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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

Rockets Get Burned By Suns, 115-89, for 11th Straight Loss

Winless Homestand.    Searching for Answers.    Same Old Song.

The Rockets fell to the Suns, 115-89, losing their 11th consecutive game. The loss wraps up a winless homestand in Houston. It’s not only the worst start in franchise history, it’s one of the worst starts in NBA history. Houston stayed within reach in the first quarter, but trailed heavily the rest of the contest. The Rockets will try and end the skid in Memphis on Monday night as the team gets right back to work. It’s been the same old story, turnovers and missed free throws, that have been the downfall of the young squad so far this season.

Rockets Try to End the Skid, Host Red-Hot Suns

Reigning and Burning.    Streaking.    First Step.

Tonight, the Houston Rockets try and put an end to their 10-game losing streak. It won’t be easy, as the reigning Western Conference champs, the Phoenix Suns, roll into Houston. The Suns are red-hot, winners of seven in a row, and they look to make it eight as these squads meet for the second time this season. Phoenix won the first battle back on November 4th, 123-111, as a torrid third quarter by the Rockets put the game in the Suns’ favor for good. As these teams seem to be headed in opposite directions, Houston can’t let their record affect their performance. The Rockets will get better over time, and they outplayed Phoenix outside of the third quarter in the first matchup. Houston has a chance tonight, but they need to stay disciplined.

DeAndre Ayton is out with an injury for the Suns, so Christian Wood needs to take advantage of Frank Kaminsky, or whomever Phoenix garners to get the majority of Ayton’s minutes. Chris Paul won’t let the Suns beat themselves, a habit with which the Rockets have become obsessed. Houston keep shooting themselves in the foot, by missing free throws and turning the ball over. Until the Rockets clean these two aspects of their game up, it’s going to be difficult to win games.

Tonight is the first end of a back-to-back for Houston, who travels to Memphis to face the Grizzlies tomorrow night. Tip-off is slated slightly earlier than usual, at 6 P.M. local time, so the Rockets will have an extra hour before flying off on the road. It would be nice to end the skid at home. Hopefully the team finally shows the resilience needed to stay disciplined throughout the entire game… all four quarters… and they might have a chance.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Phoenix Suns (8-3):  White

Houston Rockets (1-11):  Black

 

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

Rockets Lose 10th Straight, Fall to Blazers 104-92

One for the Road.    Scoot Ball.    Nowhere but Up.

Damian Lillard scored 20 points, and C.J. McCollum added 17 points, as the Blazers dealt the Rockets their 10th straight loss on Friday night. Kevin Porter Jr. aka “Scoot”, score 18 points to lead Houston. KPJ’s play is quietly improving from game to game. However on this night, Scoot had little help from his teammates. Jalen Green again struggled shooting the ball, scoring only 9 points. Jae’Sean Tate, by and far the most consistent Houston player all season, chipped in with 14 points and 6 boards. This was the first road win all year for Portland, as the Blazers took advantage of the youth and inexperience haunting this Rockets’ team at the moment. Houston will only gain more experience, and they won’t be throwing three teenagers on the floor forever… these are the growing pains. It’s part of the cycle of professional sports. After being a contending team for 8 straight seasons, the Rockets, including last season, are trying to make the long, slow, climb back to the top.

KPJ stated that Lillard was one of his idols  growing up, and Dame said Scoot’s talent is “through the roof.” KPJ chipped in with 5 rebounds and assists apiece, and most importantly, committed only one turnover, a season-low for Scoot. Too bad the Rockets can’t get everyone firing on all cylinders in the same game. Houston will try to end the losing streak on Sunday, as they close out their three-game homestand against the Phoenix Suns.

After losing their tenth straight game, there’s no where to go but up for these Rockets. Sure, they might lose a few more games on this streak. But these guys are professionals, and sooner or later, the squad will squeak out a win. Houston continues to play hard, but struggles to play all four quarters. The Rockets need to learn how to close games if they want any chance against the defending Western Conference Champions on Sunday.

Rockets Desperate for a Win, Host Struggling Trail Blazers

City Debut.    Rocket Killer.    Desperation Time.

On Friday night, the Rockets will unveil their “City Edition” court and uniforms, as Houston plays host to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets are coming off their most disappointing loss of season, falling to the Pistons at home on Wednesday. If Houston wants to end their 9-game losing streak, they need to focus a the free throw line and take care of the ball. The Rockets have been terrible from the foul line lately, and that’s unfortunate, because Houston is finding ways to get to the line. They just can’t knock them down. Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green have their hands full tonight, as they square off against one of the NBA’s best backcourts, Portland’s Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Tonight will be a tougher test than Wednesday, as the Blazers are expected to make the playoffs. Portland usually gets off to rough starts, but this season is different. They have a new coach in Chauncey Billups, and Damian Lillard is off to a struggling start. Don’t be surprised if Dame finds his rhythm again tonight.

Lillard has been a Rocket-Killer over his career. From ending Houston’s season roughly five years ago in the playoffs, to countless big games and shots he’s had against the Rockets, Lillard seems to thrive playing against Houston. The squad needs to buckle down defensively to ensure the clock never hits “Dame Time” at Toyota Center. Hopefully, the Rockets can come out with a better second half, and specifically third quarter on Friday. Houston has struggled mightily coming out of the break. Also, Christian Wood needs more touches down the stretch than he’s seen in the past two games. Don’t forget about the big fella!

It’s desperation time. No one likes losing, let alone losing streaks. And with a loss tonight, the skid would hit double-digits: 10 losses in a row. If Houston wants to avoid another defeat, they need to come out firing and build a big lead. Lillard is bound is have a big game tonight, and the Rockets can’t afford to fall behind early against a desperate Portland team trying to get their season back on track. Other than the Blazers’ star backcourt, Jusuf Nurkic will pose problems for Christian Wood and Daneil Theis in the paint. Hopefully, we see a return of Alperen Sengun, who’s missed the last two games. The Rockets play more smoothly with Sengun on the floor. Regardless, containing Nurkic is key if Houston wants to finally win a game. The jerseys the Rockets will be wearing tonight are a nod to the throwback pinstripe era with a mix of the old signage. Hopefully the team channels better times, and breaks the losing streak with a win over Portland tonight… do it for the city.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (5-7):  Red

Houston Rockets (1-10):  Navy Blue “City Edition”

 

TV:  7 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW