Month: March 2020

Rockets Hunt Down Wolves, 117-111, Season Comes to a Halt

The Ides of March.    Intermission.    Next Chapter.

“Beware the Ides of March,” a soothsayer says to Caesar in Shakespeare’s classic play, Julius Caesar. The Rockets won on Tuesday night, holding off the Timberwolves, 117-111, to earn their 40th win of the season. James Harden led the way with 37 points, but it was Wednesday’s action that was more impactful on Houston than anything the Beard or the Rockets did the night before. For all we know, Tuesday could’ve been the final game of the season.

Just before tip-off of the Jazz/Thunder game on Wednesday, Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. In the hours that followed, this game was postponed, followed by the final game of the night, Kings/Pelicans, and then finally the nail in the coffin game: for the first time in NBA-history (not related to lockouts), the league announced they were suspending play indefinitely, due to the virus. It’s the right move, but an unprecedented one. As of now, no one knows when, or if, the season will resume.

Some “experts” are tentatively hoping for April, but no one’s an expert in predicting how long the coronavirus will affect the NBA. And it’s not just pro basketball, but the entire sports world that’s been forced to hit the pause button due to this expanding global pandemic. No March Madness, this year it’s March Sadness in college basketball and in sports everywhere. It’s something that’s never been seen in sports globally, everyone simultaneously taking a break. Well, almost everyone. At the moment, NASCAR is the only sport in the U.S. that’s still running.

Houston finally snapped their losing streak, but how exactly does this extended hiatus effect the Houston Rockets? Well, the squad gets some much-needed rest. Coach Mike D’Antoni was wearing out guys like P.J. Tucker, James Harden, and Eric Gordon, who certainly needed a breather. And like all other 29 teams, the Rockets will experience an odd period without practice, that will certainly lead to rust. What about if this is the end? What’s the next chapter in Rockets basketball? Will Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni get axed like everyone expects? Or will owner Tilman Fertitta put some trust in Houston’s small-ball, and give the Rockets another chance at a full season in the Russell Westbrook era with this current Exec and Coach? Those are all answers that’ll be determined in the future.
For now, as the Rockets and everyone else await news on when play may resume, the team will have to get rest during this break, and hope that this season picks up again. Houston will be one of the beneficiaries of this hiatus. Unlike teams like the Lakers and Bucks, the Rockets were in the midst of one of their worst stretches of the season, and appeared out of gas. Other teams have to rebuild momentum when/if this campaign resumes… Houston just has to shake the rust off. And if the season never resumes? Well, the Rockets might have won their last game on Tuesday, but the day after, we all lost… beware the Ides of March, indeed.

Rockets Hunting for a Win as the Wolves Come to Town

Transitioning Back.    Ferrari Hunting.    Goodbye, Rocket-Bottom.

“There’s a point where everything fades. The machine becomes weightless. Just disappears. And all that’s left is a body moving through space and time… That’s where you meet it. It asks you a question, the only question that matters… who are you?” A quote from last year’s Best-Picture nominee Ford v. Ferrari, one that resonates with the recent play from the Houston Rockets. If that’s even who this team is… Who are these guys? These Rockets look as if they’re just moving through space and time… simply going through the motions. Over the last four games, they sure haven’t looked like the Rockets we saw over the first 59 games of the season. Lost, confused, out-of-it. Use any adjective you want, but these Rockets are struggling to reclaim their identity. They’re getting beaten inside, a product of the “small-ball” they say, but it wasn’t during their six-game winning streak that ended only a week ago with this same “small-ball” squad. Houston’s effort, energy, and drive has changed from a Ferrari to a Ford.

Eight days ago, the Rockets were inches from the second-seed in the West. Now they’re looking up from the sixth spot, even at Chris Paul, whose Thunder slipped past Houston into fifth. It’s been a transition that no one saw coming, but with the Rockets’ lack of effort and energy they’ve shown, especially to start these games during this slide, it’s not completely surprising. Most importantly, Houston has failed to get back on defense in transition, and it’s killed this team. They have to get transition back once the opponent gets the ball. Any team can make wide-open layups all night, and that’s what the Rockets are giving their opponents.

The Timberwolves come to town on Tuesday night as the squad will try and end their longest losing streak of the season. Robert Covington will take on his former team for the first time since being traded. This is another game the Rockets should win handily, but given their current stretch of confusion, who knows how the team will perform tonight. If losing to the Magic by 20 on Sunday wasn’t rock-bottom, then a loss to an even-worse Wolves team certainly will. The Rockets play the Lakers after tonight, and despite L.A.’s status as the top seed in the West, something about playing the Lakers brings out the best in Houston. If the Rockets can get off the schneid, and beat Minnesota, they have a chance to start a new streak, and say goodbye to Rocket-Bottom. With only 19 games remaining, Houston has their work cut out for them. After tonight, the schedule’s not exactly a cake-walk for the Rockets. There’s no more time for slippage. It’s time to get back into gear, and outrun teams like Houston’s small ball was built to do. Tonight expect the Rockets to morph from their average Ford… back into a Ferrari.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (19-44):  Navy

Houston Rockets (39-24):  Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT- AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass

Disappearing Act: Rockets a No-Show in Embarrassing 126-106 Loss to Magic

Tragic Exposition.    Slipping out of Rhythm.    Searching for Answers.

They did it again. Only this time, with Russell Westbrook. The Rockets got blown out at home by the Magic, 126-106. It’s another embarrassing loss for the squad to another bad team. Houston’s fourth straight loss drops them to sixth in the standings. The team they shipped Chris Paul to, Oklahoma City, is now even ahead of the Rockets in the standings. Last Sunday, Houston was waking up after their sixth straight victory. They were on the cusp of the second seed, companied with murmurs of serious contention for a title. Now, after four straight losses in unprecedented fashion, the Rockets look lost. Neither James Harden nor Russell Westbrook managed to top even the 25-point mark, as Houston was bullied inside by Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. Gordon finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while “Vooch” garnered 16 points and boards apiece. Orlando also had unexpected bursts from the perimeter. D.J. Augustin led the Magic with 24 points, and Markelle Fultz scored 18 in a better-than-normal outing. Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll combined for 28 points and 7 boards for  the Rockets, but despite the newcomers efforts, Houston has a serious problem.

Something’s up with James Harden. The Beard has put on one of the worst stretches of his career during this losing streak. Houston’s former MVP is really missing Clint Capela right now. Robert Covington’s been better than expected, and the trade was the right move, but trading Capela hurt Harden’s game more than anyone else. The Beard’s in dire need of a dependable big man in the pick-and-roll, something Capela was outstanding at, especially his ability to finish Harden’s lobs. When the Beard’s a threat to lob it for an ‘oop, which happened frequently with Capela, he’s unstoppable. But when you remove that aspect, that capability of his passing game, when you remove that, you’re also cutting part of Harden’s game out of the picture. And with no big to effectively run the pick and roll with the Beard, that’s exactly what the Rockets have done.

As Houston searches for answers, they have another great chance for a win in their next game. They host Minnesota on Tuesday, the second-worst teams by record in the West. It’s essentially a must-win for the Rockets if they want any chance of home-court advantage. This is the easiest opponent Houston’s faced since the slide into obscurity began. The Rockets cannot afford let the streak continue, and fall at the hands of another below-average team. Not again.

Rockets Seeking Magic in Dark Times, Orlando Visits H-Town

Desperation Time.    BIG Problems.    Fighting Fatigue.

It’s a story that’s been aired out and tired to the point where Rockets fans are sick of hearing reminders: Houston losing to bad teams. That happened again on Saturday, as the Rockets lost to the Hornets in embarrassing fashion after starting the game without a point in the first seven minutes. Houston rallied back within striking distance, but could never overcome early hole they dug for themselves. The story’s deeper than just another loss to another bad team. After looking like the best team in the NBA last week, the Rockets are now shocking the worst team in the league. Houston will try and break their three-game slide against the Magic, but it won’t easy, despite Orlando’s losing record. It’s the second game of a back-to-back, and another earlier start (consider daylight savings time, and it’s earlier to the players bodies. Which isn’t good for the Rockets, who always seem to struggle during earlier games than their normal 7 PM start.

Orlando is better than the team that claimed Houston as its latest victim, Charlotte. The Magic are currently in line for the East’s final playoff spot. Disney World’s team boasts one of the best and underrated front-lines in the league. Expect to see Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon to give Houston trouble in the paint. Gordon has especially come on after a slow first half, and has been in a double-double groove of late for Orlando. If the Rockets don’t come ready to play, they won’t have any magic to save them from a loss on Sunday.

Will the theme of Houston’s season finally change? Or will the Rockets continue to cave to hungrier teams with less talent? Sunday should give fans some direction of where the team’s headed. A back-to-back during with an earlier than usual start, also known as a recipe for a Rockets nightmare, Sunday’s game won’t be easy. Orlando’s fighting for a playoff spot, and can pose big problems for Houston inside. Westbrook’s return should snap the Rockets out of their funk, but this game has an eerie aura. Houston can’t just play around against an inferior team with Brodie back in the lineup. Especially given the squad’s recent evolution into one of the most embarrassing teams in the NBA, anything can happen on Sunday… there’s magic in the air.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Orlando Magic (28-35):  Black

Houston Rockets (39-23):  White

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass

Afternoon Nightmare:  Rockets Get Stung by Hornets, 108-99, Drop Third Straight

Sluggish Start.    Serious Buzzkill.    Trouble Awaits.

That was painful. After putting on one of the worst starts to a game in franchise history, failing to score in the first seven minutes of action, and falling behind 20-0, the Rockets managed to climb back in the game. But Houston never didn’t have enough steam when the fourth quarter came around to rally all the way back, even against a team 20 game under .500. Resulting in another embarrassing, inexplicable defeat, for the Rockets, as they fell in Charlotte, 108-99, to the Hornets. It’s Houston’s third straight start, and after the Hornets 20-0 run to start the game, the Rockets outscored Charlotte the rest of the way. But you can’t keep falling behind by big deficits, not in this league. Saturday night was the fourth consecutive game the Rockets have fallen behind by 17 or more points, in the first half alone. The squad was lucky to get the win in Boston, surviving by one in OT, otherwise Houston would be starting at a four-game skid at the moment.
James Harden had a triple-double with 30 points, 14 dimes, and 10 boards. However, the Beard’s shot is still nowhere to be found. Harden seemed scared to shoot, passing up easy layups and open threes. Harden finished only 2-for-11 from distance, as his drought from long-range continues. His over dribbling takes teammates out of rhythm, and wastes the infinite open space small ball gives Houston. Something’s wrong with the Beard, and if he can’t figure it out, whatever it is… the Rockets’ title chances are out the window. Robert Covington scored 25 points on 7-for-13 shooting from deep. RoCo, along with the other new Rockets, Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll, were the only bright spots for Houston on Saturday. In limited time, Carroll continues to show he deserves more action. In only 18 minutes, Carroll scored 9 points, and his energy level matched Green and RoCo’s. Green had 20 points in this best game as a Rocket, but other than RoCo, no one else came to the party. And this was a bash the Rockets really needed. Charlotte just isn’t any good, compared to Houston’s potential. After looking like serious title contenders last week, the Rockets look like the worst team in the basketball at the moment. It’s incomprehensible, other than their collective mindset has regressed back to the days of playing it “cool.” What’s not cool is Houston’s upcoming schedule.

The Rockets still have to play at the Bucks and Lakers, the league’s top two teams by record. After the game in LA, they play every other day except for a two day break before they enter a brutal finishing stretch of five games in seven days in April. They won’t have Russell Westbrook in two of those games, a player Houston now seems to need on the court to win. He’ll be back as the Rockets take on Orlando on Sunday. It’s the second of a back-to-back. And the third game in four days. The rest of the Rockets will be fighting fatigue. Houston will need some Brodie magic if they want to diminish the pain.

Rockets Aim to Get Back on Track in Charlotte, Visit Hornets

Short-Handed in Charlotte.    Bounce Back.    Block Out the Buzz.

The buzz around Houston’s drastically changed since this week started. What a difference two games make. At the start of this week, before Monday’s loss in New York, the Rockets were imitating world-beaters. Two losses later, and people are doubting the Houston’s ability for sustained success with their innovative micro-ball style. The squad has to block out the buzz, and show the league this two-game slide is their last of the season. Houston begins a weekend back-to-back in Buzz City as they take on the Hornets. Charlotte is 21-41 on the season, and despite being short-handed, the Rockets have no excuse to lose to another inferior Eastern opponent.

Houston will be without Russell Westbrook (rest), and Eric Gordon (knee injury). Gordon hasn’t looked right in the past few games. The Rockets need him to be at full strength for their small-ball style to reach optimum potency. James Harden needs to put the squad on his back tonight. The Beard’s struggled mightily in his last two games, and the squad needs him to perform at an MVP-level tonight. The Hornets are peskier than their record tells.

Despite their record, Charlotte is no joke. The Hornets gave the Denver Nuggets, a team Houston’s chasing, a scare in their previous game. Charlotte also beat the Raptors in Toronto, and made the Bucks sweat in a closer game than expected. The Rockets need a mental re-adjustment entering Spectrum Center on Saturday. It’s the first of a back-to-back, and Houston really needs to start separating themselves from the pack if they want a chance at the second or third seed in the West. The Rockets have the Jazz, Mavs, and Thunder all on their tail in the playoff race. Houston still has a chance to break into the second or third spot, but they literally cannot afford any more bad losses… or their ceiling for seeding will be fourth. It’s time to kill the lingering buzz over the Rockets’ incompetence… starting with a victory over the Hornets. 

 

Spectrum Center:  Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (39-22):  “Space City” White

Charlotte Hornets (21-41):  Purple

 

TV:  4 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Horrific Sleight:  Rockets Ambushed, Crushed By Clippers, 120-105

Wake-Up Call.    Bad Taste.    Final Warning.

From the opening tip, it was clear who the better team would be on Thursday night. And it wasn’t the Rockets. Houston got crushed from start to finish by the Clippers, 120-105 at Toyota Center, in the final meeting of the rivalry this season. The Rockets couldn’t connect from distance, going only 7-for-42 from long-range, their worst three-point percentage in a game since 2017. And the Clippers were the hungrier team. Los Angeles neutralized Houston’s small-ball style, thanks in part to the Rockets inability to knock down a wide-open jumper. Russell Westbrook led the Rockets with 29 points and 15 boards, but Brodie along with the rest of the squad, couldn’t knock down an open shot. James Harden didn’t make a single three, going 0-for-8 from distance, finishing with an apathetically lethargic 16 points.

This final regular season meeting with their rivals certainly leaves a bad taste in Houston’s mouth. The Rockets can only control their own destiny from here on out, and if they meet the Clippers in the playoffs, they’ll need to display more hungry get than they did on Thursday… or they’ll be ousted. The Clips dominated the Rockets inside, specifically Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell. Zubac had 17 points and 12 boards, while Harrell scored 19 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Houston finishes the season 2-2 against the Clippers. And on Thursday, they were never prepared to play on L.A.’s level. They got beat by the better team, the Clippers. The Rockets have time to change that, and burst through the final quarter of the season (21 games). However, Houston has no more room for excuses. They’ve done enough of that this season.

Only 21 games remain in the regular season. The Rockets are now three games behind the Clippers, and two behind the Nuggets, the teams Houston’s chasing for the second and their spots. Thursday night was the final warning for the Rockets. There’s no more time for bad losses. The playoffs are on the horizon… only a little over a month away. Despite Thursday night’s outcome, the debate between who ultimately reigns supreme between these contenders won’t exactly be clear until April… when the most anticipated playoffs in NBA history begin.

Round 4: Rockets Duel with Clippers in Final Meeting of Regular Season

Preview of the Future.    First Look.    Best Against the West.

 

“No one ever made a difference by being like everybody else,” P.T. Barnum says in The Greatest Showman. And tonight in Houston, some of the greatest showmen in the NBA face-off on the court. The Rockets host their heated rivals, the Clippers, for the final meeting this regular season. And there’s a very realistic these clubs could meet in the playoffs. As of now, Houston is the fourth seed, but only two games behind the Clippers for second, and one game behind Denver for third. The way all these teams have been playing suggests the Clippers and Rockets will finish in the second and third spots, with Denver sliding to fourth. Although, anything is possible (a Clips slide to fourth would be the best-case scenario for Houston, ensuring they don’t have to play both L.A. teams in the playoffs). However, I don’t see the Clippers falling below third, and I don’t see the Rockets catching the Lakers for first. This game essentially might be the deciding factor in who finishes second. Houston leads the season series 2-1, and with a win tonight, the Rockets would own the tiebreaker. A victory on Thursday night also pushes them within a game of both the Clippers and Nuggets in the standings. Houston will likely be ready to bounce back after their poor showing in New York, with the Clippers prepared to give the Rockets’ small-ball style it’s biggest test.

Unlike the first three matchups between these heated rivals, tonight marks the first time the Rockets are facing completely healthy Clippers team. No one’s on the injury report for the Clips. No load management tonight. And Los Angeles can play small-ball better than any opponent Houston will face in the modern NBA. The Clippers are already built towards that style, with lengthy wings, and a ferocious Montrezl Harrell acting as their small center at times. They’re shorter but makeup for their lack of size with strength, like the Rockets. And tonight, the Clips will get their first-look at the Houston’s small-ball revolution.

Houston and the Clippers are tied for having the best record against playoff teams in the Western Conference. Expect one of the best games of the entire NBA season to play out in Houston tonight. Russell Westbrook rarely has two bad games in a row, and James Harden has torched the Clippers this season (37 PPG on 50% shooting). If the Rockets star-backcourt can bounce back from a sub-par showing in the Big Apple, Houston should be able to hold off the Clippers. However, the Clips are rolling, winners of five straight. And these teams hate each other more than any two squads in the NBA. Tonight, one thing’s set in stone… this game won’t be like anything else you’ll see all season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Los Angeles Clippers (42-19):  Black

Houston Rockets (39-21):  Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – TNT

New York Nix:  Rockets Rally Late but Fall to Knicks, 125-123, as Winning Streak Ends

Late Liftoff.    Fake Blueprint.    Small Lesson.

“This one’s on me. I didn’t bring the amount of pressure I needed to be able to make us go. So, I’ll take this one and get ready for the next one,” Russell Westbrook said after Houston’s winning streak was snapped with a 125-123 defeat in New York. Westbrook had a shot to send the game into overtime, but it rattled off the rim as the buzzer sounded, securing a Knicks win. Brodie had a sub-par game, but it’s not his fault the Rockets lost. Merely spoken accountability from one of the best players, and leaders in the NBA. Westbrook finished with 24 points, 9 boards, and 3 dimes, but like the rest of the squad, Brodie waited too late to turn it on. Houston faced a 21-point deficit, and came all the way back, even getting the lead late in the game. However, R.J. Barrett and the Knicks still had enough gas to run with Houston and hold off the Rockets. New York’s rookie led the Knicks with 27 points, as he’s starting to find consistency with his game as the season moves along. James Harden led the Rockets with 35 points, but didn’t shoot the ball from the field despite a 16-for-16 showing at the charity stripe. The Beard was only 3-for-13 from long range, and lacked the usual aggression he’s shown at Madison Square Garden in the past. Danuel House Jr. and Robert Covington were both excellent for Houston. Each scored 20 points on efficient shooting, with RoCo grabbing 13 boards as well. The Rockets’ bench scored only 24 points, and Houston didn’t decide to take the Knicks seriously until the fourth quarter, when it was too late to overcome a feisty Knicks team, with the crowd rocking in The Garden.

It’s the first time the Houston’s lost in New York since 2009, and another bad loss to a bad team. It appeared that the Rockets had turned the table on playing down to inferior competition. Houston was riding a six-game winning streak, and coming off one of their most emotionally compelling victories of the season in Boston. But, it just felt like the squad was due for a let-up. As I mentioned in the pre-game, this match-up would not be easy. New York played to their strengths, rebounding, and interior scoring, and killed the Rockets inside on Monday night. The Knicks out-rebounded Houston 65 to 34, and won the scoring battle in the paint, 64 to 36. Along with R.J. Barrett’s heroics, New York had big games from Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson inside. Randle had 16 points and rebounds apiece. Robinson had 12 points and 13 boards, the only two Knicks with double-doubles. The duo’s the main reason the Knicks dominated the Rockets in the paint and on the glass. After the loss, many will jump to proclaim this is the blueprint to beating Houston’s small-ball. And yes, if you out-rebound and dominate the paint like the Knicks did to the Rockets on Monday, Houston’s small-ball is certainly exposed. However, the Rockets didn’t enter the match with the proper attitude and focus. And they shot only 41.5% from the field. Meanwhile, New York shot the ball better than usual. By the time Houston wanted to get serious, the Garden was rocking, and it was too late for the Rockets to overcome New York’s momentum. Unless you’re the Knicks, who Houston won’t see again this season, don’t expect the Rockets to play this lackluster again.

The defeat in the Garden is Houston’s first “bad” loss with their new small-ball lineup. The Rockets are 10-3 since morphing to micro-ball. Of the losses, one came without Westbrook, one came at the buzzer on a lucky heave from near half-court, and the latest… Houston had a chance to tie it as time expired, but Brodie’s shot rimmed clanked out. All is not lost. The Rockets could honestly be 12-1 in the small ball era. Shrinking the lineup was the right-move, the squad just didn’t take the Knicks seriously. Understandable, given their reputation. But, Monday’s loss is a teaching tool for the Rockets’ new small-ball squad. Houston now has two days off before their next game, and it’s a big one. The Rockets return home to face their biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. If there was any doubt… expect Westbrook and the Rockets to be ready for the next one.

Rockets Visit Madison Square Garden, Aiming to Trounce Knicks

Where Stars Are Born.    Harden’s Garden.    Definitive Seal.

“I just wanted to take another look at you,” Bradley Cooper says in the 2018 film, A Star is Born. On Monday night, the Rockets visit New York, home to many stars, least of all the lowly Knicks. With owner Jim Dolan at the helm, the Knickerbockers continue to be the laughingstock of the NBA. New York hasn’t been relevant since Carmelo Anthony played in the Big Apple. Houston aims to lengthen its winning streak to seven games with a win tonight, and all odds are in their favor. The Rockets have won 26 of their last 28 matchups with the Knicks, including eight in a row. Unless Houston reverts to old habits that look dead, the Rockets should have no issues extending their winning streak.

James Harden, who struggled in Boston, has owned the Knicks throughout his career. The Beard has a career scoring average of 29.3 against New York. Other than Washington, Harden torches the Knicks for more bucks than anyone else. And last time he played at Madison Square Garden? The Beard scored a career-high 61 points. Expect another show tonight, as Harden desperately wants another look at the Garden, as all then greats have in NBA history.

Houston needs to win this game to put a definitive seal on their first-half tendency to lose to bad teams. The Rockets have been stellar since their loss in Phoenix, and nothing in the city that never sleeps should derail them tonight. Expect the Rockets to get their seventh straight win tonight. However, it won’t be as easy as many people think. Houston’s got the Clippers next on the schedule, and are eager to get back home. They can’t afford to overlook the Knicks. If this contest is close, the MSG crowd will be fired up, and this could be anyone’s contest. So, if you’re expecting a blowout… you might want to take another look.

 

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (39-20):  Red

New York Knicks (18-42):  Blue

 

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW