Month: January 2022

He Scoots, He Scores!:  KPJ’s Game-Winning Bullet Sends Rockets Past Wizards, 114-111

Capitol Win.    Saved by the Yell.    Rousing Returns.    

Houston needed some magic if they were going to survive in D.C. on Wednesday night. And the Rockets got a late miracle from an unexpected source. With the match tied, Kevin Porter Jr. hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to secure Houston’s 114-111 victory, snapping the team’s eight-game losing streak, and giving the Rockets one of their best wins of the season.

Scoot and Christian Wood were suspended the previous game, but both came out with early fire in the first quarter, combing for Houston’s first 9 points as the Rockets got out to an early 12-point lead. However, overall KPJ struggled from the field. Before his final shot, Porter Jr. missed 10 of his 12 shot attempts although he did have 7 boards and 8 dimes on the night. Stephen Silas put enough confidence in his player to allow Scoot to nail the game-winner, seemingly putting all the controversy in the past. Wood had a dominant performance from the start, and played motivated and hungry from the opening tip. He finished with 22 points, 11 boards, and 3 steals on the night.

Jalen Green continues to flourish since his return from injury. Green scored 22 points to lead the Rockets (along with Wood), and grabbed 6 rebounds. He’s beginning to show flashes of the reason many pundits in the preseason picked Green to be the Rookie of the Year. Green’s already one of the fastest players in the league in transition, and his quick first step and driving ability has improved as the season’s moved along. Garrison Matthews had an off shooting-night, but drew four charges, as he continues to lead the league in that impressive defensive category. Garry Bird is one of the hardest playing guys in the league, and will sacrifice his body on any given play for the betterment of the team. Eric Gordon scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, as EG continues to quietly have one of the most efficient seasons of his career, leading the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage.

This win for the Rockets was impressive for several reasons. Houston wasn’t sure what performance they would receive with the returns of Porter Jr. and Wood. Both players exceeded fan expectations with their motivated play, and were key elements to the Rockets’ victory. Coming into this game, the Wizards were one of the best teams in the entire league. Washington was 7-1 in games decided by 3 points or less, and 15-3 in clutch games (matchups decided by 5 points or less with 5 minutes or fewer remaining). Houston prevailed against one of the best clutch teams in the league this season.

After leading 86-83 going into the fourth quarter, the Rockets went on an 8-0 run to grab an 11-point lead less than two minutes into the final period. The Wiz countered with their own 10-2 run, turning the game into a nail-biter down the stretch. Fortunately for Houston, Bradley Beal, Washington’s best player, fouled out with 9:10 left in the game. Beal still led the Wizards in scoring with 27 points, but his absence was sorely felt for D.C. in the final 9 minutes of action. This game shouldn’t have even come down to the final seconds, but a pesky Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 26 points for the Wiz led a late rally. The Rockets led by 5 points with only 48 seconds left in the game. KCP hit a 3-pointer to start Washington’s 5-0 run to tie the game at 111 before Scoot’s game-winner.

Houston is now 9-4 when leading after three quarters, proving their achilles heal is falling behind in games. The Rockets now return home where they’ll honor the legendary Bill Worrell on Friday night when they host Dallas. Worrell was the voice of the team for four decades, and is an icon of Houston’s sports broadcasting scene. Hopefully the Rockets carry this magical momentum back home with them for what will be a very special night in H-Town.

Rockets Search for Positive Spells, Face Wizards in D.C.

Formula Test.    Average Magic.    New Rockets.

The Rockets meet the Wizards for the first time this season as the teams will battle in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Houston is trying to snap an eight-game losing-streak. The Wizards started the season 8-3. Since that point, they’re only 8-15, signifying their potential as merely average. However, they still have Bradley Beal, one of the league’s best players. The Wiz also got a plethora of ex-Lakers from the Russell Westbrook trade who are having career seasons. Kyle Kuzma stands out the most as a guy Houston needs to keep their eye on, besides Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has also played well in Washington.

The Rockets have a chance tonight, but it’ll depend on the return of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Both players were suspended in Houston’s previous game for their childish outbursts in the Denver game on New Year’s Day. These cases are different, despite happening in the same game. Wood has been a discussion of trade rumors all season, this outburst only seems to almost signify he’ll eventually be traded. KPJ is a harder case to discern. This seems like his final chance. He was shipped out of Cleveland for behavioral issues. If the NBA’s connoisseur of player development, John Lucas, can’t get the best out of Scoot, it’s hard to imagine anyone accomplishing the feat. KPJ has a lot to prove in his return, and Houston will determine if he’s fit to be the point-guard for the franchise long-term. Stephen Silas’ formula will be put to the ultimate test on Wednesday night.

Tonight’s game is the first chance to get a look at the new Rockets. No… no new players have joined the team since the previous game, neither have any new injuries developed. But after the behavior Wood and KPJ displayed against Denver, they will never be the same. They can learn to put their actions in the past, and move on to a better future. Or they can stubbornly play on a squad who will soon ship them to another team. The choice is theirs: Wood and Porter Jr.’s. And these incidents could turn out very different. This is the first problematic issue Scoot has had in a Rockets jersey. Is this a sign he’s trending back towards the immature, raw player in Cleveland who no one wanted? KPJ’s showed flashes of brilliance. Last season’s 50-Burger against the Champion Milwaukee Bucks. But this season, Scoot’s been inconsistent to merely-average. If he can control his behavior, KPJ has the potential to grow into a formidable player, but he has to perform more consistently at a higher level.

Meanwhile, Wood has shown he’s capable of being a legitimate All-Star in this league. That is, when he wants to play. Who knows if the trade rumors are getting to his head, but Wood obviously was upset about coming off the bench. As a player, regardless of talent-level, you have to accept coaching. At least in the eyes of the public. Rocket fans should get a good idea of where these players stand as they return to the court tonight in D.C. It should be fairly easy to tell whether or not Wood wants to stay in Houston long-term. Scoot, meanwhile, will be a trickier puzzle to solve, and one that may take more time.

 

Capitol One Arena:  Washington D.C.

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-28):  White

Washington Wizards (19-18):  Blue “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Third Quarter Dooms Rockets in 133-113 Loss to Sixers

Positive Reinforcements.    Unstoppable Force.    Bird Returns.

Houston actually held the halftime lead on Monday night in Philly, but they couldn’t stop Joell Embiid, who had his third career triple-double. Embiid’s 31 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists were too much for the short-handed Rockets, as Houston lost 133-113, for their eighth straight loss. The Rockets had positive reinforcements in the absences of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Houston had seven players score in double-figures, led by the return of Garrison Matthews, who tied his career-high with 23 points, going 6-for-10 from the field.

Garry Bird’s return was the brightest sign for the Rockets on Monday night. A dismal third quarter unraveled what was a close, contested contest. The Sixers led 72-71, before going on a 10-0 run that broke the game open. Houston would never get close to threatening Philly’s lead for the remainder of the contest.

Without Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun, Embiid dominated a short-handed Rockets team. Daniel Theis did his best, but Embiid showed why he’s arguably the best big-man in basketball on Monday night. Jalen Green came back to earth with a sub-par game. Green had been on fire, but went cold in Philly, shooting 3-for-12 from the floor for 12 points. Barring any more outbursts, Houston will get Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. back for their next game, Wednesday in Washington D.C. against the Wizards.

The Rockets will look for Jalen Green to have a bounce-back performance against the Wiz, and it will be very interesting to monitor the body language of Wood and KPJ upon their return to the court. Will they be interested in playing? Is Wood destined to be traded? Is KPJ a lost cause? Or can Houston solve these problems throughout the season? We’ll begin to find out on Wednesday night.

Rockets Aim to Regroup on the Road, Battle Sixers in Philly

The Hateful Eight.    Brotherly Bonding.    Escaping Embiid.

After a nightmarish home stand, the Rockets look to regroup as they hit the road for a couple of matchups out East. Tonight, Houston travels to Philadelphia to face Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Philly has won three straight games, all on the road, coming into Monday’s matchup. Meanwhile, the Rockets are seeking to snap a seven-game losing streak. Houston will be without Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood tonight. The pair childishly refused to behave like professionals in the Rockets’ loss on Saturday. KPJ almost attacked John Lucas, one of the most respected assistants in basketball. If a player in this league can’t accept coaching from Lucas, they have an attitude problem. Wood, who’s name was always floating around in the trade rumor mills, will now likely be certainly dealt, as it’s only a matter of when, not if, anymore. After being benched to start the game, Wood showed no desire to play hard, and refused to enter the second half. As for Scoot, Houston will likely see if KPJ can mature, but he’s on thin ice. One more incident from Porter Jr., and the Rockets will likely scoot him out the door.

Can the Rockets repair this seemingly new nightmare? A road game against the Sixers isn’t the best recipe for a win, but maybe Houston needed to get out of town. NBA teams bond far more on the road, when they’re all staying at the same hotel, as opposed to home games, where everyone just returns to their own residence after duty. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. Maybe a tough road win over one of the NBA’s hottest teams will put the Rockets back in-sync.

Monday night’s matchup will be a handful for Houston without Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun. Wood’s suspended and Sengun is still out with an ankle sprain. That means we’ll see a lot of Daniel Theis tonight, who’s played well when he’s gotten the chance. And he’s got a chance to try and frustrate one of the best big men in the game, Joel Embiid. The Sixers’ All-Star big scored 34 points in their last game, a road win over the title-favorite Nets. Theis has his hands full tonight, which means Houston needs to double and throw as many bodies as possible at Embiid. The Sixers’ center can become easily frustrated, so tough defense a la “Patrick Beverly meets P.J. Tucker” would be nice, although if that even exists, it’s not on this Rockets team. Houston also needs to be aware of Seth Curry, who’s having a career year for the Sixers. Garrison Matthews returns from health-and-safety protocols tonight. Hopefully the return of Garry Bird can boost Houston to play with more energy and less distractions. Matthews plays hard on every play like Jae’Sean Tate. Jalen Green’s been on an efficiency roll since returning from his hamstring injury. Will Matthews, Tate, and Green be enough to boost Houston past the Sixers in Philly? If Daniel Theis can have one of those throwback “Vanilla Theis” performances, the Rockets might shock some people by quieting the nightmare with a win. That’s a big “if”… literally.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-27):  White

Philadelphia 76ers (19-16):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Outplayed by Nuggets, 124-111, as Questions Arise

Bleak Start.    The Elephant Room.    Long Term Ramifications.

Even before the opening tip, this game had eerie premonitions all around, as Christian Wood was suspiciously out of the starting lineup for the first time all season. Many came to the logical conclusion that Daniel Theis was inserted in the starting unit to provide a bigger body to counter with Denver’s Nikola Jokic. But, that was far from the sad truth. I said in my last column that 2022 couldn’t possibly be worse a year than 2021 was for the Houston Rockets. Well, the squad got off to fast start trying to prove me wrong. The Rockets lost their seventh straight game on Saturday night, 124-111, to a short-handed Nuggets team. Jokic led Denver with 24 points and 12 boards, as they won their third straight game. The result was similar to New Year’s Eve for Houston, where the Rockets held a one-point edge after the first quarter, only to fall apart in the second quarter. Houston allowed the Nuggets to shoot 74% from the floor and score a season-high 47 points in the second period. Denver led by as many as 31 points, a deficit too steep for the Rockets to overcome. If there was any good news on Saturday, Jalen Green scored 29 points to lead the Rockets, and has been playing All-Star caliber basketball since returning from injury.

Some games have long-term ramifications that got beyond the final box score. Saturday night’s affair was one the Rockets won’t forget anytime soon. And not because it was their seventh straight loss, or their ninth loss in the last ten games. This season’s record no longer matters. Keeping the long-term future is the most important goal for a young team in rebuilding mode. A goal that was tested to the fullest on the first day the year. Christian Wood was suspiciously out of the starting lineup on Saturday night. Reports surfaced Wood was late to a COVID-test, and therefore Silas decided to discipline the big-man. Matters only worsened at halftime. During the break, Kevin Porter Jr. got into an altercation with Rockets assistant coach John Lucas, one of the most respected men in the league. KPJ apparently had to be separated from Lucas after throwing an object at the one of the great men in Rocket franchise history. In conclusion, Porter Jr. left the arena and went home, failing to return. And if you’re wondering if this happens often, the answer is hardy ever. It’s the first time in the NBA an incident of such childish behavior has surfaced this season. KPJ was kicked out of Cleveland for a locker room outburst when the Cavaliers tried to change his locker. He’s only 21, but Scoot needs to show more maturity and grow up soon, or KPJ could be out of the league, looking for a team once again. This is the first incident Houston’s had regarding Scoot’s behavior. He’s a young guy, and if the Rockets can’t patch this up, KPJ’s time in the NBA probably won’t last long.

The more troublesome news is about Christian Wood. Well out of his teenage years, but disappointingly refused to enter the second half after being benched to start the game. Wood was playing with noticeably less energy, and his refusal to play in the second-half, is almost as childish as KPJ scooting away from the arena at halftime. As a player, if you can’t learn to be coached, and accept coaching, you’ll never make it in the NBA. The bottom line is… in this league, you’re always going to be at-odds with your opponent, in mental and physical warfare. However when these conflicts arise in-house, they can be extremely destructive to a team, especially to a young squad with a young coach. It will be interesting to see how the Rockets resolve their issues with Wood and Porter Jr., two of their best players, and as of now, core parts of the franchise’s future. Sure, Wood has been one of the names flying around in trade rumors, and an incident like Saturday night’s will only speed up the rumor mill. Houston now has the most challenging task since James Harden left the franchise for dead nearly a year ago: mending these relationships with Wood and KPJ. And it’s not a choice for the Rockets. Houston brought these guys in and made them cornerstones of the franchise. They have to keep them… or risk having the rebuild pushed suspiciously back even further.

Rockets Host Nuggets, Hope New Year Brings New Results

Starting Off Right.    No Joke.    Digging for Victory.

Houston kicks-off 2022 with a home matchup against the Denver Nuggets. The Rockets begin the New Year already facing a challenge they’ve yet to climb this season: winning the second part of a back-to-back. Denver comes into town mightily short-handed, having just signed three players you’ve never heard of (Rayjon Tucker, Carlik Jones, and Davon Reed) in order to make the eight-player minimum requirement. The Nuggets last game on Thursday, against the Warriors was postponed because Denver was so COVID-riddled. Their last two wins are impressive though, road victories over the Clippers and Warriors. Houston will have to fight fatigue against a very rested Nuggets team who hasn’t played a game in four days.

The Rockets are trying to snap a six-game losing streak, and begin the New year in winning style. To do this, they’ll need a bounce back performance from Kevin Porter Jr., who struggled on Friday against the Heat. And they’ll need a big night from Christian Wood, who’s tasked with containing last season’s MVP, Denver’s Nikola Jokic, aka “The Joker”. Alperen Sengun will also miss his first game of the season with an ankle injury, so Houston is extra thin in the interior tonight. Garrison Matthews is still in health-and-safety protocols, but other than Garry Bird and Sengun, the Rockets are fully-healthy.

Can Houston throw enough bodies at The Joker to stop the Nuggets? The key to starting 2022 off right might be starting off the game right for these Rockets, who’ve developed the bad habit of digging holes they can’t overcome during this losing streak.  If Houston can avoid a large deficit before halftime, and stay within striking distance as the fourth quarter approaches, the Rockets should have a decent chance to pull the upset. Everyone needs to play as hard as Jae’Sean Tate tonight for Houston, who will be battling a Denver team full of guys who will literally be playing for their job security. The Nuggets will play hard, that’s a guarantee. Denver’s tyrannical head coach Mike Malone won’t feign interest if his guys aren’t playing well, he’ll just send them to the bench. And Houston hopes to be responsible for Malone kicking some Nuggets to the bench on Saturday night. If the Rockets can start the game with a powerful first quarter, Houston can potentially start the New Year with a win.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Denver Nuggets (17-16):  White

Houston Rockets (10-26):  Navy “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Houston’s Rally Falls Short as Heat Extinguish Rockets, 120-110, to Close 2021

Not Another One.    Harder Heat.    Welcome Return.

Although they were playing an undermanned Miami squad, the Rockets couldn’t close the deal once again. Houston’s comeback attempt fell short, resulting in a 120-110 loss, their sixth in a row. Jimmy Butler led his group of ragtag “who-he play-fors” with 37 points, and Tyler Herro added 16 for the Heat, who’s remaining roster most people wouldn’t recognize. Houston trailed by as many as 25 points, but a Jae’Sean Tate-fueled rally got the Rockets within four in the fourth quarter. However, once again, Houston failed to finish. Hopefully that trend will change in 2022. Jae’Sean Tate had a welcome return from protocols, leading the Rockets with 22 points. However, Houston was outplayed by a Miami team that played harder than the Rockets throughout the night.

Houston dug themselves in a hole they would could never climb out of, trailing by 25 points before halftime. These bad starts have killed the Rockets all season, it’s a habit they’re going to have to rid to become a better team. Jalen Green scored 16 points, and continues to look like a different player since returning from injury. Kevin Porter Jr. struggled against Miami, scoring only 7 points while committing 5 turnovers. 

It’s hard to have a worse 2021 than the Rockets did. They’ll begin 2022 with a home matchup against the Denver Nuggets. Houston has yet to win on the second-half of a back-to-back this season, but maybe that trend changes on New Year’s Day. It won’t be an easy task, as the Nuggets are coming off impressive road wins over the Clippers and Warriors. Last year’s MVP, Nikola Jokic, will be a force to reckon with to ring in 2022. Denver will once again be undermanned like the Miami team Houston lost to on Friday. But the Nuggets still have Jokic, and that’s enough to potentially give the Rockets fits to start the New Year.

Rockets Host Heat in New Year’s Eve Special

Closing with a Bang.    Feeling the Heat.    An Energizing Boost.

 

Houston hosts Miami on New Year’s Eve in the final game of the calendar year for both squads. The teams are headed in opposite directions. The Rockets have lost five straight games, while the Heat are winners of four in a row, and have won eight of their last ten games overall. Miami recently got their best player, Jimmy Butler, back from a tailbone injury that sidelined the All-Star forward for nearly a month. Houston also recently got two of their best players, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, back from lengthy injuries. The Rockets fought hard but fell in their last game to a motivated LeBron and a Lakers team desperate to snap their five-game losing skid in Houston. In a vintage LeBron performance, James dominated in the clutch, keeping the Rockets at bay from victory.

Regardless, KPJ and Green both looked great in their returns. Against L.A. the duo combined for 46 points on a combined 9-for-18 from deep. Houston’s starting backcourt will aim to keep the good times rolling against a Miami team who’s starting to find their rhythm. The Heat are still without All-Star center Bam Adebayo,  but Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro are having career seasons, and Duncan Robinson just has the “look” of a Rocket-Killer. In Miami’s previous game, a win over Washington, Butler recorded 25 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds. Meanwhile, Tyler Herro exploded for 32 points, and Duncan Robinson scored 26 points for the Heat. Butler, Herro, and Robinson are the main guys Houston’s defense has to maintain tonight if the Rockets want to ring in the New Year with a victory.

Houston gets a pleasant surprise just in time for the New Year. Jae’Sean Tate is back in action after clearing the league’s health-and-safety protocols. The Rockets’ energizer bunny has missed the last two games. However, in an interesting move, he’ll come off the bench for the first time all season. We’ll see how it impacts his play, but hopefully this is a temporary move, as Tate’s working his way back into NBA-game shape after being out a few days. It’s the last day of the year, and as Houston prepares to ring in a 2022 that can’t be any worse than 2021, bright expectations are on the rise… it would be nice to heat those up with a win to ring in the New Year.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Miami Heat (22-13):  White

Houston Rockets (10-25):  Navy “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Too Much LeBron Powers Lakers Past Rockets, 132-123

Fit For a King.    Bright Futures.    Sliding Back.

Two days before his 37th birthday, LeBron James continues to refuse to surrender to Father Time. “The King” put on another legendary performance, securing the 103rd triple-double of his legendary career. But well into this contest, it didn’t seem James was destined for another iconic performance. After holding a one-point lead through the first quarter, 35-34, the Rockets allowed the Lakers to control the second and third quarters, before mounting a comeback in the final frame. L.A. built an 11-point edge, but Houston rallied to tie the game, 113-113, midway through the fourth quarter. However, LeBron James absolutely dominated clutch time, and the Lakers staved off the Rockets, 132-123, dealing Houston their fifth straight loss in the process. L.A. snapped their own five-game losing streak, and wouldn’t have won without LeBron. James had his third triple-double of the season, registering 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Rockets showed some resolve fighting back in this game, but going against one of the all-time greats proved too much for this young Houston squad. In dominant fashion, LeBron scored 14 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 points in the final 100 seconds of the game. James also scored 12 of the Lakers final 14 points. Russell Westbrook also garnered a triple-double in his return to Houston. Westbrook added 24 points, 12 boards, and 10 dimes for Los Angeles. Another former Rocket, Carmelo Anthony, also performed well with a vintage 24-point, 9 rebound performance for the Lakers. But the biggest thorn in Houston’s side throughout the entire game, aside from LBJ’s late takeover, was Malik Monk. L.A.’s second-leading scored on Tuesday night, Monk scored 25 points on 50% shooting from the field and proved to be the X-Factor for the Lakers.

Despite losing their fifth consecutive game, there are positive signs to be drawn from Houston’s latest loss. Kevin Porter Jr. returned after missing 12 games with a thigh injury and didn’t miss a beat. Scoot supplied 22 points, including a 5-for-9 shooting performance from distance, while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing 5 boards. After sitting out the Monday’s game for cautionary reasons regarding his return from injury, Jalen Green was stellar in his second game back. Green scored 24 points to lead the Rockets, while shooting an efficient 50% from the field, improving on one of his weaker aspects of his game before the injury. If KPJ and Green can stay healthy, Houston will be competitive every night. Christian Wood scored 22 points to round out H-Town’s “Big Three”, who combined for 68 points, accounting for 55% of the Rockets offense. Josh Christopher continues to improve in increased minutes. Christopher chipped in 14 points for Houston, and also showed his knack for  the defensive end, with 3 steals on the night.

The Rockets have now lost five games in a row, and are 2-9 since their seven-game winning streak. Houston will get two days off to rest before a weekend back-to-back against tough competition to ring in the New Year. Lucking for the Rockets, they’ll stay in Houston for the weekend, as both the Heat and Nuggets are coming to town. It will be tough especially, against Miami. The Heat are hot, winners of four straight, including 8 of their last 10. Denver, on the other hand, is hit pretty hard by COVID. Their last game on Thursday was postponed because the Nuggets didn’t have the minimum amount of players to play. Hopefully the two off-days give the Rockets a boost… At least they won’t have to deal with the King during these next two games.