Chase Budinger's first NBA game was over, but the lessons were not.

Standing Friday afternoon inside a makeshift locker room underneath the stands with only a curtain to offer privacy, Houston assistant coach T.R. Dunn got down in a defensive stance. Dunn, who once was a fixture on NBA All-Defensive teams, then showed Chase Budinger what he had done wrong on a defensive play.

"He moved his feet well, and he got into position, but then he just stuck his hand in there and gave the official an opportunity to (call) block, when he actually was in good position to get a charge," Dunn said later about what he told Budinger.
Budinger nodded that he understood. The rookie forward from the UA knows he has a lot of work ahead of him if he wants to make Houston's opening-night roster, much less become an impact player.
Budinger's pro education is getting under way this week, where the second-round pick is playing for the Rockets in the NBA Summer League at UNLV. Budinger had a solid debut Friday, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds in 21 minutes as the Rockets defeated Golden State 73-69.
Budinger knows he can't waste time trying to impress the Rockets. Having been selected by Detroit with the No. 44 pick overall in the June 25 draft, then traded later that night to Houston, Budinger doesn't have the luxury of a two-year guaranteed contract that first-round picks get.
"Summer league is a little more important to me because I don't have the contract," Budinger said. "I'm kind of playing for one. It's a little more important to go out and show the Rockets what I have."
Budinger, who didn't start, did that late in the first quarter when he drilled his first shot, a three-pointer. That gave him a boost, and Budinger had seven points in 10 first-half minutes.
"It's just a new experience," Budinger said. "It's a new journey, and nerves are coming in. I was able to hit my first shot, and that gave me a little confidence. The first game, I thought it went well."
But there were some speed bumps. In the first half, Budinger botched an open layup. All he could do was laugh.
"When I threw it up in the air, I really had not idea where I was, because I was looking over my shoulder," said Budinger, who shot 5 of 11, including 1 of 2 from three-point range. "It was one of those things that was too easy. … Laugh it off and move on to the next play."
That's exactly what Budinger did. He grabbed his own rebound and passed to teammate Joey Dorsey, who was fouled on a layup attempt.
Overall, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said he liked what he saw Friday from Budinger. It helps that Houston didn't have a first-round pick.
"I thought (Budinger) had a good debut," Morey said. "He had some tough defensive matchups. (Defense) will probably be the area he needs to develop the most to get minutes in the NBA. But he's a smart player who knows what he can do. He can shoot it, run the floor, and overall knows how to contribute to a winning team."
Budinger will have ample chances to work on his defense. Dunn will make sure of it.
Jennings misses first seven shots in debut
There was one big positive to Brandon Jennings' first game before a crowd on American soil since a spring 2008 high school all-star game.
"They don't throw coins; they don't throw bottles," said Jennings, the one-time Arizona recruit who opted instead to play what would have been his freshman season in Italy. "But (Americans) do a little trash-talking. But it's nothing like in Europe."
There was ample reason to talk trash to Jennings when he made his debut Friday night for Milwaukee. Jennings, a point guard taken with the No. 10 pick, missed his first seven shots and looked as if he'd left his game overseas.
"It was a little frustrating," Jennings said. "But I was trying to run the team and find my shot as I can."
Jennings ended up 3 of 12 from the field for 10 points, and handed out three assists as the Bucks beat Dallas 65-59.

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