Month: January 2020

Rockets Return Home, Host Hungry Wolves

Space City Beard.    Last Spot Contender.    Staying in the Hunt.

It’s James Harden Bobblehead night (or afternoon) this Saturday at Toyota Center as the Rockets host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Beard’s been rusty from the field since the team’s rare four-day break in the schedule. In the two games since, Houston held on to beat Atlanta, but got pounded by a good Thunder team in Oklahoma City. Hopefully the Rockets will get back to themselves in the friendly confines of Toyota Center.

Minnesota is one of seven teams in the West competing for the final playoff spot. The Wolves have won three of their last four, and might be getting Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury this afternoon. Andrew Wiggins is having the best season of his career, and Houston will need to contain him regardless of Towns’ availability. Shabazz Napier is having a breakout season, and Robert Covington, a prospect Houston was rumored to be looking at in the offseason, has been a nice addition for the new-look Wolves. This game won’t be a cakewalk by any means. If Harden can’t find his shot, and the rest of Houston can’t carry the load, the Rockets will be in for a long afternoon.

This is an important game because Houston is now in the fifth seed out West. The red-hot Utah Jazz passed the Rockets for the fourth spot, and Houston is now tied in the loss column with the Clippers and Jazz, while only trialing second-seeded Denver by one game. Each matchup is huge, no matter the opponent. In four games, the Rockets will officially be at the halfway mark of the season, a point some squads have reached in the schedule. We’re getting closer to the playoffs, and while there’s still plenty of time in the season, and plenty of scores to be settled, Houston can’t afford to take any more opponents for granted. It’s a must-win today at Today Center for the Rockets. Hopefully, a little toy will bring some luck to Houston and the Beard.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (15-22):  Blue

Houston Rockets (25-12):  “Space City” White

 

TV:  4 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Thunder Spoil Westbrook’s Return, Blitz Rockets 113-92

Lost in the Storm.    Rustier Beard.    Too Little, Too Late.

Russell Westbrook got a hero’s welcome in Oklahoma City when he returned in his first game back. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much to celebrate, other than his Thunder memories. Another night with Houston, and another embossing defeat for the Rockets, a team that’s too many already this season. Houston was outplayed from the opening tip, en route to a 113-92 beatdown in Oklahoma City. 92 points is the lowest the Rockets have scored all season. Russell Westbrook wasn’t the problem. Brodie had 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting, but no one else showed up for the Rockets. They seemed lost in the storm of all the hooplas surrounding Westbrook’s return. It appeared the Rockets prioritized Brodie having a good game over winning from the start. Houston departed from their gameplan and trailed by double-digits for most of the contest.

It didn’t help that James Harden had his worst game of the year. By far. The Beard scored a season-low 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Conrows James efficiency continues to trend downward with his new hairstyle. Maybe it’s time to go to back to the old look. Other than Harden and Westbrook, Chris Clemons was the only other Rocket in double-figures, scoring 14 points. CC3 should have seen the court earlier in the game, but didn’t get any action until garbage time. Clemons could have potentially kept the Rockets in the game, but didn’t get to play until any chance of a comeback was too little too late. Houston did play the night before, with Oklahoma City resting. That’s still no excuse to lose by 21 points before a national audience. The Rockets had four days off prior to their game the night before in Atlanta, and Westbrook rested against the Hawks. Houston just retreated from their normal gameplan, and got outplayed from start to finish.

The Rockets return home next for a Saturday afternoon game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Houston’s now in the fifth spot in the standings after sizzling Utah passed them up. The Rockets need to beat inferior teams like Minnesota to stay in the hunt for one of the top seeds. Chris Paul and the Thunder proved they’re no joke, and look bound for the playoffs this season. The Wolves are one of seven teams fighting for that last spot out West. Houston will have to bring more fight if they want a victory when they return for their first game back home in eight days. 

Westbrook Returns to OKC, Rockets Face Thunder in Thursday Night Showdown

Energizer Bunny.    Land of the Wise Men.    Bearding Returns.

“I’ll be back.” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line from The Terminator has been echoed in society since he first uttered the line in the classic film. And tonight, as the Rockets and Thunder meet in Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook returns to the place he called home the first 11 years of his career before becoming a Rocket: Oklahoma City. Brodie’s back. Expect Houston’s energizer bunny to be bursting with enthusiasm, as he takes on his former team, looking to terminate OKC at all costs. Westbrook rested in Houston’s win over Atlanta last night, and hasn’t played in 5 days. Brodie should have more energy than he’s had all season. Westbrook needs to drive it to the rack, as rust may play a factor in his shooting tonight. James Harden had an off-shooting night in Atlanta as rust played a factor in his shot. Expect the Beard to be more accurate tonight, as Harden returns to his former franchise, it’s just been so long, sometimes one forgets the Beard started his career in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder, meanwhile, are having a much better season than many expected. OKC currently has a record of 21-16, good for seventh place out West. Led by former-Rocket Chris Paul, who was traded for Westbrook, the Thunder have been rolling of late. Winners of 10 of their last 12 games, Oklahoma City has been one of the best teams in the clutch all season. The Thunder are coming off an overtime win over the Nets in their previous game, with Chris Paul looking like prime CP3 in the clutch moments of games. Veteran Steven Adams is having another solid season for the Thunder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a player with All-Star caliber potential. OKC have rose up the standings over the last few weeks, showing they’ll probably be in the playoff mix come April.

Tonight’s matchup will be Houston’s toughest until they host the Lakers next Saturday. The Rockets have played well against the better teams, and (as evidenced last night in Atlanta) have struggled to take inferior teams seriously. Expect playoff-like atmosphere in OKC tonight, as emotions will be running high in Brodie’s return to the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Harden should have a better shooting performance than last night. With all the focus on Westbrook, don’t be surprised if the Beard steals the show in the national spotlight. The Thunder have circled this game on the calendar since the schedules were set. Oklahoma City wants nothing more than to beat their former beloved Westbook, and his new team, the despised Rockets. Especially Chris Paul, who might be older, but he’s having a stellar season.. showing he can still play at a high level. But CP3’s got high level competition coming into his house tonight. A house formerly owned by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. And they’re back. Back to wreak havoc  in the place they used to call home… and quiet the Thunder’s storm.

 

Chesapeake Energy Arena:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-11):  White

Oklahoma City Thunder (21-16):  Navy

 

TV:  8:30 PM CT – TNT, AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Stave Off Atlanta’s Rally, Down Hawks, 122-115

Familiar Scene.    Beard Rust.    Questionable Lineups.

A familiar scene took place Wednesday night in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. The Rockets took off early, leading the Hawks 45-29 after the first quarter. Houston led by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, but, to no one’s surprise, the Rockets let another bad team back in the game. Houston let Atlanta cut the lead to 3, before Eric Gordon hit a deep three to keep the Hawks at bay for good, and capped a 122-115 Rockets victory on Wednesday night. After having four days off, Houston was undoubtedly rusty, especially the Beard. James Harden finished with his 15th career 40-point triple-double, but it had a horrid shooting night. The Beard connected on only 9 of his 34 shots, including a miserable 4-for-20 from downtown. With Westbrook resting on the first night of a back-to-back, other Rockets stepped up as Harden couldn’t find his shot late in the game. Trae Young was stellar for the Hawks, getting his own 40-point triple-double. It’s the first time in NBA history opposing players recorded 40-point triple-doubles in the same contest. 

Ben McLemore had another stellar game for Houston. Benny Mac shot 6-9 from long range en route to 18 points. McLemore, in the midst of a breakout season, continues to be the surprise of the year for Houston. Clint Capela had one of his best showings of the season, with a monster 22 point, 22 board performance. Throw in 2 blocks and 2 steals to go along with 9-for 14 shooting for good measure. The Rockets’ big fella continues to have a career year after his slow start to the season. Eric Gordon hit the shot of the night. With the shot clock winding down, and a little over two minutes left in the game, Houston led 112-109, as Harden found EG for a deep splash that put the Rockets up 6 and kept the Hawks at bay til the buzzer sounded. Gordon finished with 17 points, but shot only 5-for-14 from the floor as he continues to search for consistency since returning from injury.

For some reason, beyond my comprehension, Mike D’Antoni decided to go with a 7-man rotation against the Hawks. The team with the worst record in the NBA. On the first night of a back-to-back, with the second one upcoming in OKC being a huge game. Isaiah Hartenstein only played four minutes, yet still managed to get a couple points, rebounds, and an assist in limited action. Granted, Westbrook didn’t play, and the Rockets let Atlanta turn a blowout into a contested matchup. At one point, Houston even held a 23-point lead. And there’s no reason for D’Antoni to leave rotational players on the floor with a 23-point lead against a bad team. Especially when your squad is facing much stiffer competition who will be extra motivated to win (the Thunder) on Thursday. Chris Clemons should have played, but saw no action. Thabo Sefolosha also didn’t see the court. These decisions by D’Antoni will only hurt the Rockets in the long run. Maybe he knows something we don’t, otherwise he needs to make better in game lineup-decisions.

Houston gets right back to work, heading to Oklahoma City for a Thursday night national tv affair. Also know as the Westbrook Return Game, as Brodie has yet to play in OKC since becoming a Rocket in the off-season. The Thunder are playing exceptionally well of late, especially Chris Paul. A very familiar face to Houston fans. Thursday night will be emotional, where many familiar faces return to their old stomping grounds. The Thunder are a good team, so don’t expect to see that dreaded familiar scene that happens often, as was on display in Atlanta.

Rested Rockets Resume Action in Atlanta, Face Young Hawks

The Biggest Loser.    Traplanta.    Deadline Moves.

“I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d***less, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of sh** he is! Hallelujah!!” It’s one of Clark’s many rants in the film Christmas Vacation. A rant many Rocket fans would love to express to owner Tilman Fertitta, as the team returns from their own Christmas Vacation. Houston’s had four days off, a rarity during the regular season, and the Rockets’ biggest layover of the year. But why are Rockets fans suddenly expressing similar feelings Clark had during his rant? Because Houston just waived their own young stud, UC product Gary Clark, to free up an open roster spot. January 7th was the NBA’s deadline to guarantee player salaries, with the Rockets putting more faith in Benny Mac and Harty. And both players are needed, but don’t understate the importance of Gary Clark. Granted, the team’s said he might have the option to return… but will he want to, or decide to test his waters elsewhere? Who knows. Clark didn’t receive many minutes (at all) on a stacked Rockets squad, but he shined in the majority of opportunities thrown his way. UC’s finest is a mistake-prone, hard-working, team-first oriented player who can knock down the open trey. Why Houston waived him is hard for me to comprehend, other than doing it for the sake of being cheap and petty. No offense to Thabo Sefolosha, but Clark’s impact is more valuable to Houston. GC has a Ben McLemore potential ceiling if given the minutes. Unfortunately, Clark never got a real chance to show his potential over a large sample size. What’s sad is Houston barley uses Thabo, and at this point in the respective players’ careers, Clark is a budding young player with potential for sixth man material, while Sefolosha continues to slide down peak mountain.

A business move for the luxury tax, opposed to one improving the team. The NBA is a multi-billion dollar business, and owners have paid the right to do what they want. But it’s no fun when the person owning your business isn’t interested in success. Nonetheless, the move isn’t dire for the Rockets. Whether he returns, or stays on the market to join another team, unless the injury bug replicates furiously, Clark’s playing time wouldn’t be increasing much with Houston. At least not this season. Regardless, he’s only going to get better, and like McLemore, once Clark gets a “green light” opportunity at serious minutes, his talent and versatile be obvious for all to see. At the moment, the Rockets have arguably the deepest team in basketball, although they’re still thin in the frontcourt. Which begs the question, since Gary Clark can play the stretch four (he’s even played the five for portions at a time), why did Houston waive the young gun? Hopefully, the organization’s top dogs realize the long-term value Clark brings on the court and in the locker room. For now, the Rockets will fly on to Atlanta without Clark.

Houston returns from their own mini-vacation. The Rockets have had the last four days off before Wednesday’s matchup with the Hawks. Not considering All-Star break, it was the squad’s longest break of the year. James Harden and the Rockets face a Hawks team who own the league’s worst record, at 8-29. Houston should win this game, but the Rockets probably will be rusty. Four days off can when you typically have only one, understandably throws a team off. Hopefully, the Rockets can avoid the inevitable rust. Russell Westbrook isn’t playing in Atlanta, but Houston should win with or without Brodie. Russ will play on Thursday, the back-half of the Rockets double-dip this week, when he makes his first return to Oklahoma City since joining Houston. That’s a big game in itself. The Thunder, especially Chris Paul, have been on a roll. The Rockets need to avoid overlooking the Hawks on Wednesday night, before their primetime Thursday matchup.

Despite having the league’s worst record, Atlanta’s no joke. Trae Young’s the real deal. The Hawks point guard is a genuine superstar in-the-making, having a stellar sophomore season. Atlanta has other young guns who will pose threats to a rusty Rocket-squad. Shooting guard Kevin Heurter has really found his groove of late, and is a lights out shooter from deep for the Hawks. If Houston leaves Huerter open, they’re in for a long night in the ATL. John Collins recently returned from an injury, and the forward is another youthful asset on rebuilding Atlanta squad. Lottery pick De’Andre Hunter is starting to show signs of promise. The Rockets need to shake off any rust and prepare to blow by the Hawks on Wednesday night. Houston’s a far superior team to lose to Atlanta on Wednesday night. Still, if the Rockets fall back on their worst habit, playing down to their competition, a loss is always potentially in the books. Houston’s coming off two if their best wins of the season, convincing victories over two of the NBA’s best (Denver and Philly). Rested and confident, the Rockets can’t get too cocky in Atlanta, or they could be outrun by the Hawks’ young guns. Wednesday night is the definition of a trap game. Returning from a sizable break, playing the worst team on the road, with Wesbrook’s OKC return looming Thursday, Houston has to tone out all the noise. The squad remains only half game behind the Nuggets, and tied in the loss column. Denver plays the Rockets twice in the upcoming weeks. Houston’s had too many bad losses that’s cost them in the standings. The Rockets should be the top seed, but they’ve lost a handful of games to inferior teams.

It’s time Houston’s “toying with inferiority” ends Wednesday night. James Harden and company have plenty of ammo to down the Hawks in Atlanta. With or without Gary Clark. But come playoff time, again the NBA’s beasts, that could be an entirely different story. Clark plays hard on every possession, and he’s a born winner, team-oriented type of player. The type of player that fits perfectly on the Houston Rockets. Who knows, maybe they’ll bring Clark back for their upcoming playoff run. Along with a a trophy that rhymes with Gary in June. What a sight that would be… Hallelujah!

 

State Farm Arena:  Atlanta, Georgia

 

Jersey Colors:

Atlanta Hawks (8-29):  Red

Houston Rockets (24-11):  White

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Harden Delivers Knockout Punch, Rockets Top Sixers, 118-108

Cornrow James.    Rising to the Occasion.    Winter Break.

“People keep telling me they know me… No one does,” Rey says in The Rise of Skywalker, the final chapter in the epic space saga. It’s a quote that has me thinking… how well do you know James Harden? The guy capable of achieving the epic on a nightly basis in Space City. People tell me he’s overrated. That he flops, and doesn’t play defense. All he shoots are free throws. But all I see is the opposite, Dominant performances every night. Underrated defense and improved shooting efficiency. The Beard did it again on Friday night putting the finishing touches on a 118-108 Rockets victory over the Sixers at Toyota Center. Harden ended the evening with his first triple-double of the season. The Beard scored 44 points, including a few dagger threes that sealed the win for Houston, along with 11 boards and dimes apiece. It’s Harden’s 14th game this season topping the 40-point mark, leading the league by a large margin. These people, they keep telling me he’s getting all his points at the free throw line. But, the box score says Harden went 12-for-12 from the line, meaning 32 of his 44 points came from shots from the field. And 32 points is more than the second guy (Giannis) on the NBA’s points per game list, at 30.4. I don’t know if any of these people truly know James Harden, or can fathom his current historic stretch of play. Last year saw the Beard improve on an MVP season by averaging 36.1 points per game to lead the league. This year, Harden’s even better once again, averaging a whopping 38.4 points per game, as we are nearly halfway through the season. The most impressive facet of the Beard’s current arsenal is his shooting. Harden has been lights out recently from the field, shooting over 50% from the floor in each of the last seven games. Even more stunning, over the last 11 games, the Beard is 70-for-141 from downtown. That’s a staggering 49.6% for a guy who’s deadliest weapon is the long bomb. Cornow James shot 13-for-24 as he spotted a new do in the win over Philly. I bet you didn’t see that coming. No one did… but James. And no one knows what his next act will be. Just don’t expect to be disappointed.

The Rockets started sluggish, trailing by 7 after the first quarter. Houston regrouped for the second period, outscoring the Sixers 40-26, to take control of the game. Clint Capela outplayed Philly’s All-Star Joell Embiid, and had his best game of the season. Capela notched 30 points, grabbed 14 boards, while containing Embiid. The Sixer’s best player was held to only 20 points by a smothering Rocket defense. Houston’s big man, similar to the squad as a whole, has his best games against the best competition. Capela has been formidable against every All-Star he’s faced this season. In a stacked conference, Capela won’t get the All-Star consideriation he deserves, but he’s been outplaying All-Stars all season long. The Rockets have now beaten six consecutive teams with winning records. Their last five losses have been to teams with losing records. Houston is coming off two impressive wins over very good opponents. The squad needs to regroup after a quick break in the schedule, the Rockets have a rare four consecutive off days after their latest win on Friday. Houston’s schedule gets easier when the team takes the court in Atlanta against the NBA’s worst team, the Hawks, on Wednesday. However, as mentioned previously, that could be a bad thing. The Rockets have to quit playing down to their competition. If they beat the teams they’re supposed to, Houston has legitimate chance to catch the Lakers for the top seed in the West. Russell Westbrook posted 20 points, 7 boards, and 4 dimes. Brodie joined LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Oscar Robertson, and Magic Johnson, as the  only players in NBA history with 7,000 assists and 6,000 rebounds. A pretty legendary list of players in my opinion. Westbrook’s court presence is an improving factor with each passing game. When Russ plays, the Rockets have won 12 of the last 15 games, with two losses coming in the final three seconds. Houston is rolling and hitting their stride as we approach the halfway mark of the season. The squad is currently 24-11, tied for second in the West. Plenty of time remains for the Rockets to improve their seeding to put themselves in the best playoff position.

Houston now has four off days in a row. A rare glitch in the NBA schedule. Hopefully, the Rockets won’t get rusty. The break’s not long, but Houston is rolling. The last thing Harden and company need right now.. are four days off. Nonetheless, they’ll have to manage. Three games in four nights await the sward when they resume action on Wednesday, in Atlanta. The Hawks have the worst record in the NBA, but are coming off an impressive win over the Indiana Pacers. Rust could play a factor early for Houston, and if they’re not prepared they could be in trouble against Trae Young and the Hawks. But, something tells me Harden will be ready. Everything these people tell me about Cornrow James seems to be an illusion. Harden gets better by the game, and after a slow start to the season shooting the ball, the Beard is rolling. No one knows what will happen this year for Harden and the Rockets in the playoffs. But one thing remains certain. His competitors have no idea how to guard Harden. They’re not alone… no one does.

Rockets Host Sixers in Battle of Contenders to Kick-Off 2020

A New Era.    Present vs. Future.    Time Over Money.

“No amount of money ever bought a second of time,” Tony Stark says in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel’s epic conclusion to their cinematic universe. A new era of Houston Rockets basketball begins as they take part in the latest chapter of their universe. As the season rolls into a new calendar year, and decade, Houston needs to take hard look at the roster. The urge and desire, the illusion that spending money will make your team better is a vice that effects all teams. And sometimes, money is well spent in the NBA. Many times. But, like many aspects of life. Spending money in this league is all about timing. And right now, the Rockets don’t need to incite any trades, spend any money, or make roster changes. In a modern NBA built for small-ball, Houston’s roster is has depth at the positions you need to win a championship. Sure, if the right deal or offer comes along, no doubt “Shufflin’ D” (aka Daryl Morey) will take a stab at making the team better if he truly thinks it will work. But there’s no need to rush into the NBA’s midseason trade party. James Harden and company have time on their side. The Rockets need to gel as a unit as we wind down with 48 games to go before the real season starts, Houston’s Endgame, aka the playoffs. It’s a process the squad’s been working towards since they acquired James Harden back in 2012. As we begin 2020, the Rockets chances have never been brighter. This talented squad is fully healthy, with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove all the naysayers wrong. Assembling the parts for Houston’s process is complete. All the pieces are in place to make a proper run at the Championship in 2020.

The next step of that run begins tonight, as the Rockets host the evolution of “The Process” (aka the Philadelphia 76ers). Philly visits Houston for a top-notch Friday night matchup featuring two of the NBA’s best teams. The Sixers currently have a 23-13 record, good for fifth in the East. Philly beat the Bucks, owners of the best record in basketball, by 12 points on Christmas. However since the holiday, the Sixers have dropped their last three games, and stumble into Houston on a three-game slide. The Rockets will look to make that four, but it won’t be easy. Joel Embiid, Philly’s best player, and the best big man in basketball besides Anthony Davis, didn’t play in the Sixers’ previous game in Indiana. Philly’s big man is expected to go on Friday night in Houston, and he’ll be a matchup challenge from hell for Clint Capela and Isaiah Hartenstein, the primary Rockets not named P.J. Tucker who will check Embiid. Houston needs to give Capela, Harty, and Tucker help in the paint, to avoid letting Embiid get easy buckets. The Sixers superstar can also shoot from range, which makes him such a tough cover. This game is a potential finals preview for a reason. Both teams aren’t where they’d like to be at the moment, but Houston and Philly are both serious contenders to win their respective conferences. The Sixers other superstar, Ben Simmons, is slowly getting better at shooting, his weakness. Other than that, the Aussie guard is a triple-double threat, and good defensive player. Philly will be in the running for the East crown all season.

Tonight’s game will be the Rockets’ toughest test by far until they face Anthony Davis and the Lakers on January 18th in Houston in arguably the season’s most anticipated matchup. The Rockets have business to take care of before then. Houston needs to bring the same energy they attacked Denver with from the opening tip that resulted in a 12-point lead after the first quarter in Tuesday’s win. The Sixers have the advantage in the interior, but the Rockets have the better team, and home-court advantage. Houston is a veteran-led group, built to win this season, Philly is still young and has a bright future, but the present favors the Rockets more than the Sixers. Philly is also dealing with some minor injuries to minimal bench players, but this game should be much closer than the New Year Eve Blowout Houston put on to close 2019. Tonight against the Sixers, Houston’s own process continues. As the Rockets prep to show Philly, for opposing teams, the process of winning in H-Town doesn’t come easy. With two days off, Houston’s had seconds and seconds of time to get their money roster ready to roll for a new year of Rockets basketball. A year that could potentially be… the most epic of all time. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (23-13):  Blue

Houston Rockets (23-11):  “Classic” Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ESPN, AT&T Sportsnet SW

Fried Nuggets:  Rockets Feast on Denver, Cook Up 130-104 Win to Close Decade

Rockin’ Celebration.    Hiding in Plain Sight.    New Twin Towers.

2019. A year featuring ups, downs, highs, lows, and everything in between, for Rockets basketball. Optimistic hopes heading into the 2019 playoffs. Another season ended at the hands of the Warriors. Trading Chris Paul. Getting Russell Westbrook. The China incident. James Harden’s constantly-improving MVP-caliber play. The annual injury bug. Ben McLemore’s perfect-fit and resurrection in Houston. Front-office tension. Brodie perfecting playing second-fiddle to the Beard. Talk of an era at stake. Rumors of Coach Mike D’Antoni on the hot seat. This past year had it all in Houston Rockets basketball. Storylines covering everything. Well… almost everything. The Rockets fell short of the ultimate prize. That elusive NBA title. Expectations to win a championship puts more pressure on this core of Houston players than any before. But these Rockets know they’re capable of the ultimate prize. And they took another step towards their goal by closing 2019 with a 130-104 beatdown of the Denver Nuggets. The Beard tallied 35 points and Russell Westbrook scored 28, as the superstar duo combined for 63 points on 53.8% shooting to lead Houston to victory. The win moves Houston to within a game of second-seeded Denver in the loss column out West. The Rockets controlled this game from the outset. Houston led by 12 points after the first quarter. However, the Rockets fell back on some bad habits, letting the Nuggets back in the game, and led by only 3 points heading into the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic led Denver with 21 points, one of six Nuggets who scored in double-figures. Fortunately, Houston buckled down defensively in the final period. After allowing 41 points in the final quarter in their previous game at New Orleans the Rockets only gave up 15 points to the Nuggets on Tuesday night, en route to running away with a blowout victory. Houston didn’t need to sweat out the final seconds of a game after putting the clamps on to start the final period. It’s this type of effort saves the squad minutes, and energy later in the season.

Other than Brodie and the Beard, the highlight of New Year’s Eve was the continued revelation of Isaiah Hartenstein. Houston’s biggest weakness, their lack of frontcourt depth, is dramatically improved if Harty keeps this level of play up. And there’s no reason he shouldn’t. “Hustlestein” never received enough playing time to prove himself in the past. Now that he’s gotten court time, he’s shown his value can be contributional to Houston’s rotation. Hartenstein finished with 16 points and 12 boards, and continues to impress in the defensive and hustle areas of the game. Coach D’Antoni said Isaiah didn’t get as many chances in the past because of foul trouble. With injuries always opening up chances for other players to assume new roles, Hartenstein and Ben McLemore have seized their opportunities this season in Houston.  Harty will be the backup center to Capela, and Chandler will shift to the third man in the Center position for Houston, per D’Antoni. It’s a move that helps a thin Houston interior. Against the Nuggets, Houston’s newest twin towers combined for 32 points and 22 rebounds. As long as Harty can stay out of foul trouble, he won’t be hiding in plain sight anymore. The Rockets secret weapon has been sitting on their bench all this time. Injuries, do have their benefits, after all. If Gordon and Capela weren’t injured for extended periods, Harty would still be riding the end of the bench going into the New Year. Eric Gordon finished his second game back from injury with 12 points, and has been stellar from beyond the arc since his return. Splash Gordon is shooting 7-for-12 from downtown over the last two games. Hopefully it’s not a small sample size, rather an indicator that Splash Gordon is back to prime form.

Despite letting Denver back in the game, Houston had a stellar defensive final period, and beat the team with the second best record by 26 points. In the first game since early November that the Rockets have been completely healthy. A sign that when at full strength, this team can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere. This Houston squad, especially after unleashing their newfound secret weapon in Harty, will be a force to reckon with this year in the NBA. 2020 will likely feature many of the same highs and lows the team experienced during 2019. But this year brings new hope. The Rockets have a realistic chance to bring Houston something the city has yet to see this century: an NBA Championship.