Blog

Rockets Host Suns in Regular Season Home-Finale

 

Welcome, Mr. Frazier.    Sunsitters.    Fan Night.

 

Time just keeps moving faster. On Sunday night, Houston plays their final home game of the regular season. The Rockets host the Phoenix Suns in the last home game of the 2018/2019 campaign. After a turbulent beginning to the year, including an 0-4 start at home, Houston has seemed to solve their problems. The Rockets have since gone 30-6 at Toyota Center, and look to make it 31 with a win over the Suns tonight.
It should be pretty easy for the Rockets tonight, similar to their victory Friday over the Knicks. Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Tyler Johnson, Kelly Oubre Jr, and T.J. Warren are all out tonight for the Suns. Everyone on Houston’s roster will get playing time tonight, and the starters be rested up for the season finale Tueady night in Oklahoma City. The Rockets signed Michael Frazier to the squad. Frazier was named the G-League’s Most Improved Player this season, and played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s G-League affiliate. It will be intriguing to see how Frazier fits in, although don’t expect to see him get much court time in the playoffs.

Tonight is Fan Appreciation Night at Toyota Center. The fans in Houston have a lot to be thankful for this season. They’ve witnessed arguably the greatest individual offensive season in NBA-history, courtesy of James Harden. And even if he doesn’t win the MVP award, the fans in Houston have gotten to witness what a real MVP looks like night-in, night-out. The Beard doesn’t take nights off. He should get extra rest tonight, as the Rockets should smash the Suns for an easy victory to close out the home portion of the schedule. Time flies when you’re having fun. After a rocky start, it’s been an incredibly fun season for Houston fans. And the best part hasn’t even begun.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Phoenix Suns (19-61):  Black

Houston Rockets (52-28):  Red

 

TV:  6 PM CT – NBA TV, ATT Sportsnet

Rockets Torch Knicks, 120-96, Cruise to Easy Victory

 

Elite Status.    Comfortable Position.    Two to Go.

 

Down to their last 3 games, the Rockets kept the winning ways rolling on Friday night, with a 120-96 win over the New York Knicks. It was never close. It was never supposed to be. The Rockets won easily, and in impressive fashion. However, playing the league’s worst, this was expected. James Harden led the way for Houston with 26 points on the night. Seven Rocket players hit double figures, and eleven Rockets saw at least ten minutes of court action. The win was a solid team victory for Houston. One that propelled the Beard into elite company. Harden became the first player in NBA history to average 35 points and 7 assists over an entire season. The Beard continues to cement his incredible season in history, as the playoffs approach.

The season’s gone by faster than a New York-minute, with enough storylines to fill a New York Times newspaper. For now, the Rockets sit in a comfortable position. Denver and Portland play each other on Sunday night. If Denver loses, Houston still has a chance to sneak into the second spot out West. If Denver wins, Houston will clinch the third seed with a victory over Phoenix on Sunday.

Only two games remain for the Rockets in the regular season. They face the Suns at home on Sunday, and then travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, in the regular season-finale. Houston should beat Phoenix in a smilar fashion that they pounded New York. Depending on if the second seed is still within reach, the Rockets may decide to rest some players for the final game of the season. Time will tell. The Nuggets also have to play at Utah. The Jazz currently own the league’s longest winning-streak and are scorching into the playoffs. Their still is a realistic chance that Houston gets the two seed. Tuesday night’s finale could be the decider as the whether the Rockets finish second or third. All Houston can do is focus on winning these final two games, and putting themselves in the best position possible for the playoffs.

Rockets Get a Glimpse of Ugly as Knicks Come to Town

 

Freight Train.    Done Deal.    Biggest Prize.

 

The Houston Rockets season that was a rollercoaster earlier this year, has turned into a consistent freight train. Coming off an impressive blowout win over the Clippers on Wednesday, the Rockets are surging as the regular season winds down. Tonight, the Rockets host the embarrassing New York Knicks, the worst the NBA has to offer. Houston should have no problem getting the easy victory tonight. How the months can change in an NBA season. It was a done deal in many people’s eyes. The Rockets were left for dead. Trevor Ariza was too important. At 11-14, it sure looked that way after 25 games. But, as you’ve probably heard, the Rockets were revived by a resurgent James Harden, roster re-tooling, and the rest is history. The Rockets are now 40-14 since their 11-14 start, and playing their best as the playoffs approach next weekend.

New York is one of the greatest basketball cities in the world. These Knicks however, are one of the worst teams the NBA has ever seen. Houston will have to deal with fellow Houstonian DeAndre Jordan, but other than that, tonight should be a cakewalk for the Rockets. Expect the Rockets to blowout the Knicks with ease. Although Houston may come out lackadaisical due to New York’s sheer lack of talent, and the fact the Knicks are tanking for Zion. They’re trying to lose. There’s no reason Houston shouldn’t win comfortably tonight.

Rumors are swirling about Kevin Durant and the Knicks. These may be more than rumors. New York has a great chance to land the biggest prize this offseason, in Kevin Durant. Given KD’s demeanor and personality, it’s likely he will end up in New York, as he and the city both constantly crave attention. It’s not a done deal, but as the Knicks have the chance to grab the biggest prize of the offseason, the Rockets have a chance to grab the biggest prize this season. The ride continues, tonight in H-Town.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

New York Knicks (15-63):  White

Houston Rockets (51-28):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

 

Rockets Crush Clippers, 135-103, Sail to Fourth Straight Win

 

Don’t Matter.    Dynamic Duo.    Ready to Launch.

 

“If we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, nobody can beat us. Anybody, don’t matter,” P.J. Tucker stated after the Rockets monstrous, 135-103, win over the Clippers on Wednesday night. Houston did what they were supposed to do. The Rockets jumped on the Clips early, and never looked back. In a game that featured the league’s hottest teams, the Rockets took all of the Clippers’ fire and confidence out of Staples Center. Los Angeles has overachieved this year, but Houston has finally ridden itself of all the problems that were plaguing the team earlier this season. The Clippers may be playing solid basketball, but they aren’t contenders. The Rockets proved that on Wednesday. They made sure the game was never close, and made the Clippers look like the team most expected L.A. to be, before the season began. James Harden led the way with 31 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds. However, it was Chris Paul, who had the game of the night. CP3 had his best game against L.A. since joining Houston, scoring 29 points in only 27 minutes, pacing the Rockets to a blowout win. Houston is starting to find a rhythm at the right time, where the playoffs sit only a mere eight days away. People are starting to realize, at least those playing close attention. These Rockets have even more upside than the squad that won a franchise-record 65-games last season.

Houston isn’t just a one-headed monster anymore. There never were. They were only forced into that situation. The injuries forced Harden to do, literally, almost everything on the court. And he did, carrying the Rockets from the fourteenth seed to the third seed. The fact that there’s still a debate as to who should win MVP, is an insult not only to James Harden, but to the entire NBA, and the game of basketball itself. Now that Houston is finally healthy, the Rockets are steamrolling into the NBA’s second season. Many won’t agree, but the Houston still has the most dynamic duo in basketball, in Harden and Paul. The two superstars combined for 60 points, and are playing the best ball since Paul arrived in Houston before last season. The Rockets, however, can’t control the elephant in the room (CP3’s health). As for now, he looks spry and durable, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the Point God take a game off for rest before the playoffs.

Houston’s next two games are against the worst in the East and the worst in the West. Right now, Harden and co. are playing the best basketball in the NBA. They’re back to being the team no one wants to admit, but everyone thinks can beat the Warriors.  The Rockets should blow both these teams out of Toyota Center, and CP3 shouldn’t have to take on a heavy workload. Then it’s onto Oklahoma City to face the Thunder to cap off the regular season. OKC will be more of a challenge, but at this point, the Rockets don’t care. They’re ready to launch. The worst thunderstorms can’t stop this team’s trajectory. Houston is in position to get at least the 3-seed if they win out their remaining 3 games. The second seed is still within grasp. But, the Rockets just want the playoffs to start. As to who they’ll play, as Tucker said, it really don’t matter.

 

 

 

        

 

Rockets Face Red-Hot Clippers in Potential First Round Preview

 

Final Four.    First Round Matchup?    Homecoming.

 

         It was a legendary team-performance for Houston last night in Sacramento. The Rockets tied their previous NBA-record with 26 threes, and also had 30 assists, as they torched the Kings for 130 points. Tonight, it won’t be that easy. Houston travels to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers. It’s the second night of a back-to-back for the Rockets, while the Clips have had two days of rest. And the Clippers are red-hot. Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Clips have been one of the best teams in the NBA since March. The Clippers haven’t lost at home since January, when Tobias Harris was still a member of the team. The Rockets and Clippers have been the West’s two hottest teams over the last 15 games. Houston is 17-3 over their last 20 games. Tonight’s matchup is a pivotal one in the Western Conference playoff standings as both teams are fighting for positioning.

This is the first of the final four regular season games for the Rockets. Houston only trails Denver by two games in the loss column for the second seed, but the Blazers are right on the Rockets’ tail for the third seed. The Nuggets have a brutal schedule, and Houston has a legitimate chance to get the second spot in the West. If the Rockets win their final four games, they should at least solidify the third slot. Portland holds the tiebreaker over Houston, but the Blazers play the Nuggets twice more this season. They’re bound to lose at least one of those games without their Center, Jusuf Nurkic.

If the playoffs started today, the Rockets and Clippers would face off in the first found. It’s certainly a possibility that these two squads will see each other again after tonight. Houston would like to see a different team, although, there is no “ideal” matchup in the relentless Western Conference. Every team going to the playoffs out West is a threat, in some form or other, and can catch the favorites sleeping if they’re not sharp.

The Clippers always seem to play well against the Rockets. Los Angeles is the only team in the West that Houston has yet to beat. The Rockets are 0-2 against the Clips this season. Los Angeles has three former Rockets from the Chris Paul deal, and the ex-Rockets always seem to play their best basketball against their former team. The beloved Patrick Beverly, who’s still missed in Houston, is as gritty as ever, and will be his usual pesky self tonight against the Rockets. Houston has an even bigger problem on their hands, in Montrezl Harrell. The former Rocket has torched Houston ever since he was traded. Harrell is an absolute beast and has feasted on the Rockets lack of strength inside this season. Lou Williams, the best bench player in the NBA for a few years, has torched the Rockets since he was dealt. Sweet Lou can be a nightmare for defenses on the perimeter. Houston needs to make sure they don’t let Williams get a rhythm going offensively, or it could be a long night in Los Angeles.

However, both of the Clippers’ wins over the Rockets came back in October. Houston was a completely different team back then. They didn’t have Danuel House, Austin Rivers, and… The Manimal. Kenneth Faried vs. Montrezl Harrell will be the matchup to watch tonight. Both players are gritty, energetic, no-nonsense guys off the bench, who are very effective for their respective squads. The Manimal needs to keep Harrell from getting the crowd in the game, as Trez has been known for vicious dunks and getting the arena revved up. The Rockets also need to try and somehow contain Lou Williams, the best bench player in the NBA. Williams is one of the most talented offensive players in the league, and poses nightmare situations for opponents, night-in, and night-out.

Luckily for the Rockets, they have James Harden, and his historic season hasn’t slowed down. The Beard returns to Los Angeles tonight. The city, in which he was born and raised. This also marks the first time Harden returns to Los Angeles since the death of his childhood friend, entertainer and activist Nipsey Hussle. Last night, watching Harden walk into Golden 1 Center before the game, you could tell he was playing with a heavy heart. The Beard didn’t let it effect his play. Harden led the way on the court, leading the offensive orchestra that produced 30 assists, in one of the best team wins of the season. But tonight in Los Angeles, it’s personal. Last night, Russell Westbrook had a 20-20-20 game to honor Nipsey Hussle. Westbrook is from L.A., and knew the late Hussle as well. But no one was closer with Nip in the NBA than James Harden. And as the Beard returns to L.A. tonight, with one less familiar face in the stands, expect him to put on a show, and dedicate this game to his late-friend. And this season, a Harden Show always breaks records. In a season full of epic achievements, expect Harden to cement his status as this season’s MVP, with a legendary performance in a win over the Clippers. This one’s for Nip.

 

Staples Center:  Los Angeles, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (50-28):  Black

Los Angeles Clippers (47-31):  White

 

TV:  9:30 PM CT – NBA TV, ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

Complete Team Effort Leads Rockets to Smash Kings, 130-105

 

Royal Beatdown.    Splashtown.    Gearing Up.

 

Houston came out aggressive and put away Sacramento early on Tuesday night. The Rockets had 30 assists behind a team effort and squashed the Kings, 130-105. James Harden led the way with 36 points and 10 assists, in only 29 minutes of action. Eric Gordon continued his consistent play, finishing with 19 points. Danuel House almost brought the house down with one of the dunks of the season, and had a fantastic all-around game, scoring 19 points. The victory was one of Houston’s best team-wins of the season, with 9 different Rockets playing at least 20 minutes. Kenneth Faried, in his first game since missing 3 contests to injury, played only 21 minutes. Yet, the Manimal was the only Rocket to get a double-double in the win, finishing with 12 points and 11 boards. Faried manages to stay ultra efficient and productive. The Manimal’s energy was missing from Houston’s previous game against Sacramento. Faried is a big reason why this contest wasn’t nearly as close as Saturday night’s in Houston.

The Rockets came out firing from long-range, tying their previous NBA-record, with 26 3-pointers on Tuesday night in Sacramento. When the Rockets connect from deep, they’re nearly impossible to beat. Nights like Tuesday in Sacramento show the NBA world that Houston’s potential to win it all is real. Houston had everyone except Clint Capela and Gary Clark connect from beyond the arc. Clark missed on several attempts late to get the record. Harden led the way with 7 long bombs in only 29 minutes. Gordon went 5 for 10, as Splash Gordon continues to thrive in the starting lineup. And Danuel House proved he definitely belongs in the playoff rotation, connecting on 4 of 10 from deep. Hopefully, the Rockets can produce stellar 3-point shooting nights like these in the playoffs. They’ll need to in order to win it all.

After the game, House was asked about his great game and the team’s stellar all-around win. “We’re just gearing up for the playoffs,” House replied. With Gerald Green’s return on the horizon (possibly Wednesday night), the Rockets will be at full strength, as they try and figure out the best playoff rotation. They’re also gearing up, as House said. Houston is now 17-3 in their last 20 games. The Rockets are playing some of their best basketball at the right time. With the playoffs seemingly in sight, Houston needs to keep their foot on the pedal. The Rockets still have a chance at the second seed, with help from Denver and Portland. Up next, no rest for the Rockets, as Houston travels to Los Angeles for a tussle with the Clippers on Wednesday night. It’s the second night of a back-to-back, and the Clippers are playing some of the best basketball in the entire league. Many Clippers are former Rockets dealt in the Chris Paul trade. These teams don’t like each other, to put it nicely. Houston needs to come out ultra aggressive, even more so than tonight, to get a victory in their toughest game left on the schedule.

 

 

Rockets Double Up for Second Straight Match with Kings

 

The Marathon.    Status Symbol.    Victory Lap.

 

The NBA season is like a marathon. 82 games. Practices. Constant travel. Playoffs (for some). It doesn’t stop. The marathon continues tonight for the Rockets as they play the Kings (again), this time in Sacramento. It’s the first of a back-to-back, as Houston will travel to Los Angeles after the game to face the Clippers on Wednesday. Only 5 games remain for the Rockets. Houston has the same record as Portland, but the Blazers own the tiebreaker. If the Rockets want the coveted 3-seed, games like tonight are opportunities for victory that Houston can’t afford to miss. The Kings are coming off an impressive road-win over the Spurs on Sunday. And Sacramento managed to stick with the Rockets for most of Saturday’s game. The Kings lead the NBA in fast-break points, and points off turnovers.  Houston will need to be keep up the pace on the road, as the Kings play much better at home.

In the grand scheme of life, it’s just a basketball game. Unfortunately, tragic news hit James Harden, the music world, and anyone who’s inspired by someone who truly makes a difference in the world. Harden’s close friend, musical artist and activist, Nipsey Hussle, was senselessly killed outside the clothing shop he owned, “The Marathon Clothing”, on Sunday afternoon. Unlike many in the genre, the hip-hop artist was a true inspiration. Hussle invested his money back into the community where he grew up, Crenshaw. He was killed in the same parking lot where he once sold CD’s out of the trunk of his car. Hussle never wanted to escape the trenches and warfare that is South Central L.A. He wanted to make a difference. Neighborhood Nip wanted to improve life in his community and show people that doing the right thing matters and can make a difference. Nipsey Hussle was a status symbol. The rare rapper, who actually walks the walk, when he says he plans to give back to society. The amount of condolences he’s received has shown Hussle was more than just an underdog in the music industry. He was beloved.

Harden and Hussle had a strong relationship. Both hailed from L.A., but the connection was deeper than two famous people being friendly. They grew up in the same neighborhood and attended Audobon Middle School together in Crenshaw. Their friendship would continue as they achieved fame, each being supportive of the other. Hussle went to all of Harden’s charity events in the L.A. area, and also attended the Beard’s JH-Town Weekend, this past year. Hussle celebrated with Harden, after the Beard won his first MVP. Songs by Nipsey Hussle, requested by Harden himself, could frequently be heard at Toyota Center, before, and during games. These two men loved each other like brothers. Harden was excused from practice on Monday, but Coach Mike D’Antoni has said he will play tonight. James Harden is also a status symbol. For the game of basketball. If Harden can play, he will. It’s incomprehensible what transpired over the weekend. Life’s not fair. Neither are Harden’s abilities to dominate on the court. Hopefully, the Beard will use this anger as fuel to punish his opponents.

For all we know, this season could be Harden and the Rockets’ victory lap. I can’t think of a more fitting end to the NBA season. Especially after the tragic news. Being from L.A., Hussle was a Lakers fan, but also a Harden fan. The Lakers won’t be competing in the playoffs this year. Hussle would’ve been rooting for Harden, and is somewhere. The Beard knows it. Hussle’s debut album is titled Victory Lap, and has been playing during Rockets games since it was released back in February of last year. Hussle’s music and status symbol as a true pioneer will live on. Forever. The Beard can cement his own legacy in the eons of time. Harden, fueled by the incomprehensible loss of a true friend, knows what lies ahead. The Beard’s been playing at an unbelievable level all season. Staring adversity in the face and defeating it, time and time again. People continue to question if he can keep it up. And now, Harden has even more motivation due to the tragic loss of Nipsey Hussle. Just like Hussle’s legacy, Harden and the Rockets’ marathon continues. As for the rest of the league, it’s going to be a little harder to breathe.

        

Sacramento, California:  Golden 1 Center

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (49-28):  Black

Sacramento Kings (38-39):  White

 

TV:  9 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

  

Rockets Dethrone Kings Behind Harden’s 50-Point Triple-Double, 119-108

 

Too Close for Comfort.    Make It Five.    Moving Up.

 

         It was closer than expected, but the game turned out in Houston’s favor. The Rockets went back and forth with the Kings for most of the night at Toyota Center. Until Houston’s defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, holding Sacramento to 15 points. Games like these are ones Houston needs to win to try and secure the third seed. More importantly, these victories boost the squad’s confidence for the playoffs. Every playoff game is important in the overall aspect of the big picture. A sweep in every series would be ideal, but that’s not likely, for any team. Games in the vein of Saturday night’s are ones Houston will find early in the playoffs that they’ll need to win to boost their chances later in the postseason. Clint Capela was huge for the Rockets against the Kings young frontline. Capela led the way with 42 minutes, and posted 24 points and 15 rebounds in another stellar outing as Houston’s big man is back to playing at an All-Star caliber level. Eric Gordon continues to bring consistency, scoring 17 points. EG’s been in double-figures in every game since the All-Star break. Chris Paul’s midrange was deadly, and the Point God finished with 22 points as he guided Houston’s offensive arsenal.

James Harden had another 50-point triple-double, the fifth of his career. They’ve become common enough to where this stat-line isn’t even headline news anymore. A stat-line no other player in the entire league has produced all season. But what about Harden’s usage rate? The Rockets need the Beard to score in order to win on many nights, especially when his teammates aren’t hitting their shots. On Saturday night, Harden scored 50 points, and grabbed 11 boards while dishing out 10 dimes. And the game was close enough to where Houston needed every single point Harden could muster. There was no stat-padding here. Just another night at the office for the Beard. If he doesn’t win MVP, Harden’s season will go down as the best to not be bestowed with the honor.

The Rockets moved back into the third seed out West courtesy of a Blazers loss in Detroit. Houston still needs Portland to lose one more game in order to avoid being in a tiebreak situation. The Blazers own the tiebreaker, so if the teams finish with the same record, Portland gets the higher seed. Although, the Blazers still have two games left against the Nuggets, one of the top teams in the West. They’re bound to lose at least one more game, if not two. Five games remain for Houston. They’re good enough to win out. But the Rockets shouldn’t go worse than 4-1, 3-2 in a worst-case scenario situation. They’ll head to Sacramento next to face the Kings again, on the first night of a back-to-back, before playing the toughest game left on the schedule: the Clippers in Los Angeles. It’s going to be close, but if all the pieces fall into place, the entire season can turn out in Houston’s favor.

Rockets Set to Face Kings Twice in a Row, Host First Battle

 

Houston Home-and-Home.    Elimination Time.    Royal Push.

 

Get used to the Kings. Houston will be seeing a lot of Royal purple (or black) as they face the Kings twice in a row for their next 2 matchups. The Rockets host the Kings in a home-and-home, well sort of. Houston will travel to Sacramento and face off against the Kings on Tuesday after Saturday night’s match. The Kings return home to face the Spurs tomorrow before hosting the Rockets on Tuesday. Sacramento is young, but they have their sights set on vacation in under two weeks. Houston needs to pounce on the Kings early, and keep them in the pack-it-in mindset. The Rockets have their sights set on much larger things than summer vacation. They want to be the Kings. Just not the Kings of Sacramento, the Kings of the NBA.

Houston can officially eliminate Sacramento from playoff contention with a victory. The Kings have a bright future ahead of them, and that young talent will be on display at Toyota Center tonight. De’Aaron Fox is one of the most exciting players in the NBA to watch, and he will be an All-Star for years to come. Buddy Hield is beginning to flourish into a potential All-Star swingman. Willie Cauley-Stein is starting to live up to his potential, and Marvin Bagley III has shown signs of progress in his first season. The Kings can shoot is from deep, and play hard. There will be no easy victories for the Rockets in the next two games. Houston will to have to make it difficult on Sacramento, in order to make it easy on themselves.

If the Rockets can continue playing stellar defense, they shouldn’t have a problem getting the victory tonight. The Kings might give the Rockets a push towards focusing on every game in this final stretch. Houston has turned a corner defensively, and has been a different beast ever since. Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried remain out due to injuries. This means extended playing time for everyone else, especially Austin Rivers and Iman Shumpert. Their defensive tandem has pleased Coach Mike D’Antoni and provided excellent results since the latest injury bug hit the Rockets. Houston’s used to having guys get hit with injuries, only to see other players step up. It’s time to get used to the Rockets stellar defense. It’s here to stay.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Sacramento Kings (37-38):  Black

Houston Rockets (48-28):  White

 

TV:  5 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

Mile High Beating: Rockets Thrash Nuggets, 112-85

 

Defensive Evolution.    Top Numbers.    6 to Go.

 

Houston’s defense served up the best dish of the season, holding the 50-win Denver Nuggets to only 85 points. It was more than enough, as the Rockets crushed the Nuggets, 121-85, on Thursday night. The victory gives Houston the season-series edge over Denver, 3-1. They’re still 4 games behind the Nuggets for the 2-seed, but this win gives the Rockets a lot of confidence going into the playoffs. James Harden led the way, as he has on most nights this year, scoring 38 points, to go along with 6 boards, and 6 dimes. Clint Capela was a force again in the interior, grabbing 15 rebounds and adding 17 points to the Rockets tally. Eric Gordon continued his smooth stretch of shooting the ball in a zone, finishing with 18 points. And Houston got an early spark from Austin Rivers, who finished with 15 points. Rivers and Iman Shumpert played well on the defensive end at the set the tone on defense for the Rockets. The two mid-season acquisitions are a larger part of Houston’s defensive evolution from one of the worst defensive teams, to one of the best.

Thursday’s win over the Nuggets gives further cements the Rockets’ place in the West among the team’s elite. Houston has a combined record of 6-2 against the top 2 seeds in the Western Conference (Golden State and Denver). The Rockets have the top seeds’ numbers. They’ve had the Nuggets’ number for seasons. And this season, they’ve had the Warriors’ number, with the lone loss coming by 2 points. Houston is ready for the playoffs. Gerald Green and Kenneth Faried are expected back from injuries in the middle of next week. The Rockets currently stand in 4^th place out West. Portland has a 1-game edge over Houston for the 3-seed. However, the Blazers unfortunately lost their budding star Center, Jusuf Nurkic, to the nastiest injury of the season. The Blazers aren’t the same team without Nurkic. The question is can the Rockets catch the Blazers for the 3-seed, with only 6 games remaining? That’s to be determined. Portland still has 2 games left against Denver, who is fighting for the top seed with Golden State. All Houston can do is control their own destiny and play their best basketball.

Up next for the Rockets, a home-and-home with the Sacramento Kings. The Kings aren’t eliminated from playoff contention yet, but Houston should be able to do that for Sacramento over the next two contests. After the Kings, the Rockets have games in L.A. against the Clippers, at home against the Knicks and Suns, and on the road in the season finale against the Thunder. The Knicks and Suns are the worst teams in each conference, the Thunder have been on a downward slide since the All-Star break. The Kings seem fatigued and hit a wall earlier in the season. That leaves the game in Los Angeles as the toughest remaining on Houston’s schedule. The Rockets should be able to finish these 6 games with a record of at least 5-1. That’s if they avoid playing down to competition, which has been their biggest enemy all year. Nonetheless, their latest beat-down over the Nuggets proved when the Rockets are engaged and focused, they can play with anyone, and serve up a win on any night.