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Heat-Check: Miami Comes to Town, as Rockets Look to Kick Vices, Losing Streak

Caught in the Middle.    Harden Classic.    On the Edge.

“I gotta hold on to my angst. I preserve it because I need it. It keeps me sharp, on the edge… where I gotta be,” Al Pacino says in the classic crime caper, Heat. The Houston Rockets, now owners of a 3-game losing-streak, host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. The Miami squad that was up by 20 within half a quarter in their first meeting. The Heat team that took the entire Rockets squad to school. Houston should be motivated to get revenge for their worst loss of the season: an old-fashioned beatdown saw the Heat lead by more than 40 points on different occasions throughout the contest. Although, that matchup was never a contest. Houston needs to be primed to break their slide tonight, and be the hotter team from the start. If the Rockets don’t play with an edge, their losing streak could run to four after tonight. Which would put this squad on the edge, slotting further down the standings in the West.

Wednesday night’s game is vastly important. It ends this brutal four-game stretch, one in which Houston yet to win a game. Tonight’s matchup was Houston’s easiest out of the four before the stretch began, and hopefully they end this tough part of the schedule on a hot note. The Heat, tied for second in the East, are one of the better teams in the NBA, and showed that to Houston in these squads first matchup. However, some cast members won’t be making appearances in tonight’s show. Jimmy Butler is questionable with an illness for Miami, as is Clint Capela for Houston. These factors shouldn’t affect the game’s outcome. James Harden’s playing. And it’s time for one of those signature performances. The Beard cooked Miami last season and looks to avenge his poor outing in their previous matchup. The Rockets need a Harden Classic now more than ever. Houston’s slipped in the standings, and a loss tonight likely moves them down another notch out West.

After looking like prime contenders, the Rockets now look like a team caught in the middle. A squad with the talent to win it all, surrounded by the pressure of a title window closing and closing, yet still not shut. Houston needs to figure out who they are, now. There’s no time for games. This season, a low seed, an you could be ousted by the eventual champion in the first round. If the Rockets want to play the best team other than themselves in the conference finals, they need to get their act together. Houston needs to remember that angst from this season’s first Heat game, preserve it, at least for tonight. Harden and the Rockets are being pushed to the edge, but this Houston team has prevailed this season when pushed to the brink. At 3-3, they won 8 straight. Now, after dropping 3 in a row, the team is staring at 11-6, and potentially 11-7, if they’re not on edge tonight. Houston plays sharp when they’re on edge, and maybe, just maybe, a win tonight will keep the squad on the right track… where they gotta be.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Jersey Colors:

Miami Heat (12-4):  White

Houston Rockets (11-6):  Black

TV:  7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Mavs Shoot Down Rockets, 137-123, Houston Loses 3rd Straight

Early Bird Gets the Worm.    Failure to Launch.    Losing Ground.

“Some people are so far behind in a race that they actually believe they are leading”, Uncle Jun’ says at one point during HBO’s legendary series The Sopranos. Three games ago, in this long race that is the NBA season, the Rockets looked like the leading contenders to win the title. Fast forward 3 games, and reality hits: Houston’s just another contender amongst roughly 6 teams. They got bounced on Sunday, 137-123, by a team that’s closing in on joining that group of contenders: the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic had another electric performance, and out-dueled James Harden. Dallas’ sophomore sensation finished with 41 points, 10 assists, and 6 rebounds. The Beard finished with 32 points, 11 dimes, and 9 boards, but his Rockets were outplayed from the tip. Houston trailed by 16 after the first quarter, got within 5 points in the middle of the fourth, but were never really in the game. The Rockets bench was outscored 28-11, as the Mavericks were the better team on Sunday. And Doncic was the best player on the floor, making another MVP-caliber statement with his dominant performance. Hopefully, it wakes Harden back up. He still had 32, and one rebound shy of a triple-double, but the Beard’s leadership wasn’t as powerful as Doncic’s and the Rockets lost as a result.

It was an earlier start than usual, 2:30 PM local time. Maybe the Rockets just weren’t ready yet. Clint Capela was ready. Capela had a another dominant night, with 21 points and 23 boards. Houston’s big man became the first player to record 7 consecutive 19 rebound games since Dennis “The Worm” Rodman in 1976. It’s too bad no one else on Houston joined Capela’s Worm Party. They say the early bird gets the worm, well the Mavs were the early bird on Sunday. Getting to lose balls first, out-hustling the Rockets, which resulted in a Dallas-friendly whistle all afternoon. Houston was coming off a grueling loss on Friday night in L.A., which makes them now 0-3 during this tough four-game stretch. A test they’ve now failed. This was supposed to be Houston’s launching pad to gain ground in the West. After this tough test, the Rockets have only fallen behind, from 2nd, now down to 5th in the standings.

The test isn’t over. Miami, the team that gave Houston a royal lesson in how to behave, comes to town on Wednesday night. The Heat are 2nd in the East, and will pose another difficult matchup for the Rockets. However, Houston’s home, is the better team, and should win the game. But if the Rockets don’t come out ready to play, and believe they can just show up and will be leading at the end of the game, they will be in for another disappointing loss. This isn’t the year to get a low seed in the postseason. The playoffs are going to be a merciless fight for survival the league’s never seen, specifically in the West. If Houston continues to sleepwalk through the regular season with the mindset that they’re leading the race, when they wake up, they’ll be so far behind that catching up may be out of reach.   

Rockets Return Home to Host In-State Rival Mavs

Cool Hand Luka.    Second Half.    Rivalry Renewed.

Houston tries to stop end their two game losing streak, as they return home for a Sunday matinee to host the upstart Dallas Mavericks. Their long-time in-state rivals have the best team they’ve had in nearly 8 years. Dallas is led by second year sensation Luka Doncic, who is having an MVP-caliber season. Luka is one of the league’s most entertaining players as well, and has Dallas as the surprise team in the NBA so far this season.

The Rockets went 0-2 during the first half of their current tough 4-game stretch. The second half begins today, and Houston needs more effort, and have to hope some shots fall, to beat a really good Mavs team.

This rivalry looks to be renewed. After being in the dumps, Dallas has one of the best teams they’ve had in years, and are poised to be good for at least the next decade. The Rockets will try and get the first win in these two, as the Kristaps Porzinigis-era of this rivalry starts today, in Houston. Rockets. Mavs. The Beard. Cool Hand Luka. The Unicorn. Brodie. Clint Capela goes for his sixth straight 20-rebound game. It should be fun. Don’t miss it.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Dallas Mavericks (10-5):  Blue

Houston Rockets (11-5):  Red

 

TV:  2:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Collapse in Final Minute, Edged by Clips, 102-99

Failure to Close.    True Enemies.    Looking Ahead.    

The Rockets couldn’t hold a lead in the final minute, and lost to the Clippers, 102-99, on Friday night. It was one of the most entertaining games of the season, and Los Angeles brought out the best in both teams. These two rivals will be enemies until the end of the year, when they’ll probably meet in the playoffs. What an epic series that would be. Only time will tell if it will happen. Houston hopes that a return home that break the skid. The upstart Mavs come to town, as the Rockets have another tough battle on their hands if they want to stop the losing streak at two games.

Rockets Sail into L.A. for Round 2 Against Archenemy Clippers

Act 2.    Craving a 40-Burger.    Beef Court.

Part 2 of the NBA’s beefiest rivalry begins Friday night, live from the center of the NBA universe, Los Angeles. The Rockets, coming off a loss in Denver where they were outplayed from start to finish, aim to rebound with an impressive win tonight. Round 2 presents the most difficult test Houston’s faced all season. The Clippers are riding a 3-game winning streak to start a 5-game homestand. L.A. got superstar Paul George back from injury to start the homestand, and are undefeated when he takes the court. The Rockets won the first matchup between these two heavyweights last week, 102-93, back in Houston. That match was the final game before PG13’s debut. George is off to a great start, averaging 28 points, and has a dominant presence on both ends of the floor as one of the game’s best defenders. James Harden and company need to play smart, and tough, if they’re going to grind out a win in part 2 of this epic series.

In this contest, Houston is going to need some sort of extra energy spark. Danuel House suffered a shoulder injury in Wednesday’s loss, and won’t be playing for the Rockets tonight. The injury isn’t expected to be serious, House is expected back Sunday, but his absence will be felt against one of the best teams in the NBA. The Rocket can do plenty of damage alone with the Beard and Brodie. Clint Capela’s the hottest big man in basketball. Capela’s grabbed 20 or more rebounds in 5 straight games, all after returning from a concussion that sidelined him for two games. Houston needs their big man to continue to feast on the glass, like it’s his own personal Thanksgiving dinner, if the Rockets are going to escape L.A. with a victory. Houston enters this game 7-0 when James Harden scores 40 points, and 4-4 when he doesn’t. The Rockets better hope the Beard is craving a 40-Burger tonight, without a dominant performance from Harden, the fully-loaded Clips will be a tough-out.

This rivalry presented plenty of beef in Round 1. Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverly continued their ongoing feud, with Brodie saying after the first game that Bev doesn’t play defense. Clippers Coach Doc Rivers famously got ejected with his son, Houston’s Austin Rivers in the middle of all the drama. Austin waved goodbye and motioning for Doc to “call him” after the game. Expect former Rockets, Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly, and especially Montrezl Harrell, who was quiet last week, to be impact-makers for L.A. Round 2 of the league’s beefiest rivalry continues tonight under the bright lights of Staples Center in Los Angeles. Undermanned, Houston just might need a little extra beef, in the form of a Bearded 40-Burger, to escape L.A. alive.

 

Staples Center:  Los Angeles, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-4):  Classic Red

Los Angeles Clippers (10-5):  White

 

TV:  9:30 PM CT – ESPN

Mile High Misery: Streak Snapped in Denver as Rockets Fall to Nuggets, 105-95

Rocky Mountain Lows.    Missing the Green Light.    No Excuses.

After being favored throughout their win streak, the Rockets were slight underdogs on Wednesday night, and it showed. Houston’s streak and the Rockets fell in Denver, at the hand of the Nuggets, 105-95. The Rockets have yet to win a road game over a contender all season. Houston scored the least amount of points they’ve had in a game, all season. The Nuggets swarmed James Harden on the perimeter, resulting in a low Beard tally of 27 for the night. His teammates couldn’t hit open shots, and Denver controlled the pace, and the game, for all four quarters. The lone bright spot coming out of this game: Clint Capela, who had 21 boards. Over 20 for the 5th straight game. Capela has absolutely devoured glass, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, since returning from injury. He becomes the first NBA player to to accomplish the feat since Ben Wallace, in 2003 with Detroit. Houston just couldn’t hit open shots when they needed in Denver.

In more injury news, Danuel House suffered a shoulder injury, and didn’t return to the game. He’s questionable for Houston’s Friday showdown in L.A. House’s departure proved to have detrimental effect on Houston’s comeback efforts. His sharpshooting ability to knock down the open long bomb was sorely missed in this game after he went to the locker room. His partner in crime, Gerald “Green Light” Green, could potentially be out for the season, and hasn’t played all year. Green’s hustle and sharpshooting ability were missed in a game like Wednesday night’s, more than ever. The GreenHouse Effect, which become a local sensation last season, was needed desperately on Wednesday. Houston had the opportunities, but couldn’t knock down shots. Green is a streaky shooter, and always capable defender, who would’ve made a difference in Denver. It was also a game in which the Rockets could have really used Eric Gordon, still out with a knee injury. Sharpshooters were needed against the deep, versatile Nuggets, and none were to be found. Houston has no excuses despite the injuries on the perimeter. The Rockets are better than Denver, and will need to prove it the next these two squads face-off.

It’s exam season for the Houston Rockets. One of their biggest tests all year is coming up on Friday night. Houston faces their toughest matchup of the young season, and another early season test. A rematch, this time in Los Angeles, against their heated rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. Unlike last week, Friday presents a fully-loaded Clippers team. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both expected to play. George missed the first bout between the rivals. In round 2, the Rockets try and bounce back from their Mile High Misery, and finally get an impressive win on the road. They might be without Danuel House, but they’re no excuses for this Houston team. The Beard is coming off one of his worst games of the season. The Rockets have more than enough to bounce back. No altitude excuses if the squad doesn’t get it done. Other than these Clipper games, Denver, and Milwaukee, it’s been a cakewalk schedule for Houston so far this season. Sooner or later, if they want to be discussed amongst the favorites to win it all, winning games like Friday gets the conversation started.

Red-Hot Rockets Surge into Mile High, Aiming for 9 Straight

Mountainous Step.    Rocky Road.    Harden the 13th. 

“Watching film on him is like watching a horror movie,” Denver Coach Mike Malone said about James Harden, before his Nuggets try and stop the wrecking train that is Harden and the Houston Rockets. The hottest team in sports, the scorching Rockets, blaze into the Mile High City for an anticipated meeting with the Nuggets. Harden and company are rolling, winners of 8 straight. Houston has owned Denver over the past few seasons. The Beard and company have won 10 of the last 11 matchups with the Nuggets, and 14 of the last 18. Malone knows, he’s been at the helm in Denver throughout their history of horror with Houston. Nonetheless, the altitude always plays a factor in Denver, giving the Nuggets some hope, and a slight advantage over most teams. It’s something the Rockets will have to battle, and will test the team’s endurance as a unit. This game is Houston’s toughest road test so far, the Nuggets are almost certainly playoff bound. Denver has one of the best big men in basketball, in Nikola Jokic, aka “The Joker.” Although the Joker’s not had the laughs he had last year, getting off to a slow start, Clint Capela’s stretch of 4-straight games with 20 rebounds will be tested.

It’s going to be a mountainous step for the squad to get their 9th straight win, tonight. Although, the Rockets are more than capable of beating this Nuggets team they’ve beaten time and time again. Especially with the improvements they’ve made so far in this short season. They’ve taken a mountainous step in terms defensive improvement from the team started the year 3-3. This stat, courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau, is fascinating: Amongst lineups to have played at least 60 minutes together, Houston’s starting lineup (Harden, Westbrook, House, Tucker, and Capela) has the best defensive rating at 87.5, and the best overall (net) rating in the entire league. Minus Eric Gordon, the Rockets are healthy, and getting better with each game. A tough 4-game stretch looms for Houston, and they need to get off on the right foot tonight, with a victory.

Wednesday’s game in Denver begins a difficult 4-game stretch for the Rockets, one of their toughest of the season. Houston will play at the rival Clippers on Friday, in the season’s toughest test to date. Then, they return home to host the upstart Mavs and Heat. The Rockets are riding high at this point in the season, but a slip of the wheel, and Houston could find themselves down a few spots in the standings. And the Western Conference is more ruthless than ever, especially at the top. These two squads are currently seeded 2 and 3 out West. A Denver win tonight, pushes them over Houston in the standings, for the moment. The Nuggets are one of those legitimate threats to beat the Rockets on any night if Harden and company lose focus. They’re not many teams in the NBA that can at the moment, with the way the Beard has started the film to this year’s season.

And so… Pepsi Center hosts quite a juicy matchup on Wednesday night. Two perennial West playoff teams with grand expectations clash in the Mile High City. Houston puts their 8-game winning streak on the line, as Denver’s also playing well. The Nuggets have won 7 of their last 10 contests overall, and are tied in the loss column with the Rockets, sporting a 9-3 record. Tonight presents the biggest test Houston’s faced on the road all season. If the Rockets can stay with Denver, one of the league’s best passing teams, they can run their streak to 10 games. It should be an exciting game, as a clash of styles meet. The Nuggets like to slow the game down. In contrast, Houston plays with the fastest pace in basketball. Westbrook, Harden, and the Rockets are ready to run the Nuggets out of the building. Nearly fully healthy, the squad is firing on all cylinders. And they also have that man who keeps Mike Malone up on nights before Denver plays Houston. A man with a beard that houses superpowers storms into Pepsi Center tonight. Coach Malone’s already seen Harden the 13th. He’s seen this movie too many times. But in case you haven’t, be afraid Denver… be very afraid.

 

Pepsi Center:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (11-3):  White

Denver Nuggets (9-3):  Dark Blue

 

TV:  8 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Steamroll Blazers, 132-108, Make it 8 in a Row

Action Figures.    Three-Headed Monster.    Beautiful Machine.

Before arriving in Houston this year, Russell Westbrook played the first eleven seasons of his career in Oklahoma City. And never once, did the superstar get his own bobblehead. On Rockets Postgame, Calvin Murphy asked, “what were they thinking?” Monday night, that finally changed, as Russell Westbrook bobblehead night took place at Toyota Center. Oh, the beloved bobblehead. It’s not real validation, in terms of achieving anything significant, but the toy usually signifies you’re recognized by many as great at what you do. In sports, I’d guesstimate 90% of players with their own bobbleheads have been All-Stars, or established players in some form. Not everyone gets their own action figure. Last night, Westbrook finally got recognized as bobblehead-worthy. In celebration, Brodie and the Rockets blasted the Blazers, 132-108, for their 8th win in a row. Westbrook had another triple double, finishing with 28 points, 13 boards, and 10 dimes. Portland led after one quarter, but Houston blew the game open in the second period, and this contest was never close. It’s time to recognize the way Westbrook has transformed this team. The Rockets will only go as far as the Beard grows, but Westbrook drastically changes the pace for Houston. In effect, it creates more offensive possessions for one of the deadliest offensive teams of all time. Brodie plays like someone who needs an action figure. Westbrook is everywhere, sometimes seemingly everywhere at once, on both ends of the court. These triple doubles aren’t a coincidence. An action figure is defined as a doll, or in this case a bobblehead, representing a person known for vigorous action. No one’s action on the court is more vigorous than Russell Westbrook’s. Not just on Houston’s roster, but in the entire league.

James Harden had an efficient 36 points on a solid shooting night. Although still leading the way in scoring for the Rockets, the Beard didn’t need to carry as much of the offensive weight, with the return of Clint Capela and Danuel House. And yes, 36 points on 58% shooting, including 5-of-10 from deep, brings Harden’s scoring average down. Not even the Michael Jeffrey Jordan would 36 and see his scoring average drop. James Harden is in a league all his own. These Classic Average Nights are starting to become ridiculous. After missing two games with a concussion, Capela wasted no time crashing the party. Houston’s big man continues to be dominant on the glass. On Monday, Capela recorded 22 points, another 20 rebounds, and 4 blocks. It’s the Big Swiss’ fourth consecutive 20-rebound game. A feat not even the great Hakeem Olajuwon or Moses Malone ever accomplished. Capela is finally resembling the player who looked like an All-Star before his injury last season. And as he joins the party that’s looking like the NBA’s best team, the league has a Three-Headed Monster on their hands: James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Clint Capela: the best trio in basketball. Danuel House’s return was an efficient one, as has become the norm for the Houstonian. House had 11 points, including 50% shooting from three, 6 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals. P.J. Tucker had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and Isaish Hartenstein continues to slowly blossom. Hustlestein only saw 13 minutes of action, but scored 9 points, and continues to gain the trust of Houston Coach Mike D’Antoni with each performance. And the suddenly beloved fan-favorite, Austin Rivers, continues to quietly play the best perimeter defense in the NBA. Rivers is locking up opposing All-Star point guards night-after-night. Don’t believe me? Look at the stats. Over the last 5 games, when Rivers guarded one of the opponents top guards, in this case: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Jeff Teague, Lou Williams, or Justin Holiday, they shot a combined 2-for-17 from the field. That’s putting the clamps on defensively. Austin Rivers has quietly been extremely efficient and productive season for Houston this season off the bench. He fits in perfectly in D’Antoni’s system, and is one of the main contributors to why the Rockets defense has improved vastly since their 3-3 start. Houston isn’t on this 8-game winning streak without him. And with everyone but Eric Gordon back, this Houston Rockets team is beginning to resemble a beautiful machine. Everyone working in place, functioning as a unit, as the squad continues to learn on the move. Such a unique, special, beautiful machine. We won’t know to what degree for months to come. And this June, I truly believe the Rockets are going to win the NBA championship. You might ask, “what am I thinking?” I know It’s a long way to go until we get to the playoffs. But if Houston keeps playing this way, Westbrook will have something more than his own bobblehead after this season. Real validation.

Houston Blazes Home to Meet Portland, Before the Going Gets Tough

UT2: Now Playing.    Rebounding Reinforcements.    Calm Before the Storm.

The Unguardable Tour 2: Revenge for the Ring is officially under way. James Harden’s nationwide show and the Rockets return to Toyota Center on Monday night. Player of the Week honors were bestowed upon the Beard once again, as Houston rocketed up the standings with a 4-0 record last week.  Harden averaged an absurd 44.8 points a game last week, including 16 PPG in the fourth quarter. Houston, riding a 7-game winning streak, is ready to host the struggling Blazers. A season after making the Western Conference Finals, Portland has been one of the NBA’s most disappoint teams this year. The Blazers have a record of 5-8 on the season, and have lost 7 of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Rockets are red-hot, winners of 7 straight, boasting a 10-3 record. These clubs appear to be headed towards opposite ends of the spectrum. Houston, a club with the image of a serious title contender, is hungry and off to a hot start to the season. On the other end, Portland just doesn’t look right. Which is strange for a team that’s been in the playoff hunt for at least the past 5 years. The Blazers need to fix whatever the problem is in Portland, or they’re headed towards rebuilding mode faster than anyone expected. 

The Rockets get some reinforcements back tonight. After being severely undermanned in Minnesota, Russell Westbrook returns to action tonight, along with Clint Capela and Danuel House. All three of these starters will provide a huge boost for Harden and the Rockets. Although the squad showed just how deep they are with Ben McLemore, Chris Clemons, and Austin Rivers protecting the Beard’s Fort on the perimeter. Tyson Chandler and Isaiah Hartenstein had big games defensively, and on the glass in Capela’s absence. Houston will most noticeably be getting glass reinforcements with the return of Westbrook, House, and Capela. The three combine to average 25.4 boards a game this season. The Rockets have vastly improved on their rebounding this season, specifically on the defensive end. Although they were out- rebounded on Saturday against the Wolves, the return of these rebounding reinforcements should give Houston the advantage in the board battle against a Blazers team without their best big man, Jusuf Nurkic. Portland’s underaged big man suffered a gruesome leg injury in March, and there’s no timetable for his return. The Blazers certainly haven’t been the same squad without him, evidenced by last season’s playoff letdown and this year’s poor start. Nonetheless, Portland’s often been a tough out for the Rockets over the past few seasons. Damian Lillard seems to play his best ball against Houston. But, Dame Dollar is no James Edwards Harden. If Dame drops 40, he makes the ESPN headlines. If James Edwards does it, no one utters a word. Complete silence. Because it’s the norm. We expect Harden to score 40. The man does average 39.5 points per game, the league’s highest scoring average in 56 years. For most players, 40 points is a career-defining performance. For the Beard, it’s just another Classic Average Night at the office. So, someone will score 40. And that person will either be on the losing team, or in the headlines. Harden needs to score at least 50 to garner attention that’s out of his norm nowadays. The Beard and company should have an advantage over a Blazers team still finding its identity this year. They just can’t afford to overlook Portland as part of this game screams “trap game.”

After tonight, Houston heads to the Rocky Mountains as the schedule gets rockier. The Rockets need a win tonight in the friendly confines of home. Afterwards, they head to Denver to begins one of the toughest 4-game stretches of the season. The Nuggets await Houston in the mile-high city on Wednesday before the Rockets head to L.A. for a rematch with their arch-rival, and main nemesis, the Clippers. Two Western opponents that should be jostling with Houston in the standings all season. But, the Rockets can’t overlook these Blazers. As much as this game might seem like the calm before the storm, Portland’s not nearly as bad as their record shows. The Blazers have yet to lose a game by double-digits all season, with four losses coming by 4 points or less. They’ve also had a difficult schedule early to start the season. Portland’s started slow and finished strong the last few seasons. A trend that should continue this season. The Blazers have too much talent on their roster to waste away a season at the bottom of the West. If Houston is too comfortable with the bulk of their starters returning, and isn’t prepared for a Blazers team that always plays tough… the going will get tough for the Rockets at home. However, Harden’s in an atmosphere other players can’t reach. Don’t expect him to slow down any time soon… The Unguardable Tour 2 is only just beginning.

   

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trailblazers (5-8):  Red

Houston Rockets (10-3):  Black

 

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

Rockets Shoot Down Wolves, 125-105, Win 7th Straight

The Others.    Showing Up.    Classic Average Nights.

They weren’t supposed to win this one. In the James Harden-era of Rockets Past, Houston never would have won this game. The third in four nights. On the road against a decent Minnesota team. Minus four of their best six players. But, this isn’t the past. Saturday night presented no letdown. Houston showed the depth they possess this year and rocked the Wolves, 125-105, for their 7th straight win. The Rockets fended off a gritty, young Minnesota team who could potentially sneak into the playoffs this season. A close contest was blown open by Houston in the fourth, with a 9-0 run to start the quarter. This year’s Rockets have heart and talent seemingly everywhere on the roster. Oh, and they still have that guy called “The Beard.” Harden did Beard-like stuff, scoring 49 points, with 6 dimes and 5 boards for good measure. He led the way for Houston, but the Rockets needed others to show up to get this victory, and “The Others” responded.

Ben McLemore had another stellar outing, with 20 points, including 4 long bombs. Benny-Mac has shown he deserves more playing time on Houston’s roster. McLemore has been on a roll since the Rockets were bit by the injury bug, getting the action needed to show he deserves a rotational spot on the roster. Chris Clemons and Isaiah Hartenstetin, two players who began the week in the G-League, had career games in Houston’s win. Chris Clemons provided a huge spark for the Rockets, scoring a career-high 19 points, including 5 high-archers from deep. When Harden got his first breather in the 2nd quarter, CC3 did the most damage, and kept Houston in the contest. Isaiah Hartenstein, the other Rocket called up from their G-League affiliate this week, had a huge game inside for Houston. The big man saw 30 minutes of action, the most in his professional career, and he made those minutes count. Hartenstein had a career-high 16 rebounds and was exceptional defensively, keeping Karl-Anthony Towns from having a huge night for the Wolves. Austin Rivers was also tremendous, chipping in with 19 points while holding usual Rocket-killer Jeff Teague to only 8 points.

It wasn’t a terrible shooting night for Harden, but he’s seen better nights. The Beard hoisted a career-high 41 shot attempts, not surprising given all the injuries. Harden ended up connecting on 16 shots, finishing with 49 points on the evening. Which shouldn’t come as much surprise if you’ve been watching Harden play this season. He’s scored 40 points in over half (7) of Houston’s games (13) this season. For most players, scoring 40 is a career-milestone. For Harden, it’s just another average night. At 39.5 PPG, the Beard is almost averaging 40 points a game. Don’t take this for granted. There’s a reason the gap is that large between Harden and the next guy, Giannis Antetokounmpo, at 30.1 ppg. Scoring 40 is no easy feat, but the Beard makes it appear he can sleepwalk his way to 40 points. And the next time he drops 40, which will probably be Houston’s next game, it’ll just be another classic average night for the Beard. But the next time anyone else in this league scores 40, its headline news. They’re not expected to score 40 points. James Edward Harden is expected to score 40 points. An expectation that for other players is a hopeful prediction. A man who’s “average” nights would be “classic” nights for anyone else. One of the greatest pure scorers the game’s ever seen. Harden was born to score the basketball. He makes a living cooking up 40-Burgers… and it’s become a nightly occasion this season, Harden’s Classic Average Nights. Houston heads back home for their next game on Monday against the disappointing Blazers. One the Rockets are supposed to win. And Houston doesn’t need Harden to have a career night… just an average night. All of them are classics.