Month: December 2019

Rockets Try to Stop Playing Cavalier, Head Up to Cleveland

The Good, the Bad, and the Rockets.    Who Are They?    Avoiding the Future of L.A. Deja-Vu.   

“There are two kinds of people in the world: those with guns, and those that dig.” A quote from the classic Spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. One that makes me think about the current state of the Rockets, and the entire NBA. Houston, a team loaded with guns who continue to dig their own hole for no reason. At this point in the NBA, it’s obvious who’s good, who’s bad, and who’s just plain ugly. We are now approaching a third of the way through this NBA season. It’s evident for every team whether or not they have realistic title chances. Every team except for the Rockets. Who are they? At 15-8, some nights, they look like they can beat any team from any era. Other nights, Houston just confuses you, playing cavalier against their opponent. Since starting the season 11-3, Houston is 4-5, and has sunk to mediocrity. Which Rockets will show up tonight?

On Wednesday, Houston travels to Cleveland to take on one of the NBA’s ugly’s, the Cavaliers. With a record of 5-18, Cleveland is currently on a 7-game losing streak. Only the Knicks and Warriors have worse record. There is absolutely no reason the Rockets shouldn’t win by 20 tonight. The Cavs have no one who can even contain James Harden. If the Beard is shooting with any relative efficiency, expect a big number from #13 in white. The Cavs have Kevin Love on the trading block, a potential star-in-the-making in Collin Sexton, but that’s pretty much it when it comes to news from Cleveland. They should be near the bottom of the East with the Knicks all season. Houston is more experienced, talented, and just better in every phase than Cleveland. But the Rockets are highly unpredictable, and winning on the road is never a guarantee in this league. A loss tonight would be extremely disappointing. Hopefully they look at the big picture, and realize they need to start picking up some slack in the standings.

Seeding is more important than ever this year. Especially in the Western Conference. Don’t be fooled by the records. As we approach the first trimester mark in the season, it’s apparent that there are three and only three teams who can win the West: the Lakers, Clippers, and Rockets. The Mavs and Nuggets are good and will be in the playoffs. Dallas is the biggest surprise of the season, and has the league’s brightest longterm future with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. But the Mavs won’t be a real threat to the throne this year. Denver, meanwhile, has always been overrated in my opinion. They’re a great regular season team. They’ll win a lot of games, but I don’t see their current core having a chance at beating the Lakers, Clippers, or Rockets in the playoffs. The Lakers have stormed through the early part of the season, off to a franchise best start at 21-3, and leading the West. The Clippers are the face of Load Management in the NBA, with Kawhi Leonard at the helm, who seems to rest every other game. Nonetheless, they’re currently second in the West, with a record of 18-7. And they won’t be resting in the playoffs. Both teams from L.A. pose as Houston’s biggest obstacles to reach the NBA Finals. The Rockets, at 15-8, should be at least 17-6, but the past can’t be changed. Houston has underperformed, and needs to right the ship while playing upcoming inferior competition on the schedule. Otherwise, they’ll drop too far in the standings. And while playoff seeding doesn’t truly matter, this season the team that gets the #1 seed will have a huge advantage.

So why is seeding more important than ever this season? LeBron James knows. There’s a reason he’s guided the Lakers to the best start in franchise history. It’s simple. The #2 and #3 seeds, if they both advance, will have to battle each other in the second round. Meaning whoever gets the top seed only has to play one of the NBA’s 3 Juggernauts (Lakers, Clippers, Rockets). Meanwhile, the two teams that don’t get the top seed will probably have an all out war in a 7-game playoff series. And then the winner gets the prize of facing a (probably) more rested #1 seed. It’s a brutal scenario. For the Rockets, it means if they can’t catch the Lakers for the top spot, they’ll probably have to play both teams from L.A, that’s if they advance. Two playoff series against the Clippers and Lakers, arguably the NBA’s two best teams, is a nightmare to think about.

Houston needs to get down to business. If James Harden and Russell Westbrook ever want to win a ring, the squad needs to start taking bad teams like tonight’s opponent in Cleveland seriously. Otherwise, the Rockets will be in a seriously deep hole come playoff time. And Houston will have to face two major problems in the playoffs instead of just one. It’s still early enough. The Rockets can catch the Lakers and climb to the top of the West. Houston has an arsenal of weapons just as deadly as they have out in L.A. Despite all the controversies, the Rockets have been their own worst enemy all season. Tonight, they need to stop digging… it’s time to load up. 

 

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:  Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-8):  White

Cleveland Cavaliers (5-18):  Black

 

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Heartbreak in Houston:  Kings Best Rockets at the Buzzer, 119-118

Tick Tock.    Wasting Westbrook.    Pretenders in the Mist.

“Just miscommunication. That’s all. It happens,” P.J. Tucker said after Houston’s heartbreaking loss at the buzzer to Sacramento, 119-118, on Monday night. Even if it’s for a second, miscommunication can be costly, and it happened and cost Houston a win as the final horn sounded. Things were looking bright for the Rockets in a closely contested game with one second on the clock. Houston took the lead, 118-116, with only a second remaining on a Russell Westbrook layup, that looked to be the game winner. But one second can be an eternity in the NBA. And it was plenty of time for the Kings. On the final possession, the Rockets miscommunicated on defense and left Nemanja Bjelica wide open, who sank a three at the buzzer to spoil Houston’s night. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 26 points, but it was a joint effort from Sacramento that gave them the victory. Six Kings’ players scored at least 13 points. The Rockets let Sacramento hang around long enough, until all the Kings needed was the ball and a second to win the game, which proved to be more than enough.

Houston wasted Russell Westbrook’s best game as a Rocket. Brodie scored 34 points, on stellar 13-for-17 shooting from the floor. His final basket looked to seal the victory for Houston, until Bjelica broke the bad news at the buzzer. Westbrook’s played extremely well the past two games, certainly an encouraging sign. P.J. Tucker had a career-high 19 rebounds, and was everywhere on the court per usual. Clint Capela had a solid night, scoring 13 points and grabbing 17 boards. James Harden had a quiet 27 points on poor shooting from the outside. It’s just one regular season loss, but the Rockets can’t continue to let teams hang around in games they’re supposed to win. Houston is clearly the better team, but once again played down to their competition on Monday. The clock is ticking. If the Rockets can’t start to win games over bad teams comfortably, it’s going to cost them in the energy tank in the long run. Houston’s starters are playing WAY too many minutes. This is partially due to injuries, and Coach Mike D’Antoni’s hesitation to give certain players (Gary Clark) more minutes. Clark was allotted 21 minutes on Monday, and was mistake-free once again. Clark never turned the ball over, and finished with 11 points, 3 boards, 2 keys blocks, and shot 3-for-5 from downtown. Clark has shown that he deserves more minutes. It’s time Coach recognizes Clark’s positive impact.

The Rockets will need to bounce back from this tough loss, as they hit the road for a short two game trip coming up on Wednesday and Friday. It’s against two more teams Houston should beat, the Cavs and the Magic. After Monday’s loss, it’s hard to see what this Rockets team will bring night-in-night-out. After winning 8 straight games, Houston has gone 4-5, and looked like pretenders in the mist. Or maybe they just don’t realize how important seeding is this year and are taking the regular season for granted. Last season showed what a difference one game can make in the standings, Houston lost their final game last season, nearly at the buzzer, and it dropped them from the second spot to fourth in the standings. As a result they had to play Golden State in the second round, instead of the Conference Finals. If the Rockets don’t start focusing on the big picture, they’re going to be in trouble. Houston needs to start winning the games they’re supposed to win. At 15-8, the Rockets are now 5 games out of the 1-seed, which is crucial this season in the West now more than ever. What makes everything so frustrating is the Houston has the potential of a Lakers team that sits first in the West with a 21-3 record. The Rockets have the capability to blow teams out, beat the barnburners, but they just refuse to give themselves a break. And at the end of the regular season, games like Monday night’s heartbreaker could add up to cost Houston in the end. And the Rockets could be bounced before they even reach the Conference Finals. It happens.

Rockets Aim to Keep Firing as Kings Come to Town

Busy Week at the Office.    Repeat the Sweep.    Return for the Mac.

It wasn’t a royal beatdown, but the Rockets survived their previous game, a win over the pesky Suns on Saturday night. Tonight, Houston starts off a busy week with a Monday night matchup featuring the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are coming off an impressive win in Dallas last night, and finish their Texas-two step in Houston. The Rockets are clearly the better team, and are playing with a day of rest. Since 2016, Houston is 14-1 at home when facing teams playing the second night of a back-to-back. James Harden is coming off a game where he didn’t heat up until the final quarter. All signs point to Houston winning tonight’s contest. And they should. But the Rockets are predictably unpredictable. Monday’s tilt is the start of four games in six nights for Houston. They need to start this quad of games with a bang, as fatigue could come into play later in the week.

Last year, the Rockets swept the Kings in the regular season, 4-0. The Beard and company will aim to repeat just that starting tonight, as Russell Westbrook joins the mix trying to extend Houston’s streak over Sac-Town. Brodie’s had a triple double in the last three games for the Rockets. Expect, the Beard and Brodie to have big games tonight against a Kings team that simply can’t guard them. However, Houston can’t sleep on Sacramento. Despite their 9-13 record, the Kings are a game out of the final playoff spot. They improved on last season and have a bright future, but Harden and the Rockets should be too much for this young squad from Sacramento.

The Kings are also Ben McLemore’s former team. Benny Mac has been on fire the last four games for Houston and looks to keep it rolling tonight against his former squad. McLemore and the Rockets need to contain Buddy Hield, the Kings best player. De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley, Sacramento’s other bright stars, remain out with injuries Veteran Harrison Barnes is having a career year for the Kings, Bogdan Bogdanovic is a streaky shooter with the potential to catch fire. But this squad is thin is the post with Bagley sidelined a plus for Houston. Look for Clint Capela to return dominate again after his relatively quiet past two games. They call themselves the Kings, but Sacramento isn’t NBA royalty. Not this season. There’s still a lot of games left, and the playoffs are a different story, but the Rockets could be kings of the NBA this year. Tonight, Houston looks to make it five in a row against the Kings… and display what royalty looks like in the process.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (9-13):  White

Houston Rockets (15-7):  Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet

Harden Blasts Off Late, Rockets Eclipse Suns, 115-109

Beard Burst.    Triple Russ.    Mixing it Up.   

Devin Booker learned a lesson the Harden Way. You don’t mess with the greats, pick fights, or poke beards. James Harden and Booker got into a late scuffle in Houston’s 115-109 win over Phoenix on Saturday night. Beef took place about midway through the Beard’s Lecture, as he’d promptly decided to take the Suns to school in the fourth quarter. Harden got off to a slow start, but finished with a bang, scoring 18 of his 34 points in the final frame of action. Booker had another strong performance as he begins to warm up after a slow start to the season. Phoenix’s star guard had 35 points, and kept the Suns in the contest for most of the night. At age 23, Booker’s still young, and has the potential to be a superstar if he can become more versatile. For now, he’s still learning. In Houston, Booker learned in this league, there’s some guys you just don’t mess with, especially the Beard. And on Saturday, Professor Harden went to work, displaying for his peer an art of domination. After Phoenix tied the game at 85 apiece, the Beard scored the next 13 Rocket points to give the squad a 102-95 lead they never relinquished.

It wasn’t all fun and games for the Rockets. The Suns made this matchup interesting nearly for its entirety, boosted by a strong first quarter that put the Rockets in an early 8-point hole. Thank God for superstar teammates. Despite Harden’s strong finish, the Beard couldn’t find his shooting rhythm through the first three quarters. Russell Westbrook carried Houston to the finish line, where Harden provided the final blow to Phoenix’s chances. Russ finished with his third-straight triple-double, garnering 24 points, 14 boards, and 11 dimes. Most importantly, he didn’t take as many of the ill-advised jumpers that he loves to heave. Westbrook shot an efficient 10-for-18 from the floor, and only attempted 3 three-pointers. Brodie struggles from beyond the arc. Less is more for Westbrook and the Rockets when he attacks the rim for 2, instead of relying on tough shots from the outside for an extra point. Houston needs continued performances like Saturday’s from Brodie in order to beat the NBA’s best come playoff time.

Speaking of continued performances, Ben McLemore’s return to the bench didn’t slow his roll. Benny Mac had his best game of the year as a reserve. McLemore finished with 27 points, on a stellar 10-for-15 night from the field that featured 5 long bombs. Over the last 4 games, Benny Mac has been on fire, and seen a Ben-aissance of sorts. The last quad of games has seen B-Mac average 22.5 points on 57% shooting. McLemore is playing the best ball of his professional career, and appears to have found his perfect role here in Houston. If Benny Mac can continue to excel off the bench, the Rockets are going to be impossible to take out. One could argue mixing it up. Starting McLemore over House. But House is having a bright season, minus the injuries, and is key to Houston’s intangibles and defensive intensity. Chemistry wise, House fits better with the starting unit than he does coming off the bench. Hopefully McLemore continues his strong play, and turns string of memorable performances into a breakout-season. The Rockets will aim to distance themselves in the standings over the next several games. Their victory over the Suns was the first that begins a ten game stretch that’s one of Houston’s softest on the schedule. Boasting a record of 14-7, Rockets are joined up with the Clippers, Mavericks, and Nuggets as teams who have 7 losses in the crowded West at the moment. Houston needs to seize this moment in the schedule, and distance themselves from the pack. Up next for the Rockets: the Sacramento Kings come to H-Town. Another young team. Ready to learn a lesson… the Harden Way.

Rockets Aim to Begin a New Streak, Host Rising Suns

Sunny Stretch.    No Nightmares.    Team You Love to Hate.

They’re back. After a crazy adventure of sorts, Houston returns home for a match against the young Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. The Rockets are coming off a strange, short two-game road trip. The first game,  in San Antonio, featured a controversial dunk, which gave way to a collapse and heartbreak. Houston’s latest affair, in Toronto, featured dazzling teamwork, solid shooting, and resilient defense, resulting in arguably the best win of the season. James Harden and the Rockets now find themselves beginning a very soft, sunny stretch in the schedule. Starting tonight against Phoenix, Houston’s next six games are all against opponents with losing records. It’s time the squad takes advantage of this portion of the schedule to build a gap in the West. The Lakers have been red-hot to start the year, at 20-3 on the season, and leading the West. Harden and the Rockets can catch King James and LA, or at least close in on them, if they continue to win games over bad teams.

Be warned… Don’t take this team for granted Houston. The Suns aren’t that bad, this year. They’ll actually be the toughest test Houston faces over the next six games. Phoenix, despite being 10-11, is sitting in the 7th spot in the West. The Suns have a chance to make the playoffs, but there’s still a lot of basketball left this season. Phoenix started the campaign 5-2, but are 5-9 since, trending downward. Devin Booker, the Suns best player, and most underrated star in the NBA, is coming off his best game of the season. Booker had 44 points, 8 boards, and 9 assists in Phoenix’s last game, an overtime win over the Pelicans in New Orleans. Last year’s number one overall pick in the draft, De’Andre Ayton, has missed the entire season with an injury. He won’t play tonight, and luckily for Houston, Aaron Baynes, who was the highlight of the Suns fast start, remains out with an injury as well. The Rockets do not bode well against players of Baynes’ nature. The big Aussie is the kind of strong grinder in the post who gives Houston’s thin interior nightmares. Thankfully, there should be no nightmares tonight. If the Rockets don’t overlook the Suns, there’s no reason they should fall on Saturday night.

Having played 21 games, Houston is approximately a quarter through the season. It’s been an interesting first quarter of year, as all have in the Harden/Tucker Era. The first quarter of the Harden/Westbrook Era has had seemingly everything. Injuries (of course), winning streaks, MVP-caliber performances, losing streaks, shameful losses, 60 point-games, controversy, even official protests. And then there’s the Rockets Rebounding Machine: the most underrated big man in basketball, Clint Capela. After a slow start through the first six games, Capela changed his attitude after a talk from Coach Mike D’Antoni. Since, Clint’s dominated the boards in nearly every game, eating glass for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s certainly been an entertaining 21 games so far. The Rockets have a chance to gain ground in the West over the next ten games. Other than the Clippers, every team Houston faces over the next ten games is currently a squad with a losing record. It’s time the Harden and Russell Westbrook even out their chemistry. In particular, it’s time for Brodie to improve his decision-making on the court. Westbrook brings a great amount of energy, and his ability to rebound has opened ups space for Clint in the paint. Defenses focus on Westbrook attacking the offensive glass, while forgetting about the Swiss Boardman, preferred meal: glass. Brodie’s had a positive impact on Capela’s game, but Westbrook is too erratic in many situations. If Russ can’t improve his decision-making, when Eric Gordon returns, and if he returns as the Splash Gordon Rockets fans know, Westbrook could potentially ride the pine in key situations later in the season.

Beginning tonight, 61 games remain for Houston. They’ve also become the Team Everyone Loves to Hate. Other than Rocket fans, who actually watch the team, outsiders who love to throw a jab at the Beard any chance they get.. even though they’ll never touch close to his level of greatness. These haters concede that Houston complains too much, the Rockets style of play is boring, Harden is “cheating” the rules or flopping. Whatever the excuse is, they can keep on whining about any of the above. Because the Rockets, and that man with the beard your friend loves to hate, they’re not going anywhere. The refs can take away a team’s basket, but they can’t take away a squad’s passion. It’s time to darken the bright, rising Suns, a team many causal fans enjoy rooting for. Unfortunately for Phoenix, they come to Houston at the wrong time… invading the baddest man on the planet’s house. Coming off that huge win in Toronto, the Rockets are back, ready to show they’re better than ever. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Phoenix Suns (10-11):  Purple

Houston Rockets (14-7):  “City Edition” White

 

TV:  7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Bounce Back, Tame Raptors, 119-109

Mastering the Plan.    Mac and Threes.    Don’t Be Fooled.

“It’s easy to fool people when they’re already fooling themselves,” Quentin Beck says in Spider-Man: Far From Home. The Rockets found themselves far from home on Thursday night, playing up in the depths of Jurassic Park in Toronto… ready to fool everyone who thought Houston would be rattled after Tuesday’s crushing defeat. James Harden and company entered this game on the heels of the Alamo City Robbery controversy, but no one was fooling the Beard and his crew up North. Houston bounced back with arguably their best game of the season, besting the Raptors, 119-109, on Thursday. Make no mistake, this was a performance that displayed why the Rockets are legit contenders. The MVP was doubled the second he crossed mid-court, the entire game. A trend the Beard’s been seeing for seven games now, as teams are starting to realize nobody can guard James Harden one-on-one. Wait… I thought they said if you doubled Harden, and forced other players to beat you, the Rockets couldn’t win? Well, it turns out… they were wrong. Harden had only 23 points, but on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting from the field. Even after he was held to a quiet half, the Beard didn’t force any shots or ill-timed passes. Harden mastered Toronto’s defensive scheme. The Beard found open shooters, but only needed three dimes on the evening. Houston as a team made the right decision, play-after-play. Ball movement was as crisp and sharp as its been all season for the Rockets, and they never deterred from their game plan of confidently taking the open shot.

Russell Westbrook recorded another triple-double for the books, scoring 19 points, along with 13 boards and 11 dimes. Brodie, however, continues to struggle mightily with his shot. Westbrook connected on only 7 of his 27 shots, resulting in 25.9% from the field, the lowest shooting percentage by a Rocket. Westbrook’s relentless energy never waned, as he led the team in assists and boards. But Brodie’s shooting has been an area of concern since he arrived in H-Town. In the playoffs, against the league’s elite, Houston needs a sharper Brodie if they want to take Toronto’s place as NBA Champions. The playoffs are still a ways down the road. Westbrook has time to learn to take higher percentage shots, but he better start showing he can do it soon. All he has to do is look at his teammates, who were on fire on Thursday night.

Like the quote from Spider-Man: Far From Home, Harden knows it’s easy to fool people when they’re already fooling themselves. A master of deception. Keenly aware of his defenders next move, seemingly on every possession. His steely resolve, keeping the ultimate goal in mind. A casual fan will look at this game’s box score, see Harden’s 23 points, and think the Beard had a subpar game. Don’t be fooled. This was a masterpiece in versatility by the greatest scorer on planet earth… showing he’s much more than just a scorer. A known fact to people who actually watch Harden play every night, opposed to those who follow false narratives and just look at the box scores. His post-defense on Pascal Siakam. The ability for such a trigger-happy player to harness patience when his team needs it most. And that underrated bearded-court vision… Harden put on a masterclass display of leadership and how to dominate an opposing team’s game plan. He also helped Houston serve up a healthy portion of Mac-and-Threes.

Ben McLemore was sensational once again, scoring a season-high 28 points, including a career-high 8 long bombs. Danuel House returned on Thursday, but in a reserve role, due to not practicing with the team for days, and still battling an illness. House had 16 points on 5-for-11 shooting. The Houstonian was still visibly under the weather, feeling the effects from his flu-like illness. After the game, House said “he just wanted to get on the plane, and get some sleep.” An impressive effort from someone still battling the flu. Speaking of impressive, Ben McLemore as a starter looks like an All-Star. Take Benny Mac when he’s in a reserve role, and McLemore’s numbers are below average. Despite this, Coach Mike D’Antoni’s said Benny Mac will return to the bench once House is fully-healthy. Hopefully in the future, McLemore can find a rhythm coming off the bench like he’s had as a starter. P.J. Tucker continues to quietly have a career-season. The Sneaker King had 18 points and 11 boards, on 50% shooting… including all the usual hustle and grind Tucker brings every night. It was cold in Toronto, but the Rockets as a team were on fire from downtown. Harden and crew took full advantage of what the defense gave them. Houston shot 22-for-55, for 40.8% from deep as a unit. Take Westbrook’s 6 ill-advised three’s out the equation, and the Rockets shot 44.9% from downtown. When Houston’s knocking down long-range daggers at that rate, they’re almost impossible to beat.

After suffering arguably one of the most heartbreaking “defeats” in NBA-history, the Rockets came back with a performance worth only of title contenders. With their best player double and triple-teamed all night, the squad found a way to win the old fashioned way: team basketball. Houston’s role players stepped up, ready for the moment, and beat the defending champs in their house. And winning in Jurassic Park is no easy feat. Toronto is a legit contender in the East. The Raptors are 15-6 on the season, and before Houston invaded the park, they were 9-1 at home. Toronto’s showing their depth and chemistry went beyond Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green during last year’s title run. This year though, their run probably ends in the East. Yea, you’ve probably heard all the talk about possible contenders. The Lakers. The Clippers. Even the Nuggets. But don’t sleep on these Rockets. They made a deeper statement than winning a basketball game on Thursday night. If you think Houston isn’t a serious threat for Toronto’s throne… you’re just fooling yourself.

Rockets Head North for Jurassic Park Duel with Raptors

South vs. North.    Moments Like This.    The Rock Star.

“I bring scientists, you bring the rock star,” John Hammond says in Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg’s game-changing film that changed the industry forever. James Harden’s slowly changing the game with each contest, and his Rockets head north of the border for a match with the Raptors on Thursday night. Houston heads to Toronto looking to put Tuesday night’s shenanigans to rest with a solid victory over a good Raptors team. It’s the NBA’s best team from the South versus the best from the North. The defending champion-Raptors have been better than most expected this season. They lost Kawhi Leonard in free-agency to the Clippers, but Toronto has proven they’ve still a got a competitive team without “the silencer”. The Raptors are currently tied for 2nd in the East, with a 15-5 record. After being named Most-Improved Player last season, Pascal Siakam has vastly improved again this season. Siakam is averaging 25 points and 8 rebounds, and has evolved into a bonafide NBA All-Star. P.J. Tucker will have his work cut out for him (like every night), guarding this budding, evolving All-Star. Houston needs to help and work as a team on defense. Containing Siakam is one the major keys to victory for the Rockets tonight. Kyle Lowry recently returned from a thumb injury that kept him out for a month, and Fred VanVleet is having a career season in the backcourt for Toronto. Both players shooting abilities open the floor and creates spaces for the Dinos to wreak havoc on the opposition.

Danuel House is listed as questionable again tonight. Ben McLemore and Austin Rivers need to continue to step up for the Rockets to win a tough one on the road. Tonight’s matchup will be Houston’s most difficult for the next two weeks. The Rockets should be angry and motivated after being dealt an unfair hand in their last game on Tuesday night. Thursday night’s showdown in Jurassic Park will measure Houston’s mental toughness. Just who are these Rockets? Will they go into tonight’s game frustrated and mad, with their minds still on the Alamo City Robbery? If Houston’s still living in the past they’re in danger of laying an egg tonight, and getting blown out by very good team. The Raptors lost their previous game to Miami at home, their first loss in Jurassic Park all season. Expect Toronto to be ready for the Rockets. The Raptors don’t lose consecutive games at home often, and have always had one of the best home-court advantages in the league. Luckily Houston has the best player in the world at the moment, James Harden. And The Beard was born for moments like this. Harden was at the epicenter of the Alamo City Robbery, but expect the incident to fuel and motivate the greatest scorer this game’s ever seen. Harden goes for his third consecutive 50-point game tonight, and judging by the circumstances, don’t be surprised if he passes the mark again. The Raptors are solid defensively on the perimeter, but for the Beard, tonight isn’t just a regular season game in a long season. It’s an opportunity to make a statement. Compensate for the Alamo City Robbery with by silencing Jurassic Park. To do this, Harden will need to fight off more defenders than usual, as the Raptors have 5 or 6 guys they can put on the Beard at different times in the game. 

At 13-7, the Rockets are stuck in the middle of the standings. 14-7 is a breath of fresh air, while 13-8 looks like a struggle to breath. It won’t be easy get that breath of fresh air, by any means, but the Rockets have the firepower to shut down the Raptors on Thursday night. Screaming fans in and outside the arena make up the area known as “Jurassic Park.” Houston, the NBA’s Evil Empire, won’t be welcomed with open arms. The basketball scientists are waiting in Toronto, and globally, to critique every move Harden makes. As they should know.. there’s something about loud, screaming arenas that bring out the best in superstar players. Expect Toronto to be louder than usual tonight… Houston’s bringing the rock star.

 

Scotiabank Arena:  Toronto, Canada

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-7):  Black

Toronto Raptors (15-5):  Red

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

A Spurious Night: Refs Aid San Antonio Rally, Rockets Fall to Spurs in Double OT, 135-133

Spurned by the Moment.    The Play.    Back to Business.

With scoring up more than ever before, NBA teams shouldn’t have to worry about points being taken away by the biases of officials. After Tuesday night’s fiasco and ensuing controversy, teams won’t have to worry anymore about their final score being tinkered by refs. Houston unfortunately were made to look the like losers on Tuesday night, and “lost” to the Spurs in double-overtime, 135-133. James Harden scored 50, Clint Capela had another 20/20 outing, and Russell Westbrook finished with a triple-double. Austin Rivers had a season-high 19 points, and was red-hot from deep during  a stretch midway through the third quarter. None of these performances were talked about after the game. This was a contest marred by an incident that’s never been seen in the NBA, and due to all the controversy & negative light it sheds on the league, you’ll likely never see it again.

The play was simple. James Harden played the passing lane in transition defense brilliantly (one of the key aspects of his game that never gets talked about) and stole the basketball. The Beard then waited for San Antonio’s ball-boy to get out of the way, as the employee wasn’t anticipating the action returning to that side of the court immediately. Harden had an open lane to the basket, with no Spurs in sight. The Beard gathered his momentum as the ball boy struggled to get off the court, and then dunked the ball with such ferocity the ball went through the basket, all the way, and then due to the high speed, came back up through the net. There was no interference by Harden on the play. Simply put, it was a tenacious slam dunk, that rocked the rim so hard it came back out after going through. It’s a hard scenario to describe, video shows how awkward the play looks. Nonetheless, it’s a basket, or should have been. Unfortunately, for the integrity of the game, the refs decided to claim Harden missed the dunk, and refused to acknowledge their mistakes. It was only until after the game, when the officials admitted the basket should have counted. What makes this outcome and lack of accountability by referees so frustrating is this wasn’t a complex call. With video/replay (which the NBA has for a reason), this could have been corrected and fixed in two minutes. Instead, the refs ignored Mike D’Antoni’s request for a challenge (Houston still had their challenge that each team gets to use once during a game), and were eager to continue to aid the Spurs’ comeback rally.

Houston is officially protesting the call, claiming they want to be avoided the victory, or that the final 7:50 of the game (time controversy occurred) is replayed at a later date. Don’t expect the NBA to grant Houston any wishes. In a world where the Rockets are the NBA’s most-hated team, Houston needs to embrace the hate, and play with a chip on their shoulder. The Rockets got hosed, bad, and it cost them a game. But it’s just one regular season game, they’re still 62 left for Houston to win. Harden and company need to hope they don’t get more baskets taken away from them in the future. After the controversy this play ignited, with video evidence proving it’s obvious that the Beard’s basket should have counted, it’s unlikely the Rockets will be involved in this scenario again. Houston puts the ball in the hoop better than any team in the NBA. Anyone with logic has to admit it’s hard to win when the refs are literally taking away points. Especially in a double-overtime game. The Rockets just need to move on and forget about this one. Twenty games into the season, Houston’s almost at the quarter mark. There’s no time to dwell over NBA shenanigans. It’s time to get back to business. Houston’s been the better team the last three games, whether the score indicates it or not. The squad should be motivated, and obviously a little ticked off, heading into their next contest. Up next, the Rockets head north of the border to face the defending champion Toronto Raptors. The Raps have been much better than most anticipated before the season began. Houston is going to have to erase Tuesday night from their memories, and move on if they want to beat one of the best home teams in their gym. They won’t be given any favors, but after Tuesday, the Rockets shouldn’t have to worry about more points being taken away.

Rockets Head to San Antonio for Battle with In-State Rival Spurs

The Worst of Texas.    Open Interior.    Returning House.

 

Tonight Houston battles a familiar divisional foe, the San Antonio Spurs, to begin a short two-game road trip. The Rockets take on a Spurs team that looks poised to miss the playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons. San Antonio is off to a rough start, with a 7-14 record on the year. In their previous game the Spurs got pummeled in a 34-point loss to the below-average Detroit Pistons. Expect Coach Gregg Popovich to have his team motivated and inspired to come back with a better performance tonight. Meanwhile, the Rockets are aiming for their third straight win, and look to keep climbing in the standings. Houston’s only three and a half games behind the Lakers for the top spot out West. Winning games against the lowly Spurs are the menial tasks the Rockets need to do throughout the season to ensure they finish as close to the top as possible. It sounds funny, saying lowly Spurs. Maybe because they’ve made the playoffs over the past two decades every season, and I’m not quite used to San Antonio’s club being subpar. They’ve housed the best team in Texas over the last two decades. Now, they’re officially the worst. A team I thought would finish 8th and sneak into the playoffs, now looks bound for the lottery, and rebuilding mode.

On Tuesday night, Houston needs to outrun the Spurs, and win the rebound battle. Look for San Antonio to come out hustling and with a lot of energy. Popovich certainly had a lot to say to his squad after their last game. The Spurs will be better tonight, but they shouldn’t be good enough to beat these Rockets. Divisional games are always tough, especially on the road. Houston needs to focus on the Spurs as a team with the potential to get back in the playoff race. There’s still a long way to go in this season, and San Antonio plays hard every night to counter the diminishing amount of talent that sits on the squad.

These Rockets are well-rested. They’ve played only one game over the past five days. Houston should have plenty of gas to the job done tonight in SA. Clint Capela returns from an illness tonight, but Danuel House remains out with a similar flu-like illness. Expect Ben McLemore to have another big game tonight, and Chris Clemons and Gary Clark will likely get open opportunities to shine as well. LaMarcus Aldridge is out for the Spurs, giving Clint Capela more space to operate in the interior. Don’t be surprised if Capela has another monstrous game on the glass, he should feast on a Spurs’ frontcourt missing Aldridge. San Antonio still has DeMar DeRozan, and a group that plays hard. Unfortunately for DeRozan, his defensive assignment tonight is James Harden. The Beard, fresh off a 60-point game and two days of rest, is primed for another big game tonight. It’s hard to imagine a player scoring 60, or even 50 points in consecutive games. It’s rare, but James Harden is a rare breed. If anyone is crossing the half-century mark in the NBA tonight, it’s Mr. Harden. Just look at the last time the Beard played the Spurs: he didn’t score 60… he scored 61.

 

AT&T Center:  San Antonio, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (13-6):  Black

San Antonio Spurs (7-14):  White

 

TV:  7:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Harden Cooks Up a 60-Burger, Rockets Roast Hawks, 158-111

Uncut Gems.    The Benaissance.    Open Opportunities.

“This is me. This is how I win,” Adam Sandler says in the trailer for the upcoming film, Uncut Gems. This quote came to mind after Saturday night’s torching of the Hawks. In only three quarters James Harden scored 60 points, and the Rockets blew the birds out of Toyota Center, 158-111. Scoring 60 in an NBA game is very rare, doing it in three quarters, in this league, is an uncut gem. The Beard gave witnesses another historic performance, an uncut gem that he seemingly fabricates with such ease. Harden is in the midst of a career season, improving aspects of his game even after his record-breaking campaign last year. The Beard has gotten better every season since he arrived in Houston. The city had never seen a 60-Burger before Harden came to town. Now, they’ve witnessed four courtesy of His Beardness.

Saturday’s matchup was never close. Houston led by 17 after the first quarter, and 29 at the half. And it wasn’t just the Beard’s 60-Burger that made Saturday a great night. Ben McLemore finally broke out of his shooting slump. Benny Mac had a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 6-for-11 beyond the arc. McLemore also had a career-high 13 rebounds, producing his first career double-double. With House and Capela out to injuries, McLemore was one of several Rockets who took advantage of the opportunity. Benny Mac even makes a case for a starting role. McLemore averages 17.4 points as a starter, compared to only 4.9 as a reserve. Due to Houston’s roster depth, McLemore won’t find himself in a starting spot without injuries, but his performance was encouraging, as Benny Mac continues to carve out a bigger role on Houston’s roster as the season moves along.

Chris Clemons continues to be red-hot from deep. CC3 scored 16 points, including 4-for-8 shooting from downtown. Gary Clark struggled shooting the ball, going 1-for-5 from the field. However, the UC still found a way to make an impact. Clark had 6 boards and 3 dimes in 24 minutes of action. Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in with 7 points and 5 boards in 5 minutes. These players are all competing for more playing time. Once Eric Gordon, Clint Capela, and Danuel House are all healthy, these guys won’t see close to the amount of action they’re seeing now. These stretch of games serve as open opportunities for McLemore, Clark, Clemons, and Hartenstein to show they deserve bigger roles on the roster.

One guy who needn’t worry about his roster spot: James Harden. The Beard absolutely cooked the Hawks on Saturday night. Harden was on fire, connecting on two-thirds (16-for-24) of his shot attempts. Trae Young had 37 points to lead Atlanta, but they really never had a chance against Houston. The Hawks were coming off a tough overtime loss in Indiana on Friday night. They visibly had tired legs, which Harden and the Rockets feasted on immediately. The Rockets did what they were supposed to do, and put Atlanta away early. It won’t be this easy most nights for Houston.

Looking ahead, in this crowded year of great screen performances, it won’t be easy for Adam Sandler to receive a nomination for his role in the highly anticipated Uncut Gems, but he’s got a realistic chance. He’s not favored at the moment, but there’s still time before Oscar nominations are released. This season’s playoffs will be more highly anticipated than ever before, and Houston isn’t the favorite, but they’ve got a realistic chance. The Rockets will need some playoff uncut gems from the Beard if they ever want to truly get over the top, and win a title in the Harden era. The Beard’s never scored 50 points in the playoffs. Opposing defenses are better in the postseason, but if Houston wants a championship, Harden needs at least 2 or 3 uncut gems in the playoffs. For the Rockets to beat the NBA’s best in June, they need Harden to be at his best. The versatile ways the Beard wears his opponents down to win games. His underrated defense, overlooked passing ability, and leadership. But, most of all, it’s scoring the rock… it’s how he wins.