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Houston Heads to Utah, Hopes to Tune-Out Jazz in Crucial Matchup

It’s Here.    Sounds from the Abyss.    Battle for Four.

“Language is the foundation of civilization, it is the glue that holds the people together, it is the first weapon drawn in a conflict.” A quote from the film Arrival that seems fitting for tonight’s matchup. It’s here. We’ve arrived at the biggest game of the year. Saturday night in Salt Lake City? You bet. Since their last victory, the three teams Houston’s chasing for the second seed, Utah, Denver, and the Clippers, all lost. Tonight’s game is imminently important for several reasons. The Jazz are for real. They’re not a better team than Houston, but they’re more consistent. And a threat come playoffs. The Rockets faced Utah each of the last two postseasons, ending the Jazz’ season on both affairs. And if the playoffs started tomorrow, the Rockets and Jazz would be playing yet again in the first round, expect Utah would have home court advantage. Houston can change that with a victory tonight. The Rockets and Jazz only meet three times in the regular season this year. With the season series tied at a game apiece, tonight’s victor gets the tiebreaker if these squads were to finish with identical records in the crowded Western Conference. A win, however, is going to be exponentially more difficult than the 30-point beatdown Houston gave Golden State on Thursday night. If the Rockets want to escape Utah with a victory, they need to communicate defensively, it’s the key to the entire game.

The Jazz boast one of the NBA’s most raucous crowds, and combined with the altitude, give Utah the best home-court advantage in basketball. It’s also the best Jazz team since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Yes. Utah is for real. All these factors make Salt Lake City the toughest place for opposing teams to play this season. The Jazz aren’t quite good enough to win it all. But they’re tactical enough to be a pest for the elites until someone finally eliminates them. Regardless, Houston’s one shot away from being up 2-0 on the Jazz this season. The Rockets won the first matchup in Utah without James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the night Eric Gordon exploded for 50-points. In their previous matchup, Houston’s last loss of the season, Bojan Bogdonavic crushed the Rockets hopes at the buzzer with a deep dagger from distance. A victory for Houston, and they win the tiebreaker with Utah, and take the four seed for the moment. A loss, and the Rockets fall back to 2 games behind the Jazz, and would lose any potential tiebreaker. The Clippers and Nuggets also lost recently. Houston can really make a move in the standings with a win tonight. It would put them within one game of the three seed, and only two games of the second spot. A loss tonight, and the Rockets are still two games out of the fourth spot, which the Jazz would hold onto.

The biggest game of the year snuck up on the Rockets. But they’re ready to avenge their heartbreaking loss at the buzzer the last time these teams met. All of a sudden, after seemingly being five games out of the second spot only games ago, Houston has a chance to cement their status in the four spot, and inch closer to second with a win tonight. The task at hand for this Rockets team won’t be easy, but they’ve arrived at a time when this units ready to conquer the challenge. Vivint Smart Home Arena is the NBA’s version of Death Valley, loud, and hard to come away with victories. Communication on defense is the key tonight. Holding Utah shooter’s off of their games (Bogdanovic, Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, Mike Conley, Royce O’Neal, Jordan Clarkson) is important for the Rockets to squeak out a win tonight. Not all of these players will have off-nights, but if Houston can rotate, switch, contest, at least make things difficult.. they’ll have a chance. Lucky for the Rockets, the Jazz played last night, being upset by the Spurs in Utah. Houston needs to pounce on the Jazz early and hopefully Utah eventually exhibits tired legs. Still coming off a long break, Utah won’t be that tired, and they’ll have their home crowd booming behind them. The Rockets need to use language on defense to hold their squad together, in order to escape this conflict in Salt Lake with a victory.

 

Vivint Smart Home Arena:  Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (35-20):  Red

Utah Jazz (36-19):  White

 

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

Firing on All Cylinders, Rockets Wallop Warriors, 135-105

Beautiful Execution.    Perfect Fit.    Tune-Up.

“You know, sometimes I amaze even myself,” Han Solo reveals in the Star Wars film, A New Hope. It may have been against the NBA’s worst team, but the Rockets finally did what they were supposed to do, and earned a much-needed blowout victory over the Warriors, 135-105, on Thursday night. In the first game back after the All-Star break, when most players are shaking off rust from the season’s longest break, a 30-point road victory is at least a tad amazing. At least to myself. The fact Houston showed little rust, and finally avoided any major letdowns throughout the game revealed this team just might have its mindset focused on the stretch run. James Harden led the way for the Rockets with 29 points and 10 assists, but Houston contributions from many parties, with 12 players seeing court time for coach Mike D’Antoni. Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points and 10 assists, but was ejected in the fourth quarter, after receiving his second tech of the night. As Houston moves forward in the season, Brodie has to be careful. Westbrook now has 13 technical fouls on the season. Only three tech’s away from 16, the amount that gets a player fined and a one-game suspension. There’s only two more back-to-backs this season for Houston. The Rockets are a completely different team without Brodie, and can’t afford to lose Russ beyond his resting on the remaining back-to-backs.

I can’t remember a player fitting in as seamlessly and quickly on a new team as Robert Covington. RoCo continues to be sensational starting for the Rockets. Covington scored 20 points, hit 5-of-10 three’s, and had 4 blocked shots for good measure. The combination of P.J. Tucker and RoCo creates havoc for opposing offenses. Since Covington’s arrival in Houston, it’s this dynamic defensive duo that’s most responsible for the Rockets forcing the most turnovers in the NBA, by a wide margin. It was hard to see Clint Capela leave, but it turns out it was the right move. Houston’s a visceral beast with Covington in exchange of Capela. And the new pieces they added could make them even more ferocious.

The only player that comes to mind when I think of RoCo’s debut, is Jeff Green, who had his Rockets debut, along with DeMarre Carroll, on Thursday night. Carroll only played 13 minutes, scoring 2 points on a pair of free throws. It was Green who made the night his own. Green saw 24 minutes of action, registering 17 points, including 4-of-5 from long range, and grabbed four boards. After this performance, unless Green falls under a rock, expect Houston to extend his 10-day contract when it expires, and sign him for the rest of the season. Jeff Green’s length is a vital component to the Rockets’ defense, who’s small-ball, switch-heavy style can use as much length as possible. If Houston doesn’t decide to keep Green, I’ll be shocked. What won’t be shocking, is a loss in the Rockets’ next game. The first game after the break in the Bay was just a tune-up for Saturday night’s showdown.

Up next, the squad heads to Salt Lake City to battle the Jazz. Utah’s fans are loud, obnoxious, and give the Jazz a true home-court advantage. This is the best Utah team since the days of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Yes, they’re that good. Combine that with the altitude, and Salt Lake City is the toughest place to play in the league this year. But they’re beatable. Houston already won earlier this season in Utah. And that was without Harden and Westbrook. The date was also much closer to the tragedy in Los Angeles, and teams were still visibly shook. On Saturday, expect to see the Jazz that shocked the Rockets at the buzzer the last time Houston faced Utah. Houston will need raise their intensity level against the Jazz, or they’ll be tuned out. But as the Rockets showed on Thursday… sometimes they even amaze themselves.

Rockets Seek Redemption, Battle Warriors in First Game After Break

Back in Action.    Stretch Run.    Final Pieces.

“You’re really lucky you know that? You didn’t have to wait your whole life to do something special,” Walter White tells Jesse in the Breaking Bad movie, El Camino. And after a special break that featured one of the more memorable All-Star games in recent history, the Rockets make their way to the Bay Area, continuing their journey towards accomplishing something truly special. Houston takes on Golden State as the Rockets try to avenge their Christmas-Day loss, which also took place in San Francisco. The Warriors still have the the worst record in the NBA, but they’ve added a new piece since the last time they faced Houston: Andrew Wiggins. Golden State’s newest star has been stellar since joining the Warriors. The former number one overall pick will be the focus of the Rockets’ defense tonight. Regardless, Wiggins is a player with All-Star potential who hasn’t performed at a high level on consistent basis. Meanwhile, Houston has two superstars, both in their primes, with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. On any given night, either one, or both, of the Rockets All-Stars could catch fire.

The Beard and Brodie both participated in the All-Star game in Chicago, with Harden’s stellar defense late in a hotly-contested fourth quarter helping Team LeBron secure the victory over Team Giannis. Despite this, when asked about strategy after the game, the Greek Freak said he was just trying to pass the ball to whoever Harden was guarding. Turns out, Giannis’ strategy failed. And in the process, over an All-Star break where the league was celebrated, including tributes to Kobe Bryant and David Stern, and where players met for the world’s greatest pickup game… James Harden may have gotten all the motivation he needs.

I don’t know what it is about Harden that provoked Giannis to throw unnecessary shade at the Beard in his comments post All-Star game. The Greek Freak, up until this point, was considered one of the classiest players in the NBA. Harden doesn’t even say much… his game does all the talking. And ignorant people can’t stand it, while players try and mask their fear (Giannis’ strategy to target Harden on defense truly failed) of the Beard. You’re not going to change James. But, you might motivate him, and this diss, in front of a worldwide audience… is about as big as it gets. If you think Harden isn’t motivated by these words, you don’t know The Beard. Expect James and Russ to lead the Rockets past the Warriors on Thursday night as the NBA season resumes action. Both squads will be shaking the rust off, but Houston’s superiorly talented, and should be primed to avenge their loss to Golden State earlier this season, on Christmas in the Bay. The Rockets also added some new pieces to their ship over the break. Houston added two players off the buyout market on Monday: DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Green. Both are 33-year old veterans who are solid defenders with versatile skill-sets. Green’s contract is a 10-day, but expect the Rockets to sign him for the rest of the season once that expires. These seasoned vets should be perfect additions to a Houston team fully-committed to small ball. Both players are 6’8, and will likely be the tallest Rockets on the court when they’re on the floor. Carroll and Green can both hit the three and take pride in their defense, the main reasons Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey signed them. Their availability isn’t clear yet for tonight’s contest, but both guys should be cleared to play in Houston’s next game, a much tougher affair on Saturday night in Utah. These could be the final pieces for the Rockets to reach the Finals in the Harden era. If Houston can stay healthy, these moves increase their chances at a title.

Thursday night’s game is vastly important if the Rockets want to keep ground in the standings. Houston wants to start the starch run towards the playoffs on a positive note. And with a date in the toughest place to play in basketball, Salt Lake City, looming on Saturday night, Houston needs to end their trend of falling to losing teams. There’s no excuses anymore for this Rockets team. Eric Gordon is questionable tonight with a shin bruise, but Houston has more than enough, whether EG plays or not, to batter the Warriors. Mike D’Antoni is still tinkering with his starting lineup, as the coach recently said he’s not sure who’ll get that fifth spot, Eric Gordon or Danuel House Jr. Splash Gordon’s a better fit leading the bench unit, and House is more at home with the starters. EG’s been one of the NBA’s best sixth men for years. And more importantly, House is sneakily having one of the best seasons in the league among role players. The Rockets are 26-11 when House starts, and only 8-9 when he comes off the bench. Therefore, the easy answer for D’Antoni should be Danuel House. Don’t expect to see much defense tonight. Houston will be rusty like all teams, after having 8 days off. The Warriors small-ball lineup will defend the Rockets better than expected, but look for Houston to eventually pull away, and win an easy one in the Bay. It’s time Harden, Russ, and the squad started punishing the league’s inferior teams. The Rockets have no more time to toy around with their opponents. Houston is lucky enough to be one of the few, true contenders for this year’s NBA Championship. But failing to capitalize on matchups like tonight’s will cost the team a shot at the title. It’s a nasty habit the Rockets have failed to kick all season. A victory in convincing fashion would be more than a win. This Houston squad’s innate desire to play down to their opponent’s level is the most frustrating aspect of the Rockets. They’ve had eight days off. Plenty of time to rest and recover, and the squad’s added a pair of new tools to the roster. It’s time for Houston to end their trend of losing to the worst. And bursting out of the All-Star break with a blowout win over the hated-Warriors… would be a step towards something special.

    

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (34-20):  Red

Golden State Warriors (12-43):  White

 

TV:  9:30 PM CT – TNT

Harden & Russ Power Rockets Past Celtics, 116-105

Dynamic Duos.    Forcing a Turn.    Break Time.

“We ride together, we die together, bad boys for life.” An oft-repeated phrase in the Bad Boys film franchise. One that’s been lingering in my head since the Rockets went all-in on the small-ball scheme. On Tuesday night, Houston made sure any bad memories from the previous loss didn’t linger, closing out the Celtics with an impressive 116-105 win on Tuesday night. This was how it was supposed to look… all along. James Harden and Russell Westbrook ruthlessly dominating opponents night-in, night-out. But, it hasn’t been that easy, and Harden and Russ have rarely shared the spotlight. It usually flickers from man to the other, with the Beard or Brodie shining, while the other struggles. However on Tuesday, the NBA’s best duo shared the spotlight with a pair of spectacular performances.

Harden finished with 42 points, 8 boards, and 7 assists. Russ continued his tear of MVP-level play, scoring 36 points to go along with 10 rebound and 5 dimes. When Harden and Russ are both playing to their potential, the Rockets are essentially unbeatable. If you think Houston’s backcourt is their only dynamic duo, you’re not watching closely enough. Robert Covington’s arrival has been in sync with the entire Rockets team, but most specifically P.J. Tucker. There tenacious combination on defense has been as much to marvel at as Houston’s All-Stars’ offensive heroics.

Since trading for Covington, the Rockets have forced the most turnovers in the NBA, and it’s not even close. Houston leads there list with 73 forced since RoCo’s arrival. The Sixers are second, with 55 forced turnovers. Houston’s stepped up their defensive intensity as they’ve gone small. And the numbers only back this up.

Houston now heads into the All-Star break. All-Stars Harden and Westbrook will head to Chicago to participate in the All-Star game, while others like P.J. Tucker, rest and recover for the NBA’s stretch run. 10 of the Rockets first 1t5 games out of the break are against teams with losing records. Houston needs to be ready to blast off starting the 20th in San Francisco, with a matchup against the Warriors, and a chance to redeem their disappointing Christmas loss. The Rockets need to channel the fire they bring against contenders and use it against every team the rest of the way. Houston is currently in the fifth spot, but only sit 3 games out of second. It’s achievable, the first seed still isn’t out of the question completely. The Rockets will need to go on a complete tear to make that a reality. A reality that won’t be going away any time soon with this team. Win or lose, with this Houston team… it’s small ball for life.

Houston Aims to Stop Boston’s Streak, Rockets Battle Celtics in Final Game Before Break

Key Communication.    Rollin’ C’s.    Streak-Enders.

The Rockets play their final game before the All-Star break on Tuesday night, as they host the streaking Boston Celtics. Houston is coming off a heartbreaking loss at the buzzer to Utah, at Toyota Center. Tonight, the squad will attempt to rid the sour taste that loss left with a victory over a very good Celtics team. Since dropping three straight games in the middle of January, Boston has been on a tear. Coming into Houston for tonight’s showdown, the Celtics are riding a 7-game winning streak, and have victories in 10 of their last 11 games. The Rockets are looking to avoid their own three game losing streak. Eric Gordon remains out for Houston, but if the Rockets play up to their potential, they should win tonight without EG. However, it won’t be easy. The Celtics close out their pre-All-Star break schedule with a date with the Clippers. They’re playing well in the midst of a tough stretch, with a sense of urgency. It’s something Houston could learn a thing or two from. Tuesday night gives the Rockets a chance to show the national audience they can still beat great teams when playing with focus and heart from start to finish.

Boston’s Kemba Walker, who they traded for Kyrie Irving in the offseason, along with Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward, are the Celtics biggest threats. But this is one of the deeper teams in the league, especially on the perimeter. The C’s also have Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, defensive forces whose offensive games are less consistent. Boston also picked up the NBA’s most underrated offensive rebounder, in Enes Kanter. Look for Kanter to pose huge problems for the Rockets in the post. Kanter’s one of the few bigs left in the league with a solid post-up game. Expect Boston to look for mismatches Kanter exploits when he’s on the floor. Houston needs to be ready to double, and box out Kanter when he crashes the glass. Daniel Theis has emerged as a reliable starter for the Celtics this season, and has more of a traditional outside game seen in today’s NBA.

  Basically, the Rockets have their hands full tonight. Boston has plenty of players with strong driving ability. Containing the drive was Houston’s biggest weakness in their previous loss to Utah. Eric Gordon won’t be coming back tonight, so other guys will have to step up for the Rockets. It’s Ben McLemore’s birthday today, and Houston’s going to need a big night from Benny Mac if they want to top the Celtics. Hopefully, the birthday boy has some luck he can bring to the squad that’s stronger than the Irish.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Boston Celtics (37-15):  Green

Houston Rockets (33-20):  Black

 

TV:  8:30 PM CT – TNT,  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Heartbreak Houston Part Deux: Jazz Stun Rockets at the Buzzer, 114-113

‘Viched.    Crush City.    Relauch.

 

In a stunner, the Rockets lost at the buzzer for the second time at home this season, falling to the Jazz, 114-113 on Sunday night. It’s also the second time this season Houston’s had a 2-point lead with under 2 seconds remaining in a game, and lost. The Rockets failure to deny a perimeter shot at all costs, cost them a game again. This time, it was Bojan Bogdanovic who delivered the final dagger for Utah. Houston actually defended the final play well, with P.J. Tucker and James Harden contesting the shot. Nonetheless, Bojan knocked down the tough shot, and the Rockets got ‘viched at the buzzer. Harden had a triple-double with 28 points, 10 boards , and 10 assists. Westbrook continues to be the Rockets best player, tallying 39 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 dimes, but none of it matters. Houston has to learn how to close out teams. It’s a trait all championship contenders possess, and one the Rockets currently lack. Houston had a chance to extinguish  Utah’s chances earlier in the game, but let the Jazz hang around until it was too late.

After Sunday’s loss to the Jazz, this season has felt more and more like the year of crushing defeats. Houston seems to lose in heartbreaking fashion, or to the league’s bottom-feeders. It’s been a tough season, but there’s still 29 games to go, with one more remaining before the All-Star break. The Rockets close out the break against another tough opponent, the Boston Celtics, on  Tuesday night at Toyota Center.

Houston needs a relaunch after Sunday’s stunner. Eric Gordon didn’t play, and he’ll remain out until after the All-Star break. EG’s absence was sorley felt on Sunday. The Jazz got layups with ease as the Rockets’ perimeter defense suffered without Splash Gordon in the lineup. EG won’t be around to help Houston against Boston. The Rockets will need to prepare to get up-and-down with a versatile and deep Celtics team. If Houston gets the chance, they need to close the C’s out early, otherwise a stunner at the buzzer could potentially loom… they say bad things come in three’s.

 

 

Rockets Host Jazz in Crucial Conference Showdown

Different Tune.    Reality Check.    Upper Hand.

Tonight, the Rockets will get Russell Westbrook back as they’ll try and skip ahead of the Jazz in the standings with a win over their conference rival. This game sings a different tune from when the last time these squads faced off. Back in Utah, Houston was minus Harden and Westbrook, and the Jazz were the one’s rolling, with the Rockets looking for a boost. This time, it’s a different story. Utah escaped their last match over Portland courtesy of a terrible call late that basically cost the Blazers the game, and gave the Jazz a victory that broke their 5-game losing-streak. A slide that began with Houston’s victory in Salt Lake City last week. The embarassing loss in Phoenix broke a 4-game winning streak for the Rockets, who’ve been rolling with Westbrook on the court.

After an impressive win over the Lakers, followed by a disappointing loss in Phoenix without Russell Westbrook, tonight presents a reality check for the new-look mini-Rockets. They’re back at full strength, hosting a Western Conference playoff team. Sunday night’s game will test the power of Houston’s small-ball strategy. The Jazz have the best shot-blocker in basketball, Rudy Gobert, who will pose problems on the defensive end for Brodie and other Rockets who drive to the rim. Houston needs to knock down their shots tonight in order to secure the win. Look for Utah’s streaky shooter from Australia, Joe Ingles, to be the key to tonight’s match. When Ingles plays well against the Rockets, it usually means problems for Houston. But when the Aussie is kept in check, the Rockets usually handle the Jazz. Houston has to keep their eye on Ingles at all times, and can’t afford to leave him open. Mike Conley has slowly made a return to form over his last three games. Utah’s point guard could be in for a sneaky effective night if the Rockets are off their guard. And then, there’s of course Donovan MItchell. The first-time All-Star is one of the league’s best young scorers, and along with another new All-Star, Rudy Gobert, pose a dual inside-outside threat to Houston’s defense.

Whoever comes away with the victory in Sunday’s matchup gets the upper hand in the standings, at least for now. Utah (33-18) is currently a half-game up on the Rockets (33-19) in the standings. It’s a big game as Houston looks to close out their pre-All-Star break portion of the season with two big wins at home. After Sunday, the Celtics come to town for the final game before the break on Tuesday. Westbrook will be back for both games. Starting Sunday, hopefully the entire team returns to feeding off Brodie’s energy on the court.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Utah Jazz (33-18):  Blue

Houston Rockets (33-19):  Red

 

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Suns Extinguish Brodie-Less Rockets, 127-91

Heavily Handicapped.    Needing Big Help.    Westbrook’s Team?

“Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” Clarence asks in the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. Something I asked myself after witnessing another hopeless Rockets team minus Westbrook. Just the night earlier, it was a wonderful life for these Rockets, but it’s crazy the impact one player’s absence can have on a team. Houston just isn’t the same team without Russell Westbrook. And his absence was sorely felt, as the Rockets got torched by the Suns, 127-91, for an embarrassing loss. Houston trailed by as many as 22 in the first quarter, cut the deficit to 5 shortly before halftime, but the Rockets couldn’t withstand Phoenix’s hot shooting, and ended up getting blow out by the Suns. The 91 points are a season-low for Houston this season. After outscoring the Suns 29-19 in the second quarter to get back in the game, the Rockets only managed 36 points in the second half, hence the blowout.

This game was evident that when Brodie doesn’t play, Houston needs help in the size area. Harden isn’t as much of an attacking-force as Westbrook. Come playoff time, the Rockets need a big body to put on the floor, at times in certain situations, when the game slows down. Hopefully they find a diamond in the rough in the buyout market. There are several options out there, but they need to act. The Bucks just got Marvin Williams. No big-names remain, but that’s irrelevant. Houston just needs a big body.

After Friday night’s burnout in Phoenix, nearly half of Houston’s losses have come to teams with losing records. Thankfully, there will be no inferior competition in the postseason. What the squad’s doing now just hurts their playoff seeding in the future. Luckily for the Rockets, there’s no back-to-back games in the playoffs. So, Westbrook will play every game unless he’s injured. Which begs the question, since he’s needed so much… is this Westbrook’s team? It doesn’t matter, as long as the squad’s truly focused on winning the title. But for now, the way this squad goes is trending in Brodie’s direction. When he sits out on one of those back-to-backs, like he did in Phoenix, Russ sure leaves an awful hole… one the Rockets have trouble filling.

Rockets Land in the Desert for Meeting with Suns

Overnight Trap.    Attacking Ayton.    Harden’s Way. 

A new age in Rockets basketball continues on Saturday night as Houston takes on the Suns in Phoenix. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the squad. The Rockets are coming off an impressive win over the Lakers, but can’t get too full of themselves. The Suns are 20-31, and on the outside of the playoff picture. And they’re just the type of team, especially on the second night of back-to-back for Houston, who could give the Rockets trouble. The Suns are the worst team Houston will play before the All-Star break. Afer tonight’s game, the Rockets return home for tough games against Utah and Boston, but can’t afford to overlook these Suns. Houston will be without Russell Westbrook tonight, as he rests on the second night of this back-to-back. That means James Harden will be given the green light to facilitate all offensive necessities. Look for the Beard to have a big night with Brodie on the sidelines. If the Rockets come into Phoenix with a lackluster attitude, Houston will lose tonight without Westbrook. The Rockets need to carry that passion and energy that was on display in L.A. into the valley of the sun.

The biggest threat to Houston tonight is Phoenix’s DeAndre Ayton. In his second season, after missing the first 25 games of the season due to suspension, Ayton is blossoming into a productive player. He will be licking his chomps at the Pocket Rockets. Houston needs ti attack Ayton, and get the big-man in foul trouble. Devin Booker, the Suns All-Star who was almost-was, is just as good, or better, than many All-Stars. Booker is a scoring machine who has the ability to go-off any night. His career high in an NBA game is 70 points. No one’s topped that mark since.

The Rockets will look to go the route of the Beard on Saturday night against the Suns. Harden only took 10 shots last night, so expect James to be trigger-happy tonight in Phoenix. Robert Covington gets his second go-round with the squad. It’ll be tough to top his sensational debut, which was about as perfect as Rockets fans could’ve hoped for. Hopefully, RoCo and the mini-Rockets continue to play with the passion and energy this style requires for success. Without Brodie, everyone’s going to get more chance to shine.

 

Talking Stick Resort Arena:  Phoenix, Arizona

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (33-18):  White

Phoenix Suns (20-31):  Orange

 

TV:  8 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

It’s a Small World After All:  Pocket Rockets Stun Lakers, 121-111

Rockets in Space.    Sensational Debut.    Game-Changers.

“Sometimes it’s important to give people the illusion of being in control.” Dr. Melfi says in the epic TV-saga, The Sopranos. In Los Angeles, that’s exactly what the Rockets did coming into their big matchup with the West’s top-seeded Lakers. Heading into Thursday night’s showdown in L.A., everyone was laughing at Houston’s decision to permanently go the way of small-ball. The jokes didn’t stop. A nationally televised game on TNT, the crew had their fare share of laughs throughout the pre-game and halftime show about Houston’s lack of height. But by the time the buzzer sounded on Thursday night it was the Rockets who had the last laugh, shocking the Lakers at Staples Center, 121-111. In a tightly contested matchup, Houston closed the game on a 19-5 run to take control, and pull ahead for the victory. Russell Westbrook, who continues to play on an MVP-caliber level, was unleashed against the Lakers. No Clint Capela means way more space for Brodie. Russ attacked the basket relentlessly and led the way for Houston, finishing with 41 points, on an insanely efficient 17-for-28 shooting. Not even Anthony Davis’ height could affect Westbrook’s shot, who was 6-for-8 on midrange attempts while defended by the Brow. Brodie also grabbed 8 boards and dished out 5 assists, as at least for one game, the trade has proven to be a marvel for the Rockets, especially Westbrook. James Harden had a quiet night, if you only look at the box score. The Beard’s quietly stepped back, and allowed this basketball evolution to take place. He’s slowly stepped back, and allowed the potent tandem of Brodie and Benny Mac to take the forefront during their current winning streak. Harden attempted only 10 shots against the Lakers, making 3 of them for 14 points. But the Beard also had 7 boards and 7 assists, and continues to lead by example on the court. If Harden isn’t buying into small-ball, none of the Rockets will. And so far, the Beard is all-in on Houston’s micro-ball style. It may mean less touches for Harden. Westbrook is a better pure driver to the basket, and will benefit the most from Clint Capela’s departure. It doesn’t matter to the Beard if it means more wins, and a chance at the ultimate goal in June. 

Robert Covington was sensational in his debut. The newest Rocket played like he’s been here all season long. RoCo fit into Houston’s style seamlessly, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting, along with solid defense. More importantly, he was efficient from deep, going 4-for-6 from downtown, including two clutch three’s late in the game. RoCo also had 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, most notably a late swat on Anthony Davis in Houston’s biggest defensive play of the night. RoCo also finished with the team’s highest plus/minus, with Houston outscoring L.A. by 16 with Covington on the court in 29 minutes of action. Speaking of defense, the Rockets thrill and joy to buy-in to this style on offense seeped into the other end of the floor. Houston’s defense was actively engaged and inspired. These guys love playing this way, and it’s beautiful to watch. They surrendered only 11 second-chance points, and were out-rebounded by only 1 board all night. Those were supposed to be the weak areas for this mini-Rockets team. But Houston put so much effort into their style, you can tell they really want to make it work. As a fan, you can’t help but love the Rockets’ energy and passion. If this scheme is going to continue to work, the passion for the style can never fade.

Slowly but surely… this Rockets team has become, and has the potential to truly be a group of game-changers. Everyone who played for Houston in their win over the Lakers was 6’7 or shorter. The last time that happened before these Rockets? More than 50 years ago, back in 1963. Everyone’s asking the question: is this micro-ball style sustainable? Well, Houston doesn’t have a choice but to go small. It’s honestly their best chance at winning the championship in today’s modern NBA. The center position is truly dead, as witnessed by Detroit’s dumping of the NBA’s top-rebounder, Andre Drummond, to Cleveland, of all places. GM’s in the league nowadays truly believe that big men who can’t shoot with range have no place on Championship teams. Houston is now 5-0 since they’ve gone with this micro-ball style. A small sample size, or something more? As more games come, we’ll know how effective and potent this style can become. You don’t have to wait long for the next game. Houston travels to Phoenix for the second night of a back-to-back. They’ll have a big test in the Suns’ DeAndre Ayton, one of the best young big men in the league, who’s finally blossoming into a promising player in his second season. The Rockets have to keep that passion and energy for playing small and fast. Size doesn’t matter. But continue to let everyone think it does… sometimes it’s important to give people the illusion of being in control.