Joey Dorsey Makes Up for Lost Time

LAS VEGAS -- The Rockets are reluctant to publicly admit it, but all signs point to Yao Ming missing the entire 2009-10 season. Combined with Dikembe Mutombo's retirement, the Rockets are desperately thin up front, prompting Daryl Morey to admit he'll likely trade for reinforcements.

But what if Houston's answer is already on their roster?

After three summer league games, second-year center Joey Dorsey is trying to make that case, leading all summer league players with 14.3 rebounds a game. Dorsey appeared in only three games a rookie, limited by foot injuries and poor conditioning, but after dropping 30 pounds this summer, he's putting himself back on Houston's radar.

"This whole summer I've been just trying to drop weight, working out with [Rockets strength and conditioning coach] Dave Macha, trying to get my conditioning up and running the floor and blocking shots and rebounding – what they drafted me for," Dorsey said following Sunday's game. "This right here is an opportunity for me to show Daryl Morey that I'm ready to play on the court again – and that's what he wants me to do, rebound and block shots, don't even worry about scoring."

Dorsey's first year was essentially a waste -- he appeared in only three games for the Rockets and seven games for their D-League affiliate, and his weight ballooned up to 305 pounds. But even if he wasn't on the court, Dorsey tried to make the best of his situation by watching and learning.

"For me sitting out, it was good and bad because I had a chance to develop and watch the NBA game," he said. "I had a chance to watch the defensive schemes and everything and watch Chuck Hayes, as great of a defender as he is on our team -- I had a chance to watch him all year and look at tape this summer to work on my defense."

Dorsey said he's already felt the benefits of playing at a lighter weight but isn't quite done working on his body. "I don't think I'm there yet conditioning wise," he said. "Playing at Memphis, I never got tired; right now, I'm starting to get tired. It's just getting back on the court and running up and down again, I'm feeling it again."

Dorsey is officially listed at 6-foot-8, but no one will ever call him "undersized" -- he has extremely long arms, and even at 275 pounds, he's built like a house with biceps that rival Dwight Howard's.

Rick Adelman is just an observer in Las Vegas -- Elston Turner is handling the head coaching duties -- but talking after Sunday's game, he sounded encouraged by what he's seen so far.

"He had a tough year last year and we just really don't know what he can do, so we're trying to find out here," Adelman said. "I thought he rebounded tonight; I thought he went after the ball, which was good," he said. "We're just looking for improvement and a consistent effort all the time."

And for Dorsey to play in the regular season? Adelman's answer was simple: "We want him to defend and rebound. That's what we're looking for."