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Rockets Host Wolves in Final Game Before Road-Trip

Howling Back.    Off Pace.    Last Chance Center.    

Houston plays their final game at home on Sunday before heading out on a four-game road-trip. The Minnesota Timberwolves come to town, as the Rockets try and win their first home game since December 13th. Houston has lost six straight games and 11 of their last 12 overall. This is the lowest point for this Rockets team this season, as they currently have the worst record in the entire NBA. They’ll aim to snap their home skid with an inspired win over the Wolves tonight.

Minnesota has been without their best player, Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been out with an injury for a few weeks. The Wolves still have plenty of weapons on their roster. Lethal swingman Anthony Edwards is questionable for tonight, and Minnesota also has De’Angelo Russell and Rudy Gobert in the lineup. The latter duo combined for 50 points in the Wolves last game, a win over the Clippers on Friday night. Minnesota has now won three consecutive games after suffering through a six-game losing streak. The Rockets will try and push the Wolves back off track with a victory on Sunday.

Houston is currently one game (10-29) behind their pace from last season (11-28). The Rockets weren’t expected to make the playoffs this year, but they were due to make some improvement. Hopefully that comes in the second half of the season, which is two games away. Look for Jae’Sean Tate’s minutes to increase as he dusts the rust off  from not playing for 31 consecutive games. This is another game Houston has a great chance to win, but the Rockets have missed these opportunities more often than not this season. For some reason, they play better as the heavy underdog, as opposed to when they’re given a chance to win. Houston is desperate to break their losing streak at home. And Sunday night is their last chance to get a win at Toyota Center for 10 days… if anything, expect a closer, more completive game than the Rockets have shown in recent contests.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (19-21):  Black

Houston Rockets (10-29):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Miss the Beat in 131-114 Loss to Jazz

Too Comfortable.    Locker Room Leader.    Same Old Song.

The return Jae’Sean Tate to the roster wasn’t enough to break Houston’s losing streak on Thursday night, as the Rockets lost to the Utah Jazz, 131-114, at home. This game will be known as the “Lauri Markannen Game” in Rockets basketball history. The Jazz forward exploded for a career-high 49 points, on an efficient 15-for-27 shooting. Markannen also went a perfect 13-for-13 from the charity stripe. Houston had no answer for Utah’s best player on Thursday, as Markannen fell just a point shy of the NBA’s 15th 50-point game this season. Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley added 19 points apiece for the Jazz, who controlled almost the entirety of the game. The Rockets allowed a season-high 131 points, and their defense was essentially non-existent. Houston allowed Utah to become too comfortable on offense, allowing open three after open three, and failing to provide much help-defense. It was the same old song for these Rockets, as they dug themselves another hole that was too steep to escape. Houston started with an 11-7 lead in the first quarter, briefly regained the lead in the third, but this matchup was dominated by Utah, who led by as many as 22 points.  The Rockets trailed 110-106 with 5:35 remaining in the contest, but the Jazz outscored Houston 21-8 to end the game, putting away any hopes for a Rocket victory. Markannen outscored Houston by himself, 14-8, in the final five plus minutes of the game. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 30 points, and Kevin Porter Jr. provided 23 points, but the Rockets backcourt struggled once again shooting the ball. Green and KPJ took exactly half of the Houston’s 92 shot attempts, connecting on only 16 of them, for a 35%  shooting percentage. It’s simply too high a volume for two players who haven’t been consistent enough shooting the ball this season. A trend that happens way too frequently for this young, developing squad.

The Rockets need to run more of the offense through Alperen Sengun, who had his team-high 10th double-double of the season against the Jazz. Sengun finished with 20 points and 14 boards in 32 minutes of action, proving once again how valuable he is when he receives decent playing time on the court. Sengun is averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds when he plays at least 30 minutes a game this season. Unfortunately, this was only the seventh time Sengen surpassed that mark this season. Stephen Silas needs to start showing more faith in his starting big man. Jabari Smith Jr. played only 20 minutes, as Markannen did most of his early damage on Smith Jr. It wasn’t the rookie’s best defensive showing by any measure. In his return, Jae’Sean Tate scored 11 points in 19 minutes of limited action. Expect Tate’s playing time to increase as the rust wears off from missing more than 30 games in a row. Despite playing less than 20 minutes, it’s already obvious how much Tate helps this roster when he’s on the court. He brings a sorely-needed level of intensity and energy on both ends of the floor. Tate’s ball handling skills also solves Houston’s backup point guard issue. Defensively, he held the red-hot Markannen to 1-4 shooting, despite being much shorter. Tate is the toughest player on the Rockets, and although his return didn’t carry over to the result Houston hoped for, it’s good to see the team’s locker room leader back in action. Stephen Silas even commented in his post-game presser on how much Tate is like a coach on the floor for Houston. Expect the Rockets to be better in the second half of the season, as we have only two games remaining before Houston reaches the halfway mark.

The Rockets are now tied for the NBA’s worst record (10-29) with the Charlotte Hornets. Houston is even one game behind their pace from last season (11-28) at this point. Can the Rockets turn things around soon, or will the squad tighten its grip on the league’s worst record? If Houston is going to have a better second half this season, the Rockets need to improve playing off the ball. The squad is too focused on getting on SportsCenter with an isolation play as opposed to playing team basketball. Their defense has been horrible. Communication on both ends of the court needs to increase, and as a team and individually Houston desperately needs to work harder off the ball. So much more happens than meets the eye when a player doesn’t have the ball in his hands. The team is standing around and not making plays happen when they don’t have the ball individually in their hands. Stephen Silas, as much as he deserves another shot with this young roster, might be coaching for his job if the Rockets don’t show some improvement soon. Besides dropping their sixth straight game, they’ve now lost 11 of their past 12 games overall. It was the same old song on Thursday night, which provided another bad loss in a season full of them for the young squad. The offense needs some sort of system. Too much isolation and no consistency whatsoever is killing Houston’s offense. They rank third-to-last in half-court points-per-possession, a sign of the lack of efficiency in the squad’s offensive sets. Silas needs to change something up with his system, or this may be his last season as the man in charge for the Rockets. Houston still can’t stop whoever catches fire on the opposition, and struggle getting the ball to the man with the hot hand on their own team. The Rockets return to play at home one more time, on Sunday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, before heading on a tough four-game road-trip out west. Hopefully the squad can break the losing streak this weekend, as Sunday will be Houston’s best chance for victory in the next five games.

Rockets in Desperation Mode, Host Jazz, as Jae’Sean Tate Returns

New Song.    Right on Time.    Light the Swerve.

Houston returns home after their most embarrassing defeat of the season, a 119-108 beatdown at the hands of the Pelicans in the Big Easy. Tonight, the Rockets host the Utah Jazz. It’s Houston’s third game in four nights, so expect to see a tired squad out on the Toyota Center court. The Jazz have slipped in the standings after getting off to a hot-start. Houston has another opportunity to grab a victory tonight, in the bigger picture of what’s become a sluggish season. The Rockets are now 36-136 over their last 172 games. That’s over two years of playing at a 17-win pace. Houston needs to play a new song. And the right man is stepping back into the lineup at the perfect time.

After missing 35 games, Jae’Sean Tate returns to the lineup tonight. Tate may not be the flashiest player, but he was the most consistent Rockets player for the entirety of last season. Tate was Houston’s energizer bunny, and the true MVP of the squad last year. His return will likely make Stephen Silas’ job even more difficult, as it will be interesting to see how the minutes are dispersed with Tate back in the lineup. Nonetheless, Jae’Sean Tate is returning at a time when the Rockets need someone to play with some fire. And Tate brings that fire, he’s also a little older than his younger teammates. Hopefully they respect their elder and follow the leader. Expect Tate to swerve right back into his role as the guy who does the dirty work for Houston.

Can Houston finally snap out of their funk? They’ve lost five straight games, although it seems like fifteen consecutive contests. The Jazz have been mediocre since their above-average start to the season. The Rockets won the first matchup between these teams, 114-108, but lost part two, 109-101. Part Three takes place tonight at Toyota Center. When these two foes last met in Houston, the Rockets soared to their first victory of the season. They’ll try and silence the Jazz once again… and garner a rare win in the process.

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Utah Jazz (19-21):  White

Houston Rockets (10-28):  “City Edition” Blue

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Poor Effort, Slow Start, Doom Rockets in 119-108 Loss to Pelicans

Uglier Than it Looks.    Late Beacon of Light.    What Now?

On Victor Wembanyama’s birthday, just when it seemed like the Rockets had nowhere to go but up, Houston fell flat on their face, as the Pelicans handed the Rockets a 119-108 loss on Wednesday night. C.J. McCollum led New Orleans with 28 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had another ALl-Star caliber game against Houston, compiling 16 points and 17 boards. This game was far uglier than the final score eludes. The Rockets trailed by a whopping 23 points, 45-22, after the first quarter. Frustrations are even starting to creep into Stephen Silas’ brain, as the Rockets’ Head Coach was ejected early in the game for only the second time in his career. After finally giving guys like Josh Christopher playing time, Houston crept closer, but it was too little too late. The Rockets could only climb partially out of the hole they found themselves in after another terrible start. This exiting the gates slowly trend is becoming scary for a Houston team desperate for victories. It’s hard to win in the NBA, let alone coming from behind to win. The Rockets have to start off games better.

Despite the late comeback attempt, this game was truly the ugliest of the season for Houston. Before a timeout in the third quarter, Jabari Smith Jr. expressed his frustrations about Alperen Sengun’s defense to John Lucas. It’s no secret Sengun is an offensive weapon for Houston, and a defensive weakness, but his offensive talents outweigh his defensive struggles. To witness something like this take place is merely another sign Stephen Silas doesn’t have command of the locker room.

Up next the Rockets return home, where they haven’t won a game since December 13th. Houston will host the Utah Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back. Jae’Sean Tate is rumored to make his return after missing 35 games. Last year’s MVP is needed for these undisciplined Rockets. Houston has almost completely played themselves into the lottery, and if that trend continues, they’ll be in position to move up to the best spot possible in order to land the NBA’s most hyped player since LeBron James… in today’s birthday boy, Victor Wembanyama.

Rockets Visit the Big Easy for Matchup with Pelicans

Surprising Birds.    Missing the Mountain.    Pit-Stop.

After another disappointing loss at home, the Rockets hit the road for the Big Easy for a matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels are on the biggest surprises in the entire league this season, currently playing a game of music chairs with the second and third seed in the West. Zion Williamson is having an MVP-caliber like year, but the young superstar will be on the sidelines tonight. Zion suffered a hamstring injury Monday night for New Orleans, and will be out for a few weeks. Brandon Ingram, their second-best player is also out tonight for the Pelicans. Something of this magnitude would usually be good news for Houston. But if you’ve been watching these Rockets, you know they’re prone to letdowns, especially against less talented groups. There’s some hope: Houston’s lone win against Dallas came when Luka was out, but this Pelicans team is deeper than the Mavs.

The Rockets will need to take care of the basketball, and prevent playing down to their opposition. Houston has the talent to win on Wednesday night, but New Orleans is a more disciplined basketball team. And they’ve got the best player in shooting guard C.J. McCollum. Can the Rockets finally put it together, and grab their second road win in eight days?

Following tonight’s game, Houston returns home to host the Utah Jazz on the second night of a back-to-back. The Rockets have been downright miserable in the latter part of back-to-backs this year. Houston needs to try and snag one of these next two games, as their season is slowly slipping away. As of now, they’ve all but guaranteed themselves a spot in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

Smoothie King Center:  New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-27):  White

New Orleans Pelicans (23-14):  Blue

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Collapse Late, Fall to Mavericks, 111-106

Tale of Two Halves.    Home Woes.    Clueless in the Clutch.

Houston put on one of their better first half showings of the season on Monday night. However, it didn’t matter in the end, as the Rockets collapsed late in their latest setback, a 111-106 loss to the Mavericks. Luka Doncic started out slow, but finished with 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, including some key baskets late that fueled Dallas’ comeback. Kevin Porter Jr. led Houston with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 dimes, even as he continues to get roasted by many local fans, Scoot is merely playing to his own consistent beat, one of the few Rocket players who’s truly been consistent this season.

The frustratingly inconsistent Jalen Green scored 20 points. Eric Gordon added 19 in the scoring column, and Alperen Sengun registered 16 points and grabbed 6 boards. After outscoring the Mavs by 11 points in the first half, Houston couldn’t buy a basket in second half. The Rockets mustered only 19 fourth quarter points, as Dallas came back to deal Houston their sixth straight home loss. After winning five straight at home, Houston can’t seem to put four quarters together at Toyota Center.

Despite coming up short, the Rockets at least made this game competitive for the majority of the night. Houston now faces a back-to-back where they’ll travel to New Orleans to face the Pelicans before returning home to host the Utah Jazz. Despite their win last Monday in Chicago, Houston is in the midst of a funk they can’t snap out of. Maybe a trip to the Big Easy will inspire this Rockets team to change their tune on the court.

Rockets in Search of Victory, Battle Mavericks for Final Time

Welcome to 2023.    The Last Go Round.    Identity Seekers.

The Rockets begin 2023 with their final matchup against the Dallas Mavericks this season. This will be the third time Houston’s faced Dallas in the last two weeks. Mavs’ superstar Luka Doncic is continuing his dominant stretch as he’s put Dallas on his shoulders, allowing them to climb up to fourth place in the Western Conference. Luka is playing like the best player in the world, and the league’s MVP at the moment. Doncic dropped another 50-Burger in the Mavs recent close win over the Spurs on Saturday night. Luka scored 51 points, to go along with 9 assists and 6 boards in the Alamo City. Houston has to hope he’s cooled off a bit as the Rockets host the Mavs for the final time this season. Dallas, winners of their last six, is currently the hottest team in the West. And Luka is playing the best basketball of his career.

Last time these teams squared off Doncic had a 35-point triple-double, which seems subpar compared to the 50 points he dropped in these teams’ first matchup in Houston, and the Mavs’ recent victory on Saturday. The Rockets have to pray Luka has a rare off-night, and try to contain him as best as possible. Doncic is showing why he’s an MVP front-runner. No single player in this league can guard him. Houston needs a team effort to even the season series with a win over Dallas tonight.

This is the first game of 2023 for the Rockets, who ended 2022 with a whimper in their 108-88 beatdown by the New York Knicks. Tonight’s game won’t be any easier. The Mavs are the hottest team in the NBA besides the Brooklyn Nets, who have won 11 games in a row. Houston would love to start the new year with a victory over one of the NBA’s hottest teams, and arguably the best player in the world right now. Dallas has struggled to find their identity with Luka as their superstar, not surrounding him with enough talent, but as the moment, Doncic is carrying the Mavs in a MVP-statement over their current winning streak. The Rockets, on the other hand, are in the midst of an identity crisis. Houston is seeking to find an identity on both ends of the court. Who is this team? Other than being one of the league’s best offensive rebounding teams, Houston is a bad defensive team that commits too many turnovers, the two aspects that keep the Rockets from victory, while sinking this team into a losing rut for three seasons running. The squad got off to a hot start in their previous loss on NYE, but after the first quarter, the Rockets disappeared defensively. Can Houston finally put four quarters together to start 2023? The year starts with a tough challenge for these young Rockets. The squad’s seeking to even this season series at two games apiece, as they battle red-hot Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks one more time on Monday night.

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (21-16):  Blue

Houston Rockets (10-26):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall Asleep on NYE in 108-88 Loss to Knicks

No Improvement.    A Year of Disappointment.    Seeking Change.

“There’s no improvement,” veteran Rockets guard Eric Gordon said after Houston’s latest lost, a 108-88 beatdown at the hands of the New York Knicks to close out 2022. EG’s frustrations are simply the truth. The Rockets have now lost three straight games, and eight of their last nine overall. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference, and look destined for a last place finish for the third straight season. Despite finding talent in the draft, Houston hasn’t figured out how to improve on the court. As individuals, the Rockets have improved, but as a team they’ve shown little to no improvement. A lot of the blame falls on Head Coach Stephen Silas, who can’t seem to motivate or discipline the squad at the necessary level. Silas is officially on the hot seat, as many people want to see a coaching change in Houston. Another last place finish this season, and it’s hard to imagine Silas keeping the reigns at Head Coach for more than another year. Unless major improvement is displayed during the second half of this season, and next year as well, the Rockets are playing for a coach who won’t be here much longer.

In the latest disappointment, Houston actually got off to a hot start, outscoring the Knicks by eight points to take a 35-27 lead after the first quarter. Houston managed to score only a combined 53 points for the rest of the game, as the Knicks took full advantage and turned the New Year’s Eve celebration’s into a New York Blowout on Saturday night. Julius Randle fueled the Knicks win, as he scored 35 points and grabbed 12 boards. Immanuel Quickley had one of the best games of his young career, as he dropped 27 points on an invisible Rockets defense. Kevin Porter Jr. led Houston with 23 points, 10 boards, and 8 assists. Jalen Green scored 16 points, and the voice of reason, Eric Gordon, added 12 points in the disappointing loss.

The Rockets now enter 2023 seeking change on the court. They’ve already locked themselves into the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes that will take place next summer. Houston needs to start showing some improvement on the floor. Despite individual boosts this season in certain players’ games, the Rockets as a team haven’t surpassed even the lowest of expectations. Houston’s on pace to finish last in the West for the third straight season. Hopefully 2023 brings better results for a talented, young group that might need a change in guidance.

Rockets Return Home Seeking Win, Host Knicks on NYE

Last Chance.    H-Town’s Ball-Drop.    Victory Finish.    

This New Year’s Eve, the Rockets look to get back on track as they host the New York Knicks back home at Toyota Center. Houston has dropped two straight games after their impressive victory in Chicago on Monday night, and tonight is their last chance for a victory this calendar year. To close out 2022, the Rockets face a Knicks team that’s heading in the wrong direction. After putting together an eight-game winning-streak, New York enters tonights game riding a five-game losing streak. Houston hopes to make that number six tonight with a win to end the calendar year.

The Rockets need to show more resilience than they’ve displayed over the past couple games if they want to beat this Knicks team. Don’t be fooled by the five-game skid, New York is more than capable of beating a young, inexperienced Houston squad  haunted by inconsistency all season long. Knicks’ Head Coach Tom Thibodeau is one of the more established coached in basketball, and he makes sure his team plays hard every night. If the Rockets have a letdown similar to the one we witnessed in Dallas, Houston’s in for another long, disappointing night to end 2022.

However, the Rockets can certainly beat this Knicks team, and add to New York’s losing skid. Houston needs to channel the toughness they displayed in Chicago, and back during their five-game home-winning streak. If the squad can avoid playing from behind, compete at a controlled pace, and tighten up their defense, the Rockets should be able to ring in 2023 with a victory. That’s asking a lot from a Houston team who’s shown only one consistent variable in 2022: inconsistency. The Rockets have put good stretches together, but their poor defense and turnovers usually lead to their demise. As we close 2022, the squad will try to control the ball and toughen up on defense as they face the New York Knicks in the final game before New Year’s.

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

New York Knicks (18-18):  Blue

Houston Rockets (10-25):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6:00 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets End Road-Trip in Disappointing Fashion, Fall 129-114 to Mavericks

Another Letdown.    No Chance.    One More Try.

After beating the Bulls in Chicago to start this road-trip and hanging with the Celtics longer than expected in Boston, the Rockets fell victim to another letdown on Thursday night in Dallas. Houston lost 129-114 to Mavericks in a game that was never really competitive. Luka Doncic had another triple-double for Dallas, leading the Mavs with 35 points, 12 boards, and 13 assists. As in the teams’ previous matchup, the Rockets had no answer for Lukamania on Thursday night. Houston at least made the game competitive at home. The latest matchup resulted in more of a lopsided contest Dallas on Thursday night. The Rockets trailed by six points after the first period, and were outscored in every but the fourth quarter, which was essentially “garbage time” in this game.

Jalen Green led Houston with 23 points, while also adding 4 rebounds and assists apiece. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 17 points and dished out 7 dimes. And Jabari Smith Jr. added 16 points, but the Rockets really never stood a chance in this contest. The defeat gives Houston two straight, at the hands of the Mavs, who have now won five consecutive games. The Rockets are now 1-2 against Dallas this season, with the lone Houston win coming when Luka sat out with an injury. The squad will get one more try against Doncic and the Mavs next Monday in the first game of 2023.

The Rockets have one more game in 2022, as they return home to host the reeling New York Knicks on New Year’s Eve. The Knicks have lost five straight games, setting up a perfect opportunity for Houston to ring in the New Year with a victory. They’ll need a better overall effort than they displayed in Dallas if they want to close 2022 on a positive note, and avoid another letdown.