It took a half for Jordan Hill to wake up in Friday's NBA Summer League game, but when he did, he was a force (US Presswire file photo/Brett Davis)

LAS VEGAS — This city is famous for hangovers and that applied to the way Houston’s Jordan Hill began his first game of the 2010 NBA Summer League here Friday afternoon.

Hill, a 6-foot-10 center from Arizona, was extremely sluggish from the start in Houston’s 100-82 win over Phoenix at the Cox Pavilion. He was so out of sync that he had more fouls (four) than points and rebounds combined (one) toward the end of the first quarter.

“His focus and recognition needs to improve,” said Houston assistant coach Jack Sikma, a seven-time NBA All-star center who can write a book on proper footwork for a center. “The lack of focus and recognition shows up mostly on the defensive end.

“When you are defensive big, you really have to be ahead of the play and react.”

Hill, who visibly looked in a rut, picked up three fouls in a minute-span in the first quarter with either a reach-in call or a block attempt that was too late to develop. Hill picked up his fourth foul on another late attempted blocked shot attempt with 2:49 left in the first quarter (players are not disqualified here for fouls because of the scrimmage premise).

That’s when Sikma, who led the NBA in defensive rebounding twice during his illustrious career, pulled Hill aside during the ensuing timeout and gave him instruction and how to gain proper position defensively along the baseline.

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Chase Budinger will try to create more offense off screens and penetrations toward the basket during the NBA Summer League in Houston (US Presswire photo/Brett Davis)

Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill are not in Las Vegas this week to earn a spot on Houston’s roster — a better spot in the Rockets’ rotation is more like it. Consider this a business trip for the former Arizona duo.

Last year, Budinger slipped to the second round of the NBA draft, his future in the league was a mystery. The NBA’s Developmental League seemed more reasonable for Budinger, who turned scouts off with his perceived lack of aggression. He was selected by Detroit with the 43rd pick after five other players at his position as a wing were picked ahead of him. Wayne Ellington, Christian Eyenga, Omri Casspi, Victor Claver, and DeMarre Carroll were all among the top 30 picks.

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• Houston’s 2010 NBA Summer League schedule

Houston included the former Arizona duo of Budinger and Jordan Hill on its NBA Summer League roster to see how each can work into the Rockets’ rotation next season, according to the Houston Chronicle. The five games Houston plays in the next week, starting Friday at the Thomas & Mack’s Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, are almost like in-season scrimmages for the Rockets’ coaching staff to see how Budinger and Hill can fill certain roles.

Budinger, 6-foot-7 and 218 pounds, will be tried more as a ball-handler. The Rockets’ brass want Budinger to create more offense for himself and his teammates off the dribble. They tried the same thing last summer, but Budinger played so well on the wing, they did not try to force him to do too much.

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Former UA guard Nic Wise knows how much of a business professional basketball is as he will not be included on any of the NBA Summer League rosters in Las Vegas later this week.

Nothing is guaranteed.

The summer league, which comprises of 22 NBA teams and another with the NBA’s Developmental League, will include roughly 276 players and not one of them is Wise. The Orlando summer league, which started Monday, has eight NBA teams. So, combined, the leagues have approximately 372 roster spots.

The 5-10 point guard hoped to be signed to the summer league to show his skills to at least the European scouts on hand at the Thomas and Mack Arena.

Summer league rosters are subject to change. Last year, for example, former UA guard/forward Hassan Adams was slated to be on Houston’s roster but he was bumped at the last minute because of roster moves.

Wise has been unavailable for comment. He tweeted earlier today on his Twitter page that he, “Just got jipped out of Summer League wow.”

The only known former UA players to be in the summer league in Las Vegas, which starts Friday, include Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill with Houston. Former UA guard Mustafa Shakur is reportedly on Portland’s roster.

One interesting side note is Budinger will not play Aubrey Coleman again, although it was a possibility in the summer league. Coleman is the former Houston player who stepped on Budinger’s face in the 2008-09 season, resulting in Coleman’s ejection from the game at McKale Center. Arizona rallied from 10 points down with less than a minute remaining to win in overtime.

Coleman is on New Orleans’ roster. Houston and New Orleans are not scheduled to play each other in Las Vegas.