Forward Luis Scola looks like a future starter for the Rockets and guard Aaron Brooks and forward Carl Landry have flashed potential despite their limited playing time. Scola has played in 28 games so far this season for the Rockets and he is averaging 19.2 minutes, 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. He also is shooting an outstanding 51.2% from the floor this season but he will need to improve on his free throw shooting as 65% is just not good enough. Aaron Brooks has played in 7 games this season and he is averaging 8.3 minutes, 4.4 points, 0.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Brooks also is shooting a solid 46.2% from the floor. Forward Carl Landry has played in only 3 games this season and he is averaging 5.7 minutes, 2.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. All three of the Rockets’ rookies look like keepers.

Stevie Francis has been awful so far this month. In 4 games (2 starts) in December, Francis is averaging 17.3 minutes, 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Francis is also only shooting 26.7% so far this month. If Francis doesn’t start playing better soon his minutes will be hard to come by because of the depth the Rockets have on the roster.

Bonzi Wells has been outstanding in December for the Rockets. He has played in 5 games this month and he’s averaging 28.4 minutes, 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He’s also shooting a incredible 54.5% from the floor this month. It appears that head coach Rick Adelman has inspired his old friend from Sacramento and they need Wells to keep up the good work.

The Rockets need Rafer Alston to play better or he will lose more minutes with Mike James around. He is only shooting 37.4% from the floor and that just won’t get it done in Rick Adelman’s offense. In his first 18 games this season, Alston has averaged 29.4 minutes, 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. It’s hard to have an offense clicking on all cylinders when the point guard isn’t doing a good job and that’s what is happening on the Rockets so far this season.