Category: Uncategorized

Danuel’s House:  Rockets Break Skid, Stun Bulls, 118-113

Small Ball Attack.    Bench Outburst.    KPJ Minus Green.

Exactly one month after their last win, the Houston Rockets finally broke their losing streak, beating the Chicago Bulls, 118-113, on Thanksgiving Eve. Houston had plenty to be thankful for, as Coach Stephen Silas finally made some serious tweaks to the lineup. An adjustment he acknowledged his staff would change from game to game, depending on the opponent. And on Wednesday against the Bulls, it worked to perfection. Houston played a traditionally smaller lineup than usual. Daniel Theis, who’s started many games this season for the Rockets, didn’t see any action against the Bulls. Danuel House, who didn’t play at all in the first half, ended up being the hero. Houston trailed by 9 points at halftime, but House scored 18 second half points, and led a third-quarter rally that saw Houston outscore Chicago 35 to 18 in the period. The Rockets had a season-high eight different players score in double-figures. Houston’s bench scored a whopping 55 points, with 24 coming in the critical third period. For the first time this season, the Rockets won a game when trailing by double-digits, as they trailed by as many as 11 points at one point in the contest.

Kevin Porter Jr. returned from a three-game absence to play a critical role in offense. KPJ Houston with 9 dimes, and continues to improve on his efficiency. In limited minutes, Jalen Green looked great, scoring 11 points in the first quarter. Unfortunately, Green suffered an injury late in the first quarter, and didn’t return to the game. And now he will miss at least a week with a strained left hamstring. Just as the Rockets have an easier than usual schedule coming up, of course their star rookie goes down. The squad will have to play hard like Wednesday’s outrunning of the Bulls if they want to put a few more wins on the board in Jalen’s absence.

So how did the Rockets beat one of better teams in the NBA? Well, guys like Garrison Matthews, Armani Brooks, and of course Alperen Sengun continue to make winning plays. Matthews hit arguably the shot of the season: a three from the corner with 25 seconds left that stretched Houston’s lead from 3 to 6 points. Christian Wood secured another double-double with 16 points and 10 boards, and leading scorer Danuel House didn’t miss from beyond the arc, draining 4 threes. The Rockets spaced the floor with ease minus Thies’ big body. It will be interesting to see how Silas continues to tinker with the lineup as the season moves on. Up next, Houston hosts Lonzo Ball’s younger brother, LaMelo Ball, and the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday.

Rockets Return Home, Host Upstart Bulls

Surprise Teams?    Back on Their Bull-Vic.    Big Trouble.

The Rockets return to Toyota Center on Wednesday night for a matchup of surprise teams in the NBA. Everyone knew these new-look Rockets would be a rebuilding process, but no one knew it would look this bad. It’s gotten so dire, Coach Stephen Silas, in only his second season, is reportedly on the “hot seat.” If he wasn’t before, with many questioning his in-game decision making, he’s officially warming his rear end with each passing game as the season moves forward. Houston hosts the Chicago Bulls, arguably the biggest surprise so far this season. The Bulls are tied for the second seed in the East, only a game out of the top spot. They have revitalized group of players. Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, former Lakers, are shining in their roles in Chicago. And the newest Bull, DeMar DeRozan, is flourishing alongside fellow All-Star Zach LaVine, a pair many “experts” expected to struggle playing together. Well, that hasn’t been the case. Both LaVine and DeRozan are having career years, and both will almost certainly be named All-Stars. What does that mean for the Rockets? Well they’re in trouble, but the trouble’s bigger than usual this time.

The Bulls are coming off their most disappointing loss of the season, a 32-point thrashing at the hands of the Pacers in Chicago. It was an uncharacteristic loss for this Bulls team who’s been very disciplined all season. Chicago has beaten the teams they’re supposed to, other than their previous game. So the Bulls will be coming into Houston hungrier than usual, eagerly wanting to erase the memory of the Indiana beatdown out of their psyches. And they’re also coming into H-Town bigger than usual.

Nikola Vucevic, one of the most underrated big-men in the NBA for years now, and another reason the Bulls are off to a fantastic start, returns from injury tonight. Christian Wood, Daniel Theis, and Alperen Sengun will have their hands full trying to contain Chicago’s often slept-on big man. It’s not the sort of homecoming the Rockets were looking for, but they’re back in Houston. Hopefully, they can put up somewhat of a fight, and run with the Bulls longer than anyone expects. Kevin Porter Jr. is making his return after missing the past three games. Maybe KPJ’s the spark this Rockets team needs to end the misery. A win tonight for Houston would be the surprise of the season. Which would be appropriate as it’s the holiday season, a time full of unexpected joys and surprises… just don’t expect one tonight.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Chicago Bulls (12-6):  Red

Houston Rockets (1-16):  Black

 

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

Rockets Crumble After Halftime, Lose to Celtics, 108-90

Deja Vu.    Worst Third.    Needing More Green.

Houston only trailed by 5 points at intermission. But, as it’s been the case time and time again this season, the Rockets fell apart in the third quarter. Boston outscored Houston 34-16 coming out of the break, en route to dealing the Rockets a 108-90 loss, their 15th consecutive loss. The squad is now only 5 losses away from the record they set last season, when they squandered 20 games in a row. Jayson Tatum fueled the Celtics once again. Tatum dropped 30 on Houston again, and Jaylen Brown returned from an injury to chip in 19 points for Boston.

Armoni Brooks, of all people, led the Rockets in scoring with 17 points. K.J. Martin was the only other Houston player in double figure, scoring 10 in limited minutes. And Alperen Sengun continued to shine in limited action, scoring 8 points, to go along with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. In contrast to when these teams first met, Jalen Green struggled to find his rhythm. Green scored only 9 points on 2-for-9 shooting. Despite his struggles, Houston needs Green to stay aggressive, and not shy away from attacking the basket.

In a season of terrible third quarters, this one might’ve been the Rockets worst. Boston scored twice as many points as Houston in the period. Granted, the Rockets are still without Kevin Porter Jr., but regardless or who’s on the floor, Houston struggles to put four quarters together. It’s a puzzle, one Houston needs to solve quickly. They’ll need a more efficient Green if they want to put an intermission to this unbearable losing streak.

Rockets Travel to Boston for Matchup with Celtics

Garden Transfer.    Ready Rematch.    Needing Green Power.

Houston makes the trip from one Garden to another, as the Rockets battle the Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night. The squad’s coming off a tough loss at Madison Square Garden to the Knicks, and looks to rebound, and break the skid tonight against the C’s. Boston’s improved mightily since the last time these teams met, earlier this season, back on October 24th. Marcus Smart gave a powerful speech, and the team’s played better since. Jayson Tatum is still the Celtics most lethal threat, and torched the Rockets for 31 points in the first matchup.

The Rockets have to be ready for this tilt. In a crowded Eastern Conference, where 8 teams are separated by a mere game, Boston has plenty of motivation to keep winning. Hopefully, K.J. Martin and Alperen Sengun continue to see increased court action. And most importantly, the resurgence of Jalen Green has to continue for Houston.

It was these same Celtics who Jalen Green lit up for 30 points in only his third career game. Granted, that was back in Houston, but the Rockets will need a repeat performance from their star rookie if they want any chance at beating Boston in the Garden. If Christian Wood and Jae’Sean Tate remain consistent on both ends of the court, Houston has a fighter’s chance of pulling off the upset. It’s the final game of their four-game road-trip… and another chance for the Rockets to end the bad trip that has been their first quarter of this NBA journey.

 

TD Garden:  Boston, Massachusetts

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-15):  Black

Boston Celtics (9-8):  White

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Bad Apple: Rockets Collapse Late, Fall to Knicks, 106-99

Another One Bites the Dust.    No Moral Victories.    The Martin/Sengun Effect.    

 

For a little longer than a New York minute, the Rockets looked poised to end the losing streak at Madison Square Garden. As has been the case several times during this losing streak, Houston had a lead going into the final quarter, something a casual onlooker may haven’t realized. But for everyone who’s been watching closely, it was the same old story in the Big Apple on Saturday night. Houston actually outplayed New York through the first three periods. But they play four quarters for a reason. And the Knicks rallied in the final period, dealing the Rockets a 106-99 loss, and Houston’s 14th straight defeat. If there’s any silver lining to be found, Jalen Green is starting to play more efficiently, especially securing and shooting the ball. After a sloppy start to his career, Green’s looked more like the prodigy many made him out to be before the season began. Green scored 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Christian Wood had another solid double-double, with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

In this league, there’s no column for the “tried hard, almost won” games. This is the NBA: No Boys Allowed. It’s a man’s league, and as Houston’s young squad adjusts to the physicality of the professional level, the team is slowly inching closer to a win, despite what the record might reveal. The Rockets just need to keep pushing and playing hard, following the lead of their energizer bunny, Jae’Sean Tate. The best hustler in the NBA had another efficient night, supplying a double-double for Houston. And Coach Stephen Silas and the Rockets might’ve finally found a recipe to turn these “moral” victories into actual wins. And push Houston closer to the pack of parity, instead of performing as the league’s “Bad Apples.”

Alperen Sengun and K.J. Martin (Houston’s two best bench players), finally got the most minutes out of the Rocket reserves. Sengun played 24 minutes, and Martin saw 21 minutes of action. The effect these two have goes beyond the stats, but’s here’s a few for good measure: the two combined for 20 points to lead Houston’s bench. Sengun continues to pass the ball like a seasoned veteran. And K.J. Martin isn’t just the most athletic player on the Rockets… KJ’s arguably the most athletic player in the entire league. At least pound for pound. His blocking ability for his short stature is unforeseen in the NBA. And he’s Houston’s most valuable asset in transition. If Silas continues to let Sengun and Martin (two core pieces of the future), the Rockets can start to win games now. Houston had the bad end of the stick in New York, but the team showed vast improvement in their ability to stay with a team for the entire game… the Rockets just ran out of gas near the end. Up next, the NBA’s “Bad Apples” travel to another Garden, this time in Boston to take on the Celtics.  

Rockets Visit Knicks in Jalen Green’s MSG Debut

Garden Debut.    Time that Kills.    Electric Environment.

The lights don’t get any brighter than at Madison Square Garden, aka the World’s Most Famous Arena. And for the first time in his career, Jalen Green will play in the building that houses some of the greatest memories from the game’s icons. Michael Jordan’s favorite arena to play in was MSG. The same with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and countless others. Something about the Garden brings out the best in superstars on the road. It’ll be very interesting to see how Jalen Green performs in his first game at MSG.

Houston is desperately searching for a win. The Rockets ride into the Big Apple on a 13-game losing streak, tops in the league. Every team in the league besides Houston has won at least 3 games, and 28 teams have won at least 4 times. The Rockets are falling behind the entire pack, and need a win soon to stop this horrific start. A renewed sense of urgency has to kick-in for Houston, or the losing streak will continue to hang over this Rockets team. The Knicks are 8-7, and in a time with unforeseen parity in NBA history, Knicks fans are in a frenzy over their team’s potential this year. The atmosphere will be electric tonight in NYC, and the Rockets will have a raucous crowd to deal with along with a solid opponent. Julius Randle continues to power the Knicks offense, and they have a plethora of young players who are starting to find their groove. Veteran point guard Kemba Walker is the most notable off-season addition to this Knicks team, and he has yet to provide the sort impact New York is looking for from the former All-Star. The Knicks dropped their last game to the Magic in a loss at home. There’s no doubt New York’s coach Tom Thibodeau will have his team ready to bounce back. Houston hopes Kevin Porter Jr. returns to the lineup, as the Rockets will need all the help possible to pull off the upset.

Jalen Green and company have had two off-days since their last game. Which is usually a promising time for NBA teams. But those days-off have been in the Big Apple, as Houston arrived early on Thursday. With plenty of sights to see, that resting time might come back to bite the Rockets. Hopefully the team has stayed disciplined, but there’s no doubt the group had fun in NYC. Hopefully, it doesn’t factor into their performance on the court this Saturday evening. I can’t remember the last time a rookie put on a show at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Green has an opportunity to do something special tonight and end Houston’s skid, leaving Knicks fans with a bad taste in the Big Apple… and the most famous upset of this young NBA season.

 

Madison Square Garden:  New York City, New York

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-14):  Red

New York Knicks (8-7):  White

 

TV:  4 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW,  NBA League Pass

Rockets Fall Behind Early, Lose to Thunder, 101-89

Unlucky Thirteen.    Hotter Seat.    Looking Back at Fifteen.   

For the 13th straight game, the Houston Rockets found themselves on the wrong side of the score board. Houston trailed by double digits at halftime, and made it close in the fourth quarter, before the Thunder pulled away, dealing the Rockets a 101-89 defeat. Lugentz Dort, who’s playing the best basketball of his life, led OKC with 34 points. The loss pushes Houston’s losing streak to a baker’s dozen, and questions have arisen about Stephen Silas and his rotational choices. Giving Silas the benefit of the doubt, the Rockets have had one of the toughest early schedules, and they do have an extremely, young raw team. However, after blowing out OKC in their home opener, Houston should’ve put up more of a fight on Wednesday night. Granted, Kevin Porter Jr. missed this contest with an injury, but the Rockets still had enough firepower to win. Jalen Green led Houston’s scoring charge with 21 points. Green’s started to slowly shoot the ball more efficiently as the season moves on and the rookie adjusts to the NBA game. Jae’Sean Tate continued his consistency streak. Tate scored 16 points and grabbed 8 boards in another energetic, hustle-filled performance. And Christian Wood secured another double-double, adding 10 points and 14 rebounds. Alperen Sengun, who’s been arguably the best player-per minute for the Rockets all season, only saw five minutes of action on Wednesday. A sign that something needs to change.

Coach Stephen Silas credited Daniel Theis’ defense for one of the reasons Sengun saw little time. But in a rebuilding season, especially when the Rockets are losing these games anyway, the future core of the squad needs to see more minutes. Green is getting plenty of looks, but Alperen Sengun and K.J. Martin have both shown with their play this season, they deserve more minutes. Houston wants to play fast with their young athletic group, but the Rockets scored only 4 fast-break points against a sub-par Thunder team. Coincidentally, Houston’s most-athletic player, K.J. Martin, played only 12 minutes in this contest, yet still managed to score 6 points and snag 3 boards. Martin and Sengun need more minutes, or the rumors of Stephen Silas on the hot seat will only heat up.

We’re now fifteen games into the season. No one expected the Rockets to have a winning record at this point. But no one expected a 1-14 start either. It’s the worst start in franchise history, and Houston is on pace for the worst record in NBA history (5-77) if they continue with this pace. Obviously, the schedule has been brutal for the Rockets to start the season. But they’ve shown they can compete with good teams (the one point loss in Denver, and the two-point defeat in L.A. still sting). However, they’ve blown a couple of easier opportunities during this tough stretch. This last game against the Thunder, and their home loss to the Pistons. Two games Houston could’ve won, or at least contests they should’ve played more competitive. Nonetheless, these are professionals, and pride has to sink in sooner or later for these Rockets. No one likes losing, and if Houston can’t claim a victory soon, this skid will start to creep up to historically bad levels. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier in a season full of unforeseen parity in the NBA. Jalen Green and the squad now travel East for road matches with the Knicks and Celtics ahead on the schedule. If the Rockets want to finally get on the right side of the score board, rotational changes are necessary on this upcoming East coast-trip.

Rockets Look to Quiet Thunder, Aim for First Road Win

Lone Win.    One for the Road.    Opportunity Knocks.

Jalen Green and the squad were sent to bed early on Monday night in Memphis, as Houston is coming off their worst loss of the season, a 34-point mauling at the hands of the Grizzlies. The loss stretched the squad’s league-high skid to a dozen games. Houston will look to turn things around, and put an end to their 12-game losing streak, as they visit the only team they’ve beaten: the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets walloped OKC, 124-91, for Houston’s lone win, back in the squad’s home opener on October 22nd. The Thunder have improved mightily since that game. OKC even went on a four-game winning streak earlier this month. Houston hasn’t tasted a victory since that first matchup with the Thunder. The Rockets will look to take advantage of an easier opponent before the schedule toughens up again for the final two games of their road trip.

After tonight, Houston pays visits to New York and Boston, where the Knicks and Celtics will pose as much tougher challengers than tonight’s OKC squad. Hopefully, the Rockets will have renewed confidence against the Thunder, since OKC is the only team Houston’s beaten. Regardless, this matchup should definitely be closer than Monday night’s blowout in Memphis.

Opportunity knocks tonight for the Rockets. They’re still the underdogs, but Houston’s beaten the Thunder once already this season, and a change of scenery shouldn’t affect their performance. OKC’s dropped their past two games to the Heat and the Nets, two solid Eastern Conference teams, respectively. If the Rockets can control their two problem areas: turnovers and missed free throws, Houston has a chance to finally snag their first road win of the season… and put their losing streak to bed.

 

Paycom Center:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-13):  Black

Oklahoma City Thunder (5-8):  White

 

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

Mauling in Memphis: Grizzlies School Rockets, 136-102

Dirty Dozen.    Pushed Back.    Drawing Board.

The Rockets trailed by as many as 40 points, as they got routed by the Grizzlies, 136-102, in Memphis on Monday night. Houston never made the matchup competitive, trailing by 13 points after the first period, usually the squad’s best. Ja Morant led the Grizz with 22 points, and five other Memphis players chipped in with at least 12 points in their balanced attack. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 15 points, on a slightly improved 6-for-13 shooting, but the rookie still has a long way to go to live up to the hype. Jae’Sean Tate continues to be Houston’s most consistent player on both ends of the court. Tate supplied 14 points and 9 boards, and his usual energy for the squad. Too bad it’s not become infectious with his teammates. This was one of the uglier losses in Houston’s franchise-worst start to the season, and not how the Rockets wanted to begin their four-game road trip. Houston has now lost a dozen games in a row, as the losses are beginning to pile up.

Memphis’ defense did a solid job of pushing the Rockets offense back towards the perimeter. The Grizzlies kept Houston out of the lane, and forced the Rockets to take difficult shots from deep. Alperen Sengun continues to flourish in limited minutes. Sengun has shown an innate ability to pass the ball with skill, and his defense has come better than expected. The Turkish rookie scored 9 points and grabbed 5 boards in a limited 18 minutes of action in Houston’s latest loss. Should Sengun get the starting nod? Rockets coach Stephen Silas says tinkering with the starting lineup in the future could be possibility, and inserting Sengun into a starting role would really help the squad. Houston played with better spacing in the games Sengun started, and passed the ball more efficiently as a team.

The Rockets now are 1-13, by far the worst record in the NBA. And it doesn’t get any easier, with three more road games before returning to Houston. How can the squad snag a victory? Back to the drawing boad… changes in the starting lineup are essential, and the team has to play with more swagger, despite their record. It’s hard to play with confidence when you’ve lost this many games in a row, but the Rockets have to forget about their record, and work on improving their on-court chemistry. Stephen Silas and the squad need a victory soon, or they could end up on the wrong side in the history books. Houston’s best chance at a win comes on this road trip’s next stop, in Oklahoma City against the Thunder, the lone team the Rockets have beaten all season. Although OKC has improved since the home opener at Toyota Center, and Houston will need to improve on the fly if they want to end this losing streak soon.

Rockets Ride into Memphis Hoping to End the Blues

Worst Start Ever?    Ja’s World.    Building Blocks.

Houston strolls into Memphis on Monday night for a matchup with the Grizzlies. Ja Morant and Memphis have improved mightily over last season. The Grizz are currently 6-7 on the season, but they’ve struggled of late. Memphis has lost three straight games and four of their last five contests. The Rockets aim to add to the Grizzlies’ blues by notching their first road win on Monday night.

Ja Morant is off to his best season in his third year as a professional. Morant is averaging career-highs in all categories, and is one of the hardest players to contain on the offensive end. Houston has their hands full with Morant on Monday night. Also, look for Steven Adam to bruise elbows in the pain with the likes of Christian Wood, Alperen Sengun, and Daniel Theis.

It’s time for the Rockets to finally end their skid. Their 1-12 start is the worst in franchise history, and one of the worst beginnings to a season in NBA history. Jalen Green needs to find a way to make himself more assertive. If Green can drive the ball more, and keep his turnovers low, while staying away from bad attempts from three, the rookie should improve. Kevin Porter Jr. needs to do a better job at getting Green the ball so Jalen can find a rhythm. When asked if he would change the starting lineup on Monday night, Stephen Silas replied, “possibly.” And that’s the same attitude fans have going into tonight’s game. A win sure is possible, but Houston will need to alter their blueprint if they want to steal their first road win in Memphis.

 

FedExForum:  Memphis, Tennessee

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (1-12):  Red

Memphis Grizzlies (6-7):  Navy “City Edition”

 

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