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Rockets Visit Indy, Face-Off Against Pacers

Beasts Out East.    Eyes on Five.    Prep the Hardwood.        

“I promise you, if you need us… if you need me… I’ll be there” is a quote from Captain America: Civil War that brought tonight’s contest to mind. As the beginnings of the United States of America’s modern civil war gets under way this afternoon, the Houston Rockets take part in another basketball game, this time against the upstart Indiana Pacers. Sure, it’s just a game, but tonight’s match is huge for the Rockets. With a record of 2-3, a win tonight would get Houston back to .500, while a loss pushes them two games below .500. It might just be one game, but there’s a huge difference between starting the season 3-3, or 2-4. Especially with this team, and the level of uncertainty that remains hovering around its superstar. The Pacers are a dark-horse threat to win the East, and they’ve shown what they’re capable of, getting off to a hot 5-2 start.

Indy boasts five players the Rockets will have to focus on. The Pacers have the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference, with Malcolm Brogdon running the show at point, and Victor Oladipo, Indy’s best player, and star swingman at shooting guard. Indy also boasts one of the NBA’s most powerful, and dynamic inside duos: Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis. Christian Wood, DeMarcus Cousins, PJ Tucker, and any Rockets who are plan to bang bodies inside needs to be ready for all-out war in the pain tonight. Turner is one of the best role players in the NBA, and Sabonis is an All-Star, who’s teetering on the verge of superstardom. The son of Hall-of-Famer Arvydas Sabonis is off to the best start of his young career, and is a lethal scoring and rebounding presence inside. Justin Holiday plays the Sixth Man role for Indy, and is the other guy who could go off for a big night, if the Rockets defense is shaky once again. But, this one comes down to Houston’s newest combination: James Harden and Christian Wood, the Hardwood.

If the Beard can have a bounce-back game and reach his usual scoring numbers with efficiency, it should trigger more alley-oops to Wood, and more potential to get Indy’s lethal bigs in foul trouble. If Harden and Wood can be in sync in on the road against one of the best teams in the East, the Rockets have a chance. But they’ll also need John Wall to look like he did in his first two games, as opposed to his Monday night below-average showing. Houston will need to put as much offensive pressure as possible on the Pacers, and really drive to the basket with ferocity. Eric Gordon in particular, needs to finish strong, and not look for the contact (which usually results in embarrassing turnovers). This one should be close in Indy tonight. Expect the best game of this young season for Houston. The Pacers are at home, off to a good start. The Rockets are still adjusting to a new coach, new teammates, and a new system. But Houston still has the Beard on their side. Ready to play like the world needs saving. And on Wednesday night in Indy, when the Rockets need him… he’ll be there.

 

Bankers Life Fieldhouse:  Indianapolis, Indiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets: (2-3):  Red

Indiana Pacers (5-2):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Fall in Frustrating Fashion to Mavs, 113-100

Pondering Toss.    The New Jet.    Not Enough Beard.

“New system. We’re definitely still adjusting. Can’t forget about that,” Eric Gordon said after Houston’s disappointing 113-100 loss at home to Dallas on Monday night. It’s not an excuse, and the team is still adjusting, with John Wall, Christian Wood, DeMarcus Cousins, and plenty of other new Rockets, including a new coach, in Stephen Silas. The coolest cat in the room almost lost his cool, and rightfully so, as DeMarcus Cousins was ejected in arguably the worst call of the entire NBA season. Boogie simply argued a call like every player does after it doesn’t go his way, and was thrown out. Cousins has a reputation for barking at refs, but this is a new and improved DeMarcus, and he had no right being thrown out of Monday’s contest. It’s especially frustrating, considering how well Boogie was playing. He only saw limited action due to the ejection, but Cousins seemed to be on pace for his best game of the early season. We’ll have to wait to witness that. His first technical was a very questionable double-tech, and the ejection was downright based on his reputation. Official John Goble simply didn’t want to deal with officiating Cousins on Monday night, and given the slightest crack of opportunity, he tossed him out game with glee.

Boogie’s ejection is by no means why Houston lost to the Mavs, with Dallas leading basically from start-to-finish. Luka Doncic led the Mavs with a sensational triple-double, scoring 33 points, to go with 15 rebounds and 11 assists. Despite those gaudy numbers, it was Doncic who was the real thorn in the Rockets’ side, the finishing dagger. That role on Dallas belonged to Tim Hardaway Jr., who, when he plays Houston, resembles a form of Ray Allen in his prime. Hardaway is the new Jason Terry, a former Mav who used to always have big games against the Rockets. And it seems now Hardaway Jr. has assumed that role, always having monstrous games offensively against Houston. Don’t believe me? Look it up. The Rockets will have to be more prepared for THJ next time these two Texas rivals meet.

There are very few players for whom you look at the box score, and see 21 points, and it stands out in an odd way. But for James Harden, who’s going for a league record fourth straight scoring title, and averaging before Monday 37 points a game, 21 points does stand out quite a bit. Houston simply didn’t get enough from Harden, who, along with the rest of the squad, just had an off-night offensively. John Wall posted an underwhelming 14 points. Despite trailing nearly the entire game, the Rockets tied it late in the fourth and had a chance to take the lead several times in the quarter, but the Mavs continued to hit big shot after big shot. Most of them being from Hardaway Jr. and Doncic. Houston was without Danuel House, and Ben McLemore is still out, but the Rockets need to start winning and get a comfortable peek above the .500 mark. They can’t afford to fall behind early in the standings this season. Who knows what’s in store this year and how the pandemic will effect the league, now operating outside of what seemed like the perfect bubble in Orlando last year, in the future of this upcoming season. Up next for the Rockets, they face one of the best teams out East to start the season, in the Indiana Pacers. As for Monday’s game, it was a frustrating loss. The Boogie ejection spiraled things out of control in a night that never seemed destined to be in Houston’s control. The Rockets got a painful reminder from Mr. Hardaway Jr. that Dallas boasts more weapons than just Luka Doncic. Houston simply can’t forget about that.

Rockets Greet Mavs in Season’s First Duel

Texas-Sized Showdown.    Imperfect Imitation.    I-45 Revived.    

“From the moment I slapped eyes on this hombre, I smelled trouble,” a line from the 90’s Western film, Maverick. And as the Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, I smell trouble coming to town. Trouble in the form of Luka Doncic, the Mavs third-year superstar sensation, and preseason pick to win league MVP. Doncic, along with James Harden, both missed their previous games due to injuries. But both will be back on the court tonight, and Luka has flourished against Houston since entering the league. Dallas lost their last game, and sits at a disappointing 2-4 in the standings. Don’t let the record fool you, these Mavs are for real, and with Doncic running the show, can beat anyone on any night. The Rockets have to be prepared for a desperate Dallas team, eagerly seeking to improve their early-season woes. Houston is coming off back-to-back home victories over the Sacramento Kings. Tonight marks only the second time Houston’s Big Three (James Harden, John Wall, and Christian Wood) all suit up for the Rockets. Wall and Wood have been sensational, if Harden joins the party, Houston should handle any problems the Mavs throw their way. But don’t expect tonight’s game to be easy by any means.

Dallas is coming off a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bulls last night. Houston has more rest, home-court advantage, and more talent and depth. The Rockets should win if they can match the Mavs sense of urgency. Dallas has had one of the toughest schedules so far, already falling to the Lakers, Clippers, and Heat earlier this season. The Mavs are still without their second-best player, Kristaps Porzingis, aka “The Unicorn.” Regardless, Luka is deadly enough at controlling the game to be able to will his team to victory by himself. Hopefully, the Tatewagon lineup can give Houston’s second-unit the needed energy to take advantage of the game when the stars aren’t on the floor. Speaking of stars, the guy Luka Doncic has gotten compared to most often is James Harden. Luka boasts a deadly step-back from the perimeter and the poise of a 15-year veteran in only his third season at the age of 21. Still, at least at this moment in time, Harden is the better player, and should roast Doncic on the offensive end. The Rockets will need to communicate on defense and switch effectively to keep Luka from having one of those “Lukamania”nights, where he shows why he’s favored to be the MVP this season.

Despite not even being close to playoff time, tonight’s matchup is a Texas-sized showdown as the I-45 rivalry gets back under way between these long-time enemies. The Beard and Luka will both be looking to put on a show. And don’t think John Wall or Christian Wood are going to shy away from the action, as the new Rockets-duo will attempt to continue their hot start to the season. Houston Coach Stephen Silas was an assistant for Dallas last season, and worked diligently with Doncic. We’ll see if Silas’ knowledge of Luka’s game benefits the Rockets on Monday night. It’s been an odd start to the season in the NBA overall. The highly-touted Denver Nuggets started 1-4, and the Phoenix Suns were atop the West for awhile. The Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks (teams with opposite expectations) have the same record after six games. The offseason was the shortest in NBA history for some, the longest for the teams that didn’t play in the Orlando Bubble last season. So, it’s no surprise it’s been a stranger start to the season than usual. And with all signs pointing to a Houston victory tonight at home, Dallas is due for an inspiring victory. Luka always seems to play great against the Rockets. I hope I’m wrong, and Harden’s return, along with the continued rise of Wall and Wood, push Houston past the Mavs, en route to a third straight Rockets victory. But I have to be honest… I smell trouble. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (2-4):  White

Houston Rockets (2-2):  Black

 

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

Wall, Wood, Help Rockets Banish Kings, 102-94, as Houston Sweeps Two-Game Series

Sudden Impact.    Most Improved Player.    Second Half Lockup.

“You’re a legend in your own mind,” Clint Eastwood says in the classic film from the Dirty Harry series, Sudden Impact. John Wall was trying to tell us he was back to playing at a level only legends can imagine. He said he felt better than he’s ever felt. Questions arose about whether the injury-riddled Wall would be able to stay healthy, if he had lost his explosiveness. On Saturday night, John Wall put those questions to rest, and led the Rockets with 28 points and 6 assists, en route to a 102-94 Houston victory over Sacramento. An injury could always happen at any time, but for now, John Wall looks like an All-Star in his prime. he’s only 30 years old, and still has a few years left to potentially play at a superstar-level. His defense and scrappiness looked as good as it’s ever been. Maybe I didn’t watch enough of his games in Washington, but the Rockets are getting a sleeker, stronger, hungrier version of John Wall. He became the first player since Michael Jordan to score 50 or more points in his first two games back after not playing for over two years. If Wall keeps up this level of play, the Rockets will be a title contender at full-strength. James Harden was a late scratch Saturday, after he rolled at the end of Thursday night’s game. It’s nothing serious, but the Beard is questionable for Monday’s game against Dallas.

As for Saturday night’s game, the Kings kept it close, but the Rockets stifling second-half defense shut down Sac-Town’s hopes of winning one of their two games in Houston. Wall and the Rockets allowed the Kings to score 36 points in the first quarter, and 64 points at halftime. But Houston buckled down after the break, and only allowed 30 points in the second half. Christian Wood continues to be a revelation. Wood had 20 points, grabbed a monstrous 15 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots, dominating the paint for the Rockets. Wood is the early front-runner for the NBA’s Most Improved Player. And if he keeps playing at this level, Wood could even get an All-Star nod. Eric Gordon had 21 points in his second game back, and provided Houston with a secondary ball-handler behind Wall who attacked the basket and created shots for others. Splash Gordon, inconsistent as a Rocket, has looked good out of the gates so far this season. Hopefully EG consistently plays at this level, back to when he was considered an All-Star caliber player. Gordon did have a 50-point game last year. This man can play, but with EG, it’s all about his consistency. And getting the late notice he would be starting (in place of Harden), didn’t effect his play he brings as the Rockets ultimate Sixth Man. Sterling Brown got the most minutes off the bench for Houston on Saturday, and has shown he’s a natural three-point shooter. Brown scored 11 points, on 3-of-5 shooting from downtown. In addition to Jae’Sean Tate, and David Nwaba, Brown is another excellent new addition of the Rockets bench that provides Houston with depth most teams in the league can’t fathom.

Before the game, the Beard took part in an early shoot-around, but the ankle was bothering him, so Harden decided to sit Saturday night out. The Rockets can’t afford an injury to their best player, and Harden wants to be able to play. Now whether thats to continue to lead this Rockets team to the highest goal possible, or to show his value on the court exceeds anything he does off it, fulfilling his past wishes to be traded elsewhere. We should know soon enough. Harden has been as good as Houston could have hoped to start the season, and the new additions are showing this Rockets team is for real, with or without Harden. Houston’s a surefire playoff team in the West regardless. John Wall showed that last night, as long as he’s around, this Rockets team will make the playoffs. It’s Harden’s mindset to buy-in that will determine whether Houston is just playoff fodder, or serious contenders for the title. With a smooth rookie coach in Stephen Silas, who should be getting Coach of the Year recognition for handling all the drama in Houston with such subtle panache, the Rockets are in position to put all the pieces together. Despite all the uncertainty surrounding the franchise since being hired, Silas has implemented a system that caters to a bunch of guys who haven’t played together. Last night, they showed they’re still a dangerous team with their best player on the bench. If Harden can come back to a Houston-State-of-Mind, and embrace this newfound opportunity, similar to the way Wall and Wood have taken the reigns of their roles, the Rockets are going to be a problem for the rest of their league. Hopefully in the Beard’s mind, Houston’s legend finally realizes this is his best shot at winning at a title. With this team, in this city. The Rockets’ newest point-guard isn’t on James Harden’s level in terms of career accomplishments, but John Wall is back to playing his game, plus… he’s always been a legend in his own mind.

Run It Back: Rockets, Kings, Square-Off Again in H-Town

Part Two.    Back At It.    Deja Vu.    

After the Rockets beat the Kings on New Year’s Eve, Houston and Sac-Town tussle for the second-straight time at Toyota Center on Saturday afternoon. The Rockets will try and make it two straight victories, over the same team, in the same building. Part One was close, nail-biting down the stretch, and don’t expect much difference in Part Two. James Harden and John Wall are still learning tom play with each other, and Christian Wood, along with DeMarcus Cousins, is finding his spot in the offense. Ja’Sean Tate’s energy has been infectious throughout Houston’s first trio of games. The Rockets need to continue to feed off Tate’s energy as a unit, and burst out of the gates and give Houston a chance to build a lead.

The Kings will be without their stud rookie, Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a hard fall on Thursday night, but everyone else will be back on the court for Sacramento. Houston has to do a better job of guarding Buddy Hield on the perimeter, and stopping De’Aaron Fox’s penetration inside. It’s easier said than done, but those are the Kings’ two most lethal players. If the Rockets can contain Fox and Hield, Houston should be able to make it two victories in a row on Saturday. 

James Harden and company are back to what they’re most familiar with in the regular season, winning. The squad will hope for some deja vu on Saturday afternoon, expect a game that’s not as close down the stretch. After a hellish 2020 (especially for Houston), it would be nice to start 2021 with a victory. Houston has the healthier roster, is a more talented team, and is once again playing at home. There’s no reason the Rockets should lose this game, unless Houston doesn’t bring the required level of energy for a professional basketball game. And we’ve seen that many times in the past, with the Rockets playing down to their competition, just not with this unit. Let’s pray Houston keeps it up, and take down in the Kings in more dominant fashion, for their second-straight time in Saturday afternoon’s matinee affair.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (3-2):  White

Houston Rockets (1-2):  Red

 

TV:  4 PM CT  –  NBATV,  AT&T Sportnet SW

Rockets Knock Off Kings, 122-119, For Season’s First Win

Final Swing.    Best Trio?    The Closer.

After a tightly contested contest, the Rockets finally got their first win of the season, 122-119, over the Kings to close the calendar year. Houston trailed by 5 points with around 5 minutes to go in the game, but Harden, who scored 16 of his 33 in the final quarter, couldn’t be stopped, and helped the Rockets gain the final swing of momentum late in the game with some clutch free throws. John Wall looked terrific in his debut, scoring 22 points, dishing out 9 assists, to go along with 6 boards. DeMarcus Cousins was solid in limited playing time. Boogie saw 14 minutes of action, registering 8 points and 3 rebounds. Eric Gordon had 17 points on 50% shooting in his first game of the year. And the Christian Wood coming out party continued. Wood had another double-double for the Rockets, finishing with 21 points and 12 boards, as he continues to be the early season favorite for the Most Improved Player in the NBA.

Sacramento stayed with Houston the entire contest, and they nearly had four different players reach the 20-point mark. The Kings had contributions from the usual suspects Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox, but also got solid contributions from Harrison Barnes, and Richaun Holmes was a beast in the paint, grabbing 13 boards for Sac-Town. However it was too much Harden in the end for the Kings, and he showed once again why his value is sky high in this league. The Beard scored or assisted on 16 of Houston’s final 18 points. Despite their record, the Rockets can make an early case for having the league’s best trio, in Harden, Wall, and Wood. If these three guys keep playing at their respective levels, the sky’s the limit for Houston’s potential.

This game was so close, Sacramento decided to stick around town, and give it another try. These two clubs will be back at it for a Saturday afternoon affair. The Rockets will be looking to deal the Kings another loss over the weekend. Hopefully the group stays focused throughout the New Year’s Holiday, and comes prepared to send Sacramento home empty-handed on Saturday. The Kings will be seeking revenge for their New Year’s Eve loss. If the Rockets can keep the turnovers down, and control the paint, they should be able to take down Sacramento over the weekend. Regardless, I have a feeling it’s going to be a tight contest.

Rockets Return to Houston, Host Kings in Home Opener

A King’s Welcome.    Rearview Mirror.    The Kentucky Debut.

Home. Whether it’s a physical place, a feeling, or a state-of-mind, we all know what home means. “There’s no place like home,” the well-known sentiment Dorothy states in The Wizard of Oz has been echoed countless times since the film debuted decades ago. You’ve heard it somewhere. And now.. finally, the Rockets return home to Toyota Center for their home opener to face a young, upstart Sacramento Kings squad. Houston lost its first two games, on the road in Portland and Denver, so the squad will be looking for a welcome homecoming to get back on track. The Kings are 3-1, with two victories over Denver, the team the Rockets lost to in their last game. Is this the season Sacramento breaks into the playoff fold out West? We’ll see, but to start, Sac-Town looks as good as they’ve had in years.

Houston’s own king, James Harden, returns home, that is, if Houston is still the place he wants to call home, along with his Rockets teammates on New Year’s Eve. And tonight, the Beard will have more help than he did in the first two games. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins will make their much-anticipated debuts in Houston on Thursday. The Kentucky duo are both coming off lengthy injuries (Especially John Wall, who hasn’t played a regular season game in over two years), but they looked very promising in the pre-season. Wall looks to have regained his quick first step that allows him to easily slip by defenders. And “Boogie” Cousins looked versatile, being able to play in the post, as well as knock down the Rockets patented three-point bucket. Hopefully, with these two All-Stars in the fold, Houston can start piling on the wins, and maybe, just maybe, convince Harden to stay home, in Houston, where he belongs.

Sacramento and Houston have some eerily similar ties. The Rockets’ Ben McLemore was drafted by the Kings, but he never found his niche in Sacramento before finding a home in Houston. DeMarcus Cousins was also drafted by the Kings, where he averaged over 20 points and 10 boards for six and-a-half seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier big men. Sacramento’s GM, Monte Morris, worked for the Rockets the previous 13 years, and the King’s best player De’Aaron Fox, is from the Houston area. Not that any of this matters, but expect Fox to have an efficient and stellar game returning to his hometown, and look for Cousins to have a strong debut for the Rockets, as players love battling their former teams.

Tonight’s home opener is the first of two games in a row at home vs. Sacramento at this early stage in the season. With Houston dropping their first two games, and the Dallas Mavericks set to come to town after the Kings leave, the Rockets need to win tonight to gain some confidence. Especially considering they have nearly a full-roster, and a clean bill of health. There’s no excuses for losing tonight. Starting tonight, and for the foreseeable future (until something that requires a change happens), will be Wall, Harden, House, Tucker, and Christian Wood. It will be interesting to see how Cousins, a starter for the majority of his career, takes to coming off the bench. It sounds like he won’t have any problems with this situation. Sure, Houston hasn’t played together, this group in particular hasn’t played together much at all. But the Rockets are too talented, with three former All-Stars on their team, to get beat by a Kings team with zero All-Stars. If Houston follows Ja’Sean Tate and P.J. Tucker’s lead, and play with that level of ferocious energy and intensity, the Rockets should win tonight. But who knows what to expect with this new Rockets group. One thing for sure is, it’s good to be back in Houston… there’s no place like home.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (3-1):  Black

Houston Rockets (0-2):  Blue “City Edition”

 

TV:  6 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Denver Demolition:  Nuggets Blast Rockets, 124-111, as Houston Closes Rocky Road Trip

House Problems.    Secret Shuffler.     Dangerous Allegory.

They keep coming. No, not the losses. Those, too, as Houston dropped their second straight to start the season. But the trade rumors. Despite Harden looking spectacular with his new teammates, rumors continue to swirl, the latest from Golden State, the last jersey I’d ever think I’d see Harden wear. This is something Houston’s gonna have to deal with the entire season. Until Harden says verbally, he’s committed to staying in Houston, the narrative dictates this is his last dance as a Rocket. Something just doesn’t feel right. Harden’s playing too well, gelling too easily with Christian Wood. It just seems too good to be true. Getting blown out in Denver tells us nothing into the mysterious mind of the Beard.

The loss wasn’t surprising, as they were short-handed once again. The final score lies. This game wasn’t nearly that close. Denver controlled the entire contest after going on a 14-0 run after the Rockets saw their final lead, 26-22, vanquish in the first quarter. Not terrible, 0-2 in a parity-ridden league at the moment, against two worthy opponents on the road. James Harden was spectacular once again, but didn’t have enough help for Houston to keep it close. The Beard finished with 34 points on efficient shooting once again, along with 8 dimes and 6 boards. Christian Wood had 23, including 14 first quarter points, but was outmuscled by Denver’s Nikola Jokic inside all evening. David Nwaba and Sterling Brown were the only other Rockets scoring in double-figures. Once Jamal Murray caught fire for the Nuggets, all hope flew out the window for Houston. Nikola Jokic was too much for Wood and the Rockets. The Nuggets All-Star Center had another triple-double, finishing with 19 points, an astonishing 18 assists, and 12 rebounds. The Rockets have to hope a return trip home, where they play 6 of their next 7 games in Houston, will bring positive vibes and victories in the standings.

However, there’s House problems in Houston. Danuel House Jr. has been in a funk to start the season, and it seems to be something mental. He just seems to be out of it, and can’t find the rim to save his life. In good news, the Rockets get John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Gordon back for their home opener on Thursday. So expect House to see less court time, and maybe more time to get his head straight. The Rockets next game comes against the Sacramento Kings, a team who’s already beaten this Denver team twice. The Kings are 3-1, and boast a young, improving core on the cusp of breaking into playoff contention. Hopefully, a full-roster will help Houston slow Sacramento’s speedy-start to the season.

Another issue  continues brewing in Houston. Maybe it’s just me. But, Daryl Morey was officially fined by the NBA for “tampering” a few days ago, after he tweeted a one-year anniversary commemorating the day Harden passed Calvin Murphy on the NBA’s list of career assist leaders. There’s no secret, Morey and Harden are very close. It was Morey who brought Harden to Houston, and gave him the keys to the mansion he has now: the luxury of superstardom. Morey let Harden do whatever he pleased and caved at his every plea. Don’t be surprised if the Beard does get traded, it’s to the Sixers, where his former GM sits, right now, plotting ways to get Harden. it’s only a matter of time. Christian Wood isn’t the player Philly’s Joel Embiid is, but he’s another big. And if Wood is a way of seeing how Harden can fare with a true lengthy center, then this is pure torture. The Rockets would likely get a package with the “prized” piece being the overrated Ben Simmons. Hopefully, none of this comes to fruition, but I’ve followed Morey, aka “Shufflin’ D” and Harden for a decade. There’s too many signals, hidden allegories, and strange signs that shows something doesn’t add up. Something’s on the horizon. All those three point shooters Morey got in Philly, those are merely test-shooters for the Beard. Morey and Harden, two innovators of the game. This is their story. Rockets fans are just the victims. I hope I’m wrong. Regardless, those rumors… they’ll keep coming.

Rockets Head to the Mountains, Battle Nuggets in Another Tough Test

Higher Challenge.    Hunger Games.    Run It Back.

“A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous,” Donald Sutherland says in The Hunger Games. After entering the season with little hope, and despite losing a heartbreaker on opening night, Houston has more hope for the rest of the season. Lacking three main rotation players (Wall, Cousin, and Gordon), the Rockets still fought valiantly, and would have won, if it wasn’t for C.J. McCollum, who couldn’t seem to miss. The hope lies in the debuts of new-Rockets Christian Wood and Ja’Sean Tate. Wood looked like an All-Star, scoring 31 points, and grabbing 13 boards in the opener. And in his NBA debut, Ja’Sean Tate brought a Patrick Beverly-level of energy to the squad that’s been lacking, well, since Beverly left. Tate also showed signs of stellar defense, and keen court awareness. Look for the rookie to be a starter for Houston soon.

Regardless of a sense of newfound hope this team may have found in their opener, tonight’s matchup in the Rockies is going to be a higher challenge. Both teams are starving for a win. Denver is 0-2, and considered by many to be one of the top three teams in the West. No doubt in mind Nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone will have his team hungry for a win, as Denver wants to avoid starting the season 0-3. The Rockets are also looking for their first win, and it will be tough in Denver’s altitude against the Nuggets, a slightly better team than the Blazers, who Houston faced in their opener. Malone knows Harden’s potency on the court. Denver’s coach once described trying to guard Harden akin to “watching a horror movie.” Every Rocket needs to step up tonight, as the Beard will be swarmed on defense.

Nevertheless, Houston the Rockets don’t want to drop their first two games. The more they lose, they harder it will be to convince James Harden to stay in Houston. The Rockets need to gut-out a tough victory tonight. If they play with the same energy, and the Beard puts on another show, Houston has a chance to steal a victory in Denver. Christian Wood will need help guarding Nikola Jokic, one of the best centers in the league. And hopefully Ja’Sean Tate and the Rockets rotating defenders can help slow Jamal Murray. Denver has health on their side tonight, and they’e had an extra day off. The Rockets will certainly show more signs of exhaustion, especially considering they don’t usually play in the altitude. However, the opener displayed how quickly doubts can be swayed. And no one thought Houston had a chance entering their first game in Portland, and they outplayed the Blazers for the majority of the match, and had it not been for McCollum having one of the games of his life, the Rockets would be 1-0 right now. So, ignore the 0-1 record. This Houston team is for real. The hope is real, that when they’re at full-strength, they can be superior amongst the elite, and convince Harden to stay. But for now, the Rockets are short-handed. And that means even more looks for the Beard. Which brings a lot of hope. And if Harden’s dazzling performance in the opener carries over tonight, the Nuggets are going to find themselves in a very precarious situation. Coach Malone already knows. He probably has the popcorn nearby, because tonight he’ll be watching that same horror movie, over and over. Don’t expect the altitude to slow the Beard down. The opener in Portland was just a warm-up. Tonight, Harden gets to show real promise of what’s in store for the future of this season. So, despite being short-handed and facing the altitude, Houston should still have plenty of hope Houston they can take down the Nuggets. Expect Harden to start his second game of this season with another statement. Nuggets fans… it’s about to get dangerous in Denver.

 

Ball Arena:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (0-1):  Black

Denver Nuggets (0-2):  White

 

TV:  8 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Houston Heartbreak:  Rockets Get Burned in OT, Fall to Blazers in 128-126 OT Thriller

Historical Headache.    Wood You Take This Dance?    The Waiting Game.

 

“I don’t surprise myself at all. I know what I’m capable of,” James Harden said after Houston fell in their opener to Portland, 128-126 in an overtime thriller that had all the makings of a classic. If you’re surprised Harden, despite basically coming straight off vacation, with no training camp, had a historical game, you don’t know the Beard. It’s obvious no matter what off-court drama is occurring, Harden’s loves to hoop too much to have anything affect his performance on the court. He’s too fierce a competitor to just mail it in for the season. Harden’s not gonna sit out games, like other superstars who’ve demanded trades in the past, but didn’t get their wishes granted. Harden showed exactly why he’s worth all the trouble and all the headaches, why the front office lets him get away with everything short of bloody murder off the court. He is that good. His last two threes were insane and.. this situation is truly a historical one. The Rockets still have the same James Harden, the best offensive player in the world, on the court, and while he may continue to act up and demand to be traded, hopefully Houston can play well enough to convince him to stay in town. I can’t understand why after a sensational debut pairing with Wood, Harden really thinks he has a better chance winning elsewhere. Houston didn’t even have John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Gordon, and they almost beat a probable playoff team in the West. It’s a headache, because if James was any other player, you’d trade him. But Harden is truly a generational talent. And unless you’re getting an MVP-caliber player in return, it’s worth the trouble and headache of playing the waiting game. Keep Harden and let him leave after this season, or even the next. He’s too talented to not optimize his value. After joining a bunch of guys he’d never played with before, for a team he didn’t want to play for, after being called fat and lazy by the media coming into the season, the Beard still became the first player in NBA history to recored at least 40 points and 15 assists in his first game of a season.

Harden had 44 points, and a career-high 17 assists, and nearly gave Houston one of its most impressive franchise victories in history. But, as the game went into OT, and C.J. McCollum continued to make shot after shot, the Rockets were too gassed, and came up short on the final possession, losing by two after turning the ball over to end the game. C.J. matched Harden toe-to-toe on the soaring board, notching 44, leading the Blazers to the win. A miscommunication error between Harden and P.J. Tucker ended Houston’s victory chances. Teammates who are more than familiar with each other’s style of play usually don’t have missteps like the one they encountered to end the game. But in the end, it was evident the squad just came up short on energy, having only 9 players, while basically using a thin seven-man rotation. Sure this loss was heartbreaking, but it displayed eons of positive signs for this Rockets team to come in the future.

Christian Wood dazzled in his debut, setting a franchise record for points by a Rockets center in their debut. Wood had 31 points, and grabbed 13 boards, as he and Harden gelled like peanut butter and jelly in their first game as teammates. Wood looks poised to make a run at the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, and if he keeps putting up numbers like he did in Portland, possibly an All-Star nod could possibly be in the works. But, given the depth of talent out West, Wood’s likely a few years away from All-Star status. Speaking of depth, Ja’Sean Tate was sensational in his debut, bringing an infectious, tenacious energy this Rockets team sorely lacked in seasons’ past. Not only his energy, but Tate’s defense and court vision were stellar. Look for him to steal the starting small forward position later in the season. Tate plays so hard, like a version of Patrick Beverley mixed with P.J. Tucker. And that alone will get him into the starting unit. Other than Wood, Tate was most impressive, notably because no one really knew what to expect from Tate. But if you watched the game, it’s evident this wasn’t just a hyped-up Ja’Sean Tate for his NBA debut. This man plays like this every night, and it’s going to be a pleasure getting to watch someone instill some energy every night into a Houston team with plenty of distractions. David Nwaba also looked exceptional in his debut. A solid help defender, with the ability to knock down the long range bomb, Nwaba should play a key part of the rotation this season. P.J. Tucker’s shot was off, but he grabbed 13 boards. He’s become a liability on offense. Look for Tucker to eventually slide into a bench role. Danuel House Jr. struggled in the season opener. Other newcomers Sterling Brown and Brodric Thomas showed potential. But Wood was the story. Other than Harden being completely unaffected on the court by his off-season antics, Christian Wood showed why he was the steal of the off-season. 31 points and 13 rebounds is more than impressive in a season debut. Hopefully the big fella keeps it up, and improves as the season moves forward.

In his first game as an NBA Head Coach, Stephen Silas already looks better suited for this job than Mike D’Antoni would have been. There was a key play late in the third quarter, where Harden was subbed back into the game for the final offensive possession, the kind of attention-to-detail D’Antoni lacked in his laissez-faire approach to his “we just didn’t make shots” excuse. Silas made all the right moves, and will Stone made the right hire for top coach. Expect Silas to even get Coach of the Year consideration. He’s a players’ coach. And along with many of Houston’s young core, Silas is brand new to the squad. But this marriage feels like it was meant to be. A match made in heaven. Don’t be surprised if this group exceeds expectations. After all, when you still have James Harden… who knows what this group is capable of.