Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander "is as happy with the organization as he has ever been" and following an appearance in the Western Conference Finals last year, the team "expects to sell out every game," according to Jonathan Feigin of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Alexander said that he "enjoys being an owner as much as he ever has." Alexander: "I love watching basketball games. I look forward so much to watching. The 82 regular-season games are 82 days I'm really excited. As I've gotten older, I really don't like movies anymore. It's really hard to entertain me. I like information and sports." He added, "Everything is well set on the business side and the basketball side. This organization is nicely run. We have terrific people on both sides of the aisle. They really know what they're doing." Feigin notes the Rockets "will set a franchise record for luxury tax paid, currently heading for a bill" of nearly $15M. But Alexander said that this "does not impact what he considers success" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/28).
RAPTUROUS START: The NATIONAL POST's Eric Koreen reported the Raptors' new season "is poised to be about everything that is happening around the club, and not necessarily on the floor." There are new uniforms, a new practice facility, a new D-League affiliate called the Raptors 905 and the forthcoming NBA All-Star weekend. While it "is easy to arch an eyebrow at the importance of everything going on with the club this year, each of the new features is important." The practice facility "is sprawling, the type of building that most of the forward-thinking franchises have with which to develop their young players and attract free agents." Meanwhile, All-Star weekend "is a status symbol." If everything "goes right, it is also a wonderful opportunity to remind some of the best players in the league that Toronto is a fine place to spend some time" (NATIONAL POST, 10/28).
HONORING FLIP: In Minneapolis, Kent Youngblood reports the T'Wolves this season "will wear a patch that says 'Flip' to honor coach Flip Saunders, who died Sunday at 60." The patch "will be worn on the team's uniforms for the first time Monday at their home opener." The team also announced that it "plans to wear a specially designed warm-up shirt during all games through the month of November." The shirt "will say 'WE' to symbolize the team's desire for togetherness." The shirt "is gray with black lettering, with the name 'Flip' across the heart side of the shirt." The team will debut the shirts during tonight's season opener against the Lakers at Staples Center (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/28).
