George Karl and Daryl Morey agreed that you cannot play a slow pace in today's NBA in a panel at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Defenses are just too good, they said, with Morey citing Tom Thibodeau's ability to smother teams deep in the shot clock. The data show clearly that early scores are vital. 

Morey discussed the different use of Dwight Howard by the Houston Rockets. Stan Van Gundy ran set plays for Howard when he was with the Orlando Magic, but he is getting the ball with the Rockets in unpredictable situations and scoring efficiently.

A quick-hitting, fast-thinking attack wins.

Morey recalled reports the Rockets use to run on the effectiveness of different plays called by then-head coach Jeff Van Gundy was with Houston. Above all the set plays was a play categorized as Random, when a play call broke down and a random screen was set to free up a scorer. This was the most effective play.

Karl thought back to the time after the Denver Nuggets acquired Raymond Felton. Karl said he thought Felton was perhaps his best guard at the time but Lawson had the starting job. So to improve Denver's ability to make fast decisions, Karl played them together. Karl believes this may have started a trend in the league of a two-point guard offense. 

The panel discussed fouling up three in the closing seconds. Even though the numbers support taking the foul, it's not done widely. Karl cited a lack of devoted practice time to making sure teams can execute a two-shot foul. 

Morey said you should win the game almost always either way, but cited coaches wanting to show confidence in their defense to stop the three, or just the embarrassment factor of not wanting to give up the three-point foul.  Kobe Bryant was named as one of the best at anticipating the intentional foul and getting off an attempt from behind the arc as the contact is made.

Ben Gordon and the Charlotte Bobcats continue dialogue on a buyout.

The Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets are pitching two-year deals with a team option for 14-15. Gordon would prefer a deal that does not impact his free agency.

Danny Granger is having phone conversations on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls.

Granger is expected to sign with the Clippers or Spurs, according to most reports.

Granger agreed to a buyout with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Danny Granger are expected to finish their buyout agreement on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are expected to be considered by Granger.

The Houston Rockets have given up 14.7 second chance points per game this season, which ranks second-worst in the NBA behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets have given up just 7.3 per game during their three-game road trip and believe shoring up defensive rebound is the area is the only issue holding back the defense.

“That’s the only thing stopping our defense from being elite,” Chandler Parsons said. “You have to have understanding of time and place. You have to understand when to go (on a fast break) and when not to go.

“We knew defensive rebounding was a problem so we focused, watched film and fixed it.”

The Houston Rockets signed Troy Daniels out of the NBA D-League on Friday while releasing Ronnie Brewer.

Brewer signed with the Rockets as a free agent last offseason.

Daniels has spent the season with the Rockets' affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and will remain with the D-League team.

The Houston Rockets have acquired Jordan Hamilton from the Denver Nuggets, a league source told RealGM.

Aaron Brooks will be dealt to the Nuggets.

Hamilton is averaging 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds for the Nuggets this season, and the 6-foot-7 forward has shown glimpses of his versatility and shooting.

The Houston Rockets are interested in trading for Rajon Rondo.

The Boston Celtics have been shopping Rondo ahead of the deadline, though they will likely need a huge return in order to pull the trigger.

Darryl Morey and Danny Ainge are former colleagues in the Celtics' front office.

The Celtics would insist upon Chandler Parsons in a deal for Rondo, which appears to be a dealbreaker at this point for the Rockets.

Dwight Howard returns to play Los Angeles to play the Lakers for the first time since his departure to sign with the Houston Rockets in July.

Howard is confident he made the right decision to sign with the Rockets, but acknowledged that there were a few things that could have been done to change the outcome.

"There's a couple things that could've been done, but that's over with now," Howard said. "I'm in a better place, our team is doing great and the Lakers, they'll come back. But hopefully this is the Rockets' time."

Howard didn't elaborate on what could have been done differently, but it has been previously reported that he preferred Phil Jackson over Mike D'Antoni and that he was concerned about the timetable for Kobe Bryant to defer to him as franchise player.

Howard is bracing for a hostile environment.

"I think there will be a lot of boos," Howard said. "I can't really focus too much on that. I know I'm going to hear it the whole game. All the noises, whatever you want to call it, 'Coward.' There's not anything I can do about it except to go out and play.

"This year I've been through it a lot in every city because there are Laker fans everywhere. Every city I get booed in. I think I'm a little bit prepared for it."

Howard played at the Clippers in November, but expects this to be different.

"Back in Orlando, I was there for my whole career and fans had gotten to know me on a personal level. I know that a lot of people were very hurt," Howard said. "With this situation, it being my first year, and I left after that. People were mad that I left the Lakers and nobody's ever left the Lakers, so they were upset about that.

"But at the end of the day, I did what I felt was best for myself. I wasn't afraid of any bright lights or pressure. I just felt like Houston was the best place for me. Other people might see it differently, but that's what I chose. It's my destiny, it's my life and I feel like I did the right thing."

The New York Knicks are interested in trading for Jeremy Lin.

The Knicks let Lin sign with the Houston Rockets in the 2012 offseason.

New York has been searching for trade possibilities at point guard.

Lin's contract expires after the 14-15 season, which preserves their cap flexibility for 2015.