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Rockets Seeking to Avoid a Bear Trap as Grizzlies Visit Town

Do it Again.    Another Debut?    Trap Game.   

Houston hosts the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, as the Rockets look to win two games in a row for the first time in months. The squad will look to repeat what they accomplished last game: garner multiple players in double-figures, and have everyone bringing contributions to the court. Memphis is a game below .500 and fighting for one of the last playoff spots, so the Grizzlies certainly have something to play for. The Rockets will need to bring it, if they want to beat a much better team with an animal as its mascot than the squad Houston faced over the weekend in Minnesota.

Avery Bradley, the other player the Rockets got in the P.J. Tucker trade, is questionable for Monday night’s action. Bradley has yet to play, but should bring the squad some veteran leadership, and more importantly, some much-needed defensive help on the perimeter. Kelly Olynyk had an outstanding debut for Houston on Saturday. Hopefully Bradley is able to play tonight, and follows suit.

One would think it’s impossible for a bad team to have a trap game, but tonight’s a trap game, in the rare case for this 13-32 Rockets team. Houston travels to Brooklyn to face some guy named James Harden on Wednesday night. Harden’s the MVP this season in the eyes of many pundits. And they’re not wrong. He’s the same old Harden who held his own “Unguardable Tour” at one point in Houston. And the Rockets, especially John Wall, want to beat him so bad, at least once this season. And Wednesday’s Houston’s last chance to accomplish the feat. But the Rockets can’t look ahead and ignore Monday’s game. I’m excited just writing and thinking about Wednesday’s game. It wouldn’t be natural if Houston’s players didn’t feel that same excitement. Nevertheless, for now… the Rockets need to stop Ja Morant, and his incoming Bear Trap.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Memphis Grizzlies (21-22):  Blue

Houston Rockets (13-32):  Red

 

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

Payback Pitch:  Rockets Feast on Wolves, 129-107, Avenge Previous Loss

Seven Samurai.    Solid Debut.    More Like This.    

For the first time in seemingly years, the Houston Rockets won in blowout fashion. KPJ and crew flipped the script in Round 2. The squad got revenge in the second half of their Minnesota back-to-back, as the Rockets smashed the Wolves, 129-107, for their 13th win of the season. Houston had an all-around team effort in the victory. Kevin Porter Jr. started hot, and led the team in scoring with 25 points. But it wasn’t only KPJ who added fuel to this fire of burning wolves. Houston had 7 players finish in double-figures. From D.J. Augustin, who scored 20 points, and led the Rockets’ charge during Minnesota’s comeback attempt. John Wall scored 13 points and dished out 12 dimes. And Sterling Brown scored 16 points, as the Rockets won their easiest game of the season. Houston led by 12 after the first period. Minnesota made a late charge near the end of the third period, but Augustin made sure the Wolves wouldn’t get any closer.

In his debut, Kelly Olynyk already looks like a perfect fit for this Rockets team. The newest guy scored 16 points, to go along with 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Expect Olynyk to fit seamlessly into Houston’s rotation. The other new guy, Avery Bradley, has yet to play is questionable for the Rockets’ next game, on Monday. But Bradley’s a great defender who should help one of the worst defensive teams in basketball. We’ll have to wait to see what exactly Avery brings to the court, but Olynyk showed his versatility in his first game as a Rocket. His ability to play both ends is what this Houston team needs, and his basketball IQ was on full display on the offensive end of the floor.

If only the Rockets could have more games like this. The wins have become rare, let alone blowout victories. Enjoy the rare Rocket-cruises while you can this season. Houston has the toughest remaining schedule in the league, so don’t expect many more games like Saturday night. Up next the Rockets host the Grizzlies, in what could be potentially a trap game. Why? The team’s headed to Brooklyn on Wednesday night. To face a familiar Beard, a guy who used to, seemingly for years, give the Rockets many more nights like this.

Rockets Hope to Forget Previous Game, Ready to Hunt Wolves Again in Minnesota

Part 2.    Avoiding Deja Vu.    New Debuts?

The Rockets visit the Wolves for Part 2 of the Ugly Duckling Series on Saturday night. Houston had a historic collapse in Part 1 on Friday night. The Rockets led by as many as 19 points, including a 16-point advantage with around seven and a half minutes to play, but failed to score after that point in the game, as Minnesota ended the contest on a 22-0 run.

Houston will look to avoid deja vu as these squads do battle in the same place at the same time tonight. The Rockets, as evidenced last game, have the more talented squad. Houston just failed to close, and disappeared in the final quarter. If the Rockets can put four quarters together against this Wolves squad, Houston should come away with a victory in Part 2, and avoid an embarrassing sweep to the worst team in basketball.

There may be new debuts for Houston tonight, as Kelly Olynyk and Avery Bradley may see their first action, pending on if they’ve passed physicals, trade protocols, and everything the league requires before traded players can play their first games with new teams. Hopefully, if they do play, they can give the Rockets some needed-boost. The squad needs to forget about last night’s disaster, and quickly. The only way to that? Take care of business tonight in Part 2.

 

Target Center:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-32):  Black

Minnesota Timberwolves (11-34):  Green

 

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

Tank Show:  Rockets Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory, Collapse to Wolves, 107-101

Ugly Ducklings.    The Un-Magnificent Seven.    Wash, Rinse, Don’t Repeat.

In the battle of the NBA’s ugly duckling’s, this game unraveled in shocking fashion, even make the headlines for the league’s bottom-dwellers. Maybe it was all the trades. Or maybe it really was some sort of NBA-amnesia, forgetting how to actually play the game, as the Houston Rockets disappeared on Friday night, collapsing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 107-101. Houston led 101-85 with roughly seven and a half minutes left in the contest. But that’s the where the Rockets score would at game’s end, as the Wolves ended the contest on a 22-0 run, as Minnesota won Part 1 in this weekend tank show. Not that Houston was trying to lose, they just had an awful fourth quarter.

The Rockets shot 3-for-22 in the final period, scoring only 10 points, and none after the seven-minute mark. Even for bad teams, this was a pretty shockingly horrible letdown. Houston won’t have to wait long to wash this bad taste out of their mouth, as these two foes do battle again on Saturday night, right back in Twin Cities. The Rockets are looking for anything but Friday night’s twin on Saturday.

Houston will have to wash, rinse, and try and avoid a historic collapse. The Rockets controlled the game until the final seven and half minutes, where the team put on a disappearing act. It’s a 48-minute game for a reason. Houston has to focus in on finishing teams. Maybe they were surprised they had their biggest lead, 19 points, since their last win before the losing streak, on February 4th. Hopefully, they were in shock… because the Rockets all but had this one in the bag. Get ready to jump back in the pond in the battle of the league’s ugly ducklings in less than 24 hours. Houston needs to have Friday night amnesia heading into part two.

Twin Series:  Rockets Head North for Weekend Series with Wolves

Deja Vu Weekend.    Buying into the Rebuild.    The Lottery Battle.

Houston heads to Minnesota for the first of a back-to-back in the Twin Cities. The Timberwolves are the only team in the league with a worse record than the Rockets. Houston hopes to take advantage of playing the rare opponent, one who has even less wins than the Rockets, and potentially sweep the weekend. Houston is the more talented team, and it’ll be interesting to observe the squad’s first game after Thursday’s trade deadline that featured many moves within the association.

As was expected, Victor Oladipo was finally dealt, right before the trade deadline, to his preferred destination: the Miami Heat. In return, the Rockets received two veterans: guard Avery Bradley, and forward Kelly Olynyk, along with future draft picks. So… after trading James Harden, the Rockets have essentially taken part in one of the worst trades in NBA history. Houston received nothing close in value to giving away arguably this season’s MVP, and possibly the best offensive player the league has ever seen. With Harden, P.J. Tucker, and Oladipo all departed elsewhere, Houston has fully bought into the rebuild.

Tonight’s tilt in Minnesota could also be viewed as the “Lottery Battle,” with the teams with the two worst records in the NBA going head-to-head this weekend. We’d all love to imagine a world where tanking in pro sports doesn’t exist, but that would be a huge lie. Hopefully, the Rockets have some pride and can take Friday night’s game to begin this Weekend Wolf-Series. Regardless, Houston’s likely to finish with one of the top three worst records in the league. So, win or lose, tonight’s contest is centered on pride, more than how tonight’s result affects these teams’ actual spot in the standings… it’s time to show that H-Town pride again.

 

Target Center:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (12-31):  White

Minnesota Timberwolves (10-34):  “City Edition” Black

 

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

Buzzkill:  Rockets Stung by Hornets, 122-97, as Winning Ways End Fast

Lost Season.    Regression to the Mean.    29 to Die.

Well that didn’t last long. Houston’s brief winning streak was halted at one game after Charlotte came to town and blew away any hopes the Rockets had for starting a winning streak. The Hornets stung the Rockets, 122-97, to push Houston back into reality. Terry Rozier scored 25 points to lead Charlotte over a Rockets team, that, if you haven’t found out by now, just isn’t very good. John Wall led Houston with 20 points, and Christian Wood had the poor man’s double-double, with 11 points and 10 boards. Victor Oladipo didn’t play for “personal reason.” Those “reasons” were his upcoming deal to the Miami Heat, as Oladipo was traded to his preferred destination, Miami, on Thursday. At 12-31, the Rockets are now completely focused on the rebuild. No more James Harden. No more P.J. Tucker. No more Victor Oladipo. It’s time to move on. How much longer will the old man, John Wall, be in Houston? Will he retire a Rocket, or move on elsewhere  to finish his career. Wall is injury-prone, but when healthy, he’s shown he still has plenty left in the tank to help a contender.
So after one win over the reeling Toronto Raptors, the Rockets are back on the losing side of basketball life. This team likely won’t win more than 30 games, but they have a far chance at landing the first overall pick, who most believe will be Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham. That is, if Houston keeps losing. And it seems that’s going to be the case. And don’t think the Rockets are tanking, because they aren’t. This squad’s just plain bad.

At 12-31, Houston sits barely ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, avoiding the dreaded last place spot in the standings. Ironically enough, the Rockets’ next two games are in Minnesota, as Houston heads north for a weekend back-to-back in the Twin Cities. The Rockets would help their cause by losing both games, although I’m never one to embrace or suggest tanking… it’s merely their reality. Houston has 29 games left to die, and then pray they get lucky in the draft lottery. The squad’s set up nicely for a bright future, but the Rockets won’t likely be a contender again for another 5 years or so, depending on how these future pieces fit into place. So buckle up… the next ride’s only beginning.

Rockets Attempt to Start New Streak, Welcome Hornets to Town

Eye for an Eye.    Noladipo.    Buzzing Around.   

The Houston Rockets host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night, as John Wall and the squad are aiming to start a new streak, and build off their pervious win. The monkey that was the worst skid in franchise history is finally off the squad’s back. Now, hopefully the team will play more freely, and with more energy. This team has too much potential to lose that many consecutive games. Look for the Rockets to be ready for a Hornets team tonight. A Charlotte team that recently got the news they’ll be without LaMelo Ball for the rest of their season. Ball, who was on pace to be the Rookie of the Year, is out for the year with an injury. It’s about time someone else knew what it like to play without key components. Houston’s all too familiar and well-versed in the ways the injury bug can affect one’s team. Injuries plagued the Rockets during their losing streak, and definitely were a reason that Houston dropped so many games in a row.

After a spare amount of games in a Rockets uniform, tonight’s contest will likely be Victor Oladipo’s final game as a Houston Rocket. Oladipo has been heavily mentioned in trade rumors, and the Rockets have expressed desire to deal the swingman before the deadline. Expect news of Victor moving on elsewhere to drop soon enough. For now, Houston needs to build off their momentum from the previous win, and try and start a winning streak.

With all the rumors and news buzzing around, expect tonight’s tilt to be an interesting one. The Rockets should have enough firepower and inspiration to beat this wounded Charlotte-squad. Houston needs to be active defensively, buzzing around like Hornets on both ends of the floor. The more active team wins tonight’s contest. And after their previous game, the Rockets remembered how sweet it is to win. Look for the squad to start building a new streak tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Charlotte Hornets (21-21):  White

Houston Rockets (12-30):  Red

 

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

Liftoff!:  Rockets End Skid with Triumphant 117-99 Win Over Raptors

Streaks and Skidmarks.    Trade Buzz.    Coming Together.

“It’s about damn time,” Christian Wood said after the Rockets finally won their first game in nearly two months, besting the Raptors, 117-99, in Houston on Monday night. John Wall had a triple double to lead the Rockets. Christian Wood scored 19 points despite early foul trouble. And Jae’Sean Tate led the team in scoring with 22 points, as Houston finally washed that horrid taste of the franchise’s worst losing streak out of their collective system. For the first time in about 20 games, the Rockets outplayed the Raptors from nearly the start. Despite trailing by 1 point at the half, and only a 2-point edge heading into the final quarter, Houston pulled away in the fourth, as they won their first game comfortably in a long, long time. Even if you couldn’t see it, the weight of the losing streak was starting to wear on the players, and Stephen Silas, who seemed beyond discontent after Sunday’s loss. Now, the Rockets can move on, and try to close the second half of the season strong.

Changes are likely coming Houston’s way. The NBA trade deadline is this Thursday at 3 PM ET. Victor Oladipo is supposedly expected to be dealt somewhere before the deadline, as multiple sources have confirmed the Rockets are expecting to deal Oladipo, so they don’t lose him in free agency for nothing. Whether it’s a solid-caliber player, or draft picks, anything’s better than nothing for a guy who seems poised to leave Houston after this season regardless. We’ll know soon enough what final changes the Rockets have planned to implement this season.

Nevertheless, this team has to come together. With all the new parts, the squad has a chance to grow and really form a new beginning here in Houston. The playoffs are likely out-of-reach for the Rockets, so getting youngsters Kevin Porter Jr., Kenyon Martin Jr. Jae’Sean Tate, Christian Wood, and so many other guys acclimated should be goal number one for the remainder of this season. Houston has plenty of talent and potential on this roster. They’re young, and while the present might not be shining, the future is very bright for these Rockets. For those who were wondering when Rocket-Bottom would come, well, that historic losing streak is about as low as you can get in this league. Now, it’s time to start the climb back to the top in Houston… it’s about damn time.

Rockets Shooting for an Extinct Skid Tonight, as Raptors Visit Town

Final Days.    Out of Place.    Ol’ Reliable.

As the final days before the NBA trade deadline pass, the Rockets are hoping to put an end to their franchise-record 20-game losing streak. Houston has another chance to break the skid tonight, as the Raptors come to town. Toronto is a sub-par team this season, but still has plenty of weapons to make it another miserable night for the Rockets in H-Town. Tonight’s matchup is the second of a back-to-back for Houston, so the Rockets will be without Victor Oladipo against the Dinos. Maybe this will allow Kevin Porter Jr. more space and playing time to see how he fits with Christian Wood and John Wall. KPJ has looked place coming off-bench, as opposed to the guy who looked like he was scouted to be a lottery pick in his first few games with the Rockets.
It won’t be any easier than any other night. The Rockets need to put four quarters together, hustle on defense, and actually care like they want to win a game. They say they’re so frustrated and angry. Well, follow Jae’Sean Tate’s lead, and exert that aggression on the court. Houston can play with more energy on both ends of the floor. There’s no excuses for losing regardless of who’s on the court for the Rockets. No NBA team should lose 20-games in a row, let alone a team with the caliber of that mold this Houston squad.

Hopefully, the Rockets can put it together, and John Wall can be fired up after bringing his team so close to a victory yesterday. Look for the Rockets to lean on Wall and Wood for most of the offensive firepower. And Houston has to start playing some defense. The Thunder got way too many open lay-ups on Sunday. If the Rockets can play smarter, focus on one game at a time, and don’t let the burden of this historic losing streak effect them mentally, they’ll have a shot at showing us the final days of this skid are already in the past… and that this team’s ready to end it tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Toronto Raptors (17-25):  Red

Houston Rockets (11-30):  “City Edition” Blue

 

TV:  8 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Thunderstruck:  OKC Edges Houston, 114-112, as Rockets Lose 20th Straight

Close… but So Far Away.    Conversation Time.    20-Burgers of Shame.

The Rockets came so close, with a last-second shot by John Wall that would have broken Houston’s losing streak, had it fallen. But the heave from way beyond the arc was off-range, as the Rockets came up short against the Thunder, 114-112, enduring yet another loss in one of the most miserable losing streaks in NBA history. Hey, at least this one wasn’t by double-digits, right? Still, a Rockets team going up against a short-handed Thunder team should’ve won the game, but this Houston squad is bad… real bad.

The NBA Trade Deadline is this Thursday, only a few days away. Houston is one of many teams that have been in the rumor mill. Will the Rockets make a move or two at the deadline? With a team that can’t seem to win if you put a gun to the squad’s collective head, a change might be necessary. Something has to be tweaked. Because with  Christian Wood, John Wall, Victor Oladipo, and a young Kevin Porter Jr., Houston is too talented to lose 20 straight games. But alas, that’s exactly what they’ve done. That final shot summarized Houston’s season perfectly. Down by two points, the Rockets only needed a bucket to send the game to overtime. Nevertheless, in this world, where every player seems trigger-happy from long range, Wall settled for a long three-pointer that clanked off the rim. Despite his ability to get to the rack at ease, Wall settled. Houston needs to stop settling. It’s why they’ve lost 20 games in a row. The little things. Settling for the second-to-best-shot on a play instead of looking for the best. Until the Rockets play smarter, they aren’t winning any time soon.

Maybe it’s the fact that no one can score more than in the 20’s on a consistent basis. Houston no longer has a James Harden they can ride to save them on nights when the group collectively is in disarray. Houston’s got plenty of guys who can score 20 on any given night: John Wall, Christian Wood, Victor Oladipo, Kevin Porter Jr., Eric Gordon, and even other guys when given the opportunity to step up. But, the Rockets no longer have that go-to, get-me-a-bucket-right-now kind of guy that Harden was. And they can continue to score in the 20-point range, but one of these games, it would be nice to see someone take over, take control of the game. Does Houston have anyone with that kind of firepower. We’ve seen glimpses from all the aforementioned names, but not on a consistent basis. The squad needs some intelligence and consistency… or the Rockets will keep on coming up just short of victory.