Author: admin

Rockets Host Pelicans as AD Trade Rumors Swirl

Raising a Brow.    4 For 4.    Preparation Game.

 

What sounds like a crisis for one team, could potentially end up being a crisis for the NBA’s elite.  The best big man in the league has become a crisis for the Pelicans, and has asked to be traded.  It’s understandable.  The Pelicans haven’t won a playoff series since drafting Anthony Davis aka “the Brow”, and 20 other franchises have won more games than New Orleans since Davis joined the team.  It’s not the Brow’s fault, of course.  Davis has been the best big man in the entire NBA for a few seasons now.  New Orleans just hasn’t been able to put a competent, winning squad around their superstar.  After a while, you get sick of all the losing.  When you’re as talented as Anthony Davis, it’s understandable he would desire winning more than anything, as the Brow finally matures into his prime. AD isn’t winning anything in New Orleans anytime soon.  The Pelicans can’t attract talent to their team, and Davis senses it’s time to go if he wants to really contend for a Championship.  Only problem for the Rockets and the NBA’s elite, wherever the Brow lands, that team immediately becomes a contender.  Most likely destinations for Davis are the Lakers or Celtics, with L.A. rumored to be the spot, as Davis and LeBron James share the same agent, Rich Paul.  If they team up, that’s a scary proposition for the rest of the League.  The Brow is the best big man in the NBA, and it’s not even close.  And LeBron James is LeBron James.  That power one-two punch would propel the Lakers immediately into the contender conversation.  But we’ll worry about that if, and when it happens.  The Rockets are rounding into form and can beat any “super team” when healthy, their problem (besides health) has been playing down to their competition, which they will look to avoid as against a Davis-less Pelicans team.

Tonight, the Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans as they are dealing with all the rumors surrounding the Brow.  Davis hasn’t played in 4 games due to injury and this will be his 5^th straight missed contest.  Houston needs to take advantage and beat a New Orleans squad with less talent.  The Rockets have a nasty tendency to fall behind early (see last game), especially against weaker competition.  The Pelicans are an opponent the Rockets should beat, especially without the Brow.  No excuses for Houston in this game, but they shouldn’t have much trouble with the Pelicans.  Kenneth Faried has been playing with excellent energy since he joined the squad last Monday, and is developing chemistry with James Harden and Chris Paul quickly.  Houston is 3-1 since the Manimal came to town.  Look for the Rockets to get their 4^th straight win tonight, and hand the Pelicans their 4^th straight loss.  The two clubs are headed in opposite directions, with the Rockets soaring back up, and the Pelicans, in the midst of a crisis, falling farther down the standings.

Harden will try and make it an improbable 24 straight games with 30 points, which is actually very probable of happening tonight.  The Rockets will try and put the Pelicans away early, and get minutes for the entire squad, and rest for the starters.  This is a preparation game for the Rockets as they face one of their more difficult back-backs of the entire season this weekend.  Houston heads to Denver and red-hot Utah this upcoming weekend in what will be a treacherous, and testing back-to-back games against playoff competition in the altitude.  The Rockets want to make sure they get a victory tonight to keep their spot in the standings before heading off on a tough road trip.  If the Rockets play up to their potential, they should make it 4 in a row tonight with a (hopefully) comfortable win over the Pelicans at home.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

New Orleans Pelicans (22-28):  Red

Houston Rockets (29-20):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – TNT & ATT SportsNet SW

Harden Uninterrupted as CP3 Returns, Rockets Rally to Dispel Magic, 103-98

Wild Bunch.   The Manimal Renaissance.   Misconceptions.  

“Well, me and the boys here, we got some work to do.  You wanna come along? It ain’t like it used to be, but, uh, it’ll do”, the final line from Sam Peckinpah’s epic Western film, The Wild Bunch, resonates now more than ever this season for Houston.  This Rockets team is also a wild bunch, in a season full of wild bunches.  Houston’s been through 3 seasons of ups and downs mashed up into a little over half a season.  They finally got Chris Paul back on Sunday night, and while he’ll never be the same player he once was in L.A. and New Orleans, it was good to see Paul back in a Rockets jersey.  Paul’s return only had a positive effect on Houston and Harden’s streak.  The Beard didn’t score 30.  He had 40, and the Rockets rallied from 16 down to beat the Magic, 103-98, in Houston on Sunday night.  This contest featured another close matchup in what has slowly become a stretch of nail-biters for the Rockets.  Chris Paul made some key plays down the stretch, including finding Harden for the go-ahead bucket late in the game.  The Point God finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 dimes, in 25 minutes of action in his first game back since his latest injury.  Many expected Harden’s scoring to go down with the return of Chris Paul.  However, many don’t realize the positive effect CP3 has on the Beard’s game.  Paul only makes life easier for Harden, as CP3 forces the defense to pay attention to more than just the Beard.  Harden’s tenacity and aggressiveness this season, that all started on December 13^th (with CP3 in the lineup), isn’t going away.  No matter who’s on the court by his side.  CP3’s return gives the Rockets two magicians, and while he may be the older/wiser one, Paul still brings plenty of talent to the table.  Houston is lucky their other magician is at the peak of his powers, and doesn’t look to be slowing down.  The combo still gives the Rockets the best backcourt in the NBA, and when healthy, along with Clint Capela, they’re unstoppable, as they proved last season.  It just took a while to get the supporting cast into their respective roles.

Kenneth Faried continued enjoying his career-renassaince in Houston.  The Manimal finished with another double-double, posting 12 points and 10 boards.  More importantly, his energy has been absolutely vital.  Faried contested 15 shots in the game for Houston, tops on the team, including 9 from beyond the arc, also the most.  It seemed to take Faried and Paul only a quarter to develop some chemistry, as the two worked great together on the floor.  The Manimal and the Beard also continue to be on the same page. Faried’s career is truly being revived in Houston, as his spot on the team is an inseparable marriage.  The newest Rocket is more skilled at switching on defense than Clint, due to his smaller size, although Capela is the better defender overall.  Faried, like Capela, is a fast learner.  The Manimal held Nikola Vucevic to 0/5 from the field in the 2^nd half, after the Magic center went off for 17 points on 8/14 shooting in the first half.  Faried also posted a plus/minus of +13 in the 4^th quarter, highest on the squad in a close, contested final frame.  Faried’s presence only gives Houston more versatility and depth on both ends of the floor.  The Rockets needed someone who could finish around the hoop, after it seemed like the team missed 10,000 layups over the first half of the season.  Faried isn’t shy about throwing the ball down with authority, and will only set the example of how to finish around the basket for other Houston big men.  The Manimal has also proven to be a huge crowd engager in his first 2 home games, as he’s slowly becoming a fan favorite in Houston.  Daryl Morey has found another diamond in the rough.  Faried previously had found himself relegated to a minor role on a bad Brooklyn team.  However, the Manimal is a perfect fit in Houston.  Similar to Gerald Green, Austin Rivers, and the sorely missed Danuel House, Faried is another role player who fits perfectly in the D’Antoni system.

The biggest misconception in not only the NBA, but in all of professional sports, is that James Harden doesn’t play defense.  They said he doesn’t play defense. Well, they were wrong.  The Beard has been playing the best defense of his career this season.  Defense has always been an aspect of Harden’s game that gets overlooked due to his offensive onslaught on opposing defenders, which has now become (literally) a nightly tradition.  Sunday against Orlando, Harden held his own on switches against Magic big men Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, rarely allowing the two to take advantage of the size mismatch.  His post defense has always been the best part of Harden’s game on that end of the floor, but now the Beard is better than ever at defending on the perimeter.  In the last three games (all close Houston victories) Harden has made the key defensive stop to seal the victory at the end of each contest.  In New York, he had the steal and dunk to secure the win. Against Toronto, the Beard made sure Kawhi Leonard saw nothing but Beard when throwing up an airball to help seal a Rockets win.  On Sunday against Orlando, Harden blocked a layup from Evan Fournier that sealed another victory for Houston.  It doesn’t matter what they say.  Harden plays defense every night.  Most people just don’t bother to look.  Chris Paul notices.  With 1:20 left in the game, the Point God noticed something else (a lazy Fournier) as he insisted the Beard inbounds the ball (this never happens).  A few seconds later, Harden rolled around a double-screen initiated by Paul, and ended with Faried handing the Beard the ball for an open go-ahead three-pointer.  It’s this awareness on the mental level that Chris Paul possesses that will never go away.  Harden finally started to feed off Paul’s awareness this season, igniting his own mental resurgence that sparked his current 30-point game streak.  Houston’s a much different group since the last time Paul was on the court, and the Point God will never be quicker and sturdier akin to his younger days.  But, the Rockets still have a lot of work to do to accomplish their goal of winning a title.  And this version of Chris Paul ain’t like it used to be, but it’ll do.

CP3 Returns, Rockets Hope to Magically Stay Healthy, Seek Revenge Against Orlando

The Point God is Back.   Manimal Magic.   23 for 30?

 

         After a 17-game absence due to injury, Chris Paul finally makes his return to the lineup on Sunday night as the Rockets host the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center.  Houston looks to get vengeance on a Magic team that handed the Rockets a loss in Orlando a few weeks ago.  The loss was another Houston collapse, as the Rockets led for most of the game, but fell apart in the end, and lost Clint Capela to injury as well.  Since that victory for Orlando, the Magic have dropped 5 of their last 6 games, the lone win coming against the Hawks, one of the league’s bottom-feeders.  Houston should have no problem with the Magic this time around.  Hopefully the Rockets learned their lesson last time the teams met, and won’t play down to their competition on Sunday.  Tonight’s matchup gives Houston another favorable chance to move up in the standings.  The Rockets need to take advantage when the schedule permits they face a weaker team.  The squad has a tough back-to-back next weekend, and Houston can’t afford to drop any more games they’re expected to win.

Kenneth Faried will look to continue to make his presence felt in the paint.  He’ll be battling Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, one of the league’s better frontcourt tandems, for rebounds and more.  That Manimal Magic has worked for Houston thus far, as Faried has proved to be a perfect fit in D’Antoni’s system and yet another great, nationally unheralded in-season pick-up by Rockets GM Daryl Morey.  When Clint Capela returns the Manimal will still be a key piece of the Rockets rotation, only he’ll bolster the bench by coming in with the second unit.  Look for Faried to still see minutes with the first unit, and even alongside Capela when Houston faces bigger lineups down the road.

With the return of Chris Paul, many are wondering what effect it will have on Harden’s usage and 30-point streak.  Will he keep it up?  Does he need to?  The answers are simple.  No, he obviously doesn’t need to, and he probably will keep it up, but not for the rest of the season, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Harden topped 30 in every game from here on out.  The Beard has been that sensational.  Now that he’s got his backcourt running mate back, Harden won’t have to exert as much effort, and will likely see a slight decrease in minutes, as the Rockets don’t want the Beard to be burnt out come playoff time.  On Sunday, Houston looks to ease CP3 back into the lineup.  It will be great to see Paul on the floor again, but the last thing the Rockets need is their star point guard re-injuring himself after coming back from this injury.  CP3’s already returning sooner than I expected, the Rockets need to be extra cautious with the Point God, so they can have his services when they need them most, this June.  Look for the Rockets to beat the Magic tonight, although they may be a little rusty and rough around the edges as the squad adjusts to CP3’s return to the lineup.  Houston may get off to a slow start, but expect the Rockets to make the proper adjustments to blow by Orlando in the 2^nd half for their 3^rd win a row.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Orlando Magic (20-29):  Blue

Houston Rockets (28-20):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Unleash the Manimal, Hold Off Raptors, 121-119

Too Close For Comfort.   Harden Gets Help.   Starting Dominance.

That was close.  In a game the Rockets seemed to lead comfortably for most of the night, they allowed the final 9 points, with a shot from Kawhi Leonard being the potential difference-maker and game-winner, had it fallen.  Kawhi finished with 32 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists, but the biggest shot he took was off the mark.  Harden played great defense on the final possession and forced Leonard into an airball, as Houston held on for victory, 121-119, over Toronto on Friday night.  The near-collapse marred a nice overall game for the Rockets.  James Harden finally got a decent amount of help, and Houston led by as many as 21 at one point over one of the NBA’s best teams.  Coach D’Antoni and the Rockets need to sharpen their focus at the end of games as Houston has blown several large leads this season, along with several near-collapses similar to Friday’s game.  Nonetheless, the Rockets got a big win over the Raptors as Harden and company, despite being shorthanded, outplayed Leonard and Toronto overall.

Against the Raptors, James Harden extended his 30-game streak to 22 with 35 points, as he got plenty of help from teammates.  Eric Gordon had yet another solid game, as Harden’s right-hand man while Paul and Capela remain sidelined.  However, the biggest form of help came in the squad’s newest member.  Kenneth Faried aka the “Manimal” had his best game as a Rocket, finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.  The Manimal has quietly put together 3 consecutive efficient performances since joining the squad.  Faried’s scored in double figures in each of those games, while bringing some much-needed bounce and energy to a Houston squad tiring from the constant recklessness of the injury bug.  This was the Manimal’s best game yet, when the Rockets needed him most as he fought off countless Raptors to make sure his presence was felt in the paint on both ends of the court.  When Clint Capela comes back, the Rockets will have improved their frontcourt depth immensely contrary to the start of the season.

Houston’s starters dominated in the victory, scoring a whopping 111 of the team’s total 121 points.  Eric Gordon had 24 as he’s starting to round back into form as a key contributor.  P.J. Tucker had another solid offensive game, scoring 18, and Austin Rivers chipped in with 13 points.  James Ennis had only 5 points, but his presence was felt all night, as his hustle and energy led to 8 boards.  It was nice to see all the starters clicking, but Houston’s bench has been one of the worst in the NBA all season.  This is, in large part, due to all the injuries the team has suffered, but the Rockets gets a big piece of their puzzle back on Sunday against the Magic.  Chris Paul will be making his return from a hamstring injury after a 17-game absence.  Houston’s bench will be kick-started with the return of either Austin Rivers or Eric Gordon to the bench (likely Rivers).  Everyone is praying that Chris Paul will stay injury-free once he returns the lineup, and the Rockets can start to gel with their expected rotation, especially once Clint Capela returns, as they aim to make their push for playoff contention and one of the top seeds in the West.

 

Rockets Return Home to Face Their Toughest Challenge Yet

Quiet Man, Loud Game.    Interior Nightmare.   Can Harden Do It Again?

Houston has now split their last 11 games, and they look to buck that trend tonight with a victory, but it won’t be easy.  The Rockets return to Houston to face off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Toyota Center.  Toronto is a legitimate contender and in my opinion will represent the East in the Finals come June.  They’re one of the deepest teams in the league, and they have the best perimeter defender in the NBA, who’s also a lethal offensive player, in Kawhi Leonard.  Kawhi’s missed the previous 4 games, including resting on Tuesday to give him extra time to prepare for James Harden’s onslaught.  Leonard doesn’t say much, at least in the public eye.  However, his play on both ends of the court speaks volumes.  Houston’s problem is, Kawhi will be guarding James Harden for most of the night.  Leonard’s problem is, no one has stopped the Beard’s onslaught.  Fans are on in for a treat, as it will be one of the best individual matchups to watch all season.

Outside of the Harden/Leonard matchup lies the real problem for the Rockets in this game.  Toronto is deep, in size, and at every position.  Former Rocket and current Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry has gelled perfectly with new teammate Leonard.  Serge Ibaka is quietly having a career year, and Pascal Siakam will probably win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.  They pose an interior nightmare to a Capela-less Rockets squad whose thin frontcourt could be demolished in this game if Houston doesn’t play hard as a team.  Luckily for the Rockets, Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas is out with an injury, but Toronto will still pose nightmares all night long if Houston doesn’t come out focused from the start.  The Rockets needs everyone to crash the glass and rebound, as this will be a key factor that decides the contest.  This game exposes why Clint Capela is so important to Houston.  His absence will be sorely missed in this game, and Chris Paul isn’t playing either (rumored to return Sunday).  Houston has their hands full with the Raptors in town tonight.  The squad needs to help the Beard out, as this will be one of the toughest challenges the Rockets face while they’re still hobbled.

Coming off a career-high 61 points, can James Harden do it again?  Can the Beard put up another monstrous performance, while be guarded by the best defender in the entire league?  The Rockets are praying for another special episode of the Harden Show.  Houston will need it, along with performances from everyone on the team to win tonight’s game.  Harden and the Rockets can prove a lot with a victory tonight, but it’s going to be an uphill climb to get it done.  Houston can’t let their foot off the gas, and they can’t afford to fall behind early against a team like Toronto, or they could find themselves in a hole they can’t climb out.  Gerald Green and the bench need to bring the energy, and the Rockets need their shots to be falling if they want to beat one of the East’s beasts.

 

Toyota Center: Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Toronto Raptors (36-14): Black

Houston Rockets (27-20): “Earned” Crimson Red

 

TV: 7 PM CT – ESPN – ATT Sportsnet SW

Harden’s Garden: The Beard’s 61 Points Carry Rockets Past Knicks, 114-110

King of New York.   Splash Gordon Gets Déjà Vu.   Don’t Blink.

 

         “From now on, nothing goes down unless I’m involved”, Frank White claims, after the going gets rough, in the under-seen masterpiece, King of New York.  A crown James Harden can also claim, after roasting the Big Apple for 61 points and leading the Rockets to a 114-110 victory, over the woeful Knicks on Wednesday night.  The going got rough for Houston in a sloppy game at Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks grabbed momentum late, and almost spoiled another game for the Rockets.  This contest was sloppy, and Houston was barely able to escape New York with a victory.  Lucky for the Rockets, Harden owned the Garden.  The 61 points were a career-high for the Beard, who continues to set records, it seems, with each passing game.  Eric “Splash” Gordon saved the day again with a go-ahead three-pointer to give the Rockets the lead for good after they trailed 112-110 in the final minute.  Houston almost blew the contest on several occasions.  P.J. Tucker, in the most head-scratching play of the year, almost literally gave the game to the Knicks.  Tucker let an inbounds toss from Gordon just sit under the basket, until a Knick finally grabbed the ball for a lay-up.  The Knicks had a chance to win the game on the final possession, until Harden simply had enough, stole the ball for a signature dunk that gave him 61 points, and sealed the win for the Rockets.

Despite all the glory around Harden’s career-game, the reality is: since Houston couldn’t come to a contract agreement with Danuel House Jr., they’re two Eric Gordon clutch three-pointers from being 0-4 since departing with the undervalued glue-guy.  Beating the Knicks was supposed to happen for the Rockets, but they weren’t supposed to sweat the contest down the stretch.  Another game that was way too close for Houston, as all of their victories have been since House went back to the G-League.  Hopefully when Chris Paul returns, and eventually Clint Capela, these deficiencies left by House’s absence will be masked.  Otherwise the Rockets will be in trouble when they face elite competition. Splash Gordon has been a lifesaver, finishing with 20-points to go along with that clutch shot late in the game.  Kenneth Faried, in his 2^nd game as a Rocket, finished 3^rd on the team in scoring again, this time with 11 points and 8 rebounds in 26 minutes.  Faried has quietly been a pleasant addition to the roster, and will bolster the bench when the once the squad is at full-health.  Once Paul and Capela come back, Houston’s depth-chart will be maximized, along with any potential trades that may happen before the deadline.

Don’t blink.  You could miss a record-breaking moment from Harden, a game-saving three from Splash Gordon, or even an unexplainable brain-dead play from P.J. Tucker.  And in the blink of an eye, the Rockets go from facing the 2^nd, worst team in the East, to facing the 2^nd best, in the Toronto Raptors.  This will arguably be Houston’s toughest game thus far, with no Chris Paul and Clint Capela, going up against one of the league’s best teams.  Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard has missed the previous 4 games, including resting the last contest to prepare for Harden.  Leonard is one of the game’s best two-way players, with Toronto being one of the deepest teams in the NBA.  They will wreak havoc on the glass and cause a rebounding nightmare for Houston if everyone in red doesn’t crash the boards.  Chris Paul has been upgraded to questionable to play, but I think they will hold him out until Sunday for precautionary reasons.  Capela is certainly out, but one thing’s for sure…  Nothing’s going down unless Harden’s involved, and when the Beard’s playing, the Rockets always have a chance.

 

Harden Leads Rockets into NY, Take on Knicks at the Mecca of Basketball

The Beard’s Coming.   Laughingstock Garden.   Turn Things Around.  

 

“If you build it, he will come.”  An iconic quote from the sports movie Field of Dreams, that’s still considered one of the greatest movies lines to this day.  On Wednesday night, the Rockets ride into the NBA’s version of Field of Dreams, Madison Square Garden aka the Mecca of basketball.  Houston has their own icon playing at the top of his game in James Harden.  Expect something special from the Beard tonight, as the Knicks are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA and should pose no threat to Harden’s dynamic offensive-prowess.

The Knicks have quietly become the laughingstock of the NBA.  That title used to belong to the Clippers, but they reached the playoffs and are still overachieving with Doc Rivers at the helm.  James Dolan and poor ownership have driven the Knicks to the lowest depths of the NBA.  They’ve been in rebuilding mode since Carmelo Anthony left, and the Knicks have made little to no progress since.  Their best player, Kristaps Porzingis has been sidelined all season with an injury.  New York’s finest at the moment, comes in the form of Tim Hardaway Jr.  Houston needs to keep an eye on him out on the perimeter to prevent the Knicks’ young star from having a big night.

Over time, Madison Square Garden has been the place where the best players have some of their best moments.  It seems like every great player has scored 50 points in the Garden.  The Beard is on a scoring tear unseen since the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, 50 years ago.  Look for Harden to have a big night and lead the Rockets to a victory after their disappointing outcome in Philly.  Don’t be surprised if the Rockets’ superstar decides to make another statement in his bid for back-to-back MVP’s.  All the ingredients are in store for a very special evening tonight at Madison Square Garden.  Lucky for the Rockets, they have Chef Harden to cook things up the Harden-way.  The Beard’s never had a 50-point game at MSG in his career.  That could change, as New York still houses the place where the world’s most famous arena was built, where players have come for decades to add defining moments to their legacies… and on tonight’s occasion, as the Knicks already know, the Beard’s coming.

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (26-20):  “Earned” Red

New York Knicks (10-35):  White

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Get Embarrassed in Philly, Fall Flat Against Sixers, 121-93

Capela Come Back Soon.   Beaten on the Boards.   3/8/19.

They fought hard and admirably, but the shots weren’t falling, as Houston fell in Philly on Monday night to the Sixers, 121-93.  The loss marks one of the Rockets worst of the season.  Jimmy Butler didn’t play for Philadelphia, but it didn’t matter.  This game proved why Clint Capela is crucially important to the Rockets’ system.  Sixers Center Joel Embiid made sure that void was felt as he dominated Houston in the paint and on the glass.  The All-Star had 24 points at halftime, and made it look easy against smaller, hapless Rockets defenders.  Embiid finished with 32 points and 14 boards for Philly, and was the main reason the Sixers pummeled the Rockets.  They had no answers for Embiid on defense, and the big man made his presence felt on Rocket drives to the paint.  During Capela’s absence, it’s in games like Monday’s against Philly, a team with a dominant big man, where Houston’s weaknesses will be exposed the greatest.

Kenneth Faried had a solid debut for the Rockets.  The newest addition to the squad didn’t do anything spectacular for Houston, although he was 3^rd on the team in points, scoring 13 in only 23 minutes of action.  Faried will be resourced in the best manner as a backup Center/Power Forward to Clint Capela, along with playing alongside him when the time calls for bigger lineups.  Embiid, at 7’0, and quite strong, had a huge height advantage over Faried, which resulted in problems for the Rockets.  Nevertheless, it was good to see Faried in action.  The newest Rocket looks like he’s going to bring a lot of energy and grit to the squad when he’s on the floor.

Despite the final score, the game had its moments of chippiness, especially near the end of the first half.  Embiid got away with a few taunting calls on the Beard, and the refs let him mouth off like Draymond Green.  The Rockets have to accept the fact that calls will go against their favor, especially on the road.  Harden didn’t have his best game, but he still managed 37 points, running his 30-point game streak to 20 games.  Although, the Sixers handled the Rockets easily, Chris Paul and Clint Capela didn’t play.  On March 8^th, when the Rockets and Sixers meet again, Paul and Capela should be back in the lineup.  Including Monday’s loss, the Rockets are 7-2 against Philly in their last 9 meetings.  Houston just got overpowered and outmanned by a healthier, albeit talented, team.  Next time, don’t be surprised if the results turn in the Rockets favor.

Rockets Head to the City of Brotherly Love, Mission: Show No Love to the Sixers

The Manimal.   Health Factor.   We Had a Dream.

 

         Houston heads to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Monday night, as part of the NBA’s annual busy MLK-Day slate.  The Rockets have lost two in a row to Eastern Conference foes, including 3 out of 4, and look to buck that trend.  Tonight’s contest will not be easy, and is the 1^st of 4 straight against the East.  The Sixers are legitimate title contenders for the Eastern crown and their “Big 3” is one of the NBA’s most talented.  Philly is led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and recently acquired Jimmy Butler to be the veteran presence in their star-studded lineup.  Despite rumors that Butler and the team had problems co-existing, the Sixers have improved since Butler’s arrival.  Philly has won 3 of 4 but are coming off a heartbreaking home-loss to the Thunder in their previous game.  The Rockets have a new face to show off tonight.  Kenneth Faried aka “The Manimal” was recently bought out from the Nets and signed with Houston for the remainder of the year.  Look for Faried to provide instant depth and muscle in a Rockets frontcourt that is one of the league’s weakest with Capela sidelined.  Faried is an excellent rebounder and finisher around the rim.  His outstanding help-defense should give the Rockets a tougher presence in the interior and on the glass.  Houston needs help in the frontcourt, even when Capela is healthy.  Despite having a great season thus far, Nene is older and injury prone, not good attributes for your backup Center.  Faried will add much-needed versatility to a Rockets’ frontcourt that has been desperately outmanned on the boards since Capela’s injury.

Tonight’s matchup could feature many sidelined stars.  Chris Paul and Clint Capela remain out for the Rockets.  Joel Embiid (back) and Jimmy Butler (wrist) are both questionable heading into the matchup.  If they can’t play, Houston will have a lot less to worry about, but regardless, Philly is always a tough place to play.  Tonight’s contest will certainly be a challenge for the Rockets with their health problems remaining a factor, seemingly for the entire season thus far.  Hopefully, Kenneth Faried will be integrated into the lineup seamlessly like Austin Rivers and ex-Rocket, Danuel House Jr.  Kenneth Faried’s skill sets are tailor-made for Houston’s system.  The “Manimal” is a grinder, who hustles and puts his ego aside for the betterment of the team.  I’m very excited that he’s joining the Rockets and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the squad.  Once the team can get Chris Paul and Clint Capela back, Houston will have the deepest team in the league.  Expect the squad to release James Nunnally, who hasn’t been a good fit, to free up a roster spot for Faried.  The Rockets are aggressively trying to trade Carmelo Anthony, with some rumors have him headed for Chicago.  House still has yet to play for the Houston’s G-League affiliate, so there are some hopes the Rockets may be able to cave and get him back.  It still seems more like wishful thinking, or a dream, for House to return.

Today is Martin Luther King Day, a widely celebrated day across the NBA.  The league always has a full slate of games on MLK Day and today is no different.  It also happens to be Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon’s birthday.  The greatest Rocket ever turns 56 today.  Those special Rockets teams in the 90’s had a Dream, in Hakeem.  Houston had the greatest center to ever play the game, based purely on talent, skill, and the competition he faced during his time in the league.  This Rockets team has another dream.  Similar to the one Olajuwon had.  Winning a Championship.  Houston can continue to move towards that dream with a big win over the Sixers tonight.  The Philly crowd will be a raucous atmosphere, and the Rockets need to use their newest asset and work together to gut out a victory over a grinding, talented Philadephia 76ers squad.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (26-19):  “Earned” Red

Philadelphia 76ers (30-17):  Blue

 

TV:  7 PM CT – TNT

 

Rockets Rally Back Behind Harden, EG’s Heroics, Outlast Lakers in OT, 138-134

Splash Gordon Saves the Day.       The Show Goes On.       Deja-Vu?  

          Flash Gordon.  Splash Gordon.  Slash Gordon.  Whatever Gordon you know him by, Eric is back, and Houston couldn’t have used his services at a better time.  The Rockets trailed by as many as 21, but rallied back behind 48 points from the Beard and 30 from Eric Gordon to beat the Lakers in overtime, 138-134.  The deficit was Houston’s largest of the season, but having Gordon in the lineup helped propel them back to victory.  16 of 30 points by Eric Gordon came in the 4^th quarter and overtime, including a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left that tied the contest, and saved the game for Houston.  EG now has 50 points in 2 games since returning from his knee injury.  The Rockets need Splash Gordon to continue his offensive surge while Chris Paul and Clint Capela remain sidelined.  If Gordon doesn’t make that 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go, the Rockets would have lost on Saturday night.  EG has been absolutely huge since coming back and Houston will rely on his ability to make shots in the clutch as the season moves forward.  For the 2^nd consecutive game, Harden and Gordon combined for 78 points.  Although this time, EG took a little more weight off of Harden’s shoulders.  Splash Gordon had 10 more points this game, while the Beard had 10 points less (yet still finished with 48).  Right now, EG is Harden’s right-hand man, and the Rockets will rely on him late in games as they did against the Lakers to help ease some of the burden off of the MVP.

Speaking of the MVP, the James Harden Show continued on Saturday night.  He scored 48 points, to go along with 8 boards, 6 assists, and 4 steals.  The Beard’s assault on NBA-competition doesn’t seem to be coming to a stop any time soon.  Harden secured his 19^th consecutive game scoring 30 or more points.  He can’t be stopped by anyone, and on Saturday night, he had some help from his friends.  Eric Gordon was huge late in the game, and finished with 30 points as Harden’s main assistance for the night.  James Ennis had his best game as a Rocket.  The Menace finished with 18 points in 27 minutes of action. Gerald Green provided another spark off the bench, scoring 17 points, as his consistent play continues.  P.J. Tucker had another off shooting night, but his defense and hustle were some of the best I’ve seen him display all season.  Tucker was all over the floor for loose balls and shut down Kuzma in key spots late in the game.  Nevertheless, the Rockets would not have won this game without the Beard.  James Harden now has 165 points in the last 3 games combined, with NONE of them coming on an assist.  That might be the most mind-blowing stat of all during this streak.  Harden is literally getting every point by himself, while still creating opportunities for teammates, as he’s 4^th in the entire league in assists.  The Beard’s great passing is getting overlooked because he’s been averaging over 40 points a game for a quarter of the season, and is the most unstoppable offensive force the game has ever seen.

This current force of offensive greatness started against the same team (Lakers) in the same building (Toyota Center) on December 13^th.  That game featured the early dunk on McGee by the Beard that sent him and the Rockets on a scoring spree, and they’ve yet to look back.  Except for a few bad losses to the Magic and Nets, teams they should have beaten, the Rockets have been almost unbeatable since December 13th.  Houston has had a bad habit of playing down to its competition at times this season, but hopefully this win over the Lakers will stop this trend.  Something about playing the purple and gold at home seems to have a carryover-effect and brings out the best in Harden and the Rockets.  The squad hopes that’s the case again this time as the schedule gets more difficult with 2 of the next 3 games against Eastern Conference title contenders, in the Sixers and the Raptors.  Optimistically, the Rockets can feel confident about themselves as EG is back playing at a high level, and a new face in Kenneth Faried will help out a thinned front-court, possibly as soon as Monday night, against the Sixers in Philadelphia.  The Rockets are looking for Deja-Vu.  Last time they beat the Lakers, they went on a streak led by the MVP.  This time, they’ll look for the victory to give them a boost during Houston’s upcoming stretch against elite Eastern conference competition.