Month: November 2021

Rockets Aim for Third Straight Win, Welcome Thunder

First of Two.    Opposite Directions.    Upper Edge.

After going winless for an entire month, the Houston Rockets are now riding a two-game winning streak, seemingly out of nowhere. On Monday night, they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first of a two-game set between these rivals that will determine the season series. The final matchup is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. But first, Houston looks to close out their three-game home-stand with perfection, by beating the Thunder once again. The Rockets won the first matchup, 124-91, on October 24th in Houston’s home opener. OKC took the second game at home, 101-89, back on November 17th. Now, with the series tied at one apiece, both squads will look to gain the upper edge tonight.

A lot has changed since the last time these two teams clashed. The Rockets and Thunder are moving in opposite directions. Houston not only ended their losing streak, but switched gears, and are now riding a two-game winning streak. And the last time the Rockets and Thunder met, was also the last time OKC won a game. The Thunder find themselves sliding in the wrong direction, and will try and break out of a 5-game losing streak tonight. Houston hopes to keep their momentum going, and build on their winning streak, and recent success at home. This closes out a three-game home-stand for the Rockets, and a win tonight would make them a perfect 3-0 over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Jalen Green remains out for Houston with a left hamstring injury. Kevin Porter Jr. has flourished, along with the bench, during this brief winning streak. The Rockets will need KPJ and a solid all-around team effort if they want to take the upper edge in this series tonight.

Houston will also rely heavily on Christian Wood, who is arguably the Rockets best player right now. Wood is averaging a double-double this season, registering 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds a contest. The scary part for the Rockets is that news circled this afternoon that Houston will be “entertaining” trade offers for Wood. Hopefully, this doesn’t affect his play on the court. It should only motivate Wood to play harder and stronger. One can only pray the Rockets don’t trade away Wood. The idea is to get more minutes for Alperen Sengun, who looks to be Houston’s big-man of the future. Sengun’s numbers-per-minute are off the charts for a 19-year old rookie. I think the two play great alongside each other, and there’s no need to rush into trading away their best player at the moment. Wood has even complemented Sengun’s passing ability and court-awareness several times. Obviously the absence of Daniel Theis, combined with the increased minutes for Sengun over the last two games aren’t to be dismissed as factoring into Houston’s winning streak. We’ll see what direction Coach Stephen Silas opts to head in tonight, as Sengun only saw five minutes of action in the Rockets’ last meeting with the Thunder.

Regardless, this is a game Houston is more than capable of winning tonight. The Rockets have already beaten this Thunder team at home, granted it was over a month ago. Still, Houston is riding a wave of momentum, and the team’s shown tremendous growth over their past two resilient victories. The group’s bonded and moved towards playing as a team on the court. Expect a close game tonight, but the Rockets should keep riding their winning streak, especially if they continue playing with a “sense” of togetherness.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Oklahoma City Thunder (6-13):  White

Houston Rockets (3-16):  Black

 

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

Rockets Sting Hornets in OT, 146-143, Notch 2nd Straight Win

Super Six.    Earning It.    Streaking.   

In an offensive showcase, the Rockets and Hornets fought all the way into extra time to determine the victor. And for the second straight game, Houston came away with the win, beating Charlotte, 146-143, in an OT thriller at Toyota Center. The Rockets started the game hot, scoring more points in the first quarter than any period this season, taking a 43-30 lead after one frame. Despite grabbing a 17-point edge at one point, and leading for most of the game, Houston couldn’t swat Charlotte away, similar to a pesky Hornet. Charlotte had four players score over 20 points, and LaMelo Ball just missed that mark with a 19-point triple-double for the Hornets. “Scary” Terry Rozier continued to have the hot hand for the Bees, leading Charlotte with 31 points. Gordon Hayward scored 21 points, and Miles Bridges suppled 22 points for the Hornets as well. And Kelly Oubre Jr. was stellar off Charlotte’s bench, adding 23 points. However, Houston countered with six players scoring at least 15 points, as the Rockets had their best shooting, and offensive game, of this season. The squad nailed a season-high 23 threes, en-route to a monster 146-point outing.

Christian Wood led Houston with a monster double-double, scoring 33 points and grabbing 16 boards. Kevin Porter Jr. had his second straight solid game after coming back from a three-game absence due to injury. KPJ just missed a triple-double, finishing with 23 points, a season-high 12 assists, and 8 rebounds. Eric Gordon continues to quietly have a great season. EG scored 22 points and dished out 7 assists. Jae’Sean Tate bounced back from two sub-par performances with a 16-point outing. Armoni Brooks, who continues to excel with more minutes, hit five threes for 15 points on the night. And Garrison Matthews, starting his first career game for the Rockets, scored 20 points, and continues to be a pleasant surprise after coming up from the G-League.

A few weeks ago, Matthews didn’t have an NBA job. Now, he’s earned rotational minutes. Coach Stephen Silas said after the game, “When you call up a two-way guy, you usually don’t expect him to make the main playing group. But he’s earned it.” Indeed he has. From his ability to take charges, to hitting big three-point shots, Matthews has shined in the role Houston’s asked him to fill. Including the Rockets last game, where he hit the biggest shot of the season, “Gritty Garrison” has shown a P.J. Tucker-like knack for knocking down the corner three. Hopefully Matthews continues to see minutes on a crowded roster with plenty of young guys fighting for playing time. For the second straight game, Daniel Theis and David Nwaba didn’t play, due to a coach’s decision. It will be interesting to see how long Silas stays with his smaller lineup.

In limited minutes, Alperen Sengun continues to awe with his play, looking like the steal of the draft at the 16th spot. Sengun had some dazzling passes, and his court awareness is next-level. It’s a tough job juggling all these young players for Houston’s coach Stephen Silas. But it’s easier at the moment with Jalen Green out with an injury. However with more guys showing they deserve more minutes, it only makes Silas’ job more difficult when Green returns.

So after going a month without a victory, the Rockets are streaking for the first time this season after notching their second straight W on Saturday night. And for also for the first time, after a brutal first-quarter to the season schedule-wise, Houston has a few winnable games coming up. Not to get greedy, but the Rockets could legitimately push this winning streak to five or six games. Up next, Houston has back-to-back games with the Thunder, followed by home matchups with the Orlando Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans. Orlando and New Orleans have the worst-records in the league after the Rockets. And Houston’s already blown out Oklahoma City once in the home opener. Although they lost the other matchup this season to the Thunder, if the Rockets keep playing with this passion, they have a chance to take both games, and win the season series with OKC. Houston showed resilience in their win over the Hornets. The Rockets led 120-103 in the fourth quarter, yet Charlotte stormed back to send the game to overtime. Earlier in the season, Houston’s young core would’ve probably squandered the game, but the Rockets showed resiliency and truly earned the win on Saturday night. Despite the easier schedule on the horizon, Houston still needs to play with this sense of urgency in order to earn more victories in the NBA. In this league, especially during a season of unforeseen parity, nothing’s given… the Rockets will have to earn every single win.

Rockets Aim for Consecutive Wins, Face Hornets

One Ball to the Next.    Banking on Adjustments.    Wall on the Horizon?

The Houston Rockets will look to win back-to-back games for the first time all season, as they host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. After facing the Bulls’ Lonzo Ball on Wednesday night, the Rockets will get their first look this season at his younger brother, LaMelo Ball, who is off to a sensational start to the year. The younger Ball brother leads Charlotte in scoring, and has provided a spark to the team owned by Michael Jordan. The Hornets are 13-8 and looking to reach the playoffs for the first time in several years. Along with Ball, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, and “Scary” Tery Rozier are some of the biggest threats Houston will face on the court tonight.

Coach Stephen Silas will undoubtedly make more adjustments in tonight’s matchup, especially with Jalen Green out for at least a week. Who knows what the starting lineup will be, but if the squad plays with the effort they put forth on Wednesday, they have a chance to win consecutive games for the first time all year. But they won’t capitalize without the same sense of urgency they displayed against Chicago.

News broke earlier this afternoon of a possibility of John Wall retuning to game action for the Rockets. While Wall’s been with the team all season, he’s yet to play on t he active roster. And as Houston’s had no luck finding a trade for the former All-Star, it seems he might finally be sick of warming the bench. The Rockets will need to come to an agreement for how Wall can get playing time, and still nurture the growth of this young Houston core. A return for Wall, a veteran All-Star, can’t be out of the question for a team with only two wins. The Rockets can still use all the help that comes their way. Hopefully the squad can stay hungry against the Hornets on Saturday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Charlotte Hornets (13-8):  Blue “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (2-16):  Red

 

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

Danuel’s House:  Rockets Break Skid, Stun Bulls, 118-113

Small Ball Attack.    Bench Outburst.    KPJ Minus Green.

Exactly one month after their last win, the Houston Rockets finally broke their losing streak, beating the Chicago Bulls, 118-113, on Thanksgiving Eve. Houston had plenty to be thankful for, as Coach Stephen Silas finally made some serious tweaks to the lineup. An adjustment he acknowledged his staff would change from game to game, depending on the opponent. And on Wednesday against the Bulls, it worked to perfection. Houston played a traditionally smaller lineup than usual. Daniel Theis, who’s started many games this season for the Rockets, didn’t see any action against the Bulls. Danuel House, who didn’t play at all in the first half, ended up being the hero. Houston trailed by 9 points at halftime, but House scored 18 second half points, and led a third-quarter rally that saw Houston outscore Chicago 35 to 18 in the period. The Rockets had a season-high eight different players score in double-figures. Houston’s bench scored a whopping 55 points, with 24 coming in the critical third period. For the first time this season, the Rockets won a game when trailing by double-digits, as they trailed by as many as 11 points at one point in the contest.

Kevin Porter Jr. returned from a three-game absence to play a critical role in offense. KPJ Houston with 9 dimes, and continues to improve on his efficiency. In limited minutes, Jalen Green looked great, scoring 11 points in the first quarter. Unfortunately, Green suffered an injury late in the first quarter, and didn’t return to the game. And now he will miss at least a week with a strained left hamstring. Just as the Rockets have an easier than usual schedule coming up, of course their star rookie goes down. The squad will have to play hard like Wednesday’s outrunning of the Bulls if they want to put a few more wins on the board in Jalen’s absence.

So how did the Rockets beat one of better teams in the NBA? Well, guys like Garrison Matthews, Armani Brooks, and of course Alperen Sengun continue to make winning plays. Matthews hit arguably the shot of the season: a three from the corner with 25 seconds left that stretched Houston’s lead from 3 to 6 points. Christian Wood secured another double-double with 16 points and 10 boards, and leading scorer Danuel House didn’t miss from beyond the arc, draining 4 threes. The Rockets spaced the floor with ease minus Thies’ big body. It will be interesting to see how Silas continues to tinker with the lineup as the season moves on. Up next, Houston hosts Lonzo Ball’s younger brother, LaMelo Ball, and the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

Rockets Return Home, Host Upstart Bulls

Surprise Teams?    Back on Their Bull-Vic.    Big Trouble.

The Rockets return to Toyota Center on Wednesday night for a matchup of surprise teams in the NBA. Everyone knew these new-look Rockets would be a rebuilding process, but no one knew it would look this bad. It’s gotten so dire, Coach Stephen Silas, in only his second season, is reportedly on the “hot seat.” If he wasn’t before, with many questioning his in-game decision making, he’s officially warming his rear end with each passing game as the season moves forward. Houston hosts the Chicago Bulls, arguably the biggest surprise so far this season. The Bulls are tied for the second seed in the East, only a game out of the top spot. They have revitalized group of players. Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, former Lakers, are shining in their roles in Chicago. And the newest Bull, DeMar DeRozan, is flourishing alongside fellow All-Star Zach LaVine, a pair many “experts” expected to struggle playing together. Well, that hasn’t been the case. Both LaVine and DeRozan are having career years, and both will almost certainly be named All-Stars. What does that mean for the Rockets? Well they’re in trouble, but the trouble’s bigger than usual this time.

The Bulls are coming off their most disappointing loss of the season, a 32-point thrashing at the hands of the Pacers in Chicago. It was an uncharacteristic loss for this Bulls team who’s been very disciplined all season. Chicago has beaten the teams they’re supposed to, other than their previous game. So the Bulls will be coming into Houston hungrier than usual, eagerly wanting to erase the memory of the Indiana beatdown out of their psyches. And they’re also coming into H-Town bigger than usual.

Nikola Vucevic, one of the most underrated big-men in the NBA for years now, and another reason the Bulls are off to a fantastic start, returns from injury tonight. Christian Wood, Daniel Theis, and Alperen Sengun will have their hands full trying to contain Chicago’s often slept-on big man. It’s not the sort of homecoming the Rockets were looking for, but they’re back in Houston. Hopefully, they can put up somewhat of a fight, and run with the Bulls longer than anyone expects. Kevin Porter Jr. is making his return after missing the past three games. Maybe KPJ’s the spark this Rockets team needs to end the misery. A win tonight for Houston would be the surprise of the season. Which would be appropriate as it’s the holiday season, a time full of unexpected joys and surprises… just don’t expect one tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Chicago Bulls (12-6):  Red

Houston Rockets (1-16):  Black

 

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

Rockets Crumble After Halftime, Lose to Celtics, 108-90

Deja Vu.    Worst Third.    Needing More Green.

Houston only trailed by 5 points at intermission. But, as it’s been the case time and time again this season, the Rockets fell apart in the third quarter. Boston outscored Houston 34-16 coming out of the break, en route to dealing the Rockets a 108-90 loss, their 15th consecutive loss. The squad is now only 5 losses away from the record they set last season, when they squandered 20 games in a row. Jayson Tatum fueled the Celtics once again. Tatum dropped 30 on Houston again, and Jaylen Brown returned from an injury to chip in 19 points for Boston.

Armoni Brooks, of all people, led the Rockets in scoring with 17 points. K.J. Martin was the only other Houston player in double figure, scoring 10 in limited minutes. And Alperen Sengun continued to shine in limited action, scoring 8 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. In contrast to when these teams first met, Jalen Green struggled to find his rhythm. Green scored only 9 points on 2-for-9 shooting. Despite his struggles, Houston needs Green to stay aggressive, and not shy away from attacking the basket.

In a season of terrible third quarters, this one might’ve been the Rockets worst. Boston scored twice as many points as Houston in the period. Granted, the Rockets are still without Kevin Porter Jr., but regardless or who’s on the floor, Houston struggles to put four quarters together. It’s a puzzle, one Houston needs to solve quickly. They’ll need a more efficient Green if they want to put an intermission to this unbearable losing streak.

Rockets Travel to Boston for Matchup with Celtics

Garden Transfer.    Ready Rematch.    Needing Green Power.

Houston makes the trip from one Garden to another, as the Rockets battle the Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night. The squad’s coming off a tough loss at Madison Square Garden to the Knicks, and looks to rebound, and break the skid tonight against the C’s. Boston’s improved mightily since the last time these teams met, earlier this season, back on October 24th. Marcus Smart gave a powerful speech, and the team’s played better since. Jayson Tatum is still the Celtics most lethal threat, and torched the Rockets for 31 points in the first matchup.

The Rockets have to be ready for this tilt. In a crowded Eastern Conference, where 8 teams are separated by a mere game, Boston has plenty of motivation to keep winning. Hopefully, K.J. Martin and Alperen Sengun continue to see increased court action. And most importantly, the resurgence of Jalen Green has to continue for Houston.

It was these same Celtics who Jalen Green lit up for 30 points in only his third career game. Granted, that was back in Houston, but the Rockets will need a repeat performance from their star rookie if they want any chance at beating Boston in the Garden. If Christian Wood and Jae’Sean Tate remain consistent on both ends of the court, Houston has a fighter’s chance of pulling off the upset. It’s the final game of their four-game road-trip… and another chance for the Rockets to end the bad trip that has been their first quarter of this NBA journey.

 

TD Garden:  Boston, Massachusetts

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-15):  Black

Boston Celtics (9-8):  White

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Bad Apple: Rockets Collapse Late, Fall to Knicks, 106-99

Another One Bites the Dust.    No Moral Victories.    The Martin/Sengun Effect.    

 

For a little longer than a New York minute, the Rockets looked poised to end the losing streak at Madison Square Garden. As has been the case several times during this losing streak, Houston had a lead going into the final quarter, something a casual onlooker may haven’t realized. But for everyone who’s been watching closely, it was the same old story in the Big Apple on Saturday night. Houston actually outplayed New York through the first three periods. But they play four quarters for a reason. And the Knicks rallied in the final period, dealing the Rockets a 106-99 loss, and Houston’s 14th straight defeat. If there’s any silver lining to be found, Jalen Green is starting to play more efficiently, especially securing and shooting the ball. After a sloppy start to his career, Green’s looked more like the prodigy many made him out to be before the season began. Green scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Christian Wood had another solid double-double, with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

In this league, there’s no column for the “tried hard, almost won” games. This is the NBA: No Boys Allowed. It’s a man’s league, and as Houston’s young squad adjusts to the physicality of the professional level, the team is slowly inching closer to a win, despite what the record might reveal. The Rockets just need to keep pushing and playing hard, following the lead of their energizer bunny, Jae’Sean Tate. The best hustler in the NBA had another efficient night, supplying a double-double for Houston. And Coach Stephen Silas and the Rockets might’ve finally found a recipe to turn these “moral” victories into actual wins. And push Houston closer to the pack of parity, instead of performing as the league’s “Bad Apples.”

Alperen Sengun and K.J. Martin (Houston’s two best bench players), finally got the most minutes out of the Rocket reserves. Sengun played 24 minutes, and Martin saw 21 minutes of action. The effect these two have goes beyond the stats, but’s here’s a few for good measure: the two combined for 20 points to lead Houston’s bench. Sengun continues to pass the ball like a seasoned veteran. And K.J. Martin isn’t just the most athletic player on the Rockets… KJ’s arguably the most athletic player in the entire league. At least pound for pound. His blocking ability for his short stature is unforeseen in the NBA. And he’s Houston’s most valuable asset in transition. If Silas continues to let Sengun and Martin (two core pieces of the future), the Rockets can start to win games now. Houston had the bad end of the stick in New York, but the team showed vast improvement in their ability to stay with a team for the entire game… the Rockets just ran out of gas near the end. Up next, the NBA’s “Bad Apples” travel to another Garden, this time in Boston to take on the Celtics.  

Rockets Visit Knicks in Jalen Green’s MSG Debut

Garden Debut.    Time that Kills.    Electric Environment.

The lights don’t get any brighter than at Madison Square Garden, aka the World’s Most Famous Arena. And for the first time in his career, Jalen Green will play in the building that houses some of the greatest memories from the game’s icons. Michael Jordan’s favorite arena to play in was MSG. The same with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and countless others. Something about the Garden brings out the best in superstars on the road. It’ll be very interesting to see how Jalen Green performs in his first game at MSG.

Houston is desperately searching for a win. The Rockets ride into the Big Apple on a 13-game losing streak, tops in the league. Every team in the league besides Houston has won at least 3 games, and 28 teams have won at least 4 times. The Rockets are falling behind the entire pack, and need a win soon to stop this horrific start. A renewed sense of urgency has to kick-in for Houston, or the losing streak will continue to hang over this Rockets team. The Knicks are 8-7, and in a time with unforeseen parity in NBA history, Knicks fans are in a frenzy over their team’s potential this year. The atmosphere will be electric tonight in NYC, and the Rockets will have a raucous crowd to deal with along with a solid opponent. Julius Randle continues to power the Knicks offense, and they have a plethora of young players who are starting to find their groove. Veteran point guard Kemba Walker is the most notable off-season addition to this Knicks team, and he has yet to provide the sort impact New York is looking for from the former All-Star. The Knicks dropped their last game to the Magic in a loss at home. There’s no doubt New York’s coach Tom Thibodeau will have his team ready to bounce back. Houston hopes Kevin Porter Jr. returns to the lineup, as the Rockets will need all the help possible to pull off the upset.

Jalen Green and company have had two off-days since their last game. Which is usually a promising time for NBA teams. But those days-off have been in the Big Apple, as Houston arrived early on Thursday. With plenty of sights to see, that resting time might come back to bite the Rockets. Hopefully the team has stayed disciplined, but there’s no doubt the group had fun in NYC. Hopefully, it doesn’t factor into their performance on the court this Saturday evening. I can’t remember the last time a rookie put on a show at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Green has an opportunity to do something special tonight and end Houston’s skid, leaving Knicks fans with a bad taste in the Big Apple… and the most famous upset of this young NBA season.

 

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-14):  Red

New York Knicks (8-7):  White

 

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

Rockets Fall Behind Early, Lose to Thunder, 101-89

Unlucky Thirteen.    Hotter Seat.    Looking Back at Fifteen.   

For the 13th straight game, the Houston Rockets found themselves on the wrong side of the score board. Houston trailed by double digits at halftime, and made it close in the fourth quarter, before the Thunder pulled away, dealing the Rockets a 101-89 defeat. Lugentz Dort, who’s playing the best basketball of his life, led OKC with 34 points. The loss pushes Houston’s losing streak to a baker’s dozen, and questions have arisen about Stephen Silas and his rotational choices. Giving Silas the benefit of the doubt, the Rockets have had one of the toughest early schedules, and they do have an extremely, young raw team. However, after blowing out OKC in their home opener, Houston should’ve put up more of a fight on Wednesday night. Granted, Kevin Porter Jr. missed this contest with an injury, but the Rockets still had enough firepower to win. Jalen Green led Houston’s scoring charge with 21 points. Green’s started to slowly shoot the ball more efficiently as the season moves on and the rookie adjusts to the NBA game. Jae’Sean Tate continued his consistency streak. Tate scored 16 points and grabbed 8 boards in another energetic, hustle-filled performance. And Christian Wood secured another double-double, adding 10 points and 14 rebounds. Alperen Sengun, who’s been arguably the best player-per minute for the Rockets all season, only saw five minutes of action on Wednesday. A sign that something needs to change.

Coach Stephen Silas credited Daniel Theis’ defense for one of the reasons Sengun saw little time. But in a rebuilding season, especially when the Rockets are losing these games anyway, the future core of the squad needs to see more minutes. Green is getting plenty of looks, but Alperen Sengun and K.J. Martin have both shown with their play this season, they deserve more minutes. Houston wants to play fast with their young athletic group, but the Rockets scored only 4 fast-break points against a sub-par Thunder team. Coincidentally, Houston’s most-athletic player, K.J. Martin, played only 12 minutes in this contest, yet still managed to score 6 points and snag 3 boards. Martin and Sengun need more minutes, or the rumors of Stephen Silas on the hot seat will only heat up.

We’re now fifteen games into the season. No one expected the Rockets to have a winning record at this point. But no one expected a 1-14 start either. It’s the worst start in franchise history, and Houston is on pace for the worst record in NBA history (5-77) if they continue with this pace. Obviously, the schedule has been brutal for the Rockets to start the season. But they’ve shown they can compete with good teams (the one point loss in Denver, and the two-point defeat in L.A. still sting). However, they’ve blown a couple of easier opportunities during this tough stretch. This last game against the Thunder, and their home loss to the Pistons. Two games Houston could’ve won, or at least contests they should’ve played more competitive. Nonetheless, these are professionals, and pride has to sink in sooner or later for these Rockets. No one likes losing, and if Houston can’t claim a victory soon, this skid will start to creep up to historically bad levels. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier in a season full of unforeseen parity in the NBA. Jalen Green and the squad now travel East for road matches with the Knicks and Celtics ahead on the schedule. If the Rockets want to finally get on the right side of the score board, rotational changes are necessary on this upcoming East coast-trip.