Month: February 2021

New York Rocket Pain:  Knicks Spoil Houston’s Big Apple Visit, 121-99, as Rockets Lose Fifth Straight

Ugly Times.    Franchise Wood.    Team Versus Time.

Worse times got even uglier for the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, as they were blown out by the New York Knicks in the Big Apple, 121-99, in a game that was never really competitive. The Knicks had the lead throughout, and other than a 5-point deficit in the third quarter for Houston, New York held firm control throughout. The Rockets yet again struggled from beyond the arc. John Wall led Houston with 26 points, but he didn’t have enough help to make this contest worth watching.

The Rockets have now lost a season-high five straight games. And during this losing streak, which began when Christian Wood went down with an injury, it’s become clearer and clearer that Wood is Houston’s franchise player for the future. The squad hasn’t won a game since Wood went down, and the Rockets are dying to get their new big-man back. Wood was having an All-Star caliber year, along with being the leading candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award before he went down.

Houston’s running out of time. At 11-15, the Rockets are 13th in the standings, and faller further and further away from playoff competition in the West. If the squad can’t snap out of this losing funk soon, the Rockets hopes for the chance at the playoffs, or even the new play-in games this year, will be in jeopardy. It’s time for the ugly times to end for Houston, or this stretch will turn into the definitive theme of this season: ugly. Although there’s still time to change that for the Rockets, they’re slowly running out  of time with each loss.

Rockets, Hoping to Snap Losing Streak, Head to the Big Apple in Showdown with Knicks

Wheels On.    Bright Lights.    Lucky Spot.

Houston hits the road again, as the Rockets visit the Big Apple to take on the New York Knicks. The Knicks are coming off an impressive win last night in Boston, despite losing one of their key players, Mitchell Robinson. New York’s big-man was having the half of his career, 14 rebounds in 20 minutes, before he fractured his hand, and will miss four-to-six weeks with the injury. He’d been having breakout year for the improved Knicks (12-15), who with new coach Tom Thibodeau, aren’t as low in the standings as usual.

The Rockets ride into New York trying to break a four-game losing streak. Houston lost Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker to injuries in their last game, Thursday’s loss to the Heat. Oladipo remains out, but the sturdiest player in the league, the NBA’s “Iron Man,” P.J. Tucker, will start once again for the Rockets, as he continues his consecutive games-played streak. John Wall, and Eric Gordon will be the primary ball-handlers with Oladipo out. Hopefully the bright lights of Madison Square Garden bring some newfound energy to a Rockets team that hasn’t been able to strand four good quarter together in over a week.

After tonight, Houston heads to Washington to take on Russell Westbrook and the Wizards, one of the worst teams in the NBA. The Rockets actually have a chance to begin a two-game winning-streak with a victory tonight. The Knicks played last night, so Houston should be more rested. As long as no more Rockets hit injury road, tonight’s Big Apple visit could be a big win for the squad.

 

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-14):  Red

New York Knicks (12-15):  Blue

 

TV:  7 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Endgame:  Rockets Lose Oladipo, Tucker, and Possibly all Hope in Jarring 101-94 Defeat to the Heat

Let Him Go.    Handicapped to the End.    Slowing Wagon.     

“Sometimes that’s all life is, a list of the thing’s we’ve lost,” Kevin Costner tells Diane Lane in his latest Western thriller, Let Him Go. And after the tale couldn’t seem to get any worse for the Rockets, Houston lost Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker to injuries in the third quarter. A period which saw the Rockets score only ten points, after they had managed to build a ten-point first-quarter cushion. After Oladipo and Tucker went down, the Heat took full control of the momentum, and despite having chances late, the Rockets couldn’t rebound (literally), and Miami held on for a 101-94 victory, their 4th straight win, and Houston’s 4th straight loss. Jimmy Butler led the Heat with 27 points and Max Strus played the latest surprise role star for the opposition, doing his best Steph Curry impression, nailing 5 of his 8 shots from three, racking up 21 points in the process. The Rockets were already short-handed with Christian Wood still sidelined, and now Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker, both who’ve been swirling in trade rumors, went down early in the third quarter in Houston. It was too much for the Rockets to overcome, despite getting within two points late, Houston couldn’t rebound to save their lives, as the Rockets lack of big bodies was overpowered by a stronger Miami team. Houston was truly handicapped to the final buzzer in another torrid, sufferable game this season for the Rockets.

Monitoring Oladipo, it only makes his impending free-agency, and as the trade deadline approaches, his time in Houston, more uncertain. If Vic is seen as injury-prone, he’s damaged his value in his short time in Houston, and the Rockets don’t even know if he truly wants to play in Houston. The squad has a tricky situation on their hands. If they can trade Oladipo for respectable assets, it might be worth looking into, if it looks like he’s headed elsewhere after the season anyway, which appears to be the situation to me. As for P.J. Tucker, that’s another story.

Tuck arrived in Houston at the beginning of the 2017 season, at the start of the Chris Paul experiment. And in his time in H-Town, Tucker’s embodied everything we love about our favorite athletes. P.J.’s played his heart out on every play, relentlessly sacrificed for his teammates in pursuit of the team’s betterment, and never, never, missed a game in a Rockets uniform. That streak, the NBA’s longest current consecutive games-played streak, could be in jeopardy Saturday night in New York. Tucker is questionable, and knowing the heart he has, if P.J. can walk, he’s going to suit up on Saturday night. But Thursday’s injury was a simple crack in the process, and sign towards the future. Despite playing with a pinched nerve in his neck for nearly a year and a half, Tucker’s never missed a game in Houston. But, time’s undefeated, and it looks like it may be finally catching up with P.J. Maybe the Rockets should do the right thing, and let Tucker go to a contender. P.J.’s still reliable enough to be a solid role player that could add a dimension of toughness that could put a contender over-the-top. I’m the last person that wants to see P.J. go. No one in the NBA plays harder than P.J. Tucker. I didn’t want to see Daryl Morey leave. Or Mike D’Antoni… Russell Westbrook. And James Harden. And if we really want to delve deep into the insufferable nightmare that has become Houston professional sports… DeAndre Hopkins, George Springer, J.J. Watt… and soon, likely… Deshaun Watson. It seems kind of like a sick joke, how one town could go from having three competitive teams contending for Championships, to three teams rebuilding, and while it didn’t happen overnight. Looking back.. it all just seems like a terrible nightmare. But welcome to reality. Houston and the Rockets were fortunate for years… James Harden took the squad to the playoffs every year, and in his last few seasons built the Rockets into serious title contenders. The Astros won a World Series (tainted as it may be in the eyes of many, many don’t realize how commonplace corruption is, and always has been in the MLB when it comes to “cheating,” something every club’s taken part in since before the Rockets moved to Houston. And then there’s the burning building that is the Texans. Taken in the middle of the night, strangled by a preacher, who’s never let go of his evil grasp, Jack Easterby. The man responsible for the Texans’ overhaul from contenders, to worst team in the NFL, all in the matter of a year. As bad as Tilman Fertitta has been aa the Rocket’s owner, he hasn’t completely torn the team apart like Easterby’s done to the Texans. Regardless, hard times have hit Houston’s sports teams, and this period of uncertainty and rebuilding, could last a while. With the men in charge of their respective organizations, competitive pro sports in Houston just got taken off the map. But, we still have the Rockets, Astros, and Texans.. or whatever’s left of them. Despite all the unfamiliarity and injuries, the Rockets are still probably in the best position moving forward. But enjoy these rough times while you can. It’s only going to get rougher.

P.J. Tucker will likely be traded before the trade deadline, on March 25th, nearing closer each day. Tuck expressed his desire to be somewhere where he “felt wanted,” and while he hasn’t demanded a trade, he’s made it clear he’s not completely happy in Houston. And while P.J.’s such a key piece to the Rockets’ defense, veteran leadership,  and intensity, it’s time to let him go elsewhere. Tucker’s been nothing short of a class-act since he arrived in 2017. It’s not a matter of if anymore, just when. So enjoy all the hustle plays and hard screens, even the missed corner threes, because P.J., just like Harden, Westbrook, Watt, Hopkins, and Springer… is on his way out of town. The Rockets just haven’t made their decision yet on where to send him. Even though it only gave the city a title many raise an eyebrow to, the last few years in Houston sports have been amazing. Even though the Rockets didn’t win anything major, they produced a boatload of exciting players and changed the style of the game.. forever. Moreyball’s long-gone. No more Beard. And the wheels on the Tuckwagon are slowly coming to a stop. And that’s ok. Sometimes that’s all life is… a list of the things we’ve lost.

Rockets, Heat Square-Off in Brief Home Stop for Houston

Opposite Directions.    Launching Pad.    The Good, the Bad, and the Rockets.

In literally the most erratic season in Houston Rockets history, the squad returns to Toyota Center for a brief home stop to host the Miami Heat. Tonight’s matchup is a tale of teams headed in opposite directions. The Rockets return home trying to snap a 3-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Heat roll into Houston finally hitting their stride. After a slow 7-14 start that saw Miami plagued by injuries and coronavirus, the Heat are aiming for their fourth win in a row as they face off against the Rockets tonight. With a Houston loss, these squads will have identical records, and the Rockets will fall further down the food chain out West. To avoid that, Houston needs Victor Oladipo to show up. Vic sat out last game due to rest, and tonight the Rockets need him and John  Wall to be explosive if they want to beat a Miami team finding its rhythm.

Hopefully, a return to the friendly confines of Toyota Center during this road-heavy stretch in the schedule can give the Rockets a launching pad, and possibly pile on some wins, as the schedule gets easier after tonight. But who knows with these Rockets. There’s good teams, bad teams, and then these Rockets, who on some nights look like the worst team in the NBA, others, they look like they could compete with anyone. Who knows which team we’ll get tonight. But a feisty Jimmy Butler isn’t going to let the Heat come into Houston carelessly. Maybe a fiery Miami squad can instill some grit and energy into these Rockets. They’re going to need it tonight.

A win tonight, and Houston creeps back to within a game of .500. A loss, and the Rockets fall to three games below the .500 mark, and further down the standings in the crowded Western Conference. John Wall, a returning Victor Oladipo, and Eric Gordon will be primarily responsible for creating the offense and setting the tone. Hopefully the squad plays off of Jae’Sean Tate and P.J. Tucker’s energy. Because tonight… the Heat’s on against the Rockets, literally.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Miami Heat (10-14):  “City Edition” Pink/Blue

Houston Rockets (11-13):  Black

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT  –  TNT

Big Easy Blues:  Rockets Get Hammered by Pelicans in New Orleans, 130-101

Low-Quality H2O.    Sinking Ship.    Necessary Changes.

“During that winning streak, we drank some of that water we shouldn’t have. Our defense has been s***ty the last couple games,” John Wall said after the Rockets most recent blowout, a 130-101 beatdown in the Big Easy. And he’s right, the Rockets defense has been ugly the last few games. On Tuesday night, New Orleans pretty much dominated from start to finish. Houston trailed by 20 midway through the second, got back within 11 to start the fourth, but by then, had no energy to finish the game. a balanced Pelicans attack saw seven players score in double-figures. John Wall scored 25 points to lead Houston, and Eric Gordon continues to pass the 20-point mark, notching 23 points in the loss. Other than that, Sterling Brown supplied 11 points off the bench, and Jae-Sean Tate and Danuel House Jr. both chipped in 13 points apiece. But without Christian Wood, this Rockets team has struggled to win games. They’ve yet to win one since he went down with his second injury of the year. Throw in a missing Victor Oladipo, and Houston just didn’t have enough firepower against a New Orleans team that’s rolling, now winners of four straight.

Seemingly overnight, the Rockets have gone playoff contenders to a sinking ship. I get it, players have to rest for their health. But if Houston never suits up its entire roster, the Rockets will never build the chemistry required to beat the best. Hopefully, Christian Wood gets back as quickly as possible. His absence is a gigantic void Houston can’t fill. Until then, the squad will has to play harder, and hope Coach Stephen Silas makes the right rotational moves. It’s tricky when you never a full roster to work with.

What changes can the Rockets make to start winning again? The first answer is health. Take away two of the top three players from any NBA team, and logically, they’re going to be weakened. The Lakers without LeBron James and Anthony Davis, wouldn’t be contenders. In New Orleans, Wood and Oladipo’s absence couldn’t be salvaged by Houston teammates trying to mask the void that opens when two All-Star caliber players aren’t on the court. The second answer is quit resting John Wall and Victor Oladipo on back-to-backs. The Rockets don’t have time to worry about long-term health. If an injury happens, it’s bad luck. But if Houston keeps leaving their valuables off the court, they have no chance to be a valuable squad this season. And the final answer… maybe they should go back to drinking some of that water.

Rockets Hit New Orleans in Desperate Need of a Win

Big Easy Deja Vu.    Reloaded Backcourt.    Ride Off the Schneide.

Houston finds themselves in a much more precarious situation than their previous trip to New Orleans. On January 30th, the Rockets won their fifth straight game of the year, beating the Pelicans in the Big Easy. The squad will look for some of that Big Easy Deja Vu tonight, as Houston limps into New Orleans losers of three of their past four games. The Rockets will try and right the ship with some added ammunition they sorely missed on Monday night.

The Rockets backcourt gets reloaded in New Orleans on Tuesday, as John Wall and Eric Gordon return to the lineup after resting Monday night. It’s unsure if Victor Oladipo will play at the moment. He had been resting one of the games on back-to-backs, but when asked about it a few days ago, he said “we’ll see.” Regardless, Houston gets its two most consistent scorers (besides Christian Wood, who remains out with an ankle injury) back in the lineup. The Rockets won the previous game in late last month in New Orleans, 126-112. The Pelicans are 10-12, only a half game behind Houston in the claustrophobic Western Conference standings. This is a huge game for the Rockets to keep pace with the group of teams bunched in the West, and avoid falling out of the playoff-picture.

After winning seven of eight games, Houston has lost two straight, and three of their past four contests. Tuesday night presents a great opportunity for John Wall and company to get off the schneide, and prove their still capable of holding ship while they wait for the ever-so-valuable Christian Wood to return from his injury. For now, the Rockets just have to work with the guys on the roster. Tonight, they’ll have more ammunition on the offensive end to avoid a seven-point fourth quarter nightmare like the one that occurred last night in Charlotte. The Pelicans are a much better team than the Hornets, and have been on the rise… expect another precarious night of Houston Rockets basketball, with hopefully a little Big Easy Deja Vu.

 

Smoothie King Center:  New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-12):  White

New Orleans Pelicans (10-12):  Red

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT  –  TNT

Buzz Kill:  Rockets Collapse Late in Charlotte, as Hornets Sting Rockets, 119-94

Disappearing Final Act.    Rotational Issues.    No Wall=More Ball.

Vanished. From thin air it seemed. The tightly contested matchup between the Rockets and Hornets on Monday night. Houston stood almost toe-to-toe with Charlotte for three quarters, trailing by only three points entering the fourth quarter. But without John Wall and Eric Gordon, Victor Oladipo was nowhere to be found in final frame, as he seemed out of sync, and the Rockets scored a franchise-record low seven points in the fourth, as the Hornets blew out Houston, 119-94, turning a competitive game into an embarrassing one for the Rockets. LaMelo Ball had one of his best games of the season for the Hornets. Charlotte’s hyped rookie scored 24 points, and dished 10 dimes while grabbing 7 boards to lead the Hornets over a sub-par undermanned Rockets team. Despite being within distance, Charlotte held firm control for the majority of the game. And Houston now finds themselves back below .500, and with another game tomorrow night, against a surging New Orleans Pelicans team.

On Monday night, the Rockets had rotational issues. With so many key players (John Wall, Eric Gordon, Christian Wood) out for Houston, there was no doubt coach Stephen Silas would experiment with some of his decisions. But, I have to admit, I disagree with some of the choices he made in Charlotte. Mason Jones, who’s shown to play at an All-Star caliber level, scored 6 points, and nailed 2 of his 5 threes, but only played 15 minutes. Ben McLemore, who scored 13 of his 15 points during a stellar first half, shot the the ball only twice in the second half. After trailing by five points after the first period, the Rockets chipped into the lead, getting within four by the half. And three by the third. But by that time, this undermanned Houston squad had nothing left in the tank against an inspired Hornets squad.

And so John Wall doesn’t play, and the Rockets lose once more. Not surprising. Wall certainly would’ve slowed down LaMelo on Monday night, but they’ll be counting on him tomorrow in New Orleans to pull Houston back even in the win-loss column. At 11-12, the Rockets need to to start moving up, or in a jam-packed Western Conference, they could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. I get it… Wall, Oladipo, and Cousins are all coming off big injuries. And unfortunately Wood’s fell victim to the injury bug as well, but If Houston keeps resting players, they’re never going to separate themselves from the pack, let alone even join in and make the playoffs. The Rockets are blocking themselves from establishing an identity and building chemistry, making it difficult to get a feel for this team’s potential. If Wall and Oladipo keep resting every other game, and with Wood’s uncertain future, this team will never be able to gel own the court and develop some much-needed chemistry. Wood will return, and hopefully we’ve seen the last of his injury issues this season. But if Wall and Oladipo don’t buy all-in, and play every game, the Rockets are in trouble. That’s what I really miss about James Harden. The Beard never took a night off. And now one of Houston’s top two playmakers seems to be out every other night. If the Rockets can’t start figuring out their rotational issues, and which players deserve playing time in respective situations… Houston’s playoff hopes could be on the verge of vanishing.

Rockets Head to Charlotte, Look to Generate Positive Buzz in Tilt with Hornets

Rough Week Begins.    Stinging Absences.    Oladipo’s Opportunity.

Houston meets a rough patch in the schedule to start the week, playing 3 games in the next 4 nights. For a team already weakened by injuries, and players resting on certain ends of the back-to-backs, this week poses a challenge for the Rockets, despite the lack of elite opposition. Houston hits the road again to begin this stretch with a battle against the Hornets in Charlotte. The Hornets have a record of 11-13, and sit in the playoffs out East, but still are a below-average team compared to an average Western foe the Rockets would face. Under normal circumstances, I’d say Houston should definitely beat this team, but these are no ordinary circumstances by any means.

Christian Wood remains out for the Rockets, and both John Wall and Eric Gordon will be resting the first half of this back-to-back. Meaning Houston’s backcourt will be severely depleted. This game is a perfect opportunity for Victor Oladipo to slip out of his current slump, and lead Houston to a win. Oladipo’s still the best player on the court tonight. He can’t let any trade rumors get in his head and diminish his play. Victor hasn’t looked right the past two games. The Rockets need the Oladipo of old if they want to escape Charlotte with a win. Victor can prove he really wants to be a Rocket with a dominant performance tonight. Without Wall and Gordon, Oladipo will get plenty of looks, so tonight’s contest will be very telling where Victor’s mind’s at. Are these trade rumors affecting his play? Does he really want to play in Houston? The gossip started way before Oladipo even played his first game in a Rockets uniform. Tonight, he has a chance to silence the gossip (for now), with a big game in a Houston win tonight. It won’t be easy, but Oladipo has the potential to carry this Rockets team over a worse Hornets team tonight on the road.

Houston plays in New Orleans tomorrow night, a much tougher opponent. So Wall and Gordon will be back in the lineup Tuesday. But for tonight, the Rockets are going to be relying heavily on Victor Oladipo and Jae’Sean Tate to be the primary ball handlers on the floor, creating plays for themselves and other teammates. Everyone on Houston’s squad will see more minutes than usual. The Rockets would love to see a vintage Boogie performance from DeMarcus Cousins, who will once again be relied on heavily in the paint in Wood’s absence. If Houston can get solid games from Oladipo, Cousins, and Tate, the money should be in the Rockets favor. They’ll also need Sterling Brown, David Nwaba, along with someone else on the roster to step up… and they have a chance to soften this upcoming rough patch in the schedule with a win to start the week.

 

Spectrum Center:  Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-11):  White

Charlotte Hornets (11-13):  Purple

 

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

Burnt Rubber:  Rockets Run Out of Gas, Drop Rubber Match to Spurs, 111-106

Cracks in the Wall.    Missing Christian.    Negative Buzz.

For the first time in the John Wall era, the Rockets lost with their new star point guard on the court, and seemed a bit off-track. Houston fell to San Antonio, 111-106, on Saturday night, as too much DeMar DeRozan, along with questionable officiating, kept the Rockets from winning the rubber match between these in-state rivals. Wall led Houston with 27 points, and Eric Gordon chipped had another solid game for the Rockets, topping the 20-point mark once again as EG finished with 26 points on the night. But those were pretty much the only bright spots for a Houston team that was desperately missing Christian Wood. San Antonio drives it to the basket almost more than any team in the league, and the Spurs got everything they wanted in the paint without Wood’s interior defensive presence. The Spurs led for nearly the entire game, until the Rockets managed to snag a two-point lead late, but Houston couldn’t hold on, and especially had no answers for DeRozan, who had arguably his best game of the season. San Antonio’s lethal midrange threat scored 30 points on 9-for-16 shooting, to go with 8 boards and 7 dimes, carrying the Spurs to victory as the game was close in clutch time.

The Rockets will be without their Wood for a few more games, who certainly would have prevented some of those DeRozan and other Spur layups. With 3 games in 4 nights coming up again this week starting on Monday, Houston needs to find a way to come together, and win as a team with whatever lineup Coach Stephen Silas employs on the floor. DeMarcus Cousins registered 12 points and 11 boards, but wasn’t as effective as he was in the prior games he started for Wood. The Rockets need DeMarcus to step up big-time during this stretch of games in which the team will be without Wood.

Victor Oladipo had his worst game as a Rocket. The former All-Star managed only 9 points on a  4-for-14 shooting night. With his name swirling in trade rumors, one has to wonder if it’s affecting his play on the court. It sure looks like it, as Oladipo’s Rockets debut in Chicago where he scored 32 points, seems like it’s in another time dimension, some forgotten past that will never return. Whatever it is, something’s not right with Vic. His energy and passion has noticeably decreased in the last few games, and without John Wall, Eric Gordon, and Christian Wood in their upcoming game in Charlotte, the Rockets will need Oladipo to the primary ball-handler. And he’s going to have to look like the Vic who torched the Bulls if Houston wants a chance to win short-handed.

The Rockets now head back on the road for five of their next six games. Houston’s quick pit stop back home didn’t turn out the way the squad wanted. But the Rockets have been pretty solid on the road lately. Winning five of their past six road game, Houston has a chance to bond together and tighten (or fix, in Oladipo’s case) this team’s chemistry to get back on the right track.

Rockets Return Home for a Quick Visit, Host Spurs in Round 3 of I-10 Rivalry

The Franchise Guy.    Reliable Cousins.    Pit Stop.   

“I feel like the franchise guy, now that James has left… I feel that’s my job, to be the leader of this team,” John Wall said recently. And so far this during this crazy season, that’s exactly who he’s been. Houston’s point guard looks to give their Rockets their 8th win in their last 9 games, as they host the San Antonio Spurs, tonight at Toyota Center. Both teams are in the thick of a crowded Western Conference standings. At 12-10, the Spurs hold the 6th seed. Sitting only half a game behind San Antonio, with a record of 11-10, Houston is sitting in the 10th seed. That can all change with a win tonight, as a victory would push the Rockets past the Spurs in the standings. And to beat their instate rival, who the squad’s facing for the third time already this season, they’re going to need their “franchise guy”, John Wall, to lead the team past a San Antonio team with the same goal as Houston: moving up in a jumbled, crowded West, with parity abound as we get the light to the halfway mark of the season can start to be seen at the end of the tunnel. No more talk of an early season. We’re well into this unique 72-game NBA regular season. And where about to find out what separates the pretenders, from the contenders.

It’s Round 3 between these I-10 rivals. The first two games between these squads came immediately after the James Harden trade. Houston was severely undermanned, yet came away with one of their most impressive wins of the season with a win in the first matchup. The Rockets were even more hindered in the second matchup, and couldn’t hang on to beat a well-coached Gregg Popovich team twice in a row, let alone short-handed. This time, Houston will be short-handed as well. In the Rockets win in Memphis on Thursday, Christian Wood suffered a nasty ankle sprain on the same ankle that caused him to miss time earlier this season. Luckily for Houston, an MRI revealed it’s just an ankle sprain, and nothing dire. The Rockets can’t afford to lose Wood long-term. He’s been a key factor in all of Houston’s wins when he’s been on the court this season. Unfortunately, Wood will miss at least a few games, including tonight’s tilt with the Spurs. The Rockets will rely on John Wall, Victor Oladipo, who rested in Memphis, and Eric Gordon, who’s been consistently impressive over the past few games, to bring the energy and lead the Rockets to victory. Jae’Sean Tate’s also coming off a career-high 19 points in Memphis, and will be the energizer bunny on Saturday night to keep Houston focused on defense. DeMarcus Cousins has been brilliant in games Christian Wood has missed this season. Especially recently, Cousins wound back the clock, and looked like the vintage All-Star Demarcus from years past, before the injuries. The Rockets need Cousins to continue this trend, and dominate the paint for Houston in Wood’s absence. 

Coming off a four-game road trip, the Rockets are only making a pit stop back in Houston to host San Antonio. After tonight, five of the squad’s next six games are on the road, as the Rockets continue this road-heavy portion of their schedule. The biggest stars might not be on the court Saturday night at Toyota Center, but it’s still a huge game tonight for both teams. To get an idea of how close the Western Conference standings are, only one game separates the 4th (Denver Nuggets) from the 10th (Houston). The Sacramento Kings, currently possessing the 11th seed, and happen to play the Nuggets this afternoon, are a mere two games behind Denver. And the 13th-seeded New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder lurk closely as well, only three games behind the 4th-seeded Nuggets. Expect lot of movement in the standings out West over the next few days. Depending on how tonight’s matchup (and others across the league fare), the Rockets could vault themselves up to the 6th seed with a win over the Spurs. A loss, and Houston could potentially fall back to the 11th seed. It’s a close as it gets this time of year out West. Playing a familiar rival for already the third time this season, the Rockets need all they can from the Kentucky Reunion: featuring none other than Boogie Cousins, and Houston’s new “franchise guy,” John Wall. Despite not having Wood, the Rockets should be in good hands tonight… as long as their leader does his job.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (12-10):  White

Houston Rockets (11-10):  Black

 

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