Rockets follow Bud-ding star

Start planning the parade in downtown Houston … the Rockets are the NBA Summer League champions. It’s not official yet, because a few other teams remain undefeated, but the Rockets just finished their week with a 5-0 record.

Chase Budinger, a second-round draft pick from Arizona, scored 25 points to carry Houston to a 92-77 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets finally exacted their revenge for losing to the Lakers in the playoffs and for losing free-agent star Ron Artest to the Lakers last week. It’s not really revenge, of course, but it’s a small source of pride for the Houston organization.

Budinger had his second consecutive big game, and we can only imagine how excited this must make Review-Journal columnist Ed Graney. Budinger’s three biggest fans are his parents and Graney.

If you have not heard, Graney is hosting a new radio show, “The Sports Scribes,” at 11 p.m. weeknights on KDWN-AM (720). Will Budinger be tonight’s featured guest? Tune in to find out.

Morrison missing in action

The Lakers were without Adam Morrison, arguably their top summer league player. Morrison was absent because he was sick, according to a source.

You can’t bet on it

The summer league is solid, but it could be far more interesting if betting lines were put on the games. This is the slowest time of the year for Las Vegas sports books, so why not post lines on these games and keep the wagering limits low (maybe $100 per game) just for entertainment?

NBA commissioner David Stern would frown on the idea, which is why it never will happen, obviously.

But where would an oddsmaker set a mythical line on tonight’s Los Angeles Clippers-Memphis Grizzlies game? We’ll say Clippers minus-5.