Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Head to the City of Brotherly Love, Mission: Show No Love to the Sixers

The Manimal.   Health Factor.   We Had a Dream.

 

         Houston heads to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Monday night, as part of the NBA’s annual busy MLK-Day slate.  The Rockets have lost two in a row to Eastern Conference foes, including 3 out of 4, and look to buck that trend.  Tonight’s contest will not be easy, and is the 1^st of 4 straight against the East.  The Sixers are legitimate title contenders for the Eastern crown and their “Big 3” is one of the NBA’s most talented.  Philly is led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and recently acquired Jimmy Butler to be the veteran presence in their star-studded lineup.  Despite rumors that Butler and the team had problems co-existing, the Sixers have improved since Butler’s arrival.  Philly has won 3 of 4 but are coming off a heartbreaking home-loss to the Thunder in their previous game.  The Rockets have a new face to show off tonight.  Kenneth Faried aka “The Manimal” was recently bought out from the Nets and signed with Houston for the remainder of the year.  Look for Faried to provide instant depth and muscle in a Rockets frontcourt that is one of the league’s weakest with Capela sidelined.  Faried is an excellent rebounder and finisher around the rim.  His outstanding help-defense should give the Rockets a tougher presence in the interior and on the glass.  Houston needs help in the frontcourt, even when Capela is healthy.  Despite having a great season thus far, Nene is older and injury prone, not good attributes for your backup Center.  Faried will add much-needed versatility to a Rockets’ frontcourt that has been desperately outmanned on the boards since Capela’s injury.

Tonight’s matchup could feature many sidelined stars.  Chris Paul and Clint Capela remain out for the Rockets.  Joel Embiid (back) and Jimmy Butler (wrist) are both questionable heading into the matchup.  If they can’t play, Houston will have a lot less to worry about, but regardless, Philly is always a tough place to play.  Tonight’s contest will certainly be a challenge for the Rockets with their health problems remaining a factor, seemingly for the entire season thus far.  Hopefully, Kenneth Faried will be integrated into the lineup seamlessly like Austin Rivers and ex-Rocket, Danuel House Jr.  Kenneth Faried’s skill sets are tailor-made for Houston’s system.  The “Manimal” is a grinder, who hustles and puts his ego aside for the betterment of the team.  I’m very excited that he’s joining the Rockets and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the squad.  Once the team can get Chris Paul and Clint Capela back, Houston will have the deepest team in the league.  Expect the squad to release James Nunnally, who hasn’t been a good fit, to free up a roster spot for Faried.  The Rockets are aggressively trying to trade Carmelo Anthony, with some rumors have him headed for Chicago.  House still has yet to play for the Houston’s G-League affiliate, so there are some hopes the Rockets may be able to cave and get him back.  It still seems more like wishful thinking, or a dream, for House to return.

Today is Martin Luther King Day, a widely celebrated day across the NBA.  The league always has a full slate of games on MLK Day and today is no different.  It also happens to be Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon’s birthday.  The greatest Rocket ever turns 56 today.  Those special Rockets teams in the 90’s had a Dream, in Hakeem.  Houston had the greatest center to ever play the game, based purely on talent, skill, and the competition he faced during his time in the league.  This Rockets team has another dream.  Similar to the one Olajuwon had.  Winning a Championship.  Houston can continue to move towards that dream with a big win over the Sixers tonight.  The Philly crowd will be a raucous atmosphere, and the Rockets need to use their newest asset and work together to gut out a victory over a grinding, talented Philadephia 76ers squad.

 

Wells Fargo Center:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (26-19):  “Earned” Red

Philadelphia 76ers (30-17):  Blue

 

TV:  7 PM CT – TNT

 

Rockets Rally Back Behind Harden, EG’s Heroics, Outlast Lakers in OT, 138-134

Splash Gordon Saves the Day.       The Show Goes On.       Deja-Vu?  

          Flash Gordon.  Splash Gordon.  Slash Gordon.  Whatever Gordon you know him by, Eric is back, and Houston couldn’t have used his services at a better time.  The Rockets trailed by as many as 21, but rallied back behind 48 points from the Beard and 30 from Eric Gordon to beat the Lakers in overtime, 138-134.  The deficit was Houston’s largest of the season, but having Gordon in the lineup helped propel them back to victory.  16 of 30 points by Eric Gordon came in the 4^th quarter and overtime, including a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left that tied the contest, and saved the game for Houston.  EG now has 50 points in 2 games since returning from his knee injury.  The Rockets need Splash Gordon to continue his offensive surge while Chris Paul and Clint Capela remain sidelined.  If Gordon doesn’t make that 3-pointer with 2 seconds to go, the Rockets would have lost on Saturday night.  EG has been absolutely huge since coming back and Houston will rely on his ability to make shots in the clutch as the season moves forward.  For the 2^nd consecutive game, Harden and Gordon combined for 78 points.  Although this time, EG took a little more weight off of Harden’s shoulders.  Splash Gordon had 10 more points this game, while the Beard had 10 points less (yet still finished with 48).  Right now, EG is Harden’s right-hand man, and the Rockets will rely on him late in games as they did against the Lakers to help ease some of the burden off of the MVP.

Speaking of the MVP, the James Harden Show continued on Saturday night.  He scored 48 points, to go along with 8 boards, 6 assists, and 4 steals.  The Beard’s assault on NBA-competition doesn’t seem to be coming to a stop any time soon.  Harden secured his 19^th consecutive game scoring 30 or more points.  He can’t be stopped by anyone, and on Saturday night, he had some help from his friends.  Eric Gordon was huge late in the game, and finished with 30 points as Harden’s main assistance for the night.  James Ennis had his best game as a Rocket.  The Menace finished with 18 points in 27 minutes of action. Gerald Green provided another spark off the bench, scoring 17 points, as his consistent play continues.  P.J. Tucker had another off shooting night, but his defense and hustle were some of the best I’ve seen him display all season.  Tucker was all over the floor for loose balls and shut down Kuzma in key spots late in the game.  Nevertheless, the Rockets would not have won this game without the Beard.  James Harden now has 165 points in the last 3 games combined, with NONE of them coming on an assist.  That might be the most mind-blowing stat of all during this streak.  Harden is literally getting every point by himself, while still creating opportunities for teammates, as he’s 4^th in the entire league in assists.  The Beard’s great passing is getting overlooked because he’s been averaging over 40 points a game for a quarter of the season, and is the most unstoppable offensive force the game has ever seen.

This current force of offensive greatness started against the same team (Lakers) in the same building (Toyota Center) on December 13^th.  That game featured the early dunk on McGee by the Beard that sent him and the Rockets on a scoring spree, and they’ve yet to look back.  Except for a few bad losses to the Magic and Nets, teams they should have beaten, the Rockets have been almost unbeatable since December 13th.  Houston has had a bad habit of playing down to its competition at times this season, but hopefully this win over the Lakers will stop this trend.  Something about playing the purple and gold at home seems to have a carryover-effect and brings out the best in Harden and the Rockets.  The squad hopes that’s the case again this time as the schedule gets more difficult with 2 of the next 3 games against Eastern Conference title contenders, in the Sixers and the Raptors.  Optimistically, the Rockets can feel confident about themselves as EG is back playing at a high level, and a new face in Kenneth Faried will help out a thinned front-court, possibly as soon as Monday night, against the Sixers in Philadelphia.  The Rockets are looking for Deja-Vu.  Last time they beat the Lakers, they went on a streak led by the MVP.  This time, they’ll look for the victory to give them a boost during Houston’s upcoming stretch against elite Eastern conference competition.

 

 

Rockets Take on Lakers Looking For Victory

 

New Arrival.   Time to Heat Up.

 

The Rockets take on the Lakers tonight at Toyota Center, looking to get back on the winning track. Kenneth Faried is rumored to have become a Rocket after being bought out by the Nets, and will be a huge addition for Houston.   Faried will be a huge addition but will not play until on Monday night against the Sixers.

Tonight, the James Harden show continues and the Rockets hope to get a victory over a Lakers team coming off a bunch of confidence after a win over the Thunder.

The Rockets will need to Run As One to get the victory tonight.

 

Toyota Center: Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

 

Houston Rockets (25-19): Black

 

Los Angeles Lakers (25-21): Yellow

 

TV: 7:30 PM CT – ABC

Harden’s 58 Not Enough, Rockets Fall in OT Heartbreaker to Nets, 145-142

Voiding the House.   The Little Things.   The Beard Needs Assistance.

        Role player.  A term widely used to discuss players that aren’t stars or household names.  Role players play a valuable role in the little things that make a difference on the court.  It was evident from the opening tip of Wednesday night’s loss to the Nets that something wasn’t right for the Houston Rockets.  Something was different.  Was it the absence of a vital piece to their recent surge at the end of the first half, Danuel House Jr.?  Sometimes it’s as simple as that.  A guy most fans have never heard of.  The little things, the smaller names, can make more impact on the big picture than you could ever believe.  But it happens that way.  Every championship team has at least 2 or 3 of these kind of grinding, sacrifice-everything-for-the-team kind of players, who also fit perfectly in their respective teams offensive/defensive systems.  The Rockets had one in House, and let him go, back to the G-League (rumors don’t sound hopeful of a reunion).  Even if he didn’t show up in many highlights, the Rockets will be affected by his absence drastically in the future.  Don’t be surprised if they take a further dip in the standings.  In the majority of games in Harden’s Streak, House was the 3rd most valuable player on the floor, behind Harden & Capela.  House’s ability to mesh with any unit Coach D’Antoni put on the floor is a skill in its own right, and helped to hide some of the Coach’s weaknesses that are now starting to see the light of day, since the Houstonian product and the team couldn’t come to a contract agreement for the rest of the season.  In their first game without Danuel House, Houston found themselves down by as many as 14 quickly in the first, and 14 in the fourth.  Despite cutting these leads and gaining there own lead over the Nets at the end of regulation and overtime, the Rockets just weren’t the better team on Wednesday night.  The Nets overcame another monster game from James Harden, who had 58 points, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in history to record back-to-back 55-point games.  Brooklyn also overcame Eric Gordon’s return, who scored 20 in his first game back, only to get injured again in the fourth.  P.J. Tucker chipped in with 20 points as well.  The Beard got help, but he didn’t get the right kind of help.  That kind of help Danuel House Jr. provided, on a nightly basis.  The Rockets did all the big things right against the Nets: Harden erupted again, he got help, but Houston lost this game because of their poor defense, lack of hustle, and drop in attention to detail.

Danuel House Jr. was someone who made all the little things happen that go unnoticed if you only check the box score.  House’s absence was sorely felt since the beginning of this deceivingly close contest.  Despite holding leads late in regulation and overtime, the Rockets never seemed to be in control of this game.  The Nets blasted Houston, showing them what teamwork can do over one individual’s (Harden) greatness.  Brooklyn had six different players with at least 14 points.  Spencer Dinwiddie carried the Nets in the fourth and OT, and without House, the Rockets had lapses on defense on 80% of their possessions.  Kind of ironic how on the day before the night which was supposed to be “Get Your Picture with House After the Game Night” (Seriously), the Rockets couldn’t persuade the guy who fit perfectly in their system to stay.  It’s a business, but the Rockets needed to recognize his importance and should have paid the man what he earned and asked for, if they wanted any part of Championship this season.  House is the kind of player who has an immense, yet quiet impact on winning Championships.  Similar to a Steve Kerr on Jordan’s Bulls, Kerr was also a role player.  But he fit perfectly and the team won.  House reminds me of Steve Kerr in a way, even though their styles of play are completely different.  House was a great shooter for the Rockets during his tenure, shooting an effective FG% of 62%, which is insanely efficient, especially for someone who’s majority of shot attempts come from long range.  Houston lost this game because of the little things, sliding over to help on defense (doesn’t show up in the box score), ALWAYS being in the right place spacing-wise on the court (one of the most overlooked aspects of any player’s game), House had these aspects of the game down perfectly.  He truly was a perfect fit, and Houston was one House three-pointer away from at least sending the game to a second overtime.  If they would have made the winning move, and kept him, I don’t think this game would have gone to overtime.  I think the Rockets win by 14 with House in the lineup.  We’ll never know how important he truly was to Houston’s success.  Don’t be surprised if results like the loss to the Nets become more commonplace this season, for a Rockets team who just let go the glue guy to their entire system.  P.J. Tucker can’t do all the intangibles by himself.  There was a reason House was in the top seven net ratios (plus/minus) of duos the Rockets put on the floor.  NOT James Harden.  NOT Clint Capela.  NOT Chris Paul.  Danuel House was the guy in every single of the top seven net ratios of duos the Rockets put on the floor.  His chemistry with Gerald Green was especially unique and the tandem brought a defensive intensity that was contagious to others that was lacking on Wednesday.  The GreenHouse Effect was real and will be sorely missed in Houston.

The Beard needs some help.  Since the Rockets decided to part ways with Danuel House, and Eric Gordon re-injured himself, James Harden needs help.  Desperately.  Now.  Chris Paul, despite reports that he will be back soon, I have a feeling won’t return until after the All-Star break.  Clint Capela is expected to return around the same time.  Hopefully, the Beard can go for 50 every night, and can get some help in the intangibles area of the game.  Help on defense, spacing, hustle, and playing to your respective role as a teammate.  This is something Danuel House did better than any Houston Rocket, including the Beard himself.  The fact that the organization couldn’t recognize his importance to the team’s success is something I find mind-boggling.  I understand it’s a business.  The two sides couldn’t come to an agreement.  If you’re the Houston Rockets front office and owner (Daryl Morey, Tilman Fertita) you have to do whatever is necessary to keep a winner like House.  They decided he wasn’t necessary to be on the roster for the Rockets to win come June.  Look for changes to be made and I expect Houston to beg House to return.  If the Rockets want to Run It Back, this time all the way to a championship, they’ll need their House back.  For the time being, Harden needs some assistance after all of his 115 points over the last two games came un-assisted.  Every.  Single.  Point.  The Beard has been doing everything.  Hopefully assistance will come in the form of a solid role player, or if Rockets fans are lucky… a House.

 

Rockets Host Nets, Look to Give Harden Help

EG Returns?   House Moves.   Welcome to Houston, James.

          The Rockets host the Nets tonight at Toyota Center in Houston, in what should be another matchup which requires the Beard to do some heavy lifting.  Houston won the previous meeting between the teams back in early November, but times were different then.  Brooklyn is a much better team and in playoff contention in the East.  Eric Gordon is questionable to return tonight, and his presence will give Harden and the Rockets a huge boost if he’s able to go.

Someone I didn’t want to see go, Danuel House Jr., was sent back to the G-League, after the two-sides couldn’t come to terms on a contract agreement.  Hosue has been instrumental is carrying the hustle and dirty-work portion of the action for Houston, along with P.J. Tucker.  House will be sorely missed.  A move I simply cannot understand.  If the Rockets wanted to win they would have paid the man.  He more than earned a roster spot.  Others feel differently, and it’s time to move on.  The Rockets welcome James Nunnally to Houston, on a 10-day contract, to fill up House’s void (or, at least try to).  Nunnally last played for the Wolves in Minnesota, hopefully he will be the perfect fit, a la Danuel House.  The Rockets are going to feel his absence on the court, starting tonight.  Don’t be surprised if the squad as a whole starts trending downward.  House was a huge difference-maker on both ends of the floor.   The Rockets are 16-9 when he plays.  And 9-9 when House doesn’t.

The Rockets should have enough to beat the Nets, a team that is improving yet still young, if Houston plays down to their competition, it will result in a loss.  Hopefully, the Beard can get some help on the floor tonight and the Rockets can put it all together for a win as they try and keep pace in the Western Conference standings.

 

Toyota Center: Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Brooklyn Nets (22-23): White

Houston Rockets (25-18): Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Houston Rockets 2018/2019 Midway Point Season Review

First Half Brought Lows, Experiments, and… a Resurgence We’ve Never Seen

The Dunk.   The Game.   The Goal.

 

The Rockets got off to a shaky start in 2018. They got blown out by the Pelicans on Opening Night, and had trouble adjusting to Carmelo Anthony and an early-season ‘hangover.’ Houston started 1-5, and 11-14, before finally turning things around, winning 13 of their last 16 games to enter the second half of the season with a record of 24-17. How did things get turned around? Despite the injuries have really mounted almost every player on the roster this season. James Harden. That’s how. Playing the best basketball of his life. The first half amounted to experimenting with different rotations and new additions, dealing with injuries, and a sudden rejuvenation in play by James Harden. Carmelo Anthony took the court during the first 10 games, which didn’t work. Nothing against Melo, it just wasn’t a good fit for either party, and the Rockets went 4-6 in games Anthony played. Chris Paul, Eric Gordon, James Ennis, have all battled constant injuries it seems the entire first half. Houston has yet to play a game in which its entire roster is healthy. Injuries happen, but they just seem to swarm the Rockets like a plague. The injury bug is real and something Houston will be fighting against this season and beyond.

On December 11^th, Houston stood at 11-14, and trailed at halftime to Portland. They were able to overcome the deficit, and improve to 12-14 in what would be the start of a turning point. The turn happened in the Rockets next game. December 13^th, against the Lakers. LeBron’s first game donning the purple and gold in James Harden’s House. The matchup was a big one for both teams prior to tip, but no one could sense the storm that was about to come. Except for the Beard. LeBron James hit two fade-away jumpers to start the game in what looked like another disappointing Rockets loss, in a season full of then. All of a sudden, it happened. James Harden dunked on JaVale McGee and the rest is history. The Beard turned and flexed in the direction of LBJ, as if to tell him, “I’m the real King James” and finished the game with a 50-point triple-double. The first game of his 30-point streak, that Harden is still managing to keep alive.

The Rockets haven’t looked back since. Harden had arguably the defining game of his career, with the Rockets victory over the Warriors on Jan. 3^rd. The Beard’s impossible 3 over two of the leagues best defenders (Draymond Green, Klay Thompson) was a sight to behold. The game felt like a statement game. Harden was able to beat the Warriors by himself. It should be interesting to see what happens when the Houston gets back to full health.

Houston finished the first half 13-3, after starting a dismal 1-5, and then 11-14. The Rockets seamlessly blended several key new acquisitions into the system. Danuel House Jr., who’s been tremendous and earned his spot in the rotation for the season. Austin Rivers, who has also been awesome and a lifesaver for the team since Chris Paul went down. Gary Clark has been a key rookie who’s showed plenty of promise since being picked up by the Rockets after going undrafted. Houston’s already hit rock bottom, and seen more adversity than all of last season. This will only make them better in the future once (if) the roster can ever play together completely healthy. All the adjusting and rough sailing should be finished for this team’s expected destination. If the Rockets can somehow avoid the injury bug come playoff time, this team has the potential to accomplish even greater things than last year’s squad. Last year’s team set the regular season franchise record with 65 wins. The only way this year’s team can top that is by bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Houston. Larry, we await with open arms. Come home. After 24 years, it’s finally time.

Harden’s 57 Points Elevate Rockets Past Grizzlies, 112-94

M.V.P.   Clark’s Emergence.   The Harden Tour.  

 

This one was for Clint.  People said James Harden’s game would be limited, I even said he wouldn’t have as many tricks up his sleeve as usual.  Regardless, the Beard did what the Beard does this season: he proves people wrong.  Harden did it again Monday night, carrying a depleted Rockets team past the Grizzlies, dropping 57 points on the way to a 112-94 victory in Houston.  The Beard’s 57 points are a season-high, as he passed Kobe Bryant for 2^nd on the list of consecutive games scoring 30 or more, making this game Harden’s 17^th in a row.  If it wasn’t clear earlier, it should be crystal by now. James Harden is the MVP this season.  Unless he falls off the face of the Earth, the Beard is the most valuable player to any team in the NBA, no matter who’s on the injury list for Houston on any given night.  Monday night, and for some nights in the foreseeable future, the Rockets will be without 3 starters in their lineup.  Harden won’t score 57 every night, but he made a statement in the Rockets first game without Clint Capela, Chris Paul, and Eric Gordon.  As long as he’s healthy, and playing at this level, the Rockets have a chance against anyone, on any night.  That’s the definition of an MVP.  The Greek Freak is a sensational player, but he’s got a healthy, deep team around him, as the Bucks sit near the top of the East.  The Beard never knows who will or won’t be playing on any given night.  Harden just knows he’s all in, every night.  There shouldn’t be any more questions as to who will be named MVP this year.  They said he needed to score 50 to win.  Harden scored 57 points.  The MVP discussion is finally over.  The Beard ended it last night.

The Rockets had other players step up, despite some tired legs.  Danuel House had another stellar outing, with 15 points and vicious defense, as he proves to be one of the best role players in the league on a nightly basis.  Austin Rivers had another double-digit scoring affair, something he’s done in every game as a Rocket except once.  Gerald Green provided another spark off the bench with 14 points and his usual jolt of energy.  Gary Clark had another efficient, mistake-free outing in more minutes than usual for the rookie.  Clark has played well in every chance he’s been given.  The rookie just hasn’t been given enough minutes due to Houston’s depth.  Last night, he finished with 8 points and 3 boards with GREAT defense, in 26 minutes of action.  Now, he’ll have a chance to shine and possibly even earn a spot in the rotation like Danuel House did.  House ended up taking Clark’s spot in the rotation, before taking Ennis’ spot in the starting lineup.  All deserved for Danuel, whose breakout season has saved Houston and his undercurrent of hustle along with P.J. Tucker and Gerald Green have kept the Rockets afloat, along with Harden’s play, amongst all the injuries this season.  Gary Clark is the same grind it out, hustle player, like the aforementioned group.  Clark plays with a chip on his shoulder and with something to prove, the rookie went undrafted out of Cincinnati.  Another example of Daryl Morey’s genius as a GM, Clark has the opportunity of a lifetime to solidify one of the final spots in the rotation for himself if he continues to play mistake-free, efficient basketball.  The Rockets are the deepest team in the league, with Clark’s emergence (a player most media nationally haven’t even heard of) people will begin to recognize Houston’s depth as a real factor in their success, other than Harden’s greatness.  Clark’s evolution will be another key piece to the Rockets puzzle, as they search for that elusive third Championship.

Up next on the James Harden Tour, the Brooklyn Nets pay a visit to Houston on Wednesday night.  The Rockets will once again be without 3 key players (Paul, Capela, Gordon).  The Beard will try and make the Nets his next victim on his tour of schooling professional athletes, a tour that has no end in sight.  One sees the real value of a player when his back’s against the wall.  Most players force shots and they’re weaknesses are exposed.  When James Harden’s back is against the wall, he puts the team on his shoulders and carries them to victory, exposing his greatness as an individual and leader.  Harden’s proved it, time and time again, this season.  He’s the best player on the planet right now, in a league full of top-tier athletes James Harden stands alone as the best.  Houston fans, don’t take this for granted.  I keep thinking eventually this has to stop.  Although, something in Harden’s eyes tells me, the Beard has no plans of slowing down, at any point this season.  Hopefully, he will be able to keep it up.  The Rockets can’t afford to have the Harden Tour end anytime soon.

 

 

 

Banged-Up Rockets Host Grizzlies, Hope Home will Help Harden, Others, to Step Up

Hand Down, Man Down.   Time to Run As One.   How Good Are You Really, Mr. Harden?

The Rockets return home more banged-up than they’ve been all season long.  Clint Capela suffered an injury to his right thumb in last night’s game, and will miss the next 4-6 weeks.  This means the Rockets currently have 3 starters (Paul, Gordon, Capela) out of their lineup.  The Beard had an off-shooting night in Orlando, maybe home will help Harden get his rhythm from long range back.  The Rockets will need it, as a tough Memphis Grizzlies squad comes to town on Monday night.  The Grizzlies don’t boast the most talent, but they play hard every night and will have an advantage at the Center position with Capela absent.  Marc Gasol is one of the league’s better, experienced Centers and without Capela will pose matchup problems to Houston’s interior all night long.

It’s time for the Rockets to “Run As One”, and play well as a group.  Clint was truly playing at an All-Star level, and his absence will be felt in the lineup.  Everyone will see more playing time, and it is crucial guys continue to play well in their respective roles.  Austin Rivers has been a lifesaver for the Rockets, and is coming off his best game of the season.  Rivers will only see more looks with Capela’s absence limiting the pick and roll opportunities for the Beard, as Clint is Harden’s go-to guy in the crucial part of the Rockets offense.  The Rockets will be at a disadvantage in the post without Capela, and will need to rely more on small-ball and hustle to win games.

No matter how many guys step up, the Rockets will still need James Harden to continue playing at an elite level.  Now, with another man down, the Beard faces a firm challenge in testing how great his abilities truly are on the court.  Capela is a key facet to Harden’s game.  Clint’s absence takes away the pick-and-roll between the two that resulted in either: open Harden three’s, or an assisted lob to Capela for an open dunk.  The Beard needs his shot to be in a better rhythm than it was in Orlando, or the Rockets could find themselves in some trouble.  Tonight, Houston faces a desperate Grizzlies team, with their playoff-hopes not yet out of reach.  Hopefully, Harden’s shot will be falling and he can lead the Rockets to another victory.  Houston’s margin for error is closing, and the Rockets can’t afford to fall further back in the West standings.  Luckily, Houston’s got the MVP.  And tonight, Harden has another chance to show the basketball world why he deserves to be called the MVP this season as well.

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Memphis Grizzlies (19-23):  Blue

Houston Rockets (24-18):  Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Play Down to Competition, Lack Focus, Fall to Magic, 106-99

Toying Around.   Another One Bites the Dust.   Harden Hero Ball.

          Houston sailed into Orlando, home to the happiest place on Earth, Disneyworld, feeling pretty good about themselves after a recent blowout-win over the Cavs.  The Rockets had managed a difficult stretch with key players out and finished the first half 13-3, after starting the season 1-5.  Houston looked to start the second half of the season better than the first, with a visit to Amway Center.  However unimpressive their record might be, the Orlando Magic are no joke.  And they proved that last night. For the majority of the contest, the Rockets toyed around with the Magic just to see how close they could keep the game.  Soon enough, Houston’s lack of focus instilled confidence in Orlando, and bolstered the Magic to a comeback victory on Sunday night, 106-99, over a Rockets team left scratching their heads. Houston let this one go.  A game they definitely should have won over inferior competition, the Rockets also controlled the pace for much of the matchup, and held the lead for the majority of it, until they collapsed mid-fourth quarter.

Despite having a record of now 19-24, the Magic are still a team of professionals, like any squad in the NBA.  If you toy around and play down to your competition, in many situations, it will come back to bite you.  That’s pretty much what happened on Sunday night in Orlando.  The Rockets wasted Austin Rivers’ best game as a Rocket, and Harden was both historically great and awful.  Rivers’ finished with a season-high 25 points, and was the lone bright spot for much of the game, besides Danuel House, who had another efficient outing, with 14 points and great defense.  The Beard scored 38 points, along with 9 boards and 12 assists, and tied Kobe Bryant for the longest streak of consecutive game scoring 30 or more points, with 16 straight.  However, this was not Harden’s night shooting the basketball.  Usually, Harden Hero Ball has worked this season for Houston, but not last night.  The Beard went 1 for 17 from long range.  Harden missed a staggering 16 attempts from the promise land, but had no trouble getting to the line, hence the 38 points.  The Beard should have driven the ball to the basket more instead of settling from distance on a night when his shot from deep was not falling.

Clint Capela had a solid, but less than spectacular game, with 17 points and 10 rebounds.  Unfortunately, Clint injured his right thumb in the contest, and will miss tonight’s matchup.  What’s even more devastating is Capela will miss the next 4-6 weeks.  Hopefully the Rockets can dodge another bullet, and keep pace in the West standings with arguably their second most-important player down.  Houston needs their big man to get healthy as quickly as possible.  Capela has been a key piece to the Rockets’ recent resurgence in the standings.  Harden and Capela’s pick and roll is one of the deadliest arsenals in Houston’s offense, and arguably unstoppable, especially when the Beard’s shot is falling.  Capela’s absence removes this key part of the Rockets and Harden’s game, forcing them to result to other options.  Houston will have to adjust properly with another man down, as they play a Grizzlies team next that always plays hard, and has their own star big man in veteran Marc Gasol.

The Rockets will rely on Harden and his version of “Hero-Ball” more than ever in this game.  Clint Capela is out, along with Chris Paul and Eric Gordon.  Houston needs more players to step up and give the Beard some help.  Rivers, House, Tucker, Green, and Ennis will all get added playing time in Capela’s absence.  Clark, and even Isaiah Hartenstein, just called up from the G-League, will see more time as well.  The Rockets are thin at the 5-position, so Capela’s injury hurts arguably even more than Paul or Gordon’s.  Houston needs the Beard to be back on his game and hitting that step-back 3 or the Rockets could find themselves in trouble in the near future.  Up next, the Memphis Grizzlies come to town Monday night.  This will be a great first test for a depleted Rockets team in terms of how they can manage without Capela.  Memphis sits in the 14^th spot in the crowded West standings, yet are only 3 games out of playoff contention.  The Grizzlies will be a tough out for the Rockets, without Capela.  Marc Gasol is one of the best big men in the league and is a skilled veteran who, along with Mike Conley, lead this Memphis team to play hard every night.  The Rockets will need Harden’s Hero Ball to be working, and everyone else needs to step up in order to quickly right the ship.

Second Half of Season Starts in Orlando, Rockets Seek Fast-Pass to Victory

A New Half Begins.   Toughest Matchup Yet?   Beard Magic.      

 

Well, that was fast.  With the first half of the season already in the books, Houston looks to keep winning and climbing up the standings.  The second half of the season begins Sunday evening in Orlando, as the Rockets take on the Magic, one of the East’s less formidable teams.  James Harden and company look to keep the winning ways rolling, as they face another team they should be able to beat, even without Chris Paul and Eric Gordon.  CP3 and EG are due back “soon” according sources, but the Rockets have been playing just fine without them.  The Magic don’t boast enough talent to give injury-riddled Houston any issues, besides Orlando’s big man in the middle

Nikola Vucevic is the Magic’s best player, and one of the more overlooked big-men in the league.  Vucevic will pose one of the biggest challenges to Clint Capela yet, as the European’s style of play is very unique and efficient.  Vucevic doesn’t make many mistakes and is a beast on the boards.  Capela will have to be locked in like he has all season and the Rockets emerging All-Star should be able to win the Center matchup this evening.  Aaron Gordon will also be a force for Orlando inside, so Tucker, House, and others need to help out Clint in the battle for the boards.

Hopefully, the Rockets will put the Magic away early, so starters can get rest and players at the end of the bench can get another opportunity like in the last game.  Houston will need some more magic from the Beard if they want to take the Orlando crowd out of the game early.  The Magic are a better team than Cleveland, but the Rockets need to win the battle on the boards, and help Capela out on the inside.  Orlando is coming off one of their best wins of the season, a two-point victory over the Celtics, yesterday at home.  This is the second night of a back-to-back for the Magic, and the Rockets should put Orlando’s tired legs to rest early after the Magic’s hard-fought comeback-win over Boston last night.  Harden should have no problems getting 30 points again, as the Rockets should be have their own Fast-Pass to victory tonight over the Magic.

Amway Center:  Orlando, Florida

 

Jersey Colors:

Orlando Magic (18-24) – Blue

Houston Rockets (24-17) – White

 

TV:  5:00 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW