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Round 3:  Houston Heads West as Rockets, Clippers Face-Off in West’s Wildest Rivalry

Midterm.    Departing West.    Middle Ground.

“Are you not entertained?” Russell Crowe asks the blood-thirsty crowd in Ridely Scott’s Gladiator. Tonight’s shaping up to be one of the most entertaining nights of this NBA regular season. Houston travels to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers for Act 3 in this season’s testiest rivalry. This highly anticipated matchup is the nightcap in a TNT doubleheader that begins with the NBA’s Conference leaders, the Lakers and Bucks, squaring off in Milwaukee. Thursday night’s battle in Los Angeles begins the first of four games on Houston’s current West-Coast road-trip. The Clippers are, by far, the most difficult test the Rockets will face on this stretch away from home. Tonight’s game is the third matchup this season in the heated rivalry. Houston won the first game, while the Clips took the second. Since they last saw each other, the Clippers have won ten straight games in L.A., and are an NBA-best 14-1 at home. Meanwhile, the Rockets have seen comebacks and collapses mired with mediocrity. A win tonight would boost Houston’s confidence and get the squad back on track. After Thursday’s game, we’ll be officially a third of the way through the season.

For the Rockets, tonight’s battle in L.A. serves as a midterm of sorts, and a measuring stick as to how far the team has come since opening night. Houston hasn’t played a winning team since they beat the Raptors in Toronto, back on December 5th. Since that victory, the Rockets have played down to their average competition, and been merely average over a stretch they shouldn’t have taken for granted. Houston now finds themselves at 18-9, in the fifth spot out West, but only a game in the loss column behind the Clippers. Tonight’s matchup is huge for many reasons. The Rockets can inch closer to the top with a victory, or get pushed farther towards mediocrity with a loss. Whoever wins tonight’s battle at Staples will grab the edge in the season series. Houston will still play the Clips once more, in March, but a win tonight ensures the Rockets will at worst split the season series with Los Angeles.

Houston has to protect the glass tonight if they want a chance of escaping L.A. with a victory. The Clippers are one the best rebounding teams in the league.  Houston needs to box out and avoid giving up a lethal dose of second-chance points to the Clips, which could prove to be too much to overcome. Russell Westbrook tries to continue his roll of efficiency, as James Harden looks to regain his shooting rhythm in  his hometown, a place where the Beard usually plays well. Houston needs Ben McLemore and other shooters to knock down open shots. The Clippers aren’t going to let Harden beat them, as they showed in Round 2 between these teams. If the Rockets can connect from deep on open shots, and force Los Angeles into a turnover frenzy, this match tilts towards Houston’s favor. But, that’s much easier said than done. Tonight’s matchup between these two heavyweights likely won’t be easy on either side. If the Rockets have shown anything through the first third of the season, they’ve shown the ability to play with the best when the spotlight’s the biggest. It’s taking care of everyone else that’s plagued Houston. Hopefully, the Beard finds his shooting rhythm back in his hometown. As we begin the middle portion of the NBA season, the Rockets are striving to stay away from middle ground in the standings, and prove they belong in the discussion with elites. A Houston victory in Los Angeles tonight would get people’s attention, but more importantly, give the squad confidence. If you can expect anything, expect excitement tonight at Staples Center. Two heated rivals, not far apart in the standings. The Clippers have many ex-Rockets. Both teams have closers in the fourth quarter (Harden and Leonard). Each squad has a member of the Rivers family. And each has real hate for the other. There’s no love lost between these teams. The Clippers have never won a title. And in Houston, there’s supposedly an era at stake if the Rockets can’t finally win this season. This is a huge game, for both teams, but especially Houston. While the Clippers are considered contenders by everyone despite their record, the Rockets have been written off by many in the contender conversation. Houston aims to change that story on Thursday. Another page in this rivalry gets written tonight… are you not entertained?

   

Staples Center:  Los Angeles, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (18-9):  Red

Los Angeles Clippers (21-8):  White

 

TV:  9:30 PM CT – TNT, AT&T Sportsnet SW

Comeback Kids:  Rockets Rally From 25-Point Deficit, Stun Spurs, 109-107

Monday Night Madness.    A Tale of Two Halves.    Superheroes.

“Here is the thing about power. What good is power, if you got nobody to share it with?” the protagonist asks in Shazam!, a 2019 comic-book film about a kid-turned-adult superhero. And on Monday night, the Rockets played like a bunch of kids in the first half. Houston trailed by 14 points after the first quarter, with sloppy plays, and a lack of all-around focus. JamesHarden even dribbled the ball off his leg at one point with little defense around. The squad’s deficit reached 25 points, and Houston looked left for dead. But these Rockets weren’t staying grounded on Monday night. The Beard and Brodie led a monstrous comeback as Houston rallied to top the Spurs, 109-107, in another crazy game at Toyota Center on Monday night. Last Monday it was heartbreak at the buzzer, this week brought the biggest comeback in franchise history. It’s been an emotional roller coaster at both ends of the spectrum for Houston the past two home games. This Monday they survived, and they wouldn’t have done it without their own superheroes, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Westbrook kept the Rockets within striking distance in the first half, as the Beard had his worst half of the season, garnering 9 points on a miserable 4-of-17 shooting. If it weren’t for Brodie, Houston would have been too far behind to come back. Westbrook was the main source of offense for the Rockets in the first half. However, they play two halves for a reason in this sport, and this game was truly a tale of two halves.

After a terrible half, the Beard got his superpowers back after intermission. Harden shot 6-for-12, scoring 19 points in the second half, as the Rockets came back to exact revenge on the Spurs. Houston played amateurish in the first half, but returned as superheroes for the second, pulling off one of biggest comeback the city’s ever seen. The Rockets gave up 35 points to San Antonio in the first quarter. In the second half, Houston’s defensive intensity returned, allowing only 35 points for the rest of the game. Harden scored 28, with 8 boards and 7 assists, but the story of the game was Westbrook. Brodie had another stellar outing, notching 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 dimes. Westbrook shot 11-for-25 from the field, but only 1-for-7 from long range. Brodie’s decision making has improved. He’s slowly learning to take advantage of biggest strength, and drive it the basket, instead of settling for three’s on the perimeter, Westbrook’s weakness. Clint Capela registered 15 points, grabbed 15 boards, and swatted 3 shots. The big man had another reliably solid game. The 20/20 streak has ended, but the Big Swiss is still a big presence for Houston in the paint. Although, improvements can still be made. The Ben McLemore Breakout Season continued on Monday night. Benny Mac shot 4-for-9 from deep, and finished with 17 points in 28 minutes. McLemore has excelled since getting the opportunity to start, after House missed a few games with the flu. Benny Mac has played the role of Eric Gordon while EG has been nursing an injury, emerging as a reliable 3-and-D perimeter oriented player for Houston. Gordon is expected to return around Christmas, and it will be interesting to see how EG’s return affects McLemore’s play. Despite getting off to a sluggish start to the season, Gordon is a necessary piece to the squad if they want to win the title. Before Splash Gordon went down, McLemore was an afterthought, someone who’d rarely see playing time. Benny Mac’s seized the opportunity with the increase in his role, and proved he belongs to stay in the rotation. After watching the chemistry between McLemore and Harden grow, it’s hard to envision Houston without Benny Mac in a pivotal role.

The Rockets flipped the script on the Spurs after San Antonio rallied from 22-points down, with the help of a controversial dunk-not-dunk, to beat Houston in this season’s first matchup between these rivals back in the Alamo City. On Monday, the Rockets were the ones who rallied, and left the Spurs stunned. These Texas rivals have produced two exciting thrillers in the first two matchups. Houston won’t play San Antonio again until April, when they play the Spurs twice in their final five games of the regular season. It’s a long way from April, and the playoffs. For now, the Rockets have work to do, despite the positive result. Houston almost lost another game in disappointing fashion. Since their 11-3 start, the Rockets are only 7-6, and have played .500 basketball. It’s time to etch out of their current state of mediocrity. I can’t think of a better matchup to bring out the best in Houston than a Thursday night date against the blood-rival Clippers, with a national audience watching. Everyone asked if Harden and Westbrook could share the ball and play well together. It’s still a work in progress, but they’re improving, despite what the record says. When Houston passes more and everyone’s involved, the entire squad’s play improves. Westbrook has quietly strung together a very impressive run of performances. Over the last five contests, Brodie is averaging 27 points on 54% shooting, while also getting around 8 boards and 7 dimes a night. Superstar stats. James Harden finally has someone with whom he can share his power. The power that comes with being an NBA superstar, a superhero in a league where they’re few and far between. Despite all the adoration the Beard receives, Houston can’t forget about its other superstar. The Rockets don’t win this game without Westbrook, and they don’t win it without Harden either. The pair’s ability to play off each other kept Houston alive against the Spurs. As Monday night in Houston showed… what good is power if you got nobody to share it with?

Rockets Ready for Revenge, Spurs Come to Town

Bearded Nightmares.    Revenge Game.    Harden Hunting.

“Sometimes I wish I had never met you. Because then I could go to sleep at night not knowing there was someone like you out there.” It’s a quote from the film Good Will Hunting that’s been in my head since pondering tonight’s contest. Specifically, when looking at the match from San Antonio’s perspective. The Spurs just haven’t been able to sleep. Houston hosts San Antonio on Monday night at Toyota Center. It’s the first meeting between the teams since the Rockets outscored the Spurs in Houston’s double-overtime loss in San Antonio. The Alamo City Hosing featured the well-known controversy of the James Harden Dunk That Was, That Wasn’t But Actually Was, But.. who even knows anymore. It’s in the past. And as the old saying goes, you can’t change the past. The future, that’s a different story.

If there ever was a revenge game, it’s tonight. The Rockets were robbed of a victory in San Antonio. All Houston wants is a fair chance. Well tonight, James Harden’s ready to get those 2-points from his dunk back on the scoreboard against the Spurs… a lot more than just two. San Antonio has played an NBA-record four consecutive overtime games. The first was their matchup against the Rockets. Houston’s primed to make sure the Spurs don’t make overtime a possibility tonight.

It’s Star Wars night in Houston. The Force Beards with the Rockets. The Spurs know this. They’ve been dreading this game since the NBA gave them a W in their double-OT loss in San Antonio. Harden and the Rockets just want a fair game. Houston’s ready to right the ship, and get back on track before their upcoming road trip out West. The Beard won’t say it, his actions speak louder than his words on the court. On Monday night, Harden’s hunting for revenge. He knows it. San Antonio knows it. The Spurs have met Mr. Harden. But, since the last meeting… they haven’t been able to sleep.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

San Antonio Spurs (10-15):  Silver

Houston Rockets (17-9):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Run Out of Gas, Lose 115-107 to Pistons

Schedule Loss?    Empty Tank.    Respect the Grind.

Blame the schedule gods if you want. The third game in four nights proved to be too much for Houston, as the Rockets fell to the Pistons, 115-107, on Saturday. Give them all the excuses you want: Russell Westbrook didn’t play. It was the second of a back-to-back, and third game in four nights, therefore it can be deemed a “schedule loss.” But the Rockets still had the best player on the planet, James Harden, and plenty of capable bodies. It was evident from the start the squad was gassed due to the schedule. Nonetheless, this is still a bad loss for Houston. The Rockets led after the first, and despite fatigue, their roster depth brought more than enough promise for a victory. Especially with Detroit’s monster announced as a late scratch.

Detroit’s best player and the league’s top rebounder, Andre Drummond, didn’t play, due to eye inflammation. Blake Griffin, the Pistons other All-Star, scored a mere 2 points in only 15 minutes. Yet, the Rockets allowed Detroit to score 115 points at Toyota Center. Seven players for the Pistons hit double-figures in scoring. Luke Kennard started hot, and led Detroit in scoring with 22 points. Derrick Rose closed the game for the Pistons. The former-MVP turned NBA-journeyman had a brilliant fourth quarter. Rose finished with 20, and out-dueled Harden and the Rockets in the final moments, when the game was still reasonably in reach for Houston. The Beard had 39 points to lead the Rockets, but looked exhausted near the end of the game. Hands on his knees, Harden was gasping for breath by the end of this one. It’s understandable. Houston’s superstar scored a combined 109 points in the previous two games, and still managed 39 on Saturday night. But with no Westbrook, Harden’s usage rate hit the max near the end of the contest. Sheer exhaustion, combined with no Westbrook in the clutch, doomed the Rockets on Saturday. Rookie Chris Clemons scored 17 points in only 16 minutes, and fueled a late comeback that fell short against Rose and the Pistons. Give Houston an excuse for having an empty tank. I’m not. The Rockets should have beaten a Detroit team dented with its own injury problems. Even without Drummond, and a barely coherent Blake Griffin, this was still ugly defensively for Houston. Hopefully, the Rockets tighten up on the defensive end in the future. But that always seems to be a hope.

It’s time for Houston to move on from Saturday’s setback, and prove they’re ready for what lies ahead. If the Rockets want to catch the Lakers for the first seed out West, Houston has no margin for error. The losing to bad teams (especially at home), needs to end. Houston has too much depth on their roster to lose to teams like Drummondless Detroit. No excuses. All NBA teams suffer injuries, play back-to-backs, and deal with scheduling crises. Luckily for the Rockets, teams don’t play on back-to-back nights in the playoffs. However, the grind of facing elite playoff competition is tougher than any regular season schedule setbacks. As many believe, back-to-backs are somewhat unfair, especially if one team rested, and the other played the night before. Nonetheless, it is what it is. For now, consecutive games aren’t going away. The playoffs aren’t going away either, as their image begins to be take shape in the far distance. But they aren’t fair either. And, this season, if the playoffs prove to be too much for Houston… the Rockets won’t have anyone to blame but themselves.

Rockets Aim to Sweep the Weekend, Host Pistons

Pit-Stop.    Glass Plan.    Less Brodie, More Beard.

James Harden’s magic propelled the Rockets to a 2-0 road trip, which concluded less last night. Houston returns home for a Saturday night matchup with the Detroit Pistons. The Rockets are looking to sweep the weekend, after a dominating performance by the Beard and co. in Orlando. It’s a pit-stop of sorts for Houston. After tonight’s contest, they’ll look for revenge against the Spurs on Monday, before heading back out on the road for 4 games over the Christmas holiday. James Harden is currently in a zone no player’s ever experienced. Ever. The Beard has 109 points in the last two games. And for all those people that say all Houston’s superstar does is shoot free throws, only 11 of his 109 points came from the foul line. Harden is sniper from long-range, deadly accuracy that doesn’t seem to be affected, regardless of the opposition’s defensive scheme. The Beard will try score 50 for the third consecutive game, a rare feat in the NBA, and something the league hasn’t witnessed in a while.

Detroit sits on the outside of playoff contention in the East. The Pistons are currently 10-15, and probably won’t make the postseason this year. Nonetheless, Detroit has an All-Star in Blake Griffin, and the NBA’s premier rebounding machine: Andre Drummond. Houston’s weakness is in the interior, and with Tyson Chandler still out with the flu, tonight’s game could pose matchup problems for the Rockets. Clint Capela will need assistance on the glass as he tries to hold off Drummond and Griffin for boards and loose balls. If Houston can contain Detroit’s dominant big men, they should win Saturday night at home.

It’s a home game for the Rockets against a bad team from the East. That means they should win, right? They should, but tonight is the third game in four nights for Houston. Expect to see tired legs, and nowhere near the shooting performance the Rockets put on last night. As is the custom for one game of of back-to-backs, Russell Westbrook is resting tonight for Houston. With no Brodie, look to see even more touches for the Beard. Hopefully, Harden brought some of that magic he displayed on the road back home.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Detroit Pistons (10-15):  Red

Houston Rockets (16-8):  “Space City” White

 

TV:  8 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Harden World: The Beard Dazzles with 54, Rockets Blur by Magic, 130-107

Watch Close.    Downtown Party.    Revelations.

“Are you watching closely?” It’s a question that’s asked many times in The Prestige, Christopher Nolan’s classic film about magicians. On Friday night, I found myself watching closer and closer. I’ve watched James Harden his entire career. I’m as “used” to his greatness as someone can be. But I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. And peered closer to the screen, see if what I was watching was actually real. It was. On Friday the 13th, Number 13 put on quite a magic show in Orlando. Harden had the most efficient shooting performance of his career. The Beard truly gave the spectators in Orlando their money’s worth, scoring 54 points, in dominating fashion. The Magic put up quite a fight, but nobody, no one on the planet, was stopping James Harden on Friday night. The Beard  was unstoppable, launching the Rockets to a 130-107 win in Orlando. His ten three-pointers tie his own franchise record for threes made in a game, a record Harden had just set in Houston’s previous game against Cleveland. In Orlando, Harden dazzled with insanely tough shots, and helped the Rockets separated from the Magic in the second half. The Beard went a jaw-dropping 19-for-31 from the field, including a stunning 10-for-15 from long range. It was a performance that truly showed why Harden is the best player on the planet at the moment.

Despite continuing to get little “honest” recognition for his defense, the Beard has been spectacular on the defensive end of the floor all season. In particular, the combination of Harden’s defense which leads to his unbelievable offense has fueled the Rockets to a 2-0 road trip. Besides the 54 points, the Beard also had 7 assists, 5 boards, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. On a night the three leading MVP-candidates (LeBron, Giannis, Harden) all played, the Beard’s line of work stood above the pack. Harden’s prestigious show incited a 23-point Houston blowout, and is another strong file in the Beard’s resume as the MVP. Despite playing the Orlando Magic, a subpar team, Disney World’s team didn’t play that bad. Harden was just ridiculous. Evan Fournier had a superb shooting performance for the Magic, going 10-of-18, for 27 points. Orlando’s big man Aaron Gordon also had a solid game with 21 points and 6 boards. Fournier and Gordon kept the Magic in the game in the first half, but could only do so much with limited help, and slowed down after intermission. Although Harden made the headline-worthy performance, he had plenty of help from friends.

The Beard’s buddies came to play in Orlando, as the Rockets had one of their most convincing wins of the season. Russell Westbrook is beginning to find his groove in this Houston offense. Brodie had another smart game. Russ didn’t explode, he didn’t need to, as his decision making is contenting to impress more and more with each game. Westbrook scored 23 points, on 9-of-18 from the floor, but only attempted three shots from beyond the arc. Driving to the basket is Brodie’s forte, and he’s finally cut down on all the ill-advised threes he was jacking earlier in the year. Speaking of threes, it was a Downtown Party for the Rockets in Orlando. The squad had their best shooting night from distance this season, connecting on roughly 56% of shots from deep. Ben McLemore was major part of Houston’s Downtown Party. Benny Mac shot 6-of-7 from three, with all 18 of his points coming from the promise land. McLemore has slowly evolved into the “revelation”, or find of the season. Last year it was Danuel House. The season before that it was P.J. Tucker, although that wasn’t a find, as Houston signed Tucker. However, no one expected P.J. to be Mr. Intangible and mesh perfectly with James Harden. Tucker competes and gives it his all on every single play. On the other side, the Magic aren’t much of a competitive group. But, Houston’s had trouble winning games comfortably against weaker opponents. It was a sigh of relief to see the Rockets finally not having to endure a nail-biting thriller with questionable officiating. Houston needs more victories of this manner on their resume to build confidence, and allow the starters to get some rest before the playoffs.

There’s little time to rest for the Rockets this weekend. Houston heads home to face the Pistons on Saturday in the latter half of their back-to-back. It will be the third game in four nights for the Rockets. It could also be James Harden’s third-straight game with 50 points. A feat rarely seen in this league. Westbrook will be sitting on Saturday. The plan is to have Brodie play only one game on back-to-backs. He’s been injury prone at times in the past. In the last few games, Westbrook is showing signs of finding his role on his new team. Houston will need him healthy for the playoffs if they have any chance at that elusive title. They’ll also need James Harden. And he’ll be there. But he won’t be here forever. Don’t take what Harden’s doing for granted. A revelation is his own right, in the midst of one of the greateast season’s the NBA’s ever seen. The Beard is dominating all facets of the game. If you can’t appreciate Harden’s greatness… you’re just not watching closely.

Houston Heads to Orlando for Part 1 of Back-to-Back

Looking for Space.    Westbrook Drive.    Step in the Journey.

On Friday night, the Rockets head to Florida to take on the Orlando Magic. It’s a rematch of the NBA Finals… from 1995. The last time Houston appeared on the league’s grandest stage. Tonight’s matchup doesn’t have the lore, nor importance of a Finals game. Nonetheless, it’s next up on the schedule, and James Harden and the crew have to take care of business. Orlando is currently 11-13, holding onto the 8th spot in the East. The Magic are another young squad this veteran Rocket team should handle on the road. Their best player, center Nikola Vucevic, is a game-time decision. Vooch has been out since November 20th with an injury. If he doesn’t play Orlando still has options to frustrate Houston. After getting off to a slow start, power forward Aaron Gordon is slowly coming around for the Magic, and could be a problem on the glass and in the paint for the Rockets if they’re lazy.

Orlando is coming off two close losses to the Bucks and Lakers. The two teams favored at this point to make the NBA Finals. If Houston wants to mentioned with those teams, they need to start winning these road teams against mid-tier competition. The Cavs were low tier competition, and the Rockets barely survived They should be able to win tonight, but Houston’s had problems letting bad teams hang around. On the other side, the Magic have played up to their competition and made their recent matchups against the NBA’s elite contested. Houston needs to be careful about playing around with this Magic team. As the Rockets looks to space themselves apart a bit in the standings, they need to beat teams like Orlando. These two squads are in different atmospheres when it comes to talent and experience. Hopefully, Houston rises to the occasion and prove this, but who knows. Orlando is closer than most NBA cities to Miami. The city that seems to suck the soul out of the Rockets ability to hoop. 

If this season’s shown anything, it’s that Houston rarely wins games comfortably. Out of their 16 wins, only 6 came by double figures or more. And their latest victory in Cleveland was a perfect example. Another game in the win column, but by no means easy. Harden’s best game of the season fueled a Rockets comeback, after they went down by 11 points in the fourth quarter, for the squad to secure a win. Fortunately for Houston, Russell Westbrook has also been very impressive over his last three games. Brodie is averaging roughly 27 points, 8 assists, and 8 boards over the past trio of contests. Most importantly, his decision-making and shot choices are improving with each game. Westbrook has started to trend in the preferred direction of using his greatest strength: the ability to drive the ball with ferocity, to the basket. Instead of settling for threes around the perimeter, when Westbrook drives, he sets up a variety of options for himself and the team. More space is created for perimeter shooters. And Brodie can get to the basket at ease, whenever he wants. An drive Westbrook needs to continue rolling for Houston to inch up in the standings.

Austin Rivers missed the past two games with the same Rockets’ Flu that’s affected Clint Capela, Danuel House, and Tyson Chandler this season. Rivers is expected to be back in action tonight for the Rockets. Austin’s defense, shooting, and intangibles bring so much to Houston’s blueprint on both sides of the court. Tonight is the first of back-to-back for the Rockets, who return to Houston to face the Pistons on Saturday. It’s a sweepable back-to-back for Harden and company. These games are small steps in the ultimate journey, but they need to be taken seriously. Houston struggles to preserve big leads. As a result, the Rockets starters are playing way too many minutes, especially P.J. Tucker. It’s time for the entire squad to take a step back. Houston needs to realize the negative impact toying with the opposition has on their journey towards a championship. Getting back to the promise land is a process. The Rockets are working (too hard) through phase one of that process: the regular season. Friday night’s tilt in Orlando is another chance for Houston to take a step back in the right direction. It’s not the NBA Finals, but if the Rockets want to get back to the promise land, winning games like tonight makes for a smoother ride.

 

Amway Center:  Orlando, Florida

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (16-8):  “Classic” Red

Orlando Magic (11-13):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

King James:  Harden’s 55 Carry Rockets Past Cavs, 116-110

Strange Affair.    Clutch in Cleveland.    Headlines.

How can someone score 55 points, and not even make the headlines? When that person’s name is James Harden. The Beard had a double-nickel on Wednesday night, yet wasn’t even among the top NBA headlines on ESPN’s website after the game. I guess Bearded 50-Burgers have become so commonplace now they’re not even noteworthy. Cleveland took note. Harden scored 20 of his 55 points in the 4th quarter to lead Houston to a 116-110 comeback victory. This was a strange affair. The Rockets looked to be in complete control, up by 13 late in the third quarter, 88-75. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Cleveland went on a 24-0 run that stretched from the end of the third period, and into the fourth. Rookie Kevin Porter Jr. had his best game for the Cavs, fueling Cleveland’s long run and finishing with 24 points. Luckily for Houston, it wasn’t enough, as the Beard responded with his own personal 13-0 run that got Houston back in the game. And the Cavs closed the contest with too many errant turnovers that allowed the Rockets to escape with a victory.

It was arguably Harden’s best performance of the year. Only 5 free throws were needed on his way to 55 points, a staggering feat, tying the NBA-record for fewest free throw attempts in a 55-point game. Harden was on fire on Wednesday night, shooting 20-for-34 from the floor, including a 10-of-18 display from distance. His ten three-pointers ties Houston’s franchise record, previously held by… himself (and Eddie Johnson). Russell Westbrook played well as Harden’s co-star, scoring 23 points, to go with 7 boards and 6 dimes. Clint Capela finished with another double-double, notching 10 points and 13 rebounds. But this was the Beard’s night. Harden was clutch down the stretch when the Rockets needed him to save them from another embarrassing defeat. P.J. Tucker, aka The Corner Man, hit the biggest shot of the game for a Houston, a trademark Tucker Corner-3, that sealed the win. Tucker leads the NBA in 3-point % from the corner. The first play of the game from the Rockets was drawn up for a Tucker Corner-3. If he gets open in the corner, P.J. has free range to fire at will, especially in the right-corner, where he makes more than he misses. Houston was lucky to survive Cleveland, and get out with a win. They’ll need to be sharper in the upcoming games. Rarely (closer to never) do teams in the NBA go on 24-0 runs… and lose. The Cavs showed at the end of the matchup with ill-advised decision making why they’re at the bottom of the standings. It won’t be as easy over the next pair of games, as Houston has a back-to-back this weekend.

The Rockets travel to Orlando to meet the Magic before returning home on for a Space-City Saturday matchup featuring the Detroit Pistons. Both teams are in the Eastern Conference with losing records. However, Houston’s next two opponents are noticeable better than Cleveland. The Rockets have played 2 back-to-backs so far this season, splitting both. Counting this weekend, Houston has 10 remaining. A Magic/Pistons back-to-back ending in Houston is friendlier than most back-to-backs the Rockets will face. Houston will need to tighten up the defense in Orlando if they want to put go undefeated on this short 2-game road trip. The Rockets can’t give up any more 24-0 runs. If they do, Houston will lose. Harden and co. were lucky to escape Cleveland with a W. The focus must remain on racking up wins if the Rockets want to be in the best position for the playoffs. The only place they’ll be able to make noise, silence the haters… and make the headlines.

Rockets Try to Stop Playing Cavalier, Head Up to Cleveland

The Good, the Bad, and the Rockets.    Who Are They?    Avoiding the Future of L.A. Deja-Vu.   

“There are two kinds of people in the world: those with guns, and those that dig.” A quote from the classic Spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. One that makes me think about the current state of the Rockets, and the entire NBA. Houston, a team loaded with guns who continue to dig their own hole for no reason. At this point in the NBA, it’s obvious who’s good, who’s bad, and who’s just plain ugly. We are now approaching a third of the way through this NBA season. It’s evident for every team whether or not they have realistic title chances. Every team except for the Rockets. Who are they? At 15-8, some nights, they look like they can beat any team from any era. Other nights, Houston just confuses you, playing cavalier against their opponent. Since starting the season 11-3, Houston is 4-5, and has sunk to mediocrity. Which Rockets will show up tonight?

On Wednesday, Houston travels to Cleveland to take on one of the NBA’s ugly’s, the Cavaliers. With a record of 5-18, Cleveland is currently on a 7-game losing streak. Only the Knicks and Warriors have worse record. There is absolutely no reason the Rockets shouldn’t win by 20 tonight. The Cavs have no one who can even contain James Harden. If the Beard is shooting with any relative efficiency, expect a big number from #13 in white. The Cavs have Kevin Love on the trading block, a potential star-in-the-making in Collin Sexton, but that’s pretty much it when it comes to news from Cleveland. They should be near the bottom of the East with the Knicks all season. Houston is more experienced, talented, and just better in every phase than Cleveland. But the Rockets are highly unpredictable, and winning on the road is never a guarantee in this league. A loss tonight would be extremely disappointing. Hopefully they look at the big picture, and realize they need to start picking up some slack in the standings.

Seeding is more important than ever this year. Especially in the Western Conference. Don’t be fooled by the records. As we approach the first trimester mark in the season, it’s apparent that there are three and only three teams who can win the West: the Lakers, Clippers, and Rockets. The Mavs and Nuggets are good and will be in the playoffs. Dallas is the biggest surprise of the season, and has the league’s brightest longterm future with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. But the Mavs won’t be a real threat to the throne this year. Denver, meanwhile, has always been overrated in my opinion. They’re a great regular season team. They’ll win a lot of games, but I don’t see their current core having a chance at beating the Lakers, Clippers, or Rockets in the playoffs. The Lakers have stormed through the early part of the season, off to a franchise best start at 21-3, and leading the West. The Clippers are the face of Load Management in the NBA, with Kawhi Leonard at the helm, who seems to rest every other game. Nonetheless, they’re currently second in the West, with a record of 18-7. And they won’t be resting in the playoffs. Both teams from L.A. pose as Houston’s biggest obstacles to reach the NBA Finals. The Rockets, at 15-8, should be at least 17-6, but the past can’t be changed. Houston has underperformed, and needs to right the ship while playing upcoming inferior competition on the schedule. Otherwise, they’ll drop too far in the standings. And while playoff seeding doesn’t truly matter, this season the team that gets the #1 seed will have a huge advantage.

So why is seeding more important than ever this season? LeBron James knows. There’s a reason he’s guided the Lakers to the best start in franchise history. It’s simple. The #2 and #3 seeds, if they both advance, will have to battle each other in the second round. Meaning whoever gets the top seed only has to play one of the NBA’s 3 Juggernauts (Lakers, Clippers, Rockets). Meanwhile, the two teams that don’t get the top seed will probably have an all out war in a 7-game playoff series. And then the winner gets the prize of facing a (probably) more rested #1 seed. It’s a brutal scenario. For the Rockets, it means if they can’t catch the Lakers for the top spot, they’ll probably have to play both teams from L.A, that’s if they advance. Two playoff series against the Clippers and Lakers, arguably the NBA’s two best teams, is a nightmare to think about.

Houston needs to get down to business. If James Harden and Russell Westbrook ever want to win a ring, the squad needs to start taking bad teams like tonight’s opponent in Cleveland seriously. Otherwise, the Rockets will be in a seriously deep hole come playoff time. And Houston will have to face two major problems in the playoffs instead of just one. It’s still early enough. The Rockets can catch the Lakers and climb to the top of the West. Houston has an arsenal of weapons just as deadly as they have out in L.A. Despite all the controversies, the Rockets have been their own worst enemy all season. Tonight, they need to stop digging… it’s time to load up. 

 

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse:  Cleveland, Ohio

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (15-8):  White

Cleveland Cavaliers (5-18):  Black

 

TV:  6 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Heartbreak in Houston:  Kings Best Rockets at the Buzzer, 119-118

Tick Tock.    Wasting Westbrook.    Pretenders in the Mist.

“Just miscommunication. That’s all. It happens,” P.J. Tucker said after Houston’s heartbreaking loss at the buzzer to Sacramento, 119-118, on Monday night. Even if it’s for a second, miscommunication can be costly, and it happened and cost Houston a win as the final horn sounded. Things were looking bright for the Rockets in a closely contested game with one second on the clock. Houston took the lead, 118-116, with only a second remaining on a Russell Westbrook layup, that looked to be the game winner. But one second can be an eternity in the NBA. And it was plenty of time for the Kings. On the final possession, the Rockets miscommunicated on defense and left Nemanja Bjelica wide open, who sank a three at the buzzer to spoil Houston’s night. Buddy Hield led the Kings with 26 points, but it was a joint effort from Sacramento that gave them the victory. Six Kings’ players scored at least 13 points. The Rockets let Sacramento hang around long enough, until all the Kings needed was the ball and a second to win the game, which proved to be more than enough.

Houston wasted Russell Westbrook’s best game as a Rocket. Brodie scored 34 points, on stellar 13-for-17 shooting from the floor. His final basket looked to seal the victory for Houston, until Bjelica broke the bad news at the buzzer. Westbrook’s played extremely well the past two games, certainly an encouraging sign. P.J. Tucker had a career-high 19 rebounds, and was everywhere on the court per usual. Clint Capela had a solid night, scoring 13 points and grabbing 17 boards. James Harden had a quiet 27 points on poor shooting from the outside. It’s just one regular season loss, but the Rockets can’t continue to let teams hang around in games they’re supposed to win. Houston is clearly the better team, but once again played down to their competition on Monday. The clock is ticking. If the Rockets can’t start to win games over bad teams comfortably, it’s going to cost them in the energy tank in the long run. Houston’s starters are playing WAY too many minutes. This is partially due to injuries, and Coach Mike D’Antoni’s hesitation to give certain players (Gary Clark) more minutes. Clark was allotted 21 minutes on Monday, and was mistake-free once again. Clark never turned the ball over, and finished with 11 points, 3 boards, 2 keys blocks, and shot 3-for-5 from downtown. Clark has shown that he deserves more minutes. It’s time Coach recognizes Clark’s positive impact.

The Rockets will need to bounce back from this tough loss, as they hit the road for a short two game trip coming up on Wednesday and Friday. It’s against two more teams Houston should beat, the Cavs and the Magic. After Monday’s loss, it’s hard to see what this Rockets team will bring night-in-night-out. After winning 8 straight games, Houston has gone 4-5, and looked like pretenders in the mist. Or maybe they just don’t realize how important seeding is this year and are taking the regular season for granted. Last season showed what a difference one game can make in the standings, Houston lost their final game last season, nearly at the buzzer, and it dropped them from the second spot to fourth in the standings. As a result they had to play Golden State in the second round, instead of the Conference Finals. If the Rockets don’t start focusing on the big picture, they’re going to be in trouble. Houston needs to start winning the games they’re supposed to win. At 15-8, the Rockets are now 5 games out of the 1-seed, which is crucial this season in the West now more than ever. What makes everything so frustrating is the Houston has the potential of a Lakers team that sits first in the West with a 21-3 record. The Rockets have the capability to blow teams out, beat the barnburners, but they just refuse to give themselves a break. And at the end of the regular season, games like Monday night’s heartbreaker could add up to cost Houston in the end. And the Rockets could be bounced before they even reach the Conference Finals. It happens.