Category: Uncategorized

Record Rainfall:  Houston’s Long-Range Storm Drenches OKC, as Rockets Dominate Thunder, 136-106, for Sixth Straight Win

First Quarter “Whoas.”    Deep Barrage.    Wall-Star.

“Whatever I’ve lost you’ve found,” Sly Stallone tells Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010’s The Expendables, when asked about his weight loss. Outsiders looking in may think Houston lost a lot of “weight” when the team shipped James Harden to Brooklyn. And the Rockets did, but what they’ve found outweighs anything they lost in the past. I’ve never seen a Rockets team have so much fun on the floor. And like the expendables in the film, these guys are having a blast, all bringing something to the table, playing their heart out with a chip on their shoulder… blasting opponents out of arenas in the process. Oklahoma City was Houston’s latest victim, as the Rockets used a barrage of threes (a franchise record 28) to blow past the Thunder on Monday night, 136-106. Unlike their previous games, which saw Houston staring at early double-digit deficits, the Rockets pounced on the Thunder right after the opening tip and never looked back. Houston put this game away in the first quarter. Those first quarter woes turned into first quarter “whoas” on Monday night, as the Rockets connected on 11 of their 14 attempts from distance, an insanely accurate percentage. Houston doubled OKC’s output, leading 48-24 after one quarter. It’s the Rockets second 48-point quarter in as many games, as the squad was firing on all cylinders on Monday night.

OKC simply had no answer for a talented, deeper Houston team. The Rockets had 7 players score in double figures, with Eric Gordon leading the charge off the bench with 25 points. DeMarcus Cousins quietly scored 17 points and 8 boards. Victor Oladipo chipped in 15, and John Wall and Christian Wood each had 18, as the Rockets overpowered a lottery-bound Thunder team on Monday night. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC with 19 points, but simply didn’t have enough help to get anything going for the home team. Houston will try and repeat their Monday night explosion on Wednesday night, as these two teams face-off in the same place, at the same time.

By now, everyone’s heard of Houston’s WOW (Wall, Oladipo, Wood) Factor. And the three have led the Rockets on this current six-game winning streak. But the leader of this team, is unquestionably John Wall. He’s the leader in the locker room. Houston is 8-4 when Wall plays, and only 2-5 when he doesn’t. Wall may not put up the most points each night, but these Rockets are going as far their “Wall-Star” will take them. After missing two seasons, and several games after an injury, Wall has looked very impressive. After struggling from distance to start the season, Wall’s three-point shot has improved over the last few games. He’s starting to find his rhythm again, and if Wall can stay healthy for the long run, these Rockets are going to be dark horses of an unprecedented kind. They may have lost James Harden, and all the headlines that came with the NBA’s most-famous beard. But the Rockets realize this newfound chemistry they’ve found is better than anything the Beard brought to Houston. There’s no “I” in team. And this team has found each other. Something the Rockets could never do with James Harden. It only took losing the Beard for Houston to realize what they always needed to find, and never could until they could lose Harden: chemistry.

   

Rockets Roll into OKC, Aiming for Sixth Straight Win

Fresh Start.    Second Gear.    Mini-Series.

We’re all used to the sound of thunder, even though we can’t visibly see it coming, we can hear the impact it has on the world around us. On Monday night, the Houston Rockets, a team no one saw winning five straight after the James Harden trade, begins the first of two games against the Thunder in Oklahoma City. These two squads were supposed to square off on Opening Night, but coronavirus intervened, and that game was postponed to a later date. So, this is the first time these teams will meet this season.

The Rockets are on a roll, winners of five in a row, Houston’s found a new positive energy that’s become ingrained in the team’s chemistry. This team’s having so much fun right now. Everyone is playing to win, and there’s certainly a sense of relief Harden and his drama is finally gone. With their latest victory, Houston pushed themselves back even towards .500, and are in the thick of a crowded Western Conference standings. A mere 3 games separate the 5th and 14th seeds out West. OKC sits only a game behind the Rockets at 8-10. There’s no reason the WOW factor shouldn’t be able to push Houston pass a less-talented Thunder team. Other than Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, an All-Star in the making, and Al Horford, OKC poses no real threats, and the Rockets Big Three should be able to silence any thunderous attempts Oklahoma aims at Houston. The Rockets will be without David N’waba tonight, who unfortunately suffered an injury in Houston’s previous game.

Tonight is the first of a back-to-back between these two, another one of the NBA’s many mini-series during this shortened coronavirus-impacted 72-game season. It’s also officially the beginning of the second quarter of the season for Houston. The squad is 18 games into the 72-game campaign. It’s going to take a lot more winning for the Rockets to get national attention, but that’s no problem. This team loves flying under the radar. And, like the Grizzlies six-game winning streak you probably didn’t know about, it may surprise you that these Rockets are on such a roll. But you’ve been warned now. Unlike Memphis’ winning ways, Houston is only going to get better. So get ready Oklahoma City. A storm’s headed your way. Just like your thunder, you might not hear their approach… no one saw these Rockets coming.

 

Chesapeake Energy Arena:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (9-9):  Red

Oklahoma City Thunder (8-10):  White

 

TV:  7 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Pluck Pelicans, 126-112, Extend Winning Streak to Five

Second Quarter Swing.    “Big Easy” Vibe.    Recognizing Greatness.

“I definitely wanted to show them what they missed out on,” Christian Wood said after the Rockets beat the team that cut Wood in 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans, 126-112. And Wood had plenty to display on Saturday night, as his 27 points fueled a dominant Rockets victory over an upstart Pelicans team. Houston trailed yet again early in this contest, staring an 11-point deficit in the face in the first quarter. New Orleans started hot from beyond the arc, nailing 6 of their first 11 threes, but after that, the Pelicans missed 22 of their next 24 shots from three. And, the Rockets happened to have one of their best quarters in franchise history in the second period. Houston shot 9 for 12 from long range, and outscored New Orleans 48 to 22, en route a 29-point first half swing, turning an 11-point Houston hole into an 18-point halftime cushion. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 26 points, but the Rockets were never in danger of surrendering their lead at the break. 

Victor Oladipo scored 20, and Wall added 15, as the Rockets are really starting to build chemistry and gel with their new teammates. The oldest tenured Rocket, Eric Gordon, said “this has been fun!!!” after the game. Someone who has his own Fun Meter, familiar to die-hard Rocket fans. And when EG’s Fun Meter’s turned up, that’s a great for Houston, and dangerous for the rest of the league. After the squad extended their winning streak, Splash Gordon said this team is starting to have the same vibe as the 65-win Rocket team that almost took down the Warriors dynasty three years ago. It’s a “Big-Easy”, fun, celebrating mood in the locker room. This Houston team truly loves playing together. The win in the Big Easy extends the Rockets’ winning streak to five games, and there’s definitely a sense of culture change in Houston. All the remnants, debris, and memories of the James Harden trade are gone. The WOW Factor is now officially a “thing” across the league. And you’ll only be hearing more as the season goes along.

One can argue, either Wood, Wall, or Oladipo as being the Rockets best player, as they’re all keys to their success. But Houston’s vocal leader, and in the locker room, is John Wall. Wall continues to throw shade at James Harden after the Rockets latest victory, along with the Nets collapse to the Russell Westbrook and the Wizards on Sunday night, gives Houston and Brooklyn the same amount of losses. Wall said, “as you can see we had 32 assists tonight. That’s the team we wanna be. A team that scores a lot off assists, not one-on-one basketball.” Harden’s Rockets were the definition of one-on-one basketball, and Houston isolated more than any team in the league with Harden. Now, the Rockets can play as a team, and the results, despite losing a superstar-player, have been tremendously on the upswing for Houston. Since the trade, the Rockets have the best defensive rating in basketball, while the Nets have the worst. Not to mention the squad was 3-6 when Harden was still on the roster, and are 6-3 since he departed for Brooklyn. Wall’s leadership since he arrived in Houston has been noteworthy. Expect him to take subtle jabs at Harden throughout the season, as these Rockets are simply much better than anyone realizes. Except for John Wall and company.

And Wall also is well aware how important P.J. Tucker is to this Rockets team. Tucker’s name has been in the trade rumors all season, and fans have complained about his shooting and lack of offense. But Houston knows they can’t contend for a title without P.J. Houston’s vocal leader, John Wall, brought up the importance of P.J. Tucker after the game. And his teammates followed suit. On P.J., Oladipo had high praise, “P.J. Tucker is a rarity… we’re gonna need him if we’re gonna win at a high level.” EG said, “no question, everybody needs a P.J. Tucker on every team. We’re lucky to have him.” Speaking of luck, Houston’s fortunate to realize they snagged the free-agent of the off-season, in Christian Wood, who’s slowly developing into an All-Star. Wood’s another Rocket with a chip on his shoulder, who wanted to show New Orleans, the team who passed on him in 2019, what they’re missing. And on Saturday night… he gave them front row seats to the show.

Rockets Hit the Big Easy, Battle Zion and the Pelicans

The Drive for Five.    The Road Back.    Rest Ahead.

Houston hits the road to begin a four-game road trip on Saturday night against one of the NBA’s evolving teams. Their first stop is in the Big Easy, where John Wall, Victor Oladipo and the Rockets will meet Zion Williamson and the Pelicans. After a slow start to the season, New Orleans is coming off their best win of the season, a victory over the Bucks last night. Houston’s also coming off their best win of the season, a 20-point comeback victory over the Blazers. The Rockets need to dig deep if they want to make it five wins in a row tonight. The Pelicans are clicking at the right time. Led by Zion Williamson, who’s coming into form, getting better with each game, New Orleans also boasts another Duke product, lethal swingman Brandon Ingram. Eric Bledsoe is hitting a groove after a rough start to the season. And Steven Adams will give Christian Wood rebounding nightmares in the paint. It should be a good one in New Orleans tonight. If the Rockets play with fiery intensity, they should be able to escape with a victory.

Tonight marks the beginning of a four-game road trip, and a stretch of six out of seven games away from Toyota Center for the Rockets. Houston would love to start the trip with a win, and get back to .500 for the first time this season. At 8-9, a win tonight puts Houston a step closer to rising in the standings. New Orleans is 7-10, and a loss puts the Rockets in the same camp as the Pelicans. Tonight’s game is immensely important as Houston continues to dig itself out of their early season hole, victims of the James Harden-drama. The Rockets have the advantage in the rest category. Houston hasn’t played since Thursday. New Orleans beat a tough Milwaukee Bucks team last night. If the Rockets play with Jae’Sean Tate and P.J. Tucker’s energy, they should be able to contain the Pelicans tonight.

This matchup marks the end of the first quarter of this NBA season, as the Rockets will have played 18 out of their 72 regular season games. After a rough start, and adapting to continuing changes, Houston seems headed in the right direction. A win over a hot New Orleans team would give the Rockets a huge confidence boost to start this road trip, as the squad hasn’t been as good on the road compared to home. Regardless, it’s a matchup of two of the NBA’s hottest, evolving teams, finding their respective rhythms at the same time. Expect an entertaining Saturday night affair in the Big Easy… and appreciate the evolution.

 

Smoothie King Center:  New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (8-9):  Black

New Orleans Pelicans (7-10):  Red

TV:  7 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Rally, Hold-Off Blazers, 104-101, For 4th Straight Win

Comeback Kids.    Home Dipo.    Best-Kept Secret.

“Is that a thing?” Rockets Head Coach Stephen Silas replied after he was asked about the WOW (Wall, Oladipo, Wood) factor in Houston. The WOW Factor played together for the first time on Thursday night, as the Rockets stormed back from a 20-point deficit to defeat the Blazers, 104-101, and extend their winning streak to four games. Houston trailed by 15 after a miserable first quarter, but led by one at the half, and were able to hang on by the skin of their teeth for a nail biting victory. Damian Lillard dropped 30 points for Portland, but with no C.J. McCollum to save them this time, the Rockets were able to fend off the pesky Blazers. Victor Oladipo led Houston in scoring with 25 points. Christian Wood made another claim for this year’s Most-Improved Player. Wood posted a double-double again, which is starting to happen on a highly basis, notching 22 points while grabbing 12 boards. And John Wall chipped in with 20 points, and 6 dimes, as the Rockets improve to 8-9 on the season. Houston’s right in the thick of the playoff picture in the West. The squad needed a grind-out, comeback victory. And Thursday provided the Rockets with a character-building victory, as we approach the end of the first quarter of the season.

Since being traded to the Rockets, Victor Oladipo has felt right at home in Houston. And the Rockets have actually been a better team since they traded James Harden. The numbers don’t lie, and chemistry and mental toughness goes a long way into playing into whether or not a team’s capable of contending with the elite. Before the trade, Houston was 3-6, with the 22nd ranked defense. Since shipping their disgruntled superstar to the Big Apple, the Rockets are 5-3, with the top-ranked defense in the entire league. After the game, Wall made a subtle jab at Harden, mentioning the difficulties of reaching your goals when everyone doesn’t buy in. And he’s right, as Houston just looks like they’re having more fun without a ball-dominant player with Dennis Rodman-esque shenanigans off the court. The squad is still gelling chemistry-wise. This was the first game in which Oladipo, Wall, and Wood all played. Once these guys are more comfortable with each other, this Rockets team has the potential to be dangerous.

And despite new faces and new teammates on the court in Houston, the Rockets narrowly escaped an embarrassing loss to an injury-riddled Portland team at home. John Wall and co. escaped by the skin of their teeth, and will have to better as the squad hits the road for a five-game road trip starting on Saturday. These new-look, surging Rockets will face another team on the rise, the New Orleans Pelicans. After a slow start, Zion and the Pels are coming off an impressive win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It won’t be easy against Zion, the NBA’s next-best thing, and the Pelicans on Saturday night, but Houston’s capable of starting the road trip with a win in the Big Easy. And for those of you like Stephen Silas still asking if the NBA’s best-kept secret, Houston’s WOW Factor, is a thing, allow me to provide the answer… you bet it is. And it’s just getting started.

Rockets Host Blazers in Rematch of Opening-Night Thriller

Rare Rematch.    Prestigious Points.    One for the Road.

Houston hosts the Trail Blazers in a rematch of their Opening Night thriller in Portland, a classic game, arguably the best of this NBA season so far, and one which the Rockets lost in heartbreaking-fashion. The squad will look to turn the tables Thursday night, as they host the Blazers in these teams’ second meeting this season. This game is technically a rematch, it’s the same two franchises, but with very new looks. For Portland, they’re injury-riddled at the moment. Their second-best player, C.J. McCollum, who lit up the Rockets for 44 points in the opener, is out with an injury. The Blazers are also without Jusuf Nurkic, one of the most underrated big men in basketball. And for Houston, James Harden, who seemed to traded baskets with McCollum, is long gone for the Rockets. Instead, Portland faces Victor Oladipo, whose looked pretty good so far in Houston. And John Wall, who missed the opener due to health and safety protocols.

Despite the absence of McCollum, the Blazers still have Damian Lillard, the most underrated superstar in basketball, and a regular Rockets-killer. Dame Dollar usually has big games against the Rockets. He ended Houston’s season with that infamous shot in the playoffs in 2016. And expect Lillard to be ready to do heavy damage, especially with McCollum, his backcourt mate, out for the night. The key matchup on Thursday night is Wall vs. Lillard. How will Wall perform against one of the most prestigious point-guards in basketball? Mr. Wall’s pretty prestigious himself, as he’s shown on the court this season. Thursday night’s tussle should be intriguing as these two All-Stars go head-to-head. DeMarcus Cousins has looked like an All-Start since filling in for Christian Wood. The Rockets need another Boogie night if they want to fend off Portland’s Enes Kanter, one of the best offensive rebounders in the league.

After Thursday night’s matchup, six of Houston’s next seven games are on the road, including a five-game trip the Rockets begin on Saturday. Houston has performed much better at home as opposed to the road this season. The squad needs a win against an injury-riddled Blazers team. Portland’s still a dangerous team. Damian Lillard can beat the Rockets by himself if he has one of those “Dame Time” fourth quarters. Houston has a plan to counter a potential Lillard-explosion. Thursday night is the first time John Wall and Victor Oladipo will share the court as Rockets. It may take a little time, as most chemistry does, but Houston’s backcourt has the potential to be one of the NBA’s best, if they can stay healthy. The Rockets need to take advantage of McCollum’s absence for the Blazers. At 7-9, Houston is in a much better position improving to 8-9, instead of falling another step behind at 7-10 in the standings. The first game between these two Western foes was a classic, a double-overtime thriller, that unfortunately ended in a Houston loss. In the rarest of rematches, expect another thriller. Dame Dollar’s in Houston, the Rockets are testing out their new All-Star backcourt for the first time. Houston has health on their side, but the Blazers have a group that’s played together longer than these new-look Rockets. Regardless, just like on Opening Night… expect a thriller in Houston on Thursday night.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (9-7):  Black

Houston Rockets (7-9):  Blue “City Edition”

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT  –  TNT

Wall Street: Rockets Stump Wizards, 107-88, in Westbrook’s Return

Not Done Yet.    Beal… and the Bricks.    Seeing Progression.

“They watched me play… they thought I was done,” John Wall said after his Rockets beat his former team, the only squad he ever played for before joining Houston. The Rockets also might’ve shown the world they won the Wall-Westbrook. Russ may be the better player in some people’s eyes, but Wall’s certainly a better fit in Houston, especially with this new group. And these new-look Rockets blew out Westbrook’s Wizards, 107-88, on Tuesday night. John Wall led Houston with 24 points ad 5 assists. Victor Oladipo added 20 points, as he continues to integrate himself into Houston’s system. Eric Gordon and DeMarcus Cousins both continued to thrive on the court. EG scored 20 on, and proved he’s capable of winning the Sixth Man of the Year award this prove. Boogie had another tremendous night filling in for Christian Wood. Cousins once again showed flashes of vintage Boogie and dominated the paint, scoring 19 points while grabbing 11 boards for Houston. The former All-Star hit half of his eight shots from long range, and after a slow start to the season, is really showing he can be a viable role player, given he plays enough minutes to keep his rhythm.

Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 33 points, and Russell Westbrook chip in with 17 on 7-for017 shooting. But former teammates Beal and Wall both shot the same percentages, with Wall leading Houston over Washington, and Westbrook, the guy he got traded for. Other than Beal and Russ, the Wizards didn’t have enough firepower to stop a Rockets team playing its first game with Wall and Oladipo sharing the court. A game that so far, has been Houston’s best of this young season. It will be interesting to see what happens when the final piece of Houston’s big three, Christian Wood, returns from injury.

The victory gives the Rockets a 7-9 record, and puts them with a group of teams clustered in the West fighting for a playoff spot. It’s been a rough beginning to one of the strangest starts to kick-off a season in recent memory, to say the least, but after starting 3-6. Houston is now 4-3 since the James Harden trade, and still have yet to play a game this season at full strength. Once Wood returns, the Rockets can begin their journey to prove they’re much better than everyone believes. Coach Stephen Silas needs to be given a ton of credit. He’s done of a masterful job with the genius group of young players Houston’s GM Rafael Stone’s acquired in the off-season, and the biggest trade in Rockets history. The squad still needs to get fully healthy, to get an ideal grasp of their full potential, but with all the drama, chaos, and injuries, it’s impressive Houston sits at 7-9 in the standings. Things could be a lot worse. Houston no longer has James Harden as the face of the franchise, but as Wall proved with his play on Tuesday night… these Rockets aren’t done contending in the West.

Rockets Return Home, Host Wizards in Westbrook’s Return

Electric Vindication.    Black Magic.    Backcourt Premier?

This one feels personal. It was only a few months ago, that Russell Westbrook called Houston home. On Tuesday night, Brodie finally makes his lone trip to the place he briefly called home, as the Rockets meet the Wizards on Tuesday night. Washington has been plagued by the coronavirus, although the team is improving, the Wizards have played three fewer games than Houston. So far, the Rockets are lucky the virus has only postponed their opener. The NBA season’s in jeopardy if too many games get postponed. But looking from a Houston viewpoint, the commissioner Adam Silver’s smart enough to guide the league through another tumultuous season. The Rockets are coming off impressive back-to-back road wins over the weekend, especially a pounding of in-state rival Dallas. Don’t look at the records of Houston and Washington. Tonight, you can throw those out the window.

Expect Russell Westbrook to be fired up more than usual. Despite asking for the trade, every player loves lighting up his former team, especially on the road. And Brodie is an energetic and fiery as players come. The Rockets defense has to be stout on Tuesday night. They need to clog the driving lanes to force Westbrook to take mid-range or perimeter shots. DeMarcus Cousins needs to avoid foul trouble, as he’s the squad’s main big whose size can cause issues for Russ drives to the rim. As Houston fans witnessed last season, Brodie struggles mightily from the perimeter. So the further Westbrook is from the basket, the better for the Rockets. But that’s easier said than done. Brodie’s still one of the most explosive players in basketball.

Houston also has to contain Washington’s Bradley Beal. The other part of the Wizards star backcourt. Beal can score 50 points on any given night, so the Rockets main defensive focus has to be on Washington’s lethal backcourt. Houston may see its own starting backcourt play together for the first time tonight, as John Wall and Victor Oladipo are both expected to take the floor. Two of the newest Rockets have yet to share the court due to injuries, rest, corona, etc. But finally, tonight, Houston gets a look at what the future of Rockets basketball can accomplish. Lucky for Houston, the Wizards are without lethal bigs Thomas Bryant and Rui Hachimura. Bryant is out for the season due to an injury. Meanwhile, Hachimura is still out due to the league’s “health and safety protocols,” but he should be back soon enough for the Wizards. Tonight’s a battle of star backcourts, as the Rockets premier their All-Star backcourt against a lethal Bradley Beal, and a vindictive Russell Westbrook, triple-double machine who wants nothing more than to spoil Houston’s night. Regardless of the Wizards’ poor record in the East, Brodie returns to visit his former team for the first time… expect the action to get personal.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Washington Wizards (3-9):  Navy Blue

Houston Rockets (6-9):  Blue “City Edition”

 

TV:  7 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Boogie Nights:  Cousins, Gordon, Lead Rockets’ Route of Mavs, 133-108

In and Out.    Turning Back the Clock.    Built Different.

“Honestly, I came here to play with John Wall,” declared Marcus Cousins the night before James Harden was dealt in the blockbuster trade of the season. And with Victor Oladpio resting on the second night of a back-to-back, John Wall made a surprise appearances the Rockets smashed the Mavs, 33-108, on Saturday night. Wall missed the previous five games for Houston, and his presence defiantly had an effect on Boogie’s dominant night. Cousins loves playing with Wall, as they’re both stylish, and can be sneaky force to be reckoned with when both players are clicking. Chhristian Wood remained out with an injury, leaving the short-handed Rockets to pull off an improbable blowout-win.

Boogie had his best game in nearly two years, as Cousins put up All-Star numbers with 28 points, 17 rebounds, and 5 assists. Once again filling in for a depleted backcourt, Eric Gordon had 28 points, including some vicious drives to the hoop. Wall started but played only 20 minutes, finishing with 7 points and 8 dimes. Houston will try and ease him back into action to prevent any further injuries. David Nwaba had 18 points, and Mason Jones once again proved why he deserves to stay with the squad scoring 16 points. Hopefully, the Rockets have been convinced that Jones earns a roste spot. The duo combined to shoot a stellar 12-for-15 from the field, including connecting on 5 of their shots from beyond the arc.

This was arguably the Rockets best win of the season. Short-handed on the road. The second night of a back-to-back. Against a likely playoff team this season, in Dallas. Houston didn’t just win, they gave the Mavs a 25-point beatdown. Besides Gordon, Cousins, Nwaba, and Jones, Jae-Sean Tate and P.J.Tucker fueled the squad’s energy, and finished with 6 points east. In what perhaps was the highlight of the game, K.J. Martin Jr. climbed “Boban Mountain”, blocking 7’4 Boban Marjanovic in the second quarter. Martin Jr. finished with 8 points in his best game of the young season.

Victor Oladipo and John Wall could play together for the first time on Tuesday night, when these built-different Rockets host Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards. It’s a big-time game, as Brodie visits Houston for the first time since he was traded for… John Wall… in the offseason. Who won the trade? It’s tough to tell at the moment. Both players have missed significant time with injuries. However, I think Wall fits Coach Stephen SIlas’ system better than Westbrook. Therefore, I think Houston made the right swap.. if Wall can stay healthy. And the Rockets need more vintage Boogie Nights like the performance from Cousins on Saturday. Well.. Houston has the guy Boogie came to town to play with, the same man ready to battle Russell Westbrook in a heated Tuesday-night thriller… John Wall.

Rockets Visit Mavs, Renew I-10 Rivalry

Quicksand.    Battle of Tired Legs.    Improbable Dream.

“You tend to breathe hard when you get excited,” Mel Gibson says as the titular character in the film Maverick. And as the Rockets, fresh off a hard-fought, breathless win over the Pistons, visit Dallas to take on the Mavs. It’s the second night of a back-to-back, for both teams. Dallas won a close game in San Antonio last night. Expect Houston’s test in Dallas between these Texas rivals to be a battle of tired legs. The Rockets put on an all-around team effort in their gutsy win over the Pistons, as they avoided a disastrous collapse. Houston can’t afford to play games like they did in Detroit. Not with Luka Doncic and the Mavs, otherwise the Rockets will find themselves growing in quicksand. Tonight’s game will require everyone in Rockets white to leave it all on the floor. Houston is still severely undermanned, and are the obvious underdogs in tonight’s Texas-tussle.

The Rockets escaped the first part of this back-to-back with a nail biting win in Detroit. If this game in Dallas is close, Houston’s in trouble. But the improbable dream of going undefeated this weekend remains in reach. Luka Doncic has had a somewhat underwhelming start to the season, but is starting to heat up, and play like the MVP most expected him to be this year. Luka’s a closer, and if this one’s close, the Rockets will have to pray Doncic has an off-night. Otherwise, Houston will have to settle for a 1-1 split over this shorthanded road back-to-back. Expect David Nwaba, Jae’Sean Tate, and a handful of Rocket players to take turns trying to stop one of the NBA’s most lethal players. Kevin Porter Jr. won’t make his debut tonight, as it could be some time before the young newcomer makes his debut. Porter Jr. hasn’t played all season, and needs to get in game-shape before considering taking the court for some minutes.

Hopefully, this is the last game the Rockets play with John Wall sidelined. Coach Stephen Silas said Wall is expected back after the weekend, and with two days off after tonight, don’t be surprised to see Wall ready to take on the only other team he’s played for… the Washington Wizards, on Tuesday night. For now, Houston is still without Wall and Wood. Hopefully Oladipo can put on a show reminiscent of his Rockets debut in Chicago on Monday, when he scored 32 points with 9 dimes. Houston needs Victor to play up to his All-Star capability, and the Rockets as a team need to, as Sterling Brown said, “just go get it”, in reference to the basketball, the game, the win. Dallas won the first matchup earlier this season in Houston, 113-100, giving the Rockets their first home loss. This was way back when Houston still had a guy named James Harden. As for tonight, whoever wants it more, breathes harder, and plays like their life’s on the line wins this matchup. And who knows? With the parity ton start this NBA season, we could be in for an upset in Texas… it’s time to get excited.

 

American Airlines Center:  Dallas, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (5-9):  White

Dallas Mavericks (8-7):  Green

 

TV:  8 PM CT  –  AT&T Sportsnet SW