.

"I think training camp is more important for a point guard," Norris said. "I have to get a feel for all the players, make it so guys get their touches, get a feel for where they will be, where they like the ball, what plays to call when we need a bucket, knowing the coaches' concepts. I think this is the toughest position to come in and get a feel for. The other positions, you come in to score, come in to rebound. You don't have to run everything.

"This year, I came in at 200. I feel a lot of better. I'm moving well. I just have to get my timing down, to get up and down. Now I'm playing with more speed again. I will be ready in no time."

But in case he needs motivation, he kept a reminder.

"I still have the big pants," he said of the clothes fit for a power forward. "They're my Subway commercial pants. I have to keep those."

If nothing else, they can remind that the soreness now at least beats the alternative.

 

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/1605369

Oct. 5, 2002, 9:49PM

Rockets summary

Diet watch

For all the attention paid to the weight loss of Maurice Taylor, Moochie Norris, Glen Rice and Kenny Thomas, a Rockets player who has not dropped a pound has kept the most careful check on his diet.

Steve Francis went through two days of hotel room service, then called his personal chef and asked her to join him in Austin.

Starting in training camp, Francis is on a low-salt diet to avoid a return of the headaches and vision problems, symptoms of the Meniere's disease that tormented him last season. He said he felt some congestion after arriving in Austin but none of the headaches. In addition to taking medication, Francis has removed several items from his diet, including sports drinks and seafood, to treat the disease.

"I wanted to do something to continue on the same energy level and stay on the same diet," Francis said. "This was really the first time I've been in the hotel a lot. In the summer, I stayed home. When we get on the road, I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't bring her on the road. But some of those hotels have a lot more choices for me."

Easy Eddie

Second-year forward Eddie Griffin still rarely speaks in practices. But he said he feels much more at ease at training camp than he did as a rookie.

"Being a rookie I was nervous," Griffin said. "You want to play your best, you're anxious, you want to fit in. Being a second-year player, you know what you have to do. I definitely feel more comfortable because I've been out there before."

Rice, Taylor back

Rockets forwards Glen Rice and Maurice Taylor both returned to workouts. After skipping drills Saturday morning, both played in the grueling evening scrimmages.

Cuttino Mobley skipped Saturday's practices but is scheduled to test his sore right ankle Monday before the team travels to Memphis for the preseason opener.

-- JONATHAN FEIGEN