Blog

Rockets Square-Off Against 76ers to Close Home-Stand

Starting the Second.    More Trouble.    Avoiding a Repeat.

The Rockets begin the second half of their season on Monday night, as they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers. And hopefully avoid a repeat of what occurred a week ago in these squads’ first battle. Last Monday in Philly, the Sixers pounded Houston for a 133-113 victory. If the Rockets want to make tonight’s contest more completive, they need to exert more energy defensively. It’s easier said than done, but it comes down to effort for these Rockets. And as they commence the second part of this journey, Houston could be in for more trouble tonight. Monday marks the final night of what’s been an ugly thee-game home-stand so far for the Rockets.

After losing their last two games by a combined 42 points, Houston hosts a far tougher opponent in Philly on Monday night. Joel Embiid torched the Rockets only a week ago with a monstrous triple-double, registering 31 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists. The good news for Houston is they didn’t have Christian Wood in that game. Wood will be playing tonight, but will he make enough of a difference?

Tonight’s game is the second half of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who haven’t won the latter of these contests all season. Houston hopes the second half of the season brings better fortune than the first, and they avoid repeating blowouts, and poor starts. Whether it be getting out of the gate, or coming out of the break, the Rockets have struggled revving up all year. That will have to change tonight if the Houston wants any chance of pulling off the upset against the Sixers. Philly’s won six straight games, and are playing their best basketball of the year after sitting in Average Lane for the first quarter of the season. Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. struggled in the Rockets’ previous two blowout losses. Especially KPJ, who other than his game-winner, has performed below-expectations since returning from injury. The backcourt needs to have a strong performance if Houston wants to turn their chance of victory into a realistic one tonight. Otherwise, the Rockets could be in for a repetitive, ugly start to the second half of this season.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (22-16):  Navy “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-30):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Dominated by Wolves in 141-123 Beatdown

Too Much Towns.    No Defensive Force.    Searching for Answers.

For the second straight game, the Rockets were blown out on their home floor, as the Timberwolves feasted on a 141-123 victory in Houston. Karl-Anthony Towns was unstoppable, as the Rockets had no answers for KAT defensively. Towns led Minnesota with 40 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. De’Angelo Russell added 22 points, and Anthony Edwards chipped in 19, but KAT was the beast who ultimately made sure Houston had no chance.

The Rockets once again weren’t lacking versatility, seven players scored in double-figures, led by Christian Wood, who had 22 points. Josh Christopher continues to play well. The rookie scored 19 points, the same amount as Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green combined, as Houston’s backcourt has struggled over the last two matchups. And defensively the Rockets have been an embarrassment over the past couple games. Since Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner in D.C., Houston has given up a whopping 271 points over the last two games. That’s an average of almost 136 points a night. If this level of defense continues, so will the losses for Houston. On Star Wars Night at Toyota Center, the “force” certainly wasn’t with the Rockets on defense.

Houston’s now lost two straight games by a combined total of 42 points, and remains a team searching for answers. The Rockets have a lot of young, talented players with potential, but something’s missing. Granted, the lack of experience will lead to letdowns like Sunday’s, but Houston is too talented to be getting blown out this frequently. Having played 41 games, the Rockets are now officially halfway through the season. Has the squad run out of gas too early? It’s going to be hard to snap out of this funk soon for Houston, as they get right back to action on Monday night. Only the opponent is more difficult than the last two teams the Rockets got torched by. The Philadelphia 76ers come to town on Monday night, exactly one week after blowing out Houston, 133-113, in these squads’ first matchup back on January 3rd. And if the Rockets want to be more completive than their recent losses, they’ve simply need to play with more energy and force, especially defensively.

Rockets Look to Bounce Back, Welcome Wolves to Town

Midway Point.    Back to the Basics.    Hungry Like the Wolves.

Houston hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves in what will be the 41st game of the season, exactly the halfway point of the journey for the Rockets. So far, Houston has certainly had its share of ups and downs, as as has any team in the NBA. However, at the midway mark, it’s clear the Rockets have plenty to work on as they continue to progress through the current rebuilding state of the franchise. Houston is in last place in the Western Conference, and has the third-worst record in the league behind Detroit and Orlando. Which basically means the Rockets have a legitimate chance in this summer’s draft to potentially land another top pick.

After their embarrassing loss on Friday, Houston simply needs to play harder. The Rockets played with no effort against Dallas, who kicked them back to reality after they were in a haze from KPJ’s awe-inspiring game-winner in Washington D.C.The Timberwolves are riding a three-game winning streak as they stroll into H-Town. The Wolves have their own “Big Three,” consisting of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and DeAngelo Russell. The trio combined for 70 points in Minnesota’s previous game. Houston will have their hands full trying to contain these All-Star caliber players tonight.

Houston will have to be hungry like this improved Wolves squad, who currently sit in 8th place, good for a playoff spot in the West. Minnesota has been much better than people expected. Towns is one of the best Centers in the league, but it’s been Anthony Edwards, in the midst of a breakout-season, who’s been garnering the most attention in Minnesota. Edwards is one of the most explosive players in the league, and the Rockets need to eliminate his transition opportunities, where he flourishes as one of the league’s best finishers. After getting kicked in the mouth by Dallas on Friday, Houston has nowhere to go but up, and if they play hard… possibly seal the first half of the season on a positive note.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-18):  Blue “City Edition”

Houston Rockets (11-29):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

No-Show: Rockets Late to their Own Party, Blown Out by Mavs, 130-106

Nothing to Offer.    Pompous Comfort to Agonizing Reality.    The Kick-Back.

As they honored the legendary Houston broadcaster Bill Worrell, the Rockets unfortunately had arguably their worst game of the season. Houston got out to an early 6-2 lead, but that’s when things began to go south for the Rockets in this battle of Texas rivals. By the end of the first quarter, Houston already trailed Dallas by 20, and the squad wouldn’t get any closer. The Rockets were blown out of their own building, 130-106, by the Mavericks, on Bill Worrell night of all days to sour the wound. Houston simply played with no effort. Dallas didn’t even have their two best players, Luka Doncic and Kristpas Porzingis, yet had no issues manhandling the Rockets. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Mavs with 19 points, and Dallas had five different players score 15 or more points. Adding insult to Houston’s lack of injuries, the Mavs didn’t seem to miss from long range, and punished the Rockets poor defense all night.

Christian Wood led Houston scorers with 20 points, but the Rockets were clearly suffering a hangover from their previous win. Kevin Porter Jr.’s game-winner carried over to certainly affect the proceedings at Toyota Center on Friday night. The team as a whole was too comfortable. Their in-state rival Mavs came they a kick in the face it appears they needed. After trailing by 20 at home all night, Houston can only seeming go up from here in their next game. Hopefully the Rockets turn on the jets and get back to business.

Up next, Houston hosts Minnesota in the first of a back-to-back on Sunday night. At least it would seem affairs on the court can’t get any worse for the Rockets. Expect a motivated Houston squad to play with more effort in their next contest. That legendary game-winner’s in the past, and hopefully these 20-point home losses are as well.

Rockets Host In-State Rival Mavs on Historic Night

Hometown Hero.    Money Green.    Stopping the Kill.

After the most jubilant victory of the season, the Rockets return home to host their in-state rivals, the Dallas Mavericks. And just as Dallas honored Dirk Nowitzki in their previous game, Houston is honoring a face close to the franchise tonight, and a hometown hero, in Bill Worrell. Worrell was the Rockets’ play-by-play announcer for four decades, and will be recognized for his greatness on Friday night. Worrell was born in Houston, and worked with the Astros and the University of Houston, but he’s best known as the voice of the Rockets for nearly 40 years, including the Championship glory days and the birth of “Clutch City.” Can Houston bring their clutch momentum back home with them for an encore. It’s possible, as Dallas is likely short-handed tonight.

Luka Doncic is doubtful to play heading into tonight’s matchup. Which means Rocket-Killer Tim Hardaway Jr. will receive a plethora of chances to damage Houston’s historic night. If the Rockets can contain Hardaway Jr. and keep him from having an explosive game, Houston should have a good shot at victory. The Mavs are coming off an impressive win over the team with the NBA’s best-record, the Golden State Warriors. Houston is coming off a rousing game-winning shot by Kevin Porter Jr. in Washington D.C. A shot the Rockets hope will change the aura of their entire season.

Hopefully Scoot’s game-winner in DC will spur KPJ to have a better overall shooting night against Dallas. Scoot was 3-for-13 against the Wizards, but hit the biggest shot of the night. Christian Wood will again look to return with a vengeance after one of his best games of the season. With the controversy cloud (presumably) in the past, the Rockets should be excited to start another winning streak. It was easy to get caught up in Houston’s drama over the past few days. Just don’t be surprised when Jalen Green keeps rolling. Green has been superb since returning from a hamstring injury. The Rockets rookie is finally looking like the Rookie of the Year many predicted him to be before the season began.

The Rockets are aiming to prove their previous win wasn’t a fluke, and return to more efficient basketball. This contest will give fans a better idea of where KPJ and Christian Wood stand moving forward. Was the win in the Nation’s Capitol just a game won out of frustration? Or a sign of more victories to come in the future? Friday night’s in-state rivalry matchup will answer a lot of those questions. Just like Dallas secured a win when honoring Dirk in their previous game, Houston hopes to have similar results when they honor their own legend tonight. Worrell was a part of so many special moments as the voice of the Rockets. On flashback Friday, Houston will aim to do what Worrell witnessed so many times first-hand… win.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (20-18):  White

Houston Rockets (11-28):  Navy “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  7 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

He Scoots, He Scores!:  KPJ’s Game-Winning Bullet Sends Rockets Past Wizards, 114-111

Capitol Win.    Saved by the Yell.    Rousing Returns.    

Houston needed some magic if they were going to survive in D.C. on Wednesday night. And the Rockets got a late miracle from an unexpected source. With the match tied, Kevin Porter Jr. hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to secure Houston’s 114-111 victory, snapping the team’s eight-game losing streak, and giving the Rockets one of their best wins of the season.

Scoot and Christian Wood were suspended the previous game, but both came out with early fire in the first quarter, combing for Houston’s first 9 points as the Rockets got out to an early 12-point lead. However, overall KPJ struggled from the field. Before his final shot, Porter Jr. missed 10 of his 12 shot attempts although he did have 7 boards and 8 dimes on the night. Stephen Silas put enough confidence in his player to allow Scoot to nail the game-winner, seemingly putting all the controversy in the past. Wood had a dominant performance from the start, and played motivated and hungry from the opening tip. He finished with 22 points, 11 boards, and 3 steals on the night.

Jalen Green continues to flourish since his return from injury. Green scored 22 points to lead the Rockets (along with Wood), and grabbed 6 rebounds. He’s beginning to show flashes of the reason many pundits in the preseason picked Green to be the Rookie of the Year. Green’s already one of the fastest players in the league in transition, and his quick first step and driving ability has improved as the season’s moved along. Garrison Matthews had an off shooting-night, but drew four charges, as he continues to lead the league in that impressive defensive category. Garry Bird is one of the hardest playing guys in the league, and will sacrifice his body on any given play for the betterment of the team. Eric Gordon scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, as EG continues to quietly have one of the most efficient seasons of his career, leading the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage.

This win for the Rockets was impressive for several reasons. Houston wasn’t sure what performance they would receive with the returns of Porter Jr. and Wood. Both players exceeded fan expectations with their motivated play, and were key elements to the Rockets’ victory. Coming into this game, the Wizards were one of the best teams in the entire league. Washington was 7-1 in games decided by 3 points or less, and 15-3 in clutch games (matchups decided by 5 points or less with 5 minutes or fewer remaining). Houston prevailed against one of the best clutch teams in the league this season.

After leading 86-83 going into the fourth quarter, the Rockets went on an 8-0 run to grab an 11-point lead less than two minutes into the final period. The Wiz countered with their own 10-2 run, turning the game into a nail-biter down the stretch. Fortunately for Houston, Bradley Beal, Washington’s best player, fouled out with 9:10 left in the game. Beal still led the Wizards in scoring with 27 points, but his absence was sorely felt for D.C. in the final 9 minutes of action. This game shouldn’t have even come down to the final seconds, but a pesky Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored 26 points for the Wiz led a late rally. The Rockets led by 5 points with only 48 seconds left in the game. KCP hit a 3-pointer to start Washington’s 5-0 run to tie the game at 111 before Scoot’s game-winner.

Houston is now 9-4 when leading after three quarters, proving their achilles heal is falling behind in games. The Rockets now return home where they’ll honor the legendary Bill Worrell on Friday night when they host Dallas. Worrell was the voice of the team for four decades, and is an icon of Houston’s sports broadcasting scene. Hopefully the Rockets carry this magical momentum back home with them for what will be a very special night in H-Town.

Rockets Search for Positive Spells, Face Wizards in D.C.

Formula Test.    Average Magic.    New Rockets.

The Rockets meet the Wizards for the first time this season as the teams will battle in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Houston is trying to snap an eight-game losing-streak. The Wizards started the season 8-3. Since that point, they’re only 8-15, signifying their potential as merely average. However, they still have Bradley Beal, one of the league’s best players. The Wiz also got a plethora of ex-Lakers from the Russell Westbrook trade who are having career seasons. Kyle Kuzma stands out the most as a guy Houston needs to keep their eye on, besides Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has also played well in Washington.

The Rockets have a chance tonight, but it’ll depend on the return of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Both players were suspended in Houston’s previous game for their childish outbursts in the Denver game on New Year’s Day. These cases are different, despite happening in the same game. Wood has been a discussion of trade rumors all season, this outburst only seems to almost signify he’ll eventually be traded. KPJ is a harder case to discern. This seems like his final chance. He was shipped out of Cleveland for behavioral issues. If the NBA’s connoisseur of player development, John Lucas, can’t get the best out of Scoot, it’s hard to imagine anyone accomplishing the feat. KPJ has a lot to prove in his return, and Houston will determine if he’s fit to be the point-guard for the franchise long-term. Stephen Silas’ formula will be put to the ultimate test on Wednesday night.

Tonight’s game is the first chance to get a look at the new Rockets. No… no new players have joined the team since the previous game, neither have any new injuries developed. But after the behavior Wood and KPJ displayed against Denver, they will never be the same. They can learn to put their actions in the past, and move on to a better future. Or they can stubbornly play on a squad who will soon ship them to another team. The choice is theirs: Wood and Porter Jr.’s. And these incidents could turn out very different. This is the first problematic issue Scoot has had in a Rockets jersey. Is this a sign he’s trending back towards the immature, raw player in Cleveland who no one wanted? KPJ’s showed flashes of brilliance. Last season’s 50-Burger against the Champion Milwaukee Bucks. But this season, Scoot’s been inconsistent to merely-average. If he can control his behavior, KPJ has the potential to grow into a formidable player, but he has to perform more consistently at a higher level.

Meanwhile, Wood has shown he’s capable of being a legitimate All-Star in this league. That is, when he wants to play. Who knows if the trade rumors are getting to his head, but Wood obviously was upset about coming off the bench. As a player, regardless of talent-level, you have to accept coaching. At least in the eyes of the public. Rocket fans should get a good idea of where these players stand as they return to the court tonight in D.C. It should be fairly easy to tell whether or not Wood wants to stay in Houston long-term. Scoot, meanwhile, will be a trickier puzzle to solve, and one that may take more time.

 

Capitol One Arena:  Washington D.C.

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-28):  White

Washington Wizards (19-18):  Blue “City Edition”

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Third Quarter Dooms Rockets in 133-113 Loss to Sixers

Positive Reinforcements.    Unstoppable Force.    Bird Returns.

Houston actually held the halftime lead on Monday night in Philly, but they couldn’t stop Joell Embiid, who had his third career triple-double. Embiid’s 31 points, 15 boards, and 10 assists were too much for the short-handed Rockets, as Houston lost 133-113, for their eighth straight loss. The Rockets had positive reinforcements in the absences of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Houston had seven players score in double-figures, led by the return of Garrison Matthews, who tied his career-high with 23 points, going 6-for-10 from the field.

Garry Bird’s return was the brightest sign for the Rockets on Monday night. A dismal third quarter unraveled what was a close, contested contest. The Sixers led 72-71, before going on a 10-0 run that broke the game open. Houston would never get close to threatening Philly’s lead for the remainder of the contest.

Without Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun, Embiid dominated a short-handed Rockets team. Daniel Theis did his best, but Embiid showed why he’s arguably the best big-man in basketball on Monday night. Jalen Green came back to earth with a sub-par game. Green had been on fire, but went cold in Philly, shooting 3-for-12 from the floor for 12 points. Barring any more outbursts, Houston will get Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. back for their next game, Wednesday in Washington D.C. against the Wizards.

The Rockets will look for Jalen Green to have a bounce-back performance against the Wiz, and it will be very interesting to monitor the body language of Wood and KPJ upon their return to the court. Will they be interested in playing? Is Wood destined to be traded? Is KPJ a lost cause? Or can Houston solve these problems throughout the season? We’ll begin to find out on Wednesday night.

Rockets Aim to Regroup on the Road, Battle Sixers in Philly

The Hateful Eight.    Brotherly Bonding.    Escaping Embiid.

After a nightmarish home stand, the Rockets look to regroup as they hit the road for a couple of matchups out East. Tonight, Houston travels to Philadelphia to face Joel Embiid and the Sixers. Philly has won three straight games, all on the road, coming into Monday’s matchup. Meanwhile, the Rockets are seeking to snap a seven-game losing streak. Houston will be without Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood tonight. The pair childishly refused to behave like professionals in the Rockets’ loss on Saturday. KPJ almost attacked John Lucas, one of the most respected assistants in basketball. If a player in this league can’t accept coaching from Lucas, they have an attitude problem. Wood, who’s name was always floating around in the trade rumor mills, will now likely be certainly dealt, as it’s only a matter of when, not if, anymore. After being benched to start the game, Wood showed no desire to play hard, and refused to enter the second half. As for Scoot, Houston will likely see if KPJ can mature, but he’s on thin ice. One more incident from Porter Jr., and the Rockets will likely scoot him out the door.

Can the Rockets repair this seemingly new nightmare? A road game against the Sixers isn’t the best recipe for a win, but maybe Houston needed to get out of town. NBA teams bond far more on the road, when they’re all staying at the same hotel, as opposed to home games, where everyone just returns to their own residence after duty. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. Maybe a tough road win over one of the NBA’s hottest teams will put the Rockets back in-sync.

Monday night’s matchup will be a handful for Houston without Christian Wood and Alperen Sengun. Wood’s suspended and Sengun is still out with an ankle sprain. That means we’ll see a lot of Daniel Theis tonight, who’s played well when he’s gotten the chance. And he’s got a chance to try and frustrate one of the best big men in the game, Joel Embiid. The Sixers’ All-Star big scored 34 points in their last game, a road win over the title-favorite Nets. Theis has his hands full tonight, which means Houston needs to double and throw as many bodies as possible at Embiid. The Sixers’ center can become easily frustrated, so tough defense a la “Patrick Beverly meets P.J. Tucker” would be nice, although if that even exists, it’s not on this Rockets team. Houston also needs to be aware of Seth Curry, who’s having a career year for the Sixers. Garrison Matthews returns from health-and-safety protocols tonight. Hopefully the return of Garry Bird can boost Houston to play with more energy and less distractions. Matthews plays hard on every play like Jae’Sean Tate. Jalen Green’s been on an efficiency roll since returning from his hamstring injury. Will Matthews, Tate, and Green be enough to boost Houston past the Sixers in Philly? If Daniel Theis can have one of those throwback “Vanilla Theis” performances, the Rockets might shock some people by quieting the nightmare with a win. That’s a big “if”… literally.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (10-27):  White

Philadelphia 76ers (19-16):  Red

 

Tip-Off:  6 PM CT

TV:  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Outplayed by Nuggets, 124-111, as Questions Arise

Bleak Start.    The Elephant Room.    Long Term Ramifications.

Even before the opening tip, this game had eerie premonitions all around, as Christian Wood was suspiciously out of the starting lineup for the first time all season. Many came to the logical conclusion that Daniel Theis was inserted in the starting unit to provide a bigger body to counter with Denver’s Nikola Jokic. But, that was far from the sad truth. I said in my last column that 2022 couldn’t possibly be worse a year than 2021 was for the Houston Rockets. Well, the squad got off to fast start trying to prove me wrong. The Rockets lost their seventh straight game on Saturday night, 124-111, to a short-handed Nuggets team. Jokic led Denver with 24 points and 12 boards, as they won their third straight game. The result was similar to New Year’s Eve for Houston, where the Rockets held a one-point edge after the first quarter, only to fall apart in the second quarter. Houston allowed the Nuggets to shoot 74% from the floor and score a season-high 47 points in the second period. Denver led by as many as 31 points, a deficit too steep for the Rockets to overcome. If there was any good news on Saturday, Jalen Green scored 29 points to lead the Rockets, and has been playing All-Star caliber basketball since returning from injury.

Some games have long-term ramifications that got beyond the final box score. Saturday night’s affair was one the Rockets won’t forget anytime soon. And not because it was their seventh straight loss, or their ninth loss in the last ten games. This season’s record no longer matters. Keeping the long-term future is the most important goal for a young team in rebuilding mode. A goal that was tested to the fullest on the first day the year. Christian Wood was suspiciously out of the starting lineup on Saturday night. Reports surfaced Wood was late to a COVID-test, and therefore Silas decided to discipline the big-man. Matters only worsened at halftime. During the break, Kevin Porter Jr. got into an altercation with Rockets assistant coach John Lucas, one of the most respected men in the league. KPJ apparently had to be separated from Lucas after throwing an object at the one of the great men in Rocket franchise history. In conclusion, Porter Jr. left the arena and went home, failing to return. And if you’re wondering if this happens often, the answer is hardy ever. It’s the first time in the NBA an incident of such childish behavior has surfaced this season. KPJ was kicked out of Cleveland for a locker room outburst when the Cavaliers tried to change his locker. He’s only 21, but Scoot needs to show more maturity and grow up soon, or KPJ could be out of the league, looking for a team once again. This is the first incident Houston’s had regarding Scoot’s behavior. He’s a young guy, and if the Rockets can’t patch this up, KPJ’s time in the NBA probably won’t last long.

The more troublesome news is about Christian Wood. Well out of his teenage years, but disappointingly refused to enter the second half after being benched to start the game. Wood was playing with noticeably less energy, and his refusal to play in the second-half, is almost as childish as KPJ scooting away from the arena at halftime. As a player, if you can’t learn to be coached, and accept coaching, you’ll never make it in the NBA. The bottom line is… in this league, you’re always going to be at-odds with your opponent, in mental and physical warfare. However when these conflicts arise in-house, they can be extremely destructive to a team, especially to a young squad with a young coach. It will be interesting to see how the Rockets resolve their issues with Wood and Porter Jr., two of their best players, and as of now, core parts of the franchise’s future. Sure, Wood has been one of the names flying around in trade rumors, and an incident like Saturday night’s will only speed up the rumor mill. Houston now has the most challenging task since James Harden left the franchise for dead nearly a year ago: mending these relationships with Wood and KPJ. And it’s not a choice for the Rockets. Houston brought these guys in and made them cornerstones of the franchise. They have to keep them… or risk having the rebuild pushed suspiciously back even further.