Today’s news of open-source statistics software maker REvolution Computing’s $9 million round of venture funding comes a week before a unique demonstration of its software: The 2009/2010 Houston Rockets season opener.

NBA front offices are a burgeoning, if limited to exactly 30, group of users of REvolution’s R statistical analysis software. Houston Rockets GM, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference organizer and former Celtics statistics analyst Daryl Morey, who recently got a 2-year contract extension, is the Michael Lewis-annointed Billy Bean of basketball.

Morey has used analytics to find players either underrated or cast off by other teams, like Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry and most notably Shane Battier, the Kevin Youkilis of basketball stat-nerdery. According to our sister publication, the Sporting News, Morey’s style is very Kendall Square:

Imagine that the Rockets are stockpiling — nay, engineering — long, athletic players with high IQ who know how to shoot and enjoy pinpoint defense. If this assembly line gets going, we should all be awed and frightened.

Rockets stars Yao Ming is out for the year with a broken foot and Tracy McGrady is also out indefinitely; both were pre-Morey acquisitions. This year will be the first time every player on the floor is a guy drafted, signed or traded for by Morey, based on whatever crazy numbers he and his team are running through R.