Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Seek Hospitality, Host Blazers to Begin Home-Stand

Searching for Urgency.    Return of the Hoodie.    Home, Sweet, Home.

Houston returns to Toyota Center on Wednesday night, hoping to get back in the win column as they host the Trail Blazers. The Rockets had a disappointing loss in Memphis last night, falling to another team with a losing record. Houston looks to bounce back against a Portland team that’s been one of the league’s most disappointing squads all season. The Blazers are also under .500, at 17-24 at the halfway mark of their season. A team many expected to be playoff-bound is currently on the outside looking in. Although they’re one of the seven teams in the West that have a chance at the final playoff spot, and Damian Lillard, well, has a history against Houston. Portland’s dynamic backcourt of Lillard and C.J. McCollum is still one of the best in the league, despite the Blazers’ record. Russell Westbrook returns for the Rockets after resting last night in Memphis. His absence was sorely missed, as James Harden forced too many bad shots with Houston lacking their secondary playmaker. Hopefully, Brodie’s return will get the Beard and the Rockets back on track.

Also returning to Houston is Carmelo Anthony. He only played ten games for Houston last year, before sitting out the rest of the season after the Rockets finally waived Anthony. Melo has been a better fit with Portland this season. Tonight marks his first game on the court facing Houston as a Blazer. The Rockets should bounce back, and blow this team out of the water at home. However, two things come to mind. First, the obvious: Houston’s obsessive tendency to keep it close with sub-par teams, a policy that frequently results in the Rockets shooting themselves in the feet. And secondly, Houston just has not been as good on the second night of back-to-backs recently, whether it be at home or on the road. Brodie will have to bring extra energy to make up for any of his teammates’ fatigue. 

Wednesday begins Houston’s longest home-stand of the season, a four-game stretch, all featuring Western Conference playoff contenders. After tonight, the Rockets host the Lakers in a Saturday night showdown, before games with the Thunder Nuggets to close out the stretch. Portland is the worst out of the four teams visiting Houston over this stretch. The Rockets have to start playing with a sense of urgency, and up their level of defensive intensity. It’s crucial for the Beard and company to get a win to keep pace in the standings. They want their confidence riding high going into arguably the most anticipated game of the season: LeBron and the Lakers’ lone visit to Toyota Center on Saturday night. It will be a chance for the Rockets to get a game closer to the top spot, but they can’t overlook these Blazers like they did the Grizz in Memphis. It’s the first time a Houston sports team’s played at home since the reckoning that bellowed on Black Monday. Hopefully, the Rockets will be inspired by the city, and secure the victory they need to get back on the right trail.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Portland Trail Blazers (17-24):  Red

Houston Rockets (26-13):  White

 

TV:  8:30 PM CT – ESPN,  AT&T Sportsnet SW

Grizzlies Run Past Rockets 121-110, as Houston’s Road Woes Continue

Morant’s Town.    Waisting a Backup.    Resting Problems.

Houston strolled into Memphis on two days rest, ready to take on a hot Grizzlies team. At least they looked ready pregame, but looks can be deceiving. The Rockets led for most of the game, but let another losing team hang around. Houston’s defense gave up 36 points in the fourth quarter, as the surging Grizzlies topped the Rockets, 121-110. James Harden didn’t have enough in the tank, despite another high-scoring affair. The Beard finished with 41 points, but his efficiency and decision-making were below average. Harden hoisted 37 shots, but only made 13, and couldn’t even make a basket in the final quarter. Ja Morant showed everyone why he’s the Rookie of the Year. Morant scored 26 points on a stellar 10-for-11 shooting, along with 8 dimes and 5 boards. Ja is poised to become one of the NBA’s premier point guards for years to come, and the face of the Grizzlies’ franchise. Houston’s now lost 4 of 5 on the road, after starting out 11-5 away from Toyota Center. The halfway mark is two games away. Losses like Tuesday’s in Memphis aren’t world-enders, but the Rockets chances for the top seed out West are slipping out of reality with each passing day.

It wasn’t like this game was out of reach. The Rockets led by 5 after one quarter, and trailed by only 2 heading into the final period. However, Houston displayed no sense of urgency, particularly on defense, allowing Memphis wide-open threes and layups all night. I don’t know if the 36 points the defense gave up should be taken that the team was gassed, or if the Rockets are still too laissez faire with losing teams in the regular season. It’s probably a combination of both. These 7-man rotations are starting to wear the squad down. Houston is dead-set on resting Westbrook for at least one game every back-to-back this season, but the Rockets struggle without Brodie. Houston is 3-3 when Westbrook sits. The more concerning issue is coach Mike D’Antoni’s coaching decisions over the last few games. At age 34, P.J. Tucker is still Houston’s heart and soul on defense But P.J. is playing way too many minutes, he’s 5th in the NBA in minutes per game. And Isaiah Hartenstein, who improves each time he sees the floor, has seen his minutes toyed with over the last few matchups. There’s no reason Hustlestein shouldn’t be playing more minutes every night. He’s earned it, and it will give the squad rest overall. Looking at Houston’s last three games, Harty played 4 minutes in the losses to Oklahoma City and Memphis. However, in the Rockets victory over Minnesota, Hartenstein finished with 17 points, 15 boards, and 5 blocks in 39 minutes of action. Watching the big fella play, he’s nicknamed “Hustlestein” for a reason. D’Antoni earlier in the year said he didn’t want to give Harty more chances because he was too foul-prone. Isaiah isn’t hacking as much anymore, and deserves to be on the court more than the bench. If D’Antoni doesn’t give the big fella more minutes, it will only hurt his confidence that’s already at an all-time high. Houston has their back-up center. They can’t afford to let him rot away at the end of the bench. It makes no sense. Hopefully, Harty sees more action in the future, or the Rockets inconsistency will continue. This squad doesn’t have the depth at the interior positions to be resting a player of Hartenstein’s caliber. He needs more court time. With Brodie resting a game on back-to-backs, and the continued occurrence of minor injuries, the Rockets can’t withstand the rest of the season with their backup center waisting away on the bench.

Westbrook returns for Houston’s next game, Wednesday back home, against Portland. And the Rockets will be better, at least they should, despite their recent history on the second night of back-to-backs. But these problems Houston’s dealing with, they’re not going anywhere. They’ll be resting with the squad all season. We are two games before the halfway mark of the season and only thing’s crystal clear: the Rockets don’t respect teams with losing records. Memphis is on a roll after a slow start, and much better than their 19-22 record, but the Rockets are better than these Grizzlies. With or without Westbrook. Houston had two days off to prepare, yet still lacked the sense of urgency teams like the Lakers and Bucks are playing with this season. Those squads understand the importance of seeding this year. Especially in the West. And the clock’s ticking on the Rockets chance for a top spot. Houston faces the Trail Blazers next, another team with a losing record. The Rockets have to start taking care of business against inferior opponents. If this trend continues all season, Houston will be the fourth or fifth seed. Making their playoff run all the more steep and difficult. Take care of business now, and the challenges won’t be so brutal later. A mantra the Beard and the Rockets can’t seem to understand. They’ve got a chance to get back on the winning side in their next game, and they’d better. Houston needs to stop strolling around like they’re the “swag champs,” instead of approaching every game with the same intensity. Otherwise come playoff time… the mountainous climb to the NBA’s throne may be too high to reach.

Rockets Carry Hopes of a City, Travel to Memphis for Battle in the Grind House

Black Monday.    Grinding Out.    The Secret Weapon.

Professional sports. Games that make you forget real-life problems as you watch real-life superheroes for a few hours. From the time we were kids, sports have been ingrained in all of us. Some more than others. Maybe sports isn’t your cup of tea. But unless you’re a lifetime agoraphobic, you’ve been around sports fans. We’re still players.. some of us. The others? Intense watch-birds of the game we love. And some of us are still growing with hope, teasing you with potential as the game’s next “big thing.” Whether attending the game, watching at a bar, or catching it on the couch, sports unite communities and regions unlike anything else. The internet allows fan-bases to continuously grow on a global scale. Even if you hate sports, you’d have to be blind as a bat not to recognize the impact these silly games have on communities worldwide. And on Sunday rolling over into Monday, the community of Houston, Texas was rocked with more devastation over 24 hours than any city in American sports history. 

“Black Monday,” as they’re calling it in H-Town, will go down as the worst day in Houston sports history. For people disinterested in the day’s drama, Monday was equivalent to Game of Throne’s Red Wedding scene. If your’re more of a Breaking Bad fan, Monday’s news was more gut-wrenching than Ozymandias. Ironically the Rockets, frequent contributors to Heartbreak-Houston, had nothing to do with Black Monday… a staggering, unprecedented day. The reckoning began on Sunday, as Houston’s football team, the Texans, played the Kansas City Chiefs for a chance at hosting the NFL’s AFC Championship. There’s leads, and then there are Houston leads, which never seem to be big enough. The Texans started out playing like Super Bowl-Favorites, earning a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter. However, in a matter of minutes, Houston’s football team resembled deer-in-headlights, and their lead vanquished. In typical-Texan fashion, Houston surrendered the next 41 points, leading to a season-ending 51-31 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City. And still, Houston’s football team, run by the apathetic McNair family, have no plans to fire Texans head-coach Bill O’Brien: the Webster definition for mediocrity.

It hurts when a team with championship potential ends their season short of the goal. But the Texans loss didn’t sting as much as the news that broke Houston’s baseball team Monday afternoon. First, Major League Baseball issued one-year suspensions for Houston Astros Manager A.J. Hinch, and GM Jeff Lunhow for their alleged involvement in “cheating.” Which wasn’t the end of the world. However, Astros owner Jim Crane, who’s faced various lawsuits as a businessman for unethical business practices in the past, decided to fire the two men who brought him a Championship, and built a winning culture from scratch. Whether they knew about it or not isn’t the point. If they did, so did Crane. All three were close. Hinch and Lunhow were class-acts, and represented the best manager and GM in baseball. Crane acted as backstabber to the men who constructed the culture and roster of Houston’s first baseball championship. I bet you’ve heard of the New England Patriots. Not exactly class acts, they’ve been involved in a scandal or three… but you don’t see Bill Belichick getting fired. What about the New Orleans Saints? Sean Payton was suspended a year, but he’s still calling plays in New Orleans. Different sports, but Crane’s actions are unprecedented in professional sports. It’s about the principle. As an owner, you take the penalty, and stand by your guys, especially if they’re successful. It’s absolutely shocking Crane decided to ax his manager and GM, the core minds responsible for building MLB’s best team over the last 3 years. Crane’s complete overreaction likely shuts the window on the Astros title-hopes in the near future. Houston will be hard-pressed to find a leader that matched A.J. Hinch’s quality in the clubhouse. Hinch wasn’t only the best manager in Astros history, he was the best manager in baseball, period. After Hinch’s suspension, don’t be shocked when he receives offers from other clubs immediately. A.J. is a baseball genius, has too much passion for the game, and most importantly, is truly loved by all his players. You can’t say that about every manager. It’s sad he won’t finish his career in Houston.

It’s well-known among professional baseball players, every team cheats. Stealing signs has been going on since before the 20th century. With modern technology, this is enhanced, but still achieved subtly by those with the experience, caution, and hindsight. The Astros got caught in a web of envy and blame that produced snitches who moved on to other teams. Alex Cora, the bench coach for the ‘Stros 2017 World Series Championship team, is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox, and under investigation at the moment. Former Astros players Carlos Beltran and Mike Fiers also moved on to new places, snitching and dishing out secrets on how to stop Houston’s top-notch talent.

One of the MLB’s most-outspoken players on social media, Logan Morrison, recently shed some light on the situation. A seasoned veteran, Morrison has played for 5 different major league teams. He’s seen a lot, and on Monday he tweeted “I know from first-hand accounts that the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros, and Red Sox have used film to pick signs. Just want you guys to know the truth.” Believe what you want. Sure, the Astros might’ve cheated like many of their counterparts. But, guess what? Everyone does, to some extent. If you think only the guilty teams are being punished, you’re flat-out wrong. This is professional sports. Millions of dollars are in the air. Pressure exists in waves normal people never experience. Legacies are on the line, with a chance to shape history. In the pros, people will do anything to get an advantage. It’s part of the competitive nature of sports, the will-to-win. We’re all human. Everyone loves a winner. No one likes a loser. This philosophy to win at all costs is ingrained in every move a professional sports team makes. As former pro football coach Herm Edwards famously said, “you play to win the game!”

On Tuesday night, the Rockets head to Memphis, to try and win a game that will be more difficult that the their opponent’s record suggests. The Grizzlies are 18-22, good enough for final playoff spot in the West. Memphis has been rolling lately. The Grizz have won five straight, moving from lottery contenders into the playoff hunt. Ja Morant is the clear-cut Rookie of the Year, with superstar potential in his future. Memphis big man Jonas Valanciunas is coming off a huge 31-point, 19-rebound game. Clint Capela certainly has his hands full tonight. The Grizzlies also have vet Jae Crowder, and youngsters Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. Players having career years excelling in their roles. They call it the Grind House in Memphis for a reason. Despite their lack of talent compared to other NBA teams, the Grizzlies play hard every night. James Harden and crew have to be ready for what should be an exciting first game of a back-to-back for the Rockets. Houston needs to continue grinding out victories as they approach the season’s midway point. Their schedule gets tougher for the rest of January. Lucky for the Rockets, they just may have found their secret weapon.

Eric Gordon, who’s always excelled alongside James Harden, wasn’t right before his surgery earlier this season. Since returning, the Rockets are 3-0 when EG, Harden, and Russell Westbrook all play. And it’s not even close. Houston has outscored their competition by 66 points in those games, all double-digit convincing victories. Once EG finds his groove consistently, and turns back into Splash Gordon, the Rockets will be a problem for the rest of the NBA. It’s been a rough 24 hours for the city of Houston. H-Town’s mixed with feelings of confusion, shock, and disbelief. Tonight, it’s bigger than just sports in Memphis. For the Rockets, this game’s for an entire city. For the Texans. For the Astros. For their fans. Houston needs a superhero… now more than ever.

 

FedExForum:  Memphis, Tennessee

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (26-12):  Black

Memphis Grizzlies (18-22):  Blue

 

TV:  7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Feast on Wolves, Earn Comfortable 139-109 Win

Space City Cakewalk.    20K Club & Climbing.    The Sky Isn’t Falling.    

Sometimes all it takes is a return home to comfort the grind of the NBA season. The Rockets returned to Toyota Center on Saturday night, earning a comfortable 139-109 victory over the Wolves. It’s been rare this season. A Rocket-cakewalk. Houston controlling a game from start to finish. But the squad finally managed to make beating inferior teams seem like a challenge they should accomplish every night. Even with the heart and soul of their hustle (P.J. Tucker) suffering a game-ending injury a minute into the game, H-Town led by 16 points at halftime, and never looked back. Tucker’s injury isn’t expected to be serious, he’s considered questionable for Houston’s next contest, which luckily isn’t until Tuesday. Plenty of other Rockets got extended time due to P.J.’s absence, and ensured the Hustle King’s departure wouldn’t result in a loss to the lowly Wolves.

On Saturday night, James Harden regained his shooting stroke. The Beard connecting on over half of his shots (6-for-11) from downtown, and finishing with 32 points, 8 boards, and 12 assists. In the process, Harden joined the NBA’s 20,000-point club, becoming the 45th member of the group. James is only 30 years old. If the Beard continues to rack up points at a torrid rate, he has a chance to finish among the NBA’s all-time leading scorers, and passing up the likes of MJ and Kobe. It’s a nice accomplishment. But if Harden wants to be remembered in history like the aforementioned legends in the previous sentence, he needs what they have, a ring. The Beard can become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but if he never wins a championship, Harden will never get the respect he truly deserves.

Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, and continues to play solid basketball in Houston’s offense. Isaiah Hartenstein had the best game of his young career, notching 17 points and 15 boards. “Hustlestein” saw extra minutes due to Clint Capela’s absence, who didn’t play as he nursed a minor injury, and Tucker’s unfortunate injury early in the contest. Harty yet again seized the moment, and showed he’s a solid future NBA-role player, at worst, in this league. The big man has the potential to be the backup center this Houston teams always searched for in the Harden era with Capela starting. Eric Gordon had another soldi game with 17 points, as he continues to adjust to feeling healthy after his knee surgery. EG sat out the previous game to nurse his sore knee, but with time, Splash Gordon looks to be returning to his old self. Michael Frazier played in his second game as a Rocket, getting a bucket and 3 rebounds in 8 minutes of action. Frazier needs more court time to determine if he can succeed with this Houston group. Only time will tell if he gets the chance.

After an embarrassing defeat in Oklahoma City, and the prospect of Houston not possessing a contender’s consistency, after Saturday night’s blowout, the big picture tells a different story. Sure, the Rockets have had way too many bad losses this season. But, overall, the sky’s not falling. Houston’s tied in the loss column for second-place. Harden and co. have won 9 of their last 12 games overall. They trail the first-seeded Lakers by 5 games. That may seem tough to overcome, but Houston has yet to play LeBron and the Lakers. The Rockets haven’t even reached the season’s midway point. And the Lake Show’s getting banged up with injuries as the season’s moved on. Anthony Davis is currently out with an injury, and is considered doubtful for next Saturday’s showdown in Houston. The Rockets have plenty of time to take the top seed. But, their test is coming, as the schedule gets tougher later this month. Up next for Houston, the Rockets travel to Memphis to face the Memphis Grizzlies, who’ve suddenly emerged in the playoff picture. Memphis currently sits in the eighth spot out, after starting the season appearing lottery-bound. League officials can confidently write Ja Morant’s name on the Rookie of the Year award. Morant has been terrific lately, leading the Grizz to 5 straight victories. It might not present a challenge like the Grindhouse of years past, when Mike Conley and Marc Gasol pushed the Grizz to the playoffs year-after-year. But Memphis is playing above expectations, on a roll with nothing to lose. Houston should pull off the victory on Tuesday night… just don’t expect a cakewalk in the Home of the Blues.

Rockets Return Home, Host Hungry Wolves

Space City Beard.    Last Spot Contender.    Staying in the Hunt.

It’s James Harden Bobblehead night (or afternoon) this Saturday at Toyota Center as the Rockets host the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Beard’s been rusty from the field since the team’s rare four-day break in the schedule. In the two games since, Houston held on to beat Atlanta, but got pounded by a good Thunder team in Oklahoma City. Hopefully the Rockets will get back to themselves in the friendly confines of Toyota Center.

Minnesota is one of seven teams in the West competing for the final playoff spot. The Wolves have won three of their last four, and might be getting Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury this afternoon. Andrew Wiggins is having the best season of his career, and Houston will need to contain him regardless of Towns’ availability. Shabazz Napier is having a breakout season, and Robert Covington, a prospect Houston was rumored to be looking at in the offseason, has been a nice addition for the new-look Wolves. This game won’t be a cakewalk by any means. If Harden can’t find his shot, and the rest of Houston can’t carry the load, the Rockets will be in for a long afternoon.

This is an important game because Houston is now in the fifth seed out West. The red-hot Utah Jazz passed the Rockets for the fourth spot, and Houston is now tied in the loss column with the Clippers and Jazz, while only trialing second-seeded Denver by one game. Each matchup is huge, no matter the opponent. In four games, the Rockets will officially be at the halfway mark of the season, a point some squads have reached in the schedule. We’re getting closer to the playoffs, and while there’s still plenty of time in the season, and plenty of scores to be settled, Houston can’t afford to take any more opponents for granted. It’s a must-win today at Today Center for the Rockets. Hopefully, a little toy will bring some luck to Houston and the Beard.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Minnesota Timberwolves (15-22):  Blue

Houston Rockets (25-12):  “Space City” White

 

TV:  4 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Thunder Spoil Westbrook’s Return, Blitz Rockets 113-92

Lost in the Storm.    Rustier Beard.    Too Little, Too Late.

Russell Westbrook got a hero’s welcome in Oklahoma City when he returned in his first game back. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much to celebrate, other than his Thunder memories. Another night with Houston, and another embossing defeat for the Rockets, a team that’s too many already this season. Houston was outplayed from the opening tip, en route to a 113-92 beatdown in Oklahoma City. 92 points is the lowest the Rockets have scored all season. Russell Westbrook wasn’t the problem. Brodie had 34 points on 14-of-26 shooting, but no one else showed up for the Rockets. They seemed lost in the storm of all the hooplas surrounding Westbrook’s return. It appeared the Rockets prioritized Brodie having a good game over winning from the start. Houston departed from their gameplan and trailed by double-digits for most of the contest.

It didn’t help that James Harden had his worst game of the year. By far. The Beard scored a season-low 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting. Conrows James efficiency continues to trend downward with his new hairstyle. Maybe it’s time to go to back to the old look. Other than Harden and Westbrook, Chris Clemons was the only other Rocket in double-figures, scoring 14 points. CC3 should have seen the court earlier in the game, but didn’t get any action until garbage time. Clemons could have potentially kept the Rockets in the game, but didn’t get to play until any chance of a comeback was too little too late. Houston did play the night before, with Oklahoma City resting. That’s still no excuse to lose by 21 points before a national audience. The Rockets had four days off prior to their game the night before in Atlanta, and Westbrook rested against the Hawks. Houston just retreated from their normal gameplan, and got outplayed from start to finish.

The Rockets return home next for a Saturday afternoon game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Houston’s now in the fifth spot in the standings after sizzling Utah passed them up. The Rockets need to beat inferior teams like Minnesota to stay in the hunt for one of the top seeds. Chris Paul and the Thunder proved they’re no joke, and look bound for the playoffs this season. The Wolves are one of seven teams fighting for that last spot out West. Houston will have to bring more fight if they want a victory when they return for their first game back home in eight days. 

Westbrook Returns to OKC, Rockets Face Thunder in Thursday Night Showdown

Energizer Bunny.    Land of the Wise Men.    Bearding Returns.

“I’ll be back.” Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous line from The Terminator has been echoed in society since he first uttered the line in the classic film. And tonight, as the Rockets and Thunder meet in Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook returns to the place he called home the first 11 years of his career before becoming a Rocket: Oklahoma City. Brodie’s back. Expect Houston’s energizer bunny to be bursting with enthusiasm, as he takes on his former team, looking to terminate OKC at all costs. Westbrook rested in Houston’s win over Atlanta last night, and hasn’t played in 5 days. Brodie should have more energy than he’s had all season. Westbrook needs to drive it to the rack, as rust may play a factor in his shooting tonight. James Harden had an off-shooting night in Atlanta as rust played a factor in his shot. Expect the Beard to be more accurate tonight, as Harden returns to his former franchise, it’s just been so long, sometimes one forgets the Beard started his career in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder, meanwhile, are having a much better season than many expected. OKC currently has a record of 21-16, good for seventh place out West. Led by former-Rocket Chris Paul, who was traded for Westbrook, the Thunder have been rolling of late. Winners of 10 of their last 12 games, Oklahoma City has been one of the best teams in the clutch all season. The Thunder are coming off an overtime win over the Nets in their previous game, with Chris Paul looking like prime CP3 in the clutch moments of games. Veteran Steven Adams is having another solid season for the Thunder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a player with All-Star caliber potential. OKC have rose up the standings over the last few weeks, showing they’ll probably be in the playoff mix come April.

Tonight’s matchup will be Houston’s toughest until they host the Lakers next Saturday. The Rockets have played well against the better teams, and (as evidenced last night in Atlanta) have struggled to take inferior teams seriously. Expect playoff-like atmosphere in OKC tonight, as emotions will be running high in Brodie’s return to the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Harden should have a better shooting performance than last night. With all the focus on Westbrook, don’t be surprised if the Beard steals the show in the national spotlight. The Thunder have circled this game on the calendar since the schedules were set. Oklahoma City wants nothing more than to beat their former beloved Westbook, and his new team, the despised Rockets. Especially Chris Paul, who might be older, but he’s having a stellar season.. showing he can still play at a high level. But CP3’s got high level competition coming into his house tonight. A house formerly owned by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. And they’re back. Back to wreak havoc  in the place they used to call home… and quiet the Thunder’s storm.

 

Chesapeake Energy Arena:  Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (25-11):  White

Oklahoma City Thunder (21-16):  Navy

 

TV:  8:30 PM CT – TNT, AT&T Sportsnet SW

Rockets Stave Off Atlanta’s Rally, Down Hawks, 122-115

Familiar Scene.    Beard Rust.    Questionable Lineups.

A familiar scene took place Wednesday night in Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. The Rockets took off early, leading the Hawks 45-29 after the first quarter. Houston led by as many as 23 points in the second quarter, but, to no one’s surprise, the Rockets let another bad team back in the game. Houston let Atlanta cut the lead to 3, before Eric Gordon hit a deep three to keep the Hawks at bay for good, and capped a 122-115 Rockets victory on Wednesday night. After having four days off, Houston was undoubtedly rusty, especially the Beard. James Harden finished with his 15th career 40-point triple-double, but it had a horrid shooting night. The Beard connected on only 9 of his 34 shots, including a miserable 4-for-20 from downtown. With Westbrook resting on the first night of a back-to-back, other Rockets stepped up as Harden couldn’t find his shot late in the game. Trae Young was stellar for the Hawks, getting his own 40-point triple-double. It’s the first time in NBA history opposing players recorded 40-point triple-doubles in the same contest. 

Ben McLemore had another stellar game for Houston. Benny Mac shot 6-9 from long range en route to 18 points. McLemore, in the midst of a breakout season, continues to be the surprise of the year for Houston. Clint Capela had one of his best showings of the season, with a monster 22 point, 22 board performance. Throw in 2 blocks and 2 steals to go along with 9-for 14 shooting for good measure. The Rockets’ big fella continues to have a career year after his slow start to the season. Eric Gordon hit the shot of the night. With the shot clock winding down, and a little over two minutes left in the game, Houston led 112-109, as Harden found EG for a deep splash that put the Rockets up 6 and kept the Hawks at bay til the buzzer sounded. Gordon finished with 17 points, but shot only 5-for-14 from the floor as he continues to search for consistency since returning from injury.

For some reason, beyond my comprehension, Mike D’Antoni decided to go with a 7-man rotation against the Hawks. The team with the worst record in the NBA. On the first night of a back-to-back, with the second one upcoming in OKC being a huge game. Isaiah Hartenstein only played four minutes, yet still managed to get a couple points, rebounds, and an assist in limited action. Granted, Westbrook didn’t play, and the Rockets let Atlanta turn a blowout into a contested matchup. At one point, Houston even held a 23-point lead. And there’s no reason for D’Antoni to leave rotational players on the floor with a 23-point lead against a bad team. Especially when your squad is facing much stiffer competition who will be extra motivated to win (the Thunder) on Thursday. Chris Clemons should have played, but saw no action. Thabo Sefolosha also didn’t see the court. These decisions by D’Antoni will only hurt the Rockets in the long run. Maybe he knows something we don’t, otherwise he needs to make better in game lineup-decisions.

Houston gets right back to work, heading to Oklahoma City for a Thursday night national tv affair. Also know as the Westbrook Return Game, as Brodie has yet to play in OKC since becoming a Rocket in the off-season. The Thunder are playing exceptionally well of late, especially Chris Paul. A very familiar face to Houston fans. Thursday night will be emotional, where many familiar faces return to their old stomping grounds. The Thunder are a good team, so don’t expect to see that dreaded familiar scene that happens often, as was on display in Atlanta.

Rested Rockets Resume Action in Atlanta, Face Young Hawks

The Biggest Loser.    Traplanta.    Deadline Moves.

“I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d***less, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of sh** he is! Hallelujah!!” It’s one of Clark’s many rants in the film Christmas Vacation. A rant many Rocket fans would love to express to owner Tilman Fertitta, as the team returns from their own Christmas Vacation. Houston’s had four days off, a rarity during the regular season, and the Rockets’ biggest layover of the year. But why are Rockets fans suddenly expressing similar feelings Clark had during his rant? Because Houston just waived their own young stud, UC product Gary Clark, to free up an open roster spot. January 7th was the NBA’s deadline to guarantee player salaries, with the Rockets putting more faith in Benny Mac and Harty. And both players are needed, but don’t understate the importance of Gary Clark. Granted, the team’s said he might have the option to return… but will he want to, or decide to test his waters elsewhere? Who knows. Clark didn’t receive many minutes (at all) on a stacked Rockets squad, but he shined in the majority of opportunities thrown his way. UC’s finest is a mistake-prone, hard-working, team-first oriented player who can knock down the open trey. Why Houston waived him is hard for me to comprehend, other than doing it for the sake of being cheap and petty. No offense to Thabo Sefolosha, but Clark’s impact is more valuable to Houston. GC has a Ben McLemore potential ceiling if given the minutes. Unfortunately, Clark never got a real chance to show his potential over a large sample size. What’s sad is Houston barley uses Thabo, and at this point in the respective players’ careers, Clark is a budding young player with potential for sixth man material, while Sefolosha continues to slide down peak mountain.

A business move for the luxury tax, opposed to one improving the team. The NBA is a multi-billion dollar business, and owners have paid the right to do what they want. But it’s no fun when the person owning your business isn’t interested in success. Nonetheless, the move isn’t dire for the Rockets. Whether he returns, or stays on the market to join another team, unless the injury bug replicates furiously, Clark’s playing time wouldn’t be increasing much with Houston. At least not this season. Regardless, he’s only going to get better, and like McLemore, once Clark gets a “green light” opportunity at serious minutes, his talent and versatile be obvious for all to see. At the moment, the Rockets have arguably the deepest team in basketball, although they’re still thin in the frontcourt. Which begs the question, since Gary Clark can play the stretch four (he’s even played the five for portions at a time), why did Houston waive the young gun? Hopefully, the organization’s top dogs realize the long-term value Clark brings on the court and in the locker room. For now, the Rockets will fly on to Atlanta without Clark.

Houston returns from their own mini-vacation. The Rockets have had the last four days off before Wednesday’s matchup with the Hawks. Not considering All-Star break, it was the squad’s longest break of the year. James Harden and the Rockets face a Hawks team who own the league’s worst record, at 8-29. Houston should win this game, but the Rockets probably will be rusty. Four days off can when you typically have only one, understandably throws a team off. Hopefully, the Rockets can avoid the inevitable rust. Russell Westbrook isn’t playing in Atlanta, but Houston should win with or without Brodie. Russ will play on Thursday, the back-half of the Rockets double-dip this week, when he makes his first return to Oklahoma City since joining Houston. That’s a big game in itself. The Thunder, especially Chris Paul, have been on a roll. The Rockets need to avoid overlooking the Hawks on Wednesday night, before their primetime Thursday matchup.

Despite having the league’s worst record, Atlanta’s no joke. Trae Young’s the real deal. The Hawks point guard is a genuine superstar in-the-making, having a stellar sophomore season. Atlanta has other young guns who will pose threats to a rusty Rocket-squad. Shooting guard Kevin Heurter has really found his groove of late, and is a lights out shooter from deep for the Hawks. If Houston leaves Huerter open, they’re in for a long night in the ATL. John Collins recently returned from an injury, and the forward is another youthful asset on rebuilding Atlanta squad. Lottery pick De’Andre Hunter is starting to show signs of promise. The Rockets need to shake off any rust and prepare to blow by the Hawks on Wednesday night. Houston’s a far superior team to lose to Atlanta on Wednesday night. Still, if the Rockets fall back on their worst habit, playing down to their competition, a loss is always potentially in the books. Houston’s coming off two if their best wins of the season, convincing victories over two of the NBA’s best (Denver and Philly). Rested and confident, the Rockets can’t get too cocky in Atlanta, or they could be outrun by the Hawks’ young guns. Wednesday night is the definition of a trap game. Returning from a sizable break, playing the worst team on the road, with Wesbrook’s OKC return looming Thursday, Houston has to tone out all the noise. The squad remains only half game behind the Nuggets, and tied in the loss column. Denver plays the Rockets twice in the upcoming weeks. Houston’s had too many bad losses that’s cost them in the standings. The Rockets should be the top seed, but they’ve lost a handful of games to inferior teams.

It’s time Houston’s “toying with inferiority” ends Wednesday night. James Harden and company have plenty of ammo to down the Hawks in Atlanta. With or without Gary Clark. But come playoff time, again the NBA’s beasts, that could be an entirely different story. Clark plays hard on every possession, and he’s a born winner, team-oriented type of player. The type of player that fits perfectly on the Houston Rockets. Who knows, maybe they’ll bring Clark back for their upcoming playoff run. Along with a a trophy that rhymes with Gary in June. What a sight that would be… Hallelujah!

 

State Farm Arena:  Atlanta, Georgia

 

Jersey Colors:

Atlanta Hawks (8-29):  Red

Houston Rockets (24-11):  White

 

TV:  6:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW

Harden Delivers Knockout Punch, Rockets Top Sixers, 118-108

Cornrow James.    Rising to the Occasion.    Winter Break.

“People keep telling me they know me… No one does,” Rey says in The Rise of Skywalker, the final chapter in the epic space saga. It’s a quote that has me thinking… how well do you know James Harden? The guy capable of achieving the epic on a nightly basis in Space City. People tell me he’s overrated. That he flops, and doesn’t play defense. All he shoots are free throws. But all I see is the opposite, Dominant performances every night. Underrated defense and improved shooting efficiency. The Beard did it again on Friday night putting the finishing touches on a 118-108 Rockets victory over the Sixers at Toyota Center. Harden ended the evening with his first triple-double of the season. The Beard scored 44 points, including a few dagger threes that sealed the win for Houston, along with 11 boards and dimes apiece. It’s Harden’s 14th game this season topping the 40-point mark, leading the league by a large margin. These people, they keep telling me he’s getting all his points at the free throw line. But, the box score says Harden went 12-for-12 from the line, meaning 32 of his 44 points came from shots from the field. And 32 points is more than the second guy (Giannis) on the NBA’s points per game list, at 30.4. I don’t know if any of these people truly know James Harden, or can fathom his current historic stretch of play. Last year saw the Beard improve on an MVP season by averaging 36.1 points per game to lead the league. This year, Harden’s even better once again, averaging a whopping 38.4 points per game, as we are nearly halfway through the season. The most impressive facet of the Beard’s current arsenal is his shooting. Harden has been lights out recently from the field, shooting over 50% from the floor in each of the last seven games. Even more stunning, over the last 11 games, the Beard is 70-for-141 from downtown. That’s a staggering 49.6% for a guy who’s deadliest weapon is the long bomb. Cornow James shot 13-for-24 as he spotted a new do in the win over Philly. I bet you didn’t see that coming. No one did… but James. And no one knows what his next act will be. Just don’t expect to be disappointed.

The Rockets started sluggish, trailing by 7 after the first quarter. Houston regrouped for the second period, outscoring the Sixers 40-26, to take control of the game. Clint Capela outplayed Philly’s All-Star Joell Embiid, and had his best game of the season. Capela notched 30 points, grabbed 14 boards, while containing Embiid. The Sixer’s best player was held to only 20 points by a smothering Rocket defense. Houston’s big man, similar to the squad as a whole, has his best games against the best competition. Capela has been formidable against every All-Star he’s faced this season. In a stacked conference, Capela won’t get the All-Star consideriation he deserves, but he’s been outplaying All-Stars all season long. The Rockets have now beaten six consecutive teams with winning records. Their last five losses have been to teams with losing records. Houston is coming off two impressive wins over very good opponents. The squad needs to regroup after a quick break in the schedule, the Rockets have a rare four consecutive off days after their latest win on Friday. Houston’s schedule gets easier when the team takes the court in Atlanta against the NBA’s worst team, the Hawks, on Wednesday. However, as mentioned previously, that could be a bad thing. The Rockets have to quit playing down to their competition. If they beat the teams they’re supposed to, Houston has legitimate chance to catch the Lakers for the top seed in the West. Russell Westbrook posted 20 points, 7 boards, and 4 dimes. Brodie joined LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Oscar Robertson, and Magic Johnson, as the  only players in NBA history with 7,000 assists and 6,000 rebounds. A pretty legendary list of players in my opinion. Westbrook’s court presence is an improving factor with each passing game. When Russ plays, the Rockets have won 12 of the last 15 games, with two losses coming in the final three seconds. Houston is rolling and hitting their stride as we approach the halfway mark of the season. The squad is currently 24-11, tied for second in the West. Plenty of time remains for the Rockets to improve their seeding to put themselves in the best playoff position.

Houston now has four off days in a row. A rare glitch in the NBA schedule. Hopefully, the Rockets won’t get rusty. The break’s not long, but Houston is rolling. The last thing Harden and company need right now.. are four days off. Nonetheless, they’ll have to manage. Three games in four nights await the sward when they resume action on Wednesday, in Atlanta. The Hawks have the worst record in the NBA, but are coming off an impressive win over the Indiana Pacers. Rust could play a factor early for Houston, and if they’re not prepared they could be in trouble against Trae Young and the Hawks. But, something tells me Harden will be ready. Everything these people tell me about Cornrow James seems to be an illusion. Harden gets better by the game, and after a slow start to the season shooting the ball, the Beard is rolling. No one knows what will happen this year for Harden and the Rockets in the playoffs. But one thing remains certain. His competitors have no idea how to guard Harden. They’re not alone… no one does.