This was the second practice with new Rockets coach Rick Adelman, and for the second time he let the media in to watch the final 10-15 minutes or so of the scrimmage action.

Right when we walked in, I noticed that former Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson was in the house. So was current GM Daryl Morey, Rockets broadcaster Bill Worrell and former Rocket Matt Bullard.

I generally try to find Tracy McGrady on the court first, then figure out where the others are around him. I couldn't find T-Mac ... then I just about walked right into him.

The Rockets superstar was sipping a drink and sitting in a chair courtside right in front of me watching the action. Steve Francis was on the far side of the court standing and watching the action. Neither was playing, but there was no mention of injuries so I assume it was just late in the scrimmage.

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The first move we saw? Luis Scola took it inside on Jackie Butler and got fouled, but despite muscling up a tough shot, it didn't fall. Scola slapped his hands and let out a roar as his teammates came over to prop him for the effort. Scola would later take two 18+-foot jumpers and both rimmed in and out.

Aaron Brooks looked fast. The rookie point guard blew by his man and dished it out to forward Mike Harris, who nailed a 16-footer. Harris seemed to move well on pick-and-rolls... looked very quick. A couple of plays later, Harris made a nice, strong cut to the basket and went up strong, but Scola slipped inside perfectly to draw a tough charge.

Players were rotating in and out so the lineups were changing, but when I walked in there was Brooks, Butler, Harris, Mike James and Shane Battier on the floor for the Black Team while Scola, Chuck Hayes, Steve Novak, Luther Head and John Lucas III were running for the Gray Team.

Rafer Alston, who played for the Gray, would later say that they "dominated" the Black Team today.

"We ran that offense well," said Rafer. "Luther [Head] had a good day. Lucas is scoring, Kirk [Snyder] had a great day. Justin Reed had an outstanding day, rebounding, setting picks and getting up and down the floor."

(Speaking of Lucas, is this not the most awkward presence at any training camp ever? He's like Will Ferrell's character on "Elf" -- as long as he believes he's one of us, we'll all just sort of play along. I mean, the Rockets are on record months ago as saying that they're just trying to find him a new team, so as a Rockets fan, it's a little hard to get fired up about the guy. "Wow, the Hornets may have themselves a player here" -- just doesn't do it for me.)

After the scrimmage, players wrapped up the 3-1/2 hour long practice by stretching. T-Mac seemed to get special attention here as a member of the staff worked with him to push his legs/knees up towards his chest.

T-Mac was the first one that we got the chance to speak with. No one else spoke up, so I got to ask the first few questions. McGrady talked about his impressions of the camp thus far.

"It's been a different camp than the past camps I've been in," said McGrady. "This one is more of playing basketball, getting up and down. We're trying to execute a new-style of offense that the coaching staff has put in. It's been a little sloppy, but that's expected. Guys have been playing hard, willing and trying to get it down pat, but it's definitely been a different camp than my previous training camps."

T-Mac thought the hard work in the new offense could pay off in the form of a lot more plays and points.

"As opposed to having 90 possessions in an NBA game, with this offense, we'll probably have 120 just with the fast pace and the style that we're going to be playing," said McGrady. "I think it's an offense where I can play off the ball, not having to control the ball 85-90% of the time when I'm out there."

Bonzi Wells is still sitting out the scrimmages with a groin injury, but he is in an extremely good mood this season and looks like the official jokester of the squad. T-Mac mentioned at one point that Bonzi has been riding Aaron Brooks for not having hit a shot in training camp yet (AB is struggling so far in games, but he did beat Novak and Bullard in a three-point contest today). Also during T-Mac's television interview, Bonzi danced around and bobbed his head in and out of the camera view behind T-Mac.

Then Bonzi tops it off later when he steps up behind the media while we were interviewing Scola and screams, "PEPSI SCOLA!!"

Quite a change from last year -- let's hope the good vibes keep on for Bonzi.

Francis seemed in good spirits as well. While interviewing Stevie, I was holding out the mic and taking photos with a digital camera. In the middle of his interview, Francis looks at me, smiles and asks, "Hey, is that one of those camcorders like O.J. got caught on?"

I also got the chance to Q&A with Scola, Adelman, Brooks and Rafer. All of the audio from those interviews is available in the media player. Speaking of Rafer, I think Skip is probably the nicest Rocket that I've ever met personally. He's very approachable, very honest and very easy going. I don't think I've ever had a negative experience with Rafer outside of say, watching him shoot the ball.

One more long practice before the Rockets can throw away the Yao cardboard cutout and put the real thing in there, getting a good look at what they can do with this motion offense.