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Rockets Face Tough Bucks Team as Season Winds Down

76ers Dominate Rockets 135-115

Severely Undermanned Rockets Host Sixers in Tough Matchup

Morey’s New Gang.    Rough Stretch Begins.    A Big Problem Awaits.

Houston visits an old friend as the Rockets take on their foamier GM, Daryl Morey’s 76ers in Philly on Tuesday night. 
It’s the first of seven probable blowouts for the Rockets, especially considering the team has the minimum-required 8 players eligible to play.

Expect the Sixers’ Joel Embiid to give Houston nightmares, and don’t expect this one to be pretty Rockets fans.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (44-21):  Red

Houston Rockets (16-49):  Black

 

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

Rockets Nixed by Knicks, 122-97, For Second Straight Whopping

Back-to-Back Beatdowns.    Man-Randled.    Tank Signings.

From the opening tip, the Rockets hadn’t a beacon of hope against the surging Knicks. Houston got pummeled once again, losing this time to the New York, 122-97, at home. After Kevin Porter Jr.’s career 50-point night, the Rockets have now lost back-to-back games in blowout fashion.

Julius Randle was the biggest problem for Christian Wood and Houston. New York’s breakout star led the Knicks with 31 points, 7 boards, and 6 dimes in the victory. The Rockets had no answer for Randle, one of the league’s leading candidates for Most-Improved Player.

With only seven games remaining in the season, the squad’s main focused on maintaining their health, while continuing to build chemistry with their young core. Matters can only go up when you’re as far at the bottom as the Rockets find themselves… a beacon of hope.

Rockets, Invite Knicks to Town on Second Night of Back-to-Back

Part 2.    Handling Randle.    Revolutions.

Well, it’s part two of the Rockets weekend back-to-back in Houston, as the squad hosts the New York Knicks on Sunday night. The Rockets are coming off a beatdown courtesy of Steph Curry and the Warriors omg Saturday night. Houston held a six-point edge at the half, but a twelve point this quarter combined with Curry’s explosion led to the meltdown.
Meanwhile, part two of this back-back presents even more challenges. With Julius Randle, New York’s best player, and a contender for Most Improved Player, is an absolute force in the plaint. Christian Wood and Kelly Olynyk have to be in sync if they have any chance of slowing down the beast of fury that is Randle, a man with no regard for human life when he’s on the court. Knicks’ guard R.J. Barrett has also been on fire from the perimeter. Houston needs to focus their defense on Barrett and Randle if they have any interest of winning tonight’s tilt.

Last season, you could’ve flipped the switch on these two opponents. The Rockets were playoff bound, with title hopes. Meanwhile, the Knicks, were the bottom feeders, and had been for at least a decade. But sometimes one guy can make a huge difference. And that’s why the Knicks, and not the Rockets (among many other reasons), are headed to the playoffs this season. Don’t be shocked when Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks Head Coach wins Coach of the Year this season. In his first season in New York, Thibs has turned the Knicks from a laughingstock into a team with a potentially bright future. And now Houston’s the laughingstock of the lead, the bottom-feeders. Good news is the Rockets have more up their sleeves than people realize, and the only direction is up… it may take some patience, but get ready for to launch.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

New York Knicks (35-28):  White

Houston Rockets (16-48):  “City Edition” Blue

 

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

Houston’s Third-Quarter Collapse Allows Warriors to Demolish Rockets, 113-87

Third Time’s Not the Charm.    Fiery Chef.    Hateful Eight. 

It all seemed to be according to plan. Houston seemed poised to win consecutive games for the first time in months. The Rockets led by six points heading into halftime, after a respectable 31-point second quarter. However, once again, if anything has been the team’s achilles’ heal this season on the court it’s been their performances in coming out of the half. Houston has been a miserable third quarter team all season, and managed a dismal 12 points in the period. Combined with Houston’s 20 point fourth quarter, and the Rockets scored 32 points in the entire second half, after putting up 31 in the period before the break.

It didn’t help that Steph Curry scored 23 of his 30 points in then third, after getting off to a miserable start from the field. Once Curry warmed up, the momentum swung permanently in Golden State’s direction, and the Rockets had no answer, and were struggling mightily offensively. Houston’s usually consistent duo of Christian Wood and Kelly Olynyk had subpar outings, and Kevin Porter Jr., after the most emotional game of his life, was due for a “back-to-earth” performance, scoring an average 16 points. This being the game after The Black Joker broke a record previously held by the face of the NBA, and in some eyes, the greatest player of all time, LeBron James. The Rockets hope KPJ has plenty more 50-Burgers up his sleeve in the future. Porter’s gargantuas meal just might be the fuel Houston’s future success.

We’re down to the hateful eight. With only eight games remaining, the Rockets goals should be to play as hard and work on chemistry on both ends of the floor. The game results don’t matter at this point. As long as Houston is improving, win or lose…the Rockets future will be going according to plan.

Rockets Welcome Warriors, Hoping for Rare Win Streak

Build on the Past.    Undefeated Group.    Part 1.    

The Rockets look to build on their last game, an impressive win over the Bucks, as the Warriors come to town on Saturday night. It’s the first of a back-to-back for Houston. Expect the Rockets to play with some momentum after their previous win.

Tonight, Houston will be starting Kevin Porter Jr., Armoni Brooks, Christian Wood, Kelly Olynyk, and Jae’Sean Tate. A lineup that’s undefeated this season when they start this year. The Rockets look to keep that trend in motion tonight.

The Warriors are fighting for one of the West’s last playoff spots. They’ll be without Kelly Oubre tonight, but Steph Curry will be in the building. Look for Chef Curry and the Black Joker to duel it out on a dark Saturday night in Houston.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Golden State Warriors (31-32):  “City Edition” Navy

Houston Rockets (16-47):  “City Edition” Blue

TV:  6:30 PM CT –  ESPN,  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Porter’s House:  KPJ’s 50 Burger Pushes Rockets Past Bucks, 143-136

Historic Meal.    Hobbled Start.    Bright Future.

A day after getting fined 50K for antics in a strip club in Miami, Kevin Porter Jr. scored a career-high 50 points, to go along with 11 dimes, as he led the Rockets past a hobbled Bucks team. 143-136. Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game with an injury a minute into the contest. Still, Houston needed every bit of KPJ’s stellar performance to pull out the victory.

It was a historic showing. At age 20, the Black Joker became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50 points, with at least 10 assists in a game. A record previously held by the LeBron James. In other words, Porter Jr. has serious potential to be a superstar in this league, and the face of the Rockets for years to come. Sure, he’s been inconsistent, but at only 20 years old, in a situation unlike any seen in sports, the quick, furious unraveling of the Houston Rockets franchise. One, KPJ is expected to lead back to the top.

This game was Houston’s best win of the season, and a sign they have a real star in Kevin Porter Jr. to go along with Christian Wood. Throw in Jae’Sean Tate, K.J. Martin, and the other young surprises of this season… and the Rockets have a brighter future than most people realize.

Rockets Host Bucks in P.J.’s Return to H-Town

The King’s Back.    Tough Goings.    Ride it Out.

On Thursday night, the Rockets host the Milwaukee Bucks as a familiar face returns to town. P.J. Tucker returns to Houston for the first time since being traded to Milwaukee on the trade deadline, back on May 25th. The Sneaker King, The Hustle King, whatever you want to call him, Tucker did a lot for the Rockets, and it will be odd to see him playing in Houston in a different jersey.

Only ten games remain in the season, and all are against playoff teams. It won’t be easy for the Rockets. The squad’s going to go through plenty of growing pains through these final ten games, but they just have to ride it out.

Houston will be better in the future. Who knows, they may even win a game or two before this season comes to an end.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors: 

Milwaukee Bucks (38-23):  White

Houston Rockets (15-47):  Black “Earned Edition”

 

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

Rockets Fail to Finish off Wolves, Lose 5th Straight, 114-107

Late Night Bite.    Closing Problems.    Back to the Bottom.

In a game where Houston controlled the majority of the contest, the Rockets couldn’t hang on late, and lost to the Timberwolves, 114-107, on Tuesday night. Christian Wood and Kelly Olynyk were outstanding again, and Jae’Sean Tate was his usual consistent self. Other than that, Houston got beat in a game they let slip out of their hands.

The Rockets have had problems executing in crunch time all season, and Tuesday night was no different. Hopefully, with time and growth, this young squad will learn from their mistakes in crunch time, and reach their potential for greatness in the upcoming years.

With this loss to the second-worst team in the West, the Rockets are now almost certainly guaranteed last place in the Conference. And that might not be such a bad thing for their draft pleas, but last place never feels good. Maybe the squad can finish the remaining ten games with passion, and win a few games, their draft odds won’t change by much at all… Houston’s already solidified one of the worst records in the NBA this season.