Month: August 2020

Rockets Aim to Abolish Kings from Playoff Contention

Elimination Night.    Beware the Underdog.    Final Four.

It’s Elimination Night in Orlando on Sunday, as the Rockets take on the Sacramento Kings, trying to burst their bubble of hope. Houston can end the Kings’ playoff hopes with a win, or… pretty much put an end to their own hopes of catching Denver for the three seed. The Rockets will still be without Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon, but Houston has enough firepower to beat the worst West team in the bubble. Sacramento is young, and has a bright future, but their time isn’t now. And that could pose a problem for Houston if the Rockets continue to play down to bad teams.

Despite being the underdog, the Kings beat the Rockets earlier this season on a Bojan Bogdanovic buzzer-beater from three. Houston will be looking for revenge as they try and seal the coffin on Sac-Town’s season tonight. It won’t be easy. The Kings still have one of the best young point guards in the NBA, and arguably the league’s fastest player, in De’Aaron Fox. If the Rockets’ energy level is lacking, they could be in for a disappointment tonight. No energizer bunny in Brodie, Houston will have to find motivation elsewhere if they fall behind early, which has happened in every bubble game except versus L.A.

Sunday night marks the first of the final four games for the Rockets as we wind down towards the playoffs. After tonight, Houston still has to play the Spurs, Pacers, and Sixers, all teams still fighting with something to play for. Despite missing Russ, this is the Rockets’ easiest game left on the schedule. The three after tonight pose much bigger challenges, and in the playoffs… nothing’s easy. Hopefully Houston is blazing from the gate, a la Benny Mac, who’s been absolutely on fire and the best three-point shooter in the bubble. The Rockets need this game as the final three contests this regular season will be tough, scrappy battles. With Sacramento’s season on the line, and Houston trying to position themselves in the best playoff spot, tonight should be a lot of fun in Orlando. Strap in… it’s Elimination Night in the NBA Bubble.

 

ESPN World Wide Sports Complex:  Orlando, Florida

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (43-25):  “Space City” White

Sacramento Kings (29-40):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Harden’s Rockets Splash Past LeBron-Less Lakers, 113-97

Return of the Mac.    The GreenHouse Effect, Pt. 2.    Beating the Best.

Without the King for L.A., and Brodie for Houston, the Rockets and Lakers proved, at least under those circumstances, Houston’s the better team. The Rockets pummeled the Lakers, 113-97 on Friday night, for their third win in four games of bubble action. James Harden led the way for Houston with 39 points, 12 dimes, and 8 boards. Unsurprisingly, the Beard returned to form against a sub-par Lakers team missing the King. Harden shot 11-for-19, including 50% from deep, as he made just missing the 40-point mark look easy. The Rockets led by as many as 19 points, but L.A. chipped into Houston’s lead, getting as close as 5 points, before the Rockets put closed the door on the Lake Show’s chances. Whether you’re surprised by now or not, it doesn’t matter, he’s here to stay: Ben McLemore continues to turn in red-hot performances for Houston on a nightly basis. Benny Mac scored 20 points, second only to Harden on the squad, and shot 50% from long range. McLemore has been arguably the hottest three-point shooter in the bubble. If the rest of the role players on the squad can find a Benny Mac-type rhythm, the Rockets are going to be a tough out any night.

Speaking of role players… you know the name, only this time, it’s a different blend of Green: The GreenHouse Effect is back (with Jeff instead of Gerald Green this time around). Danuel House and Jeff Green have been superb along with McLemore in the first four games in the bubble. They took a step back from their trend of consistency from the perimeter, but nonetheless, against L.A. the two combined for 29 points, and their defense has modeled Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker’s relentless hustle at-all-costs attitude. As the Rockets continue to fight for seeding with the playoffs only games away, the squad needs the GreenHouse Effect dialed all the way up these final four games.

The Lakers didn’t have LeBron James on Friday, and really didn’t have anything to play for, but a win’s a win for Houston. And the victory gave the Rockets the best record in the NBA against teams with winning records. They’ve only lost the season series to one winning club, Chris Paul and the Oklahoma City Thunder. A potential first round-playoff matchup for the Houston, and as we near get closer ad closer it looks more likely that the Rockets and Thunder will meet in the first round. Russ vs. CP3 after getting traded for one another… what a series that would be. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Houston still has work to do if they want to get a better matchup in the first round. Up next for the Rockets: their worst nightmare… a team with losing record. Houston is 3-0 against winning teams, and 0-1 against losing teams in the bubble. On Sunday night, they’ll try and end that trend against the Sacramento Kings.

Rockets Look to Get Back on Track, Square Off Against Lakers

Absence of Stars.    No Peeking.    Harden Time.

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” One of the great quotes from The Usual Suspects, and one that makes me think of tonight’s Rockets, Lakers tussle. A tilt, which will feature a slight absence of stars. No LeBron James for the Lakers. No Russell Westbrook for the Rockets. Facts that could mean problems for Houston if the Rockets aren’t ready to play tonight. LeBron has the highest basketball IQ of any player. He knows Houston plays down to their competition. LeBron knows the Rockets don’t bring it when other teams’ starts sit-out. This might be for injury or resting purposes, but I know what you’re up to LeBron. You can’t trick me. And Houston will need to be ready for a Lakers team that still has the most dominant big man in the game, Anthony Davis, playing at a very high level.

This was supposed to be one of the most anticipated seeding matchups in the bubble. However, with no Bron, and no Russ, the eagerness to see this contest is dialed down a bit. Neither LeBron nor Westbrook have serious injuries. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the Lakers, who are resting LeBron, and Russ could play if this was a Game 7. The real story here is neither team wants the other to see their firepower at full strength. As of right now, the odds are the Rockets and Lakers will meet in the second round, if not the Conference Finals. And this will be the last time they face off before then, when both teams will assumably be at full-strength. Neither squad wants to give the other a peek into their playbook while fully healthy. The Rockets should win this matchup, but they need the face (or Beard) of the franchise to step-up.

After scoring 49 points in a stellar opening night in the bubble, James Harden has struggled offensively for Houston. The Rockets need him to get back on track tonight, as they won’t have Russ’ energy on the floor to push the squad when they start to lag. Historically, the Beard has played well against the Lakers, and without LeBron, L.A. has absolutely no one who can come close to guarding Harden. Expect the Beard to have a big night for the Rockets, who will need to slow down Anthony Davis on the defensive end. AD will be the focus of LA’s offense tonight, and his size poses a nightmare for Houston. Double, even triple-teams might be required on defense. Resulting in open shots for Laker shooters, who hopefully won’t be connecting tonight. Harden and co. can’t afford to continue their bubble trend of falling behind early by double-digits. The Lakers are 43-0 when leading after three quarters. Houston needs to shoot for the lead entering the final frame tonight. The Rockets need to come into this game with the focus that LeBron is playing. He might not be on the floor in action, but LeBron’s presence will still be with his teammates. Houston has to play hard, treat this game like both teams have full rosters… and avoid falling prone to LeBron’s greatest trick.

 

The Bubble:  Orlando, Florida

 

Jersey Colors:

Los Angeles Lakers (51-16):  Yellow

Houston Rockets (42-25):  Black

 

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

Blazers Rip Rockets, 110-102, as Harden, Westbrook Struggle

Good and Bad Deja Vu.    Sizing Issues.    Unlucky 13.

Old habits came back to haunt these Rockets on Tuesday night, as Houston fell to Portland, 110-102, for its first bubble loss of the season. The Blazers dominated on the glass, and used their size (and Damian Lillard) to take advantage of the game. Gary Trent Jr. hit some huge shots to keep Portland ahead as the Rockets tried to creep closer. Ultimately, it was none other than brief ex-Rocket Carmelo Anthony hit the dagger three-point shot to seal the win for the Blazers. James Harden and Russell Westbrook struggled. Brodie’s streak of 37 straight games with 20 points ended. Westbrook had only 15 points, and was a little too out of control in the clutch. Harden had another sub-par game with 23 points, and the Rockets just got outplayed by a Portland team who is much better than their record shows. The Blazers have a real shot at sneaking into the playoffs and playing the Lakers in the first round.

Jusuf Nurkic, Hassan Whiteside, and Zach Colllins all exposed Houston’s small-ball line-up, as the Rockets were outmanned and outmuscled on the glass. Nurkic especially dominated, scoring 18 points and snagging 19 boards. Still, Houston had a chance to win this game. They just didn’t execute down the stretch. The shooting of Dame, Trent Jr., and Melo’s clutch dagger won the match for Portland, along with their huge size advantage.

The Rockets have now fallen behind by 13 or more points early in the contest in each of their first three bubble games. Not a good strategy to live by if you want to consistently win basketball games. Living on the edge can be fun, but only for so long. Until reality comes back to bite. Houston needs to avoid falling in early holes. It takes too much exerted effort to trail by double-digits every night, and then try and make a comeback. Hopefully the Rockets reverse their trend in their next game against the Lakers. LeBron won’t be playing, which means Houston will let their guard down, but they can’t. Someone’s gotta step up and keep this team from reverting back to bad habits. And it won’t be Russ, the Rockets will miss his energy was he will be out with an injury as well. Houston needs Harden to step up and get back to the level of play he displayed in the opener. Mind-shaking step-back threes, strong drives to the lane, and clutch play by one of the league’s best. Old habits Houston desperately need to return on Thursday night.

Rockets Aim to Keep Blazing, Face Portland in Anticipated Launchfest

Bubble Blasters.    Close Calls.    Caution Time.

Houston looks to keep rolling in seeding game number three, where they’ll take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Both the Rockets and Blazers have played in close, competitive games in the first two bubble games. James Harden and the Rockets have played it dangerously, staging monumental comebacks in both their victories. Portland, meanwhile, lost a close one to the Celtics in their last game after narrowly beating the Grizzlies in their seeding opener. After attempting 61 three-pointers in their last game, expect the Rockets to be somewhere near that mark tonight, as the Blazers love to shoot from distance as well. Damian Lillard has been a Rocket-killer over the years, and his partner in crime, C.J. McCollum, is one of the most underrated stars in the NBA. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook continues to relentlessly attack the basket, and Robert Covington’s defense remains lethal on the perimeter. The Blazers are 30-38, and fighting for a playoff spot. Houston has a tendency to play down to their competition, and tonight the squad needs to attack the Blazers like they’re a contender.
If the Rockets play too cool for school tonight, the Blazers have more than enough firepower to blast by Houston. Jusuf Nurjkic is back in the lineup for Portland, after missing much of the season with an injury. Hassan Whiteside also gives the Blazers a dominant size advantage the Rockets will have to counter in the post. Despite being out-rebounded by 29 in their last game, Houston managed to find other ways to get the victory against the East-leading Bucks. The Rockets will likely be out-rebounded tonight as well, and need to make up for the margin by continuing to force turnovers for the opposition.

Expect a launch-fest tonight in Orlando, as two of the NBA’s most trigger-happy three-point teams square off, with a lot on the line. The Blazers are currently in the 9th seed, trying to fight off Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans, Sacramento, and Phoenix for the final playoff spot. The Rockets are currently in fourth, and after a Clippers loss to the Suns earlier today, Houston is only two games out of the second seed, and a game behind Denver for third. Each win or loss makes a huge impact in the standings. With only six games remaining, the Rockets have a legitimate chance to sneak into the second spot in the West. However, they can’t take teams like Portland lightly. Despite their record, the Blazers are basically at full health, and much better than the wins and losses show. It’s a battle of two of the league’s best backcourts… Harden and Westbrook, vs. Dame and C.J. Expect plenty of long-bombs and another close, competitive game in the bubble tonight.

 

Orlando, Florida

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (42-24):  “Classic” Red

Portland Trail Blazers (30-38):  Black

 

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

Clamp City:  Rockets Defense Seals Late Comeback Victory Over Bucks, 120-116

Come at Me, Bro.    Relentless RoCo.    Maintaining Focus.

If it’s drama you want, then Houston Rockets bubble basketball is the place for you. The squad narrowly squeaked out another comeback victory, as the Rockets beat the Bucks 120-116 on Sunday night. James Harden said he wished he was 7-foot, and could just run over people to dunk the ball, which takes very little skill. Giannis is blessed with the type of otherworldly athleticism only comparable to LeBron James. Harden, being in superb shape, is still a mere human being, compared to the gifts height God gifted the Freak. Which made me think of this quote: “he’s quite clever you know… for a human being,” said by C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back. Harden was clever enough to bait the otherworldly athleticism of Giannis Antetokounmpo into flailing and turning the ball over on multiple key possessions, resulting in a Rockets win. The Beard’s defense was stellar late on The Greek Freak. Anyone who says Harden isn’t playing on both ends of the floor isn’t watching (the Beard had six steals on the night). Houston found themselves in a similar situation as the opening bubble game against Dallas: down late, and rallying, this time a 16-4 run with 3 minutes on the clock, to come back for an impressive victory. It’s not a strategy that’s good for the heart, and it won’t work every time, but so far, the Rockets have played their best ball, especially defensively, when it matters most. Houston trailed by eight points with only three minutes remaining, but shutdown the Freak and Milwaukee defensively, allowing them to sneak by for a comeback victory.

Russell Westbrook continues to be quietly amazing. Brodie had 31 points, as he did against the Mavs, and relentlessly attacked the basket. 10 of his 11 shots were lay-ups or short jumpers. Russ only attempted 3 shots from long range, connecting once. This is the Westbrook the Rockets need if they’re going to be legitimate title contenders. Russ playing counter to Houston’s trigger-happy style of play from three-point land. Harden struggled from three, going 3-for-12 from deep, recording 24 points, 7 boards, and 7 dimes. Hopefully the Beard finds his touch from deep soon. A game against Portland awaits, one that presents a contest of aplomb three-point attempts.

Robert Covington continues to be a lethal threat on defense for the Rockets. I didn’t keep track, but RoCo got his hands on so many pass attempts, tipping the ball, forcing many of Milwaukee’s turnovers. I miss Clint Capela, but with Houston’s small-ball style, RoCo is definitely the better fit. The Rockets will need more of RoCo’s exceptional defense in their next matchup against one of the NBA’s best backcourts.

The Rockets have looked as good as any team so far in the early stages of bubble ball. With impressive comeback victories over playoff-bound Dallas and Milwaukee, Houston is proving they can play with anybody, and despite their size, the Rockets know how to win playing this style. Houston got out-rebounded by 29, were held to under 40% shooting, and gave up 116 points… yet still won the game. The Rockets became the first team in NBA history to win a game when giving up +110 points, getting out-rebounded by +25, and being held to under 40% shooting. Against the Bucks, Danuel House was 4-for-8 from long range. Every other Rocket struggled from distance (Jeff Green’s 3-for-8 not being too shabby). Houston needs a better shooting night in their next matchup. The squad now finds themself with the four seed in the West, only a game behind third. Hopefully, Harden and co. maintain focus, keep moving up. Next on the schedule is Damian Lillard and the Blazers, fighting to get into the playoffs. Whenever these two teams meet, the matchups are usually close and contested. With Portland’s playoff lives on the line, and Houston fighting for seeding position… expect the drama to continue in the Rockets’ next game.

Bring the Beef:  Rockets, Bucks Face-Off in Battle of Contenders

Don’t Pass This Up.     Seeking a Three Spot.   Finals Preview?

“Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn’t have fucked with? That’s me,” a Clint Eastwood quote from Gran Torino that brings to mind tonight’s matchup. Welcome to Round 2 of the biggest beef in the NBA: James Harden vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo, in what should be a thrilling matchup when the Rockets meet the Bucks on Saturday night. In case you’re wondering why these two MVP-candidates dislike each other, look back to February. It was during the All-Star break, when Giannis said he passed on picking Harden for his team, because he wanted someone “who would pass.” After the game, The Greek Freak said his team targeted Harden on defense when trying to score, a strategy that failed the Freak’s squad, as The Beard proved he’s a far superior defender than the ugly false narrative surrounding his repertoire. Except Harden to be locked in, and with Milwaukee missing Eric Bledsoe, the Beard could be prepped to serve up a 50-Burger tonight.

The Bucks beat the Celtics in their first bubble game, 119-112. Milwaukee will be without Pat Connaughton and Eric Bledsoe tonight. Houston is still missing Eric Gordon, who would’ve been a great matchup tonight. Hopefully, Danuel House and Ben McLemore continue their hot shooting from the perimeter. The Bucks will clog up the paint on drives from Harden and Russell Westbrook. Houston needs to knock down the open threes tonight, of which there will be aplenty. Despite currently sitting in sixth place, the Rockets are only a game and half behind Denver for the third seed out West. Tonight’s game is the perfect opportunity for Harden and co. to make a statement on national TV. Expect the announcers to be Bucks-obsessed, with a mention here or there about the Rockets, but Houston looks to wake up these “analysts” and other doubters with a victory tonight.

Saturday night’s tilt could potentially be a preview of the NBA Finals. In the East, Milwaukee is heavily favored. The Rockets have to get through the Los Angeles Firestorm out West, but with Harden and Westbrook playing at the top of their respective games, Houston has just as great a shot as the Bucks or L.A. teams to lay claim to the throne. If the Rockets can get past the Los Angeles mountain in the playoffs, there’s a good chance the Bucks will be waiting for them in the Finals. In Houston’s first bubble game, Harden and Westbrook combined for 80 points. Don’t expect the Beard or Brodie to slow down tonight, despite the tougher competition. The Rockets will have their hands full with The Greek Freak. Giannis still hasn’t proven to display a consistent shooting game, needing to drive to the rim to score or generate plays. Houston needs to form a wall any time Giannis drives, forcing the “others” on Milwaukee to take shots. As for Harden, he’s been waiting for a shot at the Freak for a long time. I can’t tell you exactly what he has in store for the audience, but I do know… there’s just some people you don’t fuck with. And you’re not going to want to miss tonight’s action. Let the beef sizzle…

 

The Bubble:  Orlando, Florida

 

Jersey Colors:

Milwaukee Bucks (54-12):  Green

Houston Rockets (41-24):  Red

 

TV:  7:30 PM CT –  ABC,  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Hot Hand Harden:  Rockets Rally,  Topple Mavs in OT,  153-149

Texas-Tuned Up.    Bubble Predators.    Red Resilience.

“I ain’t got time to bleed,” Blain Cooper says in Predator, the late 80’s classic action film. And if this season was a movie, the Rockets don’t have time to bleed. James Harden was knocked to the ground early after tip-off, before even attempting a shot. It didn’t matter. The Beard’s arguably the league’s toughest player, and put on a show in Houston’s first game in the NBA’s bubble. Harden finished with 49 points to lead the Rockets to a comeback 153-149 overtime victory. This one wasn’t easy. Dallas shot the ball well the entire game, and Luka Doncic finished with triple-double despite fouling out late. Kristaps Porzingis (aka “The Unicorn”) tallied an impressive 36 points and 16 boards. The Rockets trailed by 7 points with 45 seconds in the game, and entering Friday, historically, NBA teams were 2-711 when placed in this situation. But Brodie and the Beard combined for 80 points, and were too much for the Mavs, as were some clutch shots from other Rockets late in the game. Houston rallied to force OT, and bonus basketball brought death to the hopes of Dallas.

Despite a dominant performance from the NBA’s best backcourt, it was more than just Brodie and the Beard that fueled the Rockets on Friday night. Seven of the eight players who saw court time scored in double figures. Danuel House led the squad with six bombs from deep, and finished with 20 points. Ben McLemore didn’t miss from beyond the arc in only 14 minutes, connecting on all four of his threes for 13 points. Without Eric Gordon, three of Houston’s  most lethal threats from distance (Tucker, McLemore, House) combined to shoot 12-for-19, translating to an otherworldly 63% from behind the three-point line. The Rockets need this kind of shooting in Gordon’s absence to fill the void EG leaves on the roster.

Houston’s newest addtion, Robert Covington, started 0-for-8 from three-point land. And usually, when a player who’s never been an All-Star is 0-for-8 from distance, he’s riding the bench. But RoCo isn’t just any player. Covington made the play of the game, tipping in a missed Harden free throw to tie the game with about four seconds left. The Rockets forced overtime, where RoCo finally hit a big three to extend the lead, and Harden and co. finished off a gutty overtime victory in a crazy first game in the bubble. It doesn’t get any easier for the squad. Next up, they take on the Milwaukee Bucks in  potential NBA Finals preview. The Bucks beat the Houston on opening night at Toyota Center. Milwaukee has just about secured the top seed out East. On Sundayn night, Harden and the Rockets can’t afford to relax like they did in the first half against Dallas. For Houston, every game’s monumental, and this next one’s a statement game… the Rockets ain’t got time to bleed.