Month: February 2019

Rockets Try to Quiet Jazz’ Tune in Salt Lake City

 

The Crying Game.   Deadly Duo.   Brutality Awaits.  

 

“As the man said, it’s in my nature.”  The final line from the classic 90’s film, The Crying Game, poses the question what is the nature of man.  In terms on tonight’s contest, human nature exposes itself in several facets.  After snubbed (one of the worst in NBA history) from being voted an All-Star, Rudy Gobert became emotional and cried after getting a call from his mother as she cried her heart out for him.  It’s understandable, crying is part of human nature and Rudy Gobert, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, deserved to be an All-Star.  More than Klay Thompson, whose Warrior teammates took to social media to make fun of Gobert for crying.  Crying is still viewed as a sign of weakness for men in the eyes of many in society.  However, it’s not a weakness. Rudy Gobert knows that, and has been playing with fire since being snubbed only a few days ago, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds last night in a victory over the Hawks.  Sadly for Houston, Gobert’s next target is a Rockets team thin on the frontcourt that was eaten alive in Denver on Friday night.  Last night’s game was a crying shame in Denver.  Houston looks to avoid another crying game tonight in Utah.

Rudy Gobert is the biggest snub in this year’s all-star game, and he’s not even the best player in Utah.  Donovan “Spida” Mitchell, after getting off to a slow start to his sophomore campaign, is really starting to hit his groove and get back to the levels he was playing at in his rookie of the year-caliber season.  Mitchell was snubbed as well.  Honestly, I would have put Mitchell in over Gobert, as Spida has been carrying the load offensively for Utah.  But it doesn’t matter, neither player made it, and that’s not good for the Rockets.  Houston comes into Utah facing one of the hottest teams in the NBA in 2019, with some added-motivation.  Mitchell has been a Rocket-killer throughout his young career, having some of his biggest games against Houston in the past.  Look for this to be another game where Clint Capela’s absence stares the Rockets smack-dab in the face.  Kenneth Faried continues to play with great energy, but as Jokic was too big in Denver, look for Gobert to pose the same problems for Faried and Houston’s frontcourt in Utah.  Gobert, aka “The Stifle Tower” has been getting praise from nearly everyone but Golden State since showing emotion, and the rest of the league will have to contend with added ferocity from the Stifle Tower for his absence from the upcoming All-Star weekend.

This game poses so many problems for the Rockets I don’t know where to begin.  They’re facing one of the hottest teams in the league in 2019.  The Jazz have won 8 of 10 and have quietly climbed the standings since 2019 began.  A win over Houston tonight would propel the Jazz past the Rockets in the standings.  Utah boasts one of the loudest home-courts in the NBA, and is always a very tough place to play.  Throw in the added motivation from their top two players (due to being the All-Star Game’s biggest snubs) and brutality awaits Houston on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.  The Rockets will need to look inwards and hope they can turn the clock back, to a week or two ago, when Harden averaged around 53 points over a 3-game stretch.  Houston needs a monumental game from the Beard tonight if they want to win this contest.  Chris Paul is out tonight for rest, and the whole squad needs to step up and give Harden the required help.  EG left last night’s game in Denver with an injury, which has sadly become part of his nature.  Austin Rivers will get the start if EG can’t go.  Hopefully, it’ll kick-start him out of his current shooting slump.  The Beard?  Tonight’s one of those nights where, unfortunately, Harden will be asked to do almost everything.  The Beard’s starting to look tired in recent games, but if there’s anyone, in any season, who has the ability to put a team on his back en route to a win… it’s this season’s James Harden.  It’s in his nature.

 

Vivint Smart Home Arena:  Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-22):  White

Utah Jazz (30-23):  Green

 

TV:  8 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain Horror Show: Rockets Streak Against Nuggets Ends in 136-122 Defeat

 

Ghosts in the Paint.    Streak-Busters.    Help.  

 

What started out as a hot first-quarter for both teams soon turned into a dunk parade.  One showcased by Denver’s young talent, as they got anything they wanted in a 136-122 victory over the Rockets on Friday night.  The loss for Houston ended their 9-game winning streak over the Nuggets, and exposed holes in the Rockets defense all night.  Houston had a solid first quarter, scoring 43 points, but after that the offense cooled down.  And the defense… what defense?  There was none to be found on Houston’s end as they allowed layup after layup, and dunk after dunk, in what turned into a Rocky Mountain Horror Show for the Rockets.  Houston gave up a staggering 83 points in the first half, including 48 in the 2^nd quarter when they were outscored by 20, and essentially let the game get out of hand.  James Harden had 30 to lead Houston, hitting a late-3 to extend his 30-point game streak, but the Rockets defensively were the worst they’ve been all season.

The Nuggets got whatever they wanted against the Rockets defense, on the perimeter, and especially inside the paint.  Malik Beasley had the game of his career, leading the Nuggets with 35 points.  Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 13 boards, and 9 dimes as the Rockets were ghosts in the paint, allowing the Nuggets to see no defense, thus fear no defense.  Torrey Craig chipped in with 22 to help the balanced Nuggets attack.  Chris Paul had 20 points in a game he should have sat (was doubtful prior to the contest, then upgraded to probable).  Kenneth Faried was about the only bright spot.  The Manimal had another efficient game filled with effort for Houston.  Faried finished with 23 points and 6 boards, but despite all his hustle, the Manimal isn’t tall enough to match up with a true center like Nikola Jokic, and the Joker feasted on him all night.  Clint Capela’s absence was painfully felt in this contest, and shows why his presence is vital to the Rockets success in the future, especially against bigger lineups.  A game after giving up 70 points in the paint to a Pelicans team resembling G-Leaguers, Houston allowed 62 points in the paint in Denver.  Capela’s defensive presence has been sorely lacking, as opposing teams are starting to take advantage of Houston’s thin frontcourt.

The Unguardable Tour continued, barely.  Harden hit a late 3 to get to 30 and keep his streak going, but all other Houston streaks were busted last night in Denver.  Friday marked the first time the Beard wasn’t the game’s overall leading scorer since his 30-point streak began.  The Rockets streak of 9 consecutive wins over the Nuggets also came to an end (they hadn’t lost to Denver since 2015).  For the first time in 15 games, Houston dropped back-to-back games.  Clint Capela is primed to return the first game after the All-Star break, and the Rockets just need to stay afloat until the break.  Only 6 games remain until All-Star break.  Houston needs to grind together and play with more effort until they get their promising big-man back.

For now, the Rockets need some help.  Chris Paul wasn’t even expected to play in Denver, and he is doubtful for Saturday’s tilt in Utah.  Paul looked slower, and his ability to create his own shot has become noticeably downgraded.  Eric Gordon left the game in Denver and didn’t return, his status against the Jazz is also questionable.  Houston can’t afford to lose any more guys, being shorthanded, and James Harden is starting to look visibly gassed.  The Beard barely had 30, but it seemed forced near the end, as his shooting touch was off, and the wear of carrying a team for over half a season might be getting to Harden.  The MVP needs a break more than anyone (even though he’ll be in the ASG). Harden has looked exhausted as we near the All-Star break.  Only 6 games remain before the intermission.  Houston needs to give Harden the help the MVP has warranted after carrying the team through the toughest stretch of the season.  Rivers, Tucker, Green, Ennis, and others need to feed off of the Manimal’s energy in hopes it will boost the squad.  Right now, the Rockets need a lot of help.  The subsequent guys need to step up if Houston wants to have a puncher’s chance of escaping Utah with a victory.

Rockets Fly into Denver, Look to Keep Rolling Against Mile High Competition

Rocky Road.    New Leaf.    Players of the Month.

At least the Rockets don’t have to play the Pelicans at home anymore.  Something I never thought I would say before the season began.  Two of Houston’s most embarrassing losses of the season have come against New Orleans.  Sadly for Houston fans, that hasn’t been out of the norm for the Rockets this season.  They’ve had more success against championship-contending competition, compared to the NBA’s average to bad teams, with whom they’ve struggled.  Thankfully for Rocket fans, Houston is in Denver tonight taking on the 2^nd-seeded Nuggets.  Something else I never thought I would say before the season started.

This season, Denver has exceeded expectations and currently holds the 2^nd spot in the West.  Fortunately, the Rockets have had recent success against the Nuggets, winning the last 9 matchups between the squads, including a victory in Denver earlier this season.  The Nuggets, being one of the “contending” teams this year, give Houston a chance to beat another great team.  The road ahead for Houston is rough.  They’re in Utah tomorrow night, and 7 of their next 9 games are on the road, with 5 of those games coming against probable playoff teams.  Houston faces a Denver team that’s deeper and healthier than the previous time these squads faced off.  The Nuggets have won 4 straight, including 9 of their last 12 contests since they fell to the Rockets in Houston in early-January.  Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets best player, was named as an All-Star for the first time in his career yesterday.  Houston will need to contain the “Joker” aka “Big Honey”, (as revealed on TNT last night) and limit his production to keep their success in the Mile High City rolling.

For the first time this season, the Rockets will debut and wear the “City Edition” maroon jerseys tonight featuring the Chinese symbols.  Chinese New Year is on Tuesday, and the Rockets will don the Maroon for 2 of their next 3 games.  Hopefully, Chinese New Year will signal the turning of a new leaf for Houston, and the end of the Rockets losing to bad teams and playing down to their competition.  Houston can’t afford to lose too many more games, and they need to win every game they’re favored in order to get the best playoff positioning possible.

James Harden was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month today, for the second straight month, deservedly so.  The “Unguardable Tour”, as it’s being called, continued throughout the entire month of January.  Don’t expect the tour to stop any time soon.  It’s a season-long show, and the Rockets are hoping it continues deep into the playoffs.  Houston recently called up Isaiah Hartenstein, who had a torrid January, and was named the G-League’s Player of the Month for January.  “Hustlestein” has dominated in the paint and seen an uptick in his production for the month while developing his game in the NBA’s version of the “minors.”  The Rockets need that production to translate against NBA-competition, at least while Clint Capela remains sidelined.  Hartenstein should play nicely alongside Kenneth Faried, as he brings a similar style of hustle to the squad.  And in the NBA, you can never have too much hustle on one team.

The “Manimal” returns to Denver, where he spent the majority of his career, and had his best seasons.  Faried is always ready to play, but should be especially amped-up to take on his former-team tonight.  Houston comes in to Denver on two days rest.  Look for the Rockets to feed off the Manimal and Hartenstein’s energy, as they battle in the paint against one of the best Centers in the League in Nikola Jokic.  Chris Paul was going to rest tonight, given the Rockets are in Utah tomorrow night.  Although a few hours ago, his status has been upgraded and the Point God will take the court tonight.  Houston needs to continue playing with the grit and energy they’ve brought when facing the NBA’s best, and they should get a win tonight.  The Pelicans aren’t in town so don’t expect any surprises.  If the Rockets lose tonight, it’ll be at the hands of a great Nuggets team.  Although Houston has had a pretty great hand themselves when playing great teams this season.  Expect a close game that goes down to the wire.  Look for the Rockets, still angry over their unfathomable loss to the Pelicans, to play with a chip on their shoulder tonight, and take down the Nuggets once again.

 

Pepsi Center:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-21):  “City Edition” Maroon

Denver Nuggets (35-15):  Blue

 

TV:  9 PM CT – ESPN & ATT Sportsnet SW