Month: March 2019

Rockets Dethrone Kings Behind Harden’s 50-Point Triple-Double, 119-108

 

Too Close for Comfort.    Make It Five.    Moving Up.

 

         It was closer than expected, but the game turned out in Houston’s favor. The Rockets went back and forth with the Kings for most of the night at Toyota Center. Until Houston’s defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, holding Sacramento to 15 points. Games like these are ones Houston needs to win to try and secure the third seed. More importantly, these victories boost the squad’s confidence for the playoffs. Every playoff game is important in the overall aspect of the big picture. A sweep in every series would be ideal, but that’s not likely, for any team. Games in the vein of Saturday night’s are ones Houston will find early in the playoffs that they’ll need to win to boost their chances later in the postseason. Clint Capela was huge for the Rockets against the Kings young frontline. Capela led the way with 42 minutes, and posted 24 points and 15 rebounds in another stellar outing as Houston’s big man is back to playing at an All-Star caliber level. Eric Gordon continues to bring consistency, scoring 17 points. EG’s been in double-figures in every game since the All-Star break. Chris Paul’s midrange was deadly, and the Point God finished with 22 points as he guided Houston’s offensive arsenal.

James Harden had another 50-point triple-double, the fifth of his career. They’ve become common enough to where this stat-line isn’t even headline news anymore. A stat-line no other player in the entire league has produced all season. But what about Harden’s usage rate? The Rockets need the Beard to score in order to win on many nights, especially when his teammates aren’t hitting their shots. On Saturday night, Harden scored 50 points, and grabbed 11 boards while dishing out 10 dimes. And the game was close enough to where Houston needed every single point Harden could muster. There was no stat-padding here. Just another night at the office for the Beard. If he doesn’t win MVP, Harden’s season will go down as the best to not be bestowed with the honor.

The Rockets moved back into the third seed out West courtesy of a Blazers loss in Detroit. Houston still needs Portland to lose one more game in order to avoid being in a tiebreak situation. The Blazers own the tiebreaker, so if the teams finish with the same record, Portland gets the higher seed. Although, the Blazers still have two games left against the Nuggets, one of the top teams in the West. They’re bound to lose at least one more game, if not two. Five games remain for Houston. They’re good enough to win out. But the Rockets shouldn’t go worse than 4-1, 3-2 in a worst-case scenario situation. They’ll head to Sacramento next to face the Kings again, on the first night of a back-to-back, before playing the toughest game left on the schedule: the Clippers in Los Angeles. It’s going to be close, but if all the pieces fall into place, the entire season can turn out in Houston’s favor.

Rockets Set to Face Kings Twice in a Row, Host First Battle

 

Houston Home-and-Home.    Elimination Time.    Royal Push.

 

Get used to the Kings. Houston will be seeing a lot of Royal purple (or black) as they face the Kings twice in a row for their next 2 matchups. The Rockets host the Kings in a home-and-home, well sort of. Houston will travel to Sacramento and face off against the Kings on Tuesday after Saturday night’s match. The Kings return home to face the Spurs tomorrow before hosting the Rockets on Tuesday. Sacramento is young, but they have their sights set on vacation in under two weeks. Houston needs to pounce on the Kings early, and keep them in the pack-it-in mindset. The Rockets have their sights set on much larger things than summer vacation. They want to be the Kings. Just not the Kings of Sacramento, the Kings of the NBA.

Houston can officially eliminate Sacramento from playoff contention with a victory. The Kings have a bright future ahead of them, and that young talent will be on display at Toyota Center tonight. De’Aaron Fox is one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch, and he will be an All-Star for years to come. Buddy Hield is beginning to flourish into a potential All-Star swingman. Willie Cauley-Stein is starting to live up to his potential, and Marvin Bagley III has shown signs of progress in his first season. The Kings can shoot is from deep, and play hard. There will be no easy victories for the Rockets in the next two games. Houston will to have to make it difficult on Sacramento, in order to make it easy on themselves.

If the Rockets can continue playing stellar defense, they shouldn’t have a problem getting the victory tonight. The Kings might give the Rockets a push towards focusing on every game in this final stretch. Houston has turned a corner defensively, and has been a different beast ever since. Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried remain out due to injuries. This means extended playing time for everyone else, especially Austin Rivers and Iman Shumpert. Their defensive tandem has pleased Coach Mike D’Antoni and provided excellent results since the latest injury bug hit the Rockets. Houston’s used to having guys get hit with injuries, only to see other players step up. It’s time to get used to the Rockets stellar defense. It’s here to stay.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (37-38):  Black

Houston Rockets (48-28):  White

 

TV:  5 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

Mile High Beating: Rockets Thrash Nuggets, 112-85

 

Defensive Evolution.    Top Numbers.    6 to Go.

 

Houston’s defense served up the best dish of the season, holding the 50-win Denver Nuggets to only 85 points. It was more than enough, as the Rockets crushed the Nuggets, 121-85, on Thursday night. The victory gives Houston the season-series edge over Denver, 3-1. They’re still 4 games behind the Nuggets for the 2-seed, but this win gives the Rockets a lot of confidence going into the playoffs. James Harden led the way, as he has on most nights this year, scoring 38 points, to go along with 6 boards, and 6 dimes. Clint Capela was a force again in the interior, grabbing 15 rebounds and adding 17 points to the Rockets tally. Eric Gordon continued his smooth stretch of shooting the ball in a zone, finishing with 18 points. And Houston got an early spark from Austin Rivers, who finished with 15 points. Rivers and Iman Shumpert played well on the defensive end at the set the tone on defense for the Rockets. The two mid-season acquisitions are a larger part of Houston’s defensive evolution from one of the worst defensive teams, to one of the best.

Thursday’s win over the Nuggets gives further cements the Rockets’ place in the West among the team’s elite. Houston has a combined record of 6-2 against the top 2 seeds in the Western Conference (Golden State and Denver). The Rockets have the top seeds’ numbers. They’ve had the Nuggets’ number for seasons. And this season, they’ve had the Warriors’ number, with the lone loss coming by 2 points. Houston is ready for the playoffs. Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried are expected back from injuries in the middle of next week. The Rockets currently stand in 4^th place out West. Portland has a 1-game edge over Houston for the 3-seed. However, the Blazers unfortunately lost their budding star Center, Jusuf Nurkic, to the nastiest injury of the season. The Blazers aren’t the same team without Nurkic. The question is can the Rockets catch the Blazers for the 3-seed, with only 6 games remaining? That’s to be determined. Portland still has 2 games left against Denver, who is fighting for the top seed with Golden State. All Houston can do is control their own destiny and play their best basketball.

Up next for the Rockets, a home-and-home with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings aren’t eliminated from playoff contention yet, but Houston should be able to do that for Sacramento over the next two contests. After the Kings, the Rockets have games in L.A. against the Clippers, at home against the Knicks and Suns, and on the road in the season finale against the Thunder. The Knicks and Suns are the worst teams in each conference, the Thunder have been on a downward slide since the All-Star break. The Kings seem fatigued and hit a wall earlier in the season. That leaves the game in Los Angeles as the toughest remaining on Houston’s schedule. The Rockets should be able to finish these 6 games with a record of at least 5-1. That’s if they avoid playing down to competition, which has been their biggest enemy all year. Nonetheless, their latest beat-down over the Nuggets proved when the Rockets are engaged and focused, they can play with anyone, and serve up a win on any night.

Rockets Host Nuggets in Pivotal West Matchup

 

Chasing Third.    Staying in Second.    Free to Harden.  

 

Denver comes to town on Thursday night as the Rockets look to warm back up after returning home from Milwaukee. The Nuggets have been warming up themselves. At one point, it looked as though Houston could grab the 2-seed in the West. It’s still mathematically possible, but the second seed is likely out of reach. The Nuggets will likely be the second seed, unless they can sneak ahead of Golden State for the top spot. Which would mean Houston would have to face their nemesis even sooner than later. The Rockets don’t want that scenario unfolding. Look for the team to have a bounce back victory in front of the home fans tonight.

This game is important for many reasons, but a win helps the Rockets avoid Golden State until later in the playoffs. If the Nuggets get the top seed, the Rockets would likely face the Warriors in the second round, instead of the conference finals. A win tonight would give the Rockets the tiebreaker if Denver were to collapse over its final 7 games (their remaining schedule is among the toughest in the league). It also pushes the Nuggets a little further from the top of the West.

Toyota Center will be giving out “Free to Harden” shirts for all fans in attendance tonight. The slogan is part of Adidas campaign to promote the Beard for MVP once again. It’s free to Harden to care about the MVP, but there should be bigger goals on his mind. The importance of this game in the outcome of the overall playoff seeding is monumental. Hopefully, Harden and the Rockets realize this and get their act together. They face a hot, talented Nuggets team. Led by their All-Star Center Nikola Jokic, this is the healthiest Denver’s roster has been since playing Houston all season. The Rockets have a lot of work to do, but they should be able to beat the Nuggets tonight, and prove that they are the better team. Elite squads win the important ones. And this game is huge for the Rockets. It’s time to warm up for the season’s final seven games and get back in the win column.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Denver Nuggets (50-23):  White

Houston Rockets (47-28):  Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT-  NBA TV, ATT Sportsnet SW Alternate Channel

Rockets Cool Off in Milwaukee, Fall to Bucks, 108-94

 

Teachable Moment.    Icy Range.    A Step Back.

 

For all the hype leading up to the matchup, neither MVP-candidate had an overly impressive game. The Bucks, however, were very impressive. Milwaukee showcased why it has a real chance to make it to the NBA Finals with a 108-94 defeat over the Rockets on Tuesday night. Houston was shut down defensively, specifically Harden, who forced to find open shooters. The problem was, no one could make a shot. The Beard and the Rockets need to adjust to this type of defense as Milwaukee has proven it successful in both games against Houston this campaign. The Bucks are the only team to sweep the Rockets this season. Eric Bledsoe was the biggest factor in the victory for Milwaukee tonight, hitting big shots to help the Bucks pull away after Houston led after the first quarter. It’s a teachable moment for the Rockets, who have a lot to learn from this game. They need to look at the film from this game and dissect the other aspects that didn’t go their way on Tuesday night. Fixing these issues will prevent headaches for Houston in the future.

The Rockets and Bucks play similar styles in that both squads love to shoot the 3. Milwaukee beat Houston at that aspect of the contest. The Rockets only connected on 30% of their long-range attempts. The Bucks hit 40% and were the better team on Tuesday night, despite missing Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic to injuries. Houston needs to find other ways to get in the win column when their shots from deep aren’t falling. The Rockets won’t always be hot from 3, they need to improve their versatility on offense to have the best chance at advancing in the playoffs.

With the loss in Milwaukee, Houston falls to fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Portland moves up to the third slot and sits a game in front of Houston. The Blazers suffered unfortunate news recently. Their third best player, center Jusuf Nurkic, broke his leg, and will be out for the season. Portland still has to play second-seeded Denver twice, so if the Rockets can close the final 7 games strong, they have a chance to grab the 3-seed back from the Blazers. It won’t be easy. Portland owns the tiebreaker. Houston can’t afford to lose any more games or they will be bound to be a 4-seed or lower. It doesn’t get any easier as the Denver Nuggets come to town for the Rockets next game on Thursday night. There won’t be as much hype surrounding this game, but the match is even more important for Houston, given that both teams are in the West. The Rockets need to get hyped.

Rockets, Bucks Clash, MVP Visits Milwaukee for First Time

 

Opportunity Knocks.    Unguardable Season.    One Shot.

 

“You have to think about one shot. One shot is what it’s all about. A deer’s gotta be taken with one shot.” A line from the classic film The Deer Hunter, emphasizing the importance of seizing a moment. Milwaukee and Houston are both lucky. You only get one shot to get a superstar, game-changing level player in the NBA. And the Rockets and Bucks each have that kind of rare, seminal talent. Guys who are changing the way the modern game of basketball is played. Guys like the Beard, and the Freak. On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Bucks clash in a monumental matchup featuring the league’s leading MVP-candidates. James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo square off as they head into tonight’s game evenly favored in the push for MVP. Many pundits agree the race is too close to call at this moment in time. Including tonight, 8 games remain for these squads. Tonight’s contest will play a huge factor in determining who wins the award.

The Rockets ride into Milwaukee having won 14 of their last 16 games. At 14-3, they own league’s best record since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Bucks, despite having the best record in basketball, are only 7-5 in their last 12 games. They recently suffered devastating injuries to Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, and as a result, the Bucks haven’t been as good. When the Rockets had all their injuries, they only got better. James Harden carried them through a treacherous portion of the season. The Greek Freak hasn’t been able to do the same for his team over his last dozen games. Looking at value, if Houston doesn’t have Harden, they’re not in the playoff hunt in the brutal West. If Milwaukee doesn’t have Antetokounmpo, they’re still a 6 or 7 seed in the East. Before the Bucks suffered their injuries, they were one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and a heavy favorite to get out of the East. Milwaukee’s also had one of the easiest schedules in NBA-history this season. If that doesn’t explain why James Harden should be the MVP in a few sentences, go look up the definition of valuable.

Just when it seems like the Rockets might be able to stay healthy, reality hits, and the injury bug returns to Houston. Eric Gordon is questionable for tonight’s contest, after suffering a sprained ankle in the last game. Gerald Green is expected to miss the next few games, and Kenneth Faried is out tonight with a sore knee. Just remember, the last time Houston was severely hit by the injury bug, James Harden kick-started the Unguardable Tour. Even though the streak was snapped at 32 games, Harden’s play never diminished. The Beard took his tour and turned it into the Unguardable Season. Still unconvinced Harden should be your choice MVP? Just take a look at what he did last week, winning Player of the Week in the West, after averaging (only) 44.3 points per game, after shooting an incredible 50% from the field, including 52% from long-range, and leading the Rockets to a 3-1 record.

When opportunity has knocked this season, and the lights have been the brightest, James Harden has answered the call. Every. Single. Time. Tonight, all eyes in the NBA world will be on the matchup in Milwaukee. The Beard and the Freak both have wounded soldiers on each of their squads. Expect it to be a close matchup, but if anyone’s experienced adversity this season, it’s James Harden. He’s used to playing with men down. The Freak isn’t as accustomed to this as the Beard, but Antetokounmpo will have his home crowd behind him. Tonight’s clash was tailor-made for this season James Harden is having. Expect him to put on a show tonight, as the MVP visits the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the first time. Harden just might be saving his finest dish to serve up tonight. The fans in Milwaukee have been duped into thinking they’ve seen the MVP in person all season. When in fact, he makes his only appearance in town tonight. The scene. The moment. The timing. The Beard has another grand opportunity. Harden can end the MVP-conversation tonight, with a typical Harden performance in a Rockets win. But… in these types of games… this season, the Beard always puts on a show for the ages. Harden has the insight to realize the scope of the situation.

Tonight’s game should be compelling, but one thing is certain. The Beard knows you only get one shot to prove yourself in games of this magnitude. Harden has relished in one-shot situations this season. The MVP-race? He’s ready to go reclaim what’s rightfully his, and end all the “debate”. On the road, against the NBA’s best team, the Bucks. It won’t be easy. Look for the Rockets to be ready. Harden knows one shot is what it’s all about. A deer’s gotta be taken with one shot.

 

 

 

Fiserv Forum:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Jersey Colors:

Milwaukee Bucks (55-19):  White

Houston Rockets (47-27):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT- TNT, ATT Sportsnet SW

Bird Hunters: Rockets Blast Pelicans, 113-90, Clinch Playoff Berth

 

Clinched.    The Big Easy Appetizer.    Elite Eight.

 

A rare sighting, the Houston Rockets finally won a game wire-to-wire. The Rockets beat the Pelicans, 113-90, on Sunday night, and clinched a playoff berth in the process. Houston had few problems in New Orleans, as 6 Rockets reached double-figures in scoring, and the game was never really in doubt. James Harden led the way with 28 points, a ‘below average’ game for the Beard. Eric Gordon had 18 points in only 21 minutes and continues to produce on a nightly basis since the All-Star break. Clint Capela was huge in the paint, grabbing 17 boards. And everyone got to play. 9 different Houston players saw at least 21 minutes on the court, as Coach Mike D’Antoni continues to try and determine who will be apt to fit in the team’s final rotation for the postseason.

The Rockets were able to win big, and win easily, breaking their habit of toying with inferior habits, at least, for now. They should be done losing to bad teams for good. Houston came out with intensity on defense and they shot the ball well, the main two keys (besides rebounding) to the Rockets getting victories. Harden, coming off his 61-point night, didn’t need to erupt in New Orleans. Harden rested in the 4^th quarter, with the contest wrapped up. His 28 points were below his scoring average of 36, as this game was merely an appetizer of what’s to come next from the Beard.

Only 8 games remain in the regular season for the Rockets. Houston has 4 matchups against playoff squads, and 4 against teams who are lottery-bound. Up next, are 2 elite contenders in Milwaukee and Denver. Both are at the near the top of their respective conferences, and playing great basketball. Expect James Harden to have unforgettable performance in the next 2 games, in a season that’s been full of them. The hotly contested MVP-debate will get up close and personal, as Houston heads to Milwaukee next for a clash with the Bucks. Many outside of Houston are expecting Giannis to win the MVP, and the Bucks will surely be favored in Tuesday night’s showdown. Milwaukee has the best home record in the league at 30-6. Losses in their building are rare sightings this year in the NBA. But players don’t have seasons like the one James Harden is having. It’s never happened before. In the history of the league, it’s a rare sight.

 

Rockets Try & Make it Look Easy in the Big Easy Against Pelicans

 

Clinch-Time.    Trap Game Birds.    Changing Seasons.

 

            A lot has changed since Opening Night, when these teams first met. The Rockets and Pelicans will meet for the final time this season, on Sunday night in New Orleans. Houston can clinch a playoff-berth with a victory tonight. James Harden is coming off another all-time performance, dropping 61 points on the Spurs in the Rockets win on Friday. Despite their record, the Pelicans have given Houston problems this season. New Orleans has won 2 of 3 against the Rockets this season. In the first game of the season the Pelicans crushed the Rockets in Houston. And in the other loss to New Orleans, the trade rumors had just begun swirling around Anthony Davis, and the Pels had 4 of their top players injured.

The Rockets fell in both those games they should have won. Opening Night, Harden got his MVP trophy, and that took the focus from the game. The other loss, the Rockets overlooked the Pelicans like they have overlooked so many inferior teams this season. We call these games “trap games.” Every team has them on their schedule. Houston’s just fell for the trap way too often this season. And another lies ahead for the Rockets in New Orleans tonight. The Pelicans are struggling and have lost 7 of their last 8 games. Their backcourt of Elfrid Payton (recently with 5 straight triple-doubles) and Jrue Holiday will pose the biggest threat to a Rockets win tonight. Along with any minutes New Orleans allows Anthony Davis to play.

How the season can change. Drastically. For better or worse. The Rockets team that hit the court on Opening Night seems night and day different from this Rockets team. Houston will look to even the season-series, and prove their persistence in losing trap games is over. It’s happened twice against New Orleans already this season. If the Rockets can manage to hold a lead on the road, and put away a team early for once, they can garner extra rest for their upcoming showdown on Tuesday in Milwaukee.

It’s a big week for the Rockets. After tonight, they face the top seeds in each conference this week, in the Bucks and the Nuggets. Look for D’Antoni to tinker with the rotation a bit more, as Houston has a chance tonight to get better by experimenting and finding which lineups works bets together. But that’s a fat chance, considering the Rockets have had trouble holding big leads all season. We’ll see if they can buck that trend tonight, before they head off to Milwaukee. If the Rockets want to maintain the third seed in the West, they need to win tonight. They still have a chance at the 2 seed. However, they’ve lost too many games like tonight’s matchup. The second seed is wishful thinking. But it’s not out of reach for the Rockets. A lot can still change with 9 games to go.

 

 

Smoothie King Center:  New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (46-27):  Black

New Orleans Pelicans (31-43):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW  

 

 

 

 

Career Harden: The Beard’s 61 Points Send Rockets Past Spurs, 111-105

 

Sun Devil Pride.    MVP Response.    Harden Madness.

 

March Madness is officially under way. In college basketball, and the NBA. The best players use anything they can harness as motivation to fuel their game to greater heights. James Harden had a little extra motivation on Friday night. The Rockets were coming off one of the most disappointing, crushing losses of the season Wednesday night in Memphis. And only hours before Friday night’s game against the Spurs, Harden’s alma mater, the Arizona State Sun Devils, lost in the NCAA tournament. I thought Harden would respond with 50 points and remind the world ASU produced one of the greatest players of all time. The Beard didn’t get 50. Instead, he tied his career high with 61-points, setting the record for most points scored against Gregg Popovich’s Spurs by an opposing player. Harden fueled the Rockets to a comeback win in the fourth quarter, 111-105.

The Rockets led comfortably at the half by 15 points. However, San Antonio came out in the third quarter, outscoring Houston by 15, tying the game. Houston still can’t seem to hold onto large leads, at least consistently. The Spurs led by as many as 6 points in the final frame, before Harden and the Rockets were able to send San Antonio home with a defeat. Eric Gordon had 12 points, and quietly has consistently hit double-figures in every game since the All-Star break. Chris Paul had 18 points and Clint Capela had 16 boards to support the MVP as the Rockets came back late to secure the victory.

James Harden now has 118 points in his last 2 games, setting an NBA record for the most over points scored over 2 games in the last 50 years. The Beard now has 8 games this season in which he’s hit the 50-point mark. It’s also the second time this season Harden has had back-to-back games with at least 57 points. He’s the first and only player to do that since Wilt Chamberlain. Harden continues to play out of his mind. Houston has needed him to be the best player in the NBA all season. And the Beard has responded night-in and night-out with legendary performances. And he’s doing it unlike anyone else in the league.

Scoring is up in the NBA this season.  But if it was so easy, why doesn’t anyone else in the NBA have more multiple consecutive 50-point games? 10 other players in the league have hit the 50-point mark this season, but each has done it only once. Harden’s done it 8 times. Naysayers will complain Harden takes too many shots, but Houston needs him to in order to win games. He took 34 on Friday, and made 19. Give a lot of these “other” top players 34 shots, against a tough Spurs defense, and I doubt they make more than 15. It’s harder than it looks. What Harden’s doing on the court. The Rockets now have 9 games remaining, with a trip to New Orleans on Sunday and then the MVP-frontrunner showdown in Milwaukee against Giannis and the Bucks on Tuesday. College basketball’s March Madness is under way. The NBA has their own form of madness, the NBA playoffs, which are only 3 weeks away. The way the Beard is playing, it could be Harden Madness come April when the postseason begins.

Rockets Host Spurs in I-10 Rivalry Season Finale

 

I-10.    Tiebreaker.    Ready to Play.

 

The Rockets welcome the Spurs to Toyota Center on Friday night. San Antonio has been playing great basketball. Houston needs to come ready to play. The friendly confines of home should provide the Rockets with enough of a boost to get by the Spurs. Houston needs to retain the grasp on the 3-seed. The team chasing them, Portland, has the tiebreaker. Every game is extremely important and influential in playoff seeing. With 10 regular season contests left, the Rockets still have work to do. Houston looks to kick off this final stretch with a win over the Spurs in the battle between interstate rivals. After last game, the Rockets need to prove they’re ready to play. Tonight and especially during the playoffs.

James Harden’s Sun Devils lost today in the NCAA Tournament.  Look for Harden to play with extra motivation, and possibly drop another 50-points.  His historic season should continue in fashion on Friday night. The Spurs are not even close to as good a team as they are in San Antonio. It’s time for the Rockets to give ‘em the boot out of Houston.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (42-30):  Silver

Houston Rockets (45-27):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW