Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Host Sixers in Battle of Contenders to Kick-Off 2020

A New Era.    Present vs. Future.    Time Over Money.

“No amount of money ever bought a second of time,” Tony Stark says in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel’s epic conclusion to their cinematic universe. A new era of Houston Rockets basketball begins as they take part in the latest chapter of their universe. As the season rolls into a new calendar year, and decade, Houston needs to take hard look at the roster. The urge and desire, the illusion that spending money will make your team better is a vice that effects all teams. And sometimes, money is well spent in the NBA. Many times. But, like many aspects of life. Spending money in this league is all about timing. And right now, the Rockets don’t need to incite any trades, spend any money, or make roster changes. In a modern NBA built for small-ball, Houston’s roster is has depth at the positions you need to win a championship. Sure, if the right deal or offer comes along, no doubt “Shufflin’ D” (aka Daryl Morey) will take a stab at making the team better if he truly thinks it will work. But there’s no need to rush into the NBA’s midseason trade party. James Harden and company have time on their side. The Rockets need to gel as a unit as we wind down with 48 games to go before the real season starts, Houston’s Endgame, aka the playoffs. It’s a process the squad’s been working towards since they acquired James Harden back in 2012. As we begin 2020, the Rockets chances have never been brighter. This talented squad is fully healthy, with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove all the naysayers wrong. Assembling the parts for Houston’s process is complete. All the pieces are in place to make a proper run at the Championship in 2020.

The next step of that run begins tonight, as the Rockets host the evolution of “The Process” (aka the Philadelphia 76ers). Philly visits Houston for a top-notch Friday night matchup featuring two of the NBA’s best teams. The Sixers currently have a 23-13 record, good for fifth in the East. Philly beat the Bucks, owners of the best record in basketball, by 12 points on Christmas. However since the holiday, the Sixers have dropped their last three games, and stumble into Houston on a three-game slide. The Rockets will look to make that four, but it won’t be easy. Joel Embiid, Philly’s best player, and the best big man in basketball besides Anthony Davis, didn’t play in the Sixers’ previous game in Indiana. Philly’s big man is expected to go on Friday night in Houston, and he’ll be a matchup challenge from hell for Clint Capela and Isaiah Hartenstein, the primary Rockets not named P.J. Tucker who will check Embiid. Houston needs to give Capela, Harty, and Tucker help in the paint, to avoid letting Embiid get easy buckets. The Sixers superstar can also shoot from range, which makes him such a tough cover. This game is a potential finals preview for a reason. Both teams aren’t where they’d like to be at the moment, but Houston and Philly are both serious contenders to win their respective conferences. The Sixers other superstar, Ben Simmons, is slowly getting better at shooting, his weakness. Other than that, the Aussie guard is a triple-double threat, and good defensive player. Philly will be in the running for the East crown all season.

Tonight’s game will be the Rockets’ toughest test by far until they face Anthony Davis and the Lakers on January 18th in Houston in arguably the season’s most anticipated matchup. The Rockets have business to take care of before then. Houston needs to bring the same energy they attacked Denver with from the opening tip that resulted in a 12-point lead after the first quarter in Tuesday’s win. The Sixers have the advantage in the interior, but the Rockets have the better team, and home-court advantage. Houston is a veteran-led group, built to win this season, Philly is still young and has a bright future, but the present favors the Rockets more than the Sixers. Philly is also dealing with some minor injuries to minimal bench players, but this game should be much closer than the New Year Eve Blowout Houston put on to close 2019. Tonight against the Sixers, Houston’s own process continues. As the Rockets prep to show Philly, for opposing teams, the process of winning in H-Town doesn’t come easy. With two days off, Houston’s had seconds and seconds of time to get their money roster ready to roll for a new year of Rockets basketball. A year that could potentially be… the most epic of all time. 

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Philadelphia 76ers (23-13):  Blue

Houston Rockets (23-11):  “Classic” Red

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ESPN, AT&T Sportsnet SW

Fried Nuggets:  Rockets Feast on Denver, Cook Up 130-104 Win to Close Decade

Rockin’ Celebration.    Hiding in Plain Sight.    New Twin Towers.

2019. A year featuring ups, downs, highs, lows, and everything in between, for Rockets basketball. Optimistic hopes heading into the 2019 playoffs. Another season ended at the hands of the Warriors. Trading Chris Paul. Getting Russell Westbrook. The China incident. James Harden’s constantly-improving MVP-caliber play. The annual injury bug. Ben McLemore’s perfect-fit and resurrection in Houston. Front-office tension. Brodie perfecting playing second-fiddle to the Beard. Talk of an era at stake. Rumors of Coach Mike D’Antoni on the hot seat. This past year had it all in Houston Rockets basketball. Storylines covering everything. Well… almost everything. The Rockets fell short of the ultimate prize. That elusive NBA title. Expectations to win a championship puts more pressure on this core of Houston players than any before. But these Rockets know they’re capable of the ultimate prize. And they took another step towards their goal by closing 2019 with a 130-104 beatdown of the Denver Nuggets. The Beard tallied 35 points and Russell Westbrook scored 28, as the superstar duo combined for 63 points on 53.8% shooting to lead Houston to victory. The win moves Houston to within a game of second-seeded Denver in the loss column out West. The Rockets controlled this game from the outset. Houston led by 12 points after the first quarter. However, the Rockets fell back on some bad habits, letting the Nuggets back in the game, and led by only 3 points heading into the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic led Denver with 21 points, one of six Nuggets who scored in double-figures. Fortunately, Houston buckled down defensively in the final period. After allowing 41 points in the final quarter in their previous game at New Orleans the Rockets only gave up 15 points to the Nuggets on Tuesday night, en route to running away with a blowout victory. Houston didn’t need to sweat out the final seconds of a game after putting the clamps on to start the final period. It’s this type of effort saves the squad minutes, and energy later in the season.

Other than Brodie and the Beard, the highlight of New Year’s Eve was the continued revelation of Isaiah Hartenstein. Houston’s biggest weakness, their lack of frontcourt depth, is dramatically improved if Harty keeps this level of play up. And there’s no reason he shouldn’t. “Hustlestein” never received enough playing time to prove himself in the past. Now that he’s gotten court time, he’s shown his value can be contributional to Houston’s rotation. Hartenstein finished with 16 points and 12 boards, and continues to impress in the defensive and hustle areas of the game. Coach D’Antoni said Isaiah didn’t get as many chances in the past because of foul trouble. With injuries always opening up chances for other players to assume new roles, Hartenstein and Ben McLemore have seized their opportunities this season in Houston.  Harty will be the backup center to Capela, and Chandler will shift to the third man in the Center position for Houston, per D’Antoni. It’s a move that helps a thin Houston interior. Against the Nuggets, Houston’s newest twin towers combined for 32 points and 22 rebounds. As long as Harty can stay out of foul trouble, he won’t be hiding in plain sight anymore. The Rockets secret weapon has been sitting on their bench all this time. Injuries, do have their benefits, after all. If Gordon and Capela weren’t injured for extended periods, Harty would still be riding the end of the bench going into the New Year. Eric Gordon finished his second game back from injury with 12 points, and has been stellar from beyond the arc since his return. Splash Gordon is shooting 7-for-12 from downtown over the last two games. Hopefully it’s not a small sample size, rather an indicator that Splash Gordon is back to prime form.

Despite letting Denver back in the game, Houston had a stellar defensive final period, and beat the team with the second best record by 26 points. In the first game since early November that the Rockets have been completely healthy. A sign that when at full strength, this team can beat anyone, anytime, anywhere. This Houston squad, especially after unleashing their newfound secret weapon in Harty, will be a force to reckon with this year in the NBA. 2020 will likely feature many of the same highs and lows the team experienced during 2019. But this year brings new hope. The Rockets have a realistic chance to bring Houston something the city has yet to see this century: an NBA Championship.

Rockets Look to Close Decade on High Note, Host Nuggets in Big West Showdown

Questionable Concerns.    Fine Line.    Shuffling for Seeding.

Start ringing in the new decade in style. Come out and support the Rockets as they return home to host the Denver Nuggets for their annual New Year’s Eve game on Tuesday night. Houston is coming off a tough loss in New Orleans. The shorthanded Rockets played so well through three quarters, but ran out of gas in the fourth. Houston might be shorthanded again tonight. Russell Westbrook’s back for sure. James Harden and Clint Capela are questionable, and look to be game-time decisions. But should they even play, if they’re not fully healthy. Only the players know, and hopefully Harden and Capela can both give it a go. If they can’t, the Rockets are in for a rough end to the decade.

Denver is one of the hottest teams in the NBA, going 9-1 over their last ten games. The Nuggets currently have the second seed, and are two games ahead of Houston in the loss column. This is as must-win a game can get before the calendar year turns. A win puts the Rockets within a game of Denver, a loss pushes Houston three games back. The Nuggets won the first meeting this season earlier in Denver. A win tonight would tie the season-series, otherwise Denver is in the driver’s seat for the tiebreaker if the squads finish with even records. Nikola Jokic gets the most attention, but this is a deep Nuggets team with a plethora of capable bodies on both ends. Michael Porter Jr. has seen a surge in his play and minutes of late, scoring 19 in Denver’s last game. Jamal Murray and Will Barton are lethal perimeter threats who can get red-hot if they find a groove.

Houston’s in a tough position. Healthy or not, beating the Nuggets isn’t easy. Despite the ugly loss earlier this season, the Rockets have generally owned Denver during the Harden Era. If the Beard and Clint Capela play, Houston should beat this Nuggets team at home. However, minus Harden and/or the Big Swiss, it’s going to be very difficult. Capela has matched up well against Jokic, and contained Denver’s All-Star, in recent matchups. The Rockets are currently walking a fine line. Harden and Capela certainly feel pressure to play.. this game is huge. A loss ends the decade with a damper, a win allows the squad to ring in the New Year on a positive note. Not to mention, Houston is tied in the loss column with the Clippers and Mavericks for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th spots. A win over the Nuggets would knock Denver back to within a game of the pack. A loss puts the Rockets a game behind Dallas and the Clippers. However, the last thing Houston wants is a long-term injury to Harden or Capela. It’s not the end of the world if the Rockets lose tonight… just the end of the decade. But a win would sure end it style.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Denver Nuggets (23-9):  White

Houston Rockets (22-11):  Black

 

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

Shorthanded Rockets Run Out of Steam, Fall to Pelicans, 127-112

Diamonds in the Rough.    Splashing Return.    Fuel Shortage.

They just didn’t have enough… literally. The Rockets fought hard through the first three quarters, holding a 7-point lead at the start of the fourth. But, shorthanded as they were, these Rockets didn’t have enough to close the contest with the game on the line. Without James Harden or Russell Westbrook, the Rockets lacked a dribbler who could make plays for himself and others in the clutch. Eric Gordon returned with his best game of the season, scoring 20 points on 50% shooting. But EG could only do so much. Especially when he was targeted by the New Orleans’ defense late in the game. Houston was outscored 41-19 by the Pelicans in the fourth quarter, as the Rockets fell on Saturday night in the Big Easy, 127-112. Despite the loss to another bad team, this one had some diamonds in the rough. Guys seized opportunities that granted them, with ferocity. Houston found their back-up center on Saturday night. Isaiah Hartenstein had the game of his life, proving he deserves a rotation spot. Hustlestein scored a career-high 19 points, and grabbed 9 boards. The big man’s hustle, along with stellar shooting by Chris Clemons, built the squad a comfortable lead, before things went south. CC3 scored 16 points, hitting some sensational shots from distance. Clemons showed he deserves increased playing time as well, but Houston’s deepest position is the guard spot. The rookie likely won’t see near the 34 minutes he led the squad with on Saturday once Harden and Russ return. If anything, this loss is proof of the Rockets’ depth. And Danuel House continues to have a breakout season, scoring 22 points, leading the way for Houston.

This contest slipped out of the squad’s fingertips, but once it was gone, it was too far gone. The Rockets went from leading by 9 early in the fourth, to trailing by 19 in a matter of minutes. E’Twaun Moore got red-hot for the Pels, and kept the game out of reach for Houston. Nonetheless, the undermanned Rockets fought admirably in a game where they were severely short-handed. Take Harden, Russ, and Clint Capela off Houston’s roster… and the Rockets aren’t winning many games.. anytime, anywhere. Saturday night’s defeat comes as no surprise. If anything could be considered a good loss, then this game would approach that territory. The surprise was how well the squad played through three quarters. Houston’s ball-movement, and all-around effort as a unit on both ends was exceptional. But the Rockets just ran out of gas. Once the Pelicans got back in the game, Houston didn’t have the usual closers, Brodie and the Beard, to counter when the goings got rough. 

Eric Gordon hit his first three, the first made shot of the game, and looked very good in his first game back from a 22 game absence. This season’s verdict on Splash Gordon isn’t out yet. EG will need a larger sample size of game action. And the squad will look differently when he’s playing alongside Harden and/or Russ. His best two games of season were in New Orleans. Hopefully EG carries his Big Easy Groove back to Houston. The Rockets will need Gordon to step up once again in their next matchup. Harden and Capela are both questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Nuggets. Denver’s ahead of Houston in the seeding, by two games in the loss column. The Rockets need a monster performance from EG coming up as the Rockets return to host Denver for their annual New Year’s Eve game. It won’t be easy at all, as Houston ends the decade against a very good Nuggets team. But the Rockets should have Harden, or at least Capela, back. If not, Westbrook’s playing. So is EG. Playing in his first home game since the injury. Along with Houston’s “others”, who always play better at home versus the road. Put all those additions together… and that should be more than enough.

Hobbled Rockets Limp into New Orleans, Hoping for Splashing Returns

Challenge in the Big Easy.    Eye for an Eye.    Stylish Road Closure.

The Rockets close the weekend with their final road game of the decade, and it’s going to be quite the challenge. Houston visits New Orleans, a divisional opponent. The Pelicans and their 10-23 record don’t strike fear in the hearts of people like certain teams, but tonight’s matchup in the Big Easy will be anything but easy for Houston. It’s the second game of a back-to-back for the Rockets, who beat the Nets on Saturday night back in Houston. As is protocol for this entire regular season, Russell Westbrook will rest on the second night of a back-to-back. Clint Capela is still out with a contusion, and James Harden apparently is dealing with a sprained toe, and will miss tonight’s game.  When the Beard, who almost never misses a game, one of the league’s most durable players, can’t give it a go, you know he’s hurting. And that means the rest of the roster needs to step up. Lucky for Houston, as they lose their MVP, hopefully just for the night, their Sixth Man returns, hopefully for the season.

Eric Gordon will play his first game after missing 21 games with a knee injury. The last time Gordon played? On November 11th, against these Pelicans, right here in New Orleans. And EG had arguably his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Gordon had a rough start to the season, but seemed to find his groove in New Orleans, before suddenly announcing a knee surgery was necessary. Hopefully, Gordon’s knee is working properly, and the sights and sounds of the Big Easy will help EG regain the groove he found in New Orleans in his last game.

The Rockets will use plenty of different rotations on Sunday night. Expect to see everyone on the squad get an increase in minutes. It’d be nice if Houston could win comfortably, but this game is lining up to be a challenge. Nonetheless, the Rockets are entirely unpredictable at times. Who knows? Despite all the absences, Houston’s still boasts one of the league’s deepest rosters. They could win comfortably and blow past the Pelicans. Men in red will be playing who usually don’t see close to as much court time. Despite a decrease in roster talent, expect the squad the Rockets trot out on the floor tonight to play extremely hard at both ends.

Despite a record of 10-23, and still no signs of Zion Williamson, the Pelicans are in a groove, winners of three straight, the longest current winning streak out West. And those three victories were impressive. New Orleans is coming off impressive road wins in Portland and Denver. In the Pels’ last game, they blew out playoff-bound Indiana by 22 at the Smoothie King Center. New Orleans is grooving right now, and Houston is flying into a matchup that will be essentially determined by hustle plays. Look for P.J. Tucker to have a huge game if the Rockets are going to somehow escape NOLA with a victory.

Tonight marks Houston’s final road game of the decade, as the squad tries to close the weekend with a win in New Orleans. But without Harden, Westbrook, and Capela, Houston’s “Big 3,” the Rockets are severely undermanned. Houston needs great ball movement and communication on both ends to come out with a victory. It’s the first game all season Houston will be without the Beard. Tonight will prove how far the rest of the Rockets have come as we approach the season’s midway point. Victory in New Orleans would be a stylish way to close this decade of Rockets basketball on the road. A win on Sunday night is achievable, but certainly challenging… nothing comes easy in the Big Easy.

 

Smoothie King Center:  New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (22-10):  Red

New Orleans Pelicans (10-23):  White

 

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

Harden’s 44 Points Guide Rockets Past Nets, 108-98

Semi-Deja Vu.    Biggest Weakness.    The Necessity of 40.    

Houston held on to beat to the Nets, 108-98, at Toyota Center on Saturday night. James Harden, who else, led the way, scoring 44 points, and saving the Rockets from a second-half collapse. This contest, for a moment, appeared to be the same tired story we’d seen many times this season: Houston leads big on a bad opponent, gives up that big lead, and then ultimately loses in disappointing fashion. Except ion Saturday, the Rockets bucked that trend. Houston led comfortably, 42-20, after the first quarter. Or maybe it was too comfortably. The Nets stormed all the way back to take the lead in the fourth quarter and make affairs interesting, but Harden and the Rockets were able to hold off Brooklyn for the victory. A necessary victory, as Houston was coming off their worst loss of the season, a Christmas damper in the Bay Area to the last-place Warriors. A loss to the Nets would have been heartbreaking on a deeper-level. Houston avoided another bad loss, and still have plenty of areas to improve.

How important is it for the Beard to score 40 points for Houston? Well… the Rockets are 12-1 this season when Harden eclipses the 40-point mark. And many of these games Harden has bailed out the squad. But I wouldn’t say Houston needs their MVP to score 40 to win. The squad just needs to quit taking their foot off the gas once they gain a big lead. It’s been the Rockets biggest weakness all season. Looking at other contributors in the win over the Nets, Isaiah Hartenstein had a productive game off the bench. “Hustlestein” got extended playing time in Clint Capela’s absence, scoring 9 points, and grabbing an impressive 13 rebounds. Austin Rivers chipped in with 14 points off the bench. Other than that it was a quiet night for the Rockets other than Harden.

Russell Westbrook finished with 23 points, but on one more shot-attempt than his backcourt-mate. The Beard shot over 60% from the field, while Brodie shot under 40%. Westbrook’s had nights where his shot’s off, and more will come in the future. But Brodie and the squad need to make better decisions as a unit when Russ isn’t connecting with the jumper. Westbrook shouldn’t have more shot attempts than Harden when the Beard is on fire, despite all the defensive coverage Harden sees. Houston needs to use more ball movement, especially when the Beard’s on the bench, so everyone can get involved instead of the game becoming a disastrous one-man isolation show starring Russell Westbrook. Brodie can be a dominant player in isolation. However, he will never be a great shooter, his strength is driving is to the basket. Yet, Russ has problems finishing at the rim this season, missing way too many layups on a nightly basis. Brodie needs to find open teammates if he can’t find the rim, or the Rockets will struggle without Harden on the floor.

Up next, Houston hits the road again. The Rockets take a quick trip over to the Big Easy to take on the Pelicans for a Sunday night game, before returning home for a couple of big games at Toyota Center. Eric Gordon is expected to return. Houston needs his firepower now more than ever, as Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela will both be on the sidelines in New Orleans. Hopefully, EG’s surgery fixed his early-season issues, and he can mesh right back in with the squad. The Rockets need to integrate EG seamlessly back into schemes on both sides of the ball. Splash Gordon is integral to Houston’s success in the long run, and he plays especially well alongside Harden. If the Rockets want to hold onto a top seed in the West, they’re gonna need Gordon to demonstrate why his nickname’s Splash.

Rockets Return Home Needing a Boost, Host the Nets

Good News, Bad News.    Consistency Watch.    Inside Help.

The craziness that is Houston Rockets basketball returns to Toyota Center on Saturday night. Since Christmas, there’s already a rumor swirling around about Russell Westbrook being  part of trade rumors. Don’t listen to the noise. The Rockets won’t be trading Brodie, at least not this season. After a road trip that didn’t end with Houston cutting down the nets, the Rockets return home to host the Brooklyn Nets. Tonight’s game is the first of a back-to-back for Houston, who will travel to New Orleans for a game tomorrow night against the Pelicans. Harden and company are fresh off a four-game holiday west-coast trip that saw the squad go 3-1 during that span. It was a mostly cheerful trip, until the Rockets laid an egg and got beat by Warriors on Christmas. With the holiday spirit in the air, there’s also a fair share of good and bad news coming into Saturday’s tilt for Houston against Brooklyn. On the bright side, the Rockets did beat the Clippers in LA to start the road trip. Houston has no problem beating the league’s title contenders. It’s the losing teams that continue to drag the Rockets down the standings. Houston can’t seem to find any consistently when it comes to beating the NBA’s worst. The Rockets have five losses this month to teams at least five games below .500. If a trait becomes that frequent, it’s no accident, it’s a trend. A nasty habit Houston will have to break if they want any chance at getting the first seed. The halfway point of the season looms, with ten games remaining before the Rockets have played half a season. Plenty of time still remains for Houston to right the consistency ship, put some streaks together, and earn the spot they deserve in the standings. But, it’s up to them to do it. And they can start tonight, against Brooklyn. Not exactly, a losing team, but a squad the Rockets should beat at home. The Nets won the first matchup in Brooklyn earlier this season. Houston’s done a good job at bouncing back against team’s they’ve lost to this season. They’ll look to continue that trend tonight.

Unfortunately, Clint Capela is out with an injury, listed as a contusion. It’s extra unfortunate, given Brooklyn’s twin towers of Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan usually play great against Houston. The Rockets are going to need to work together inside to avoid getting hurt on the glass, to a point to where they can’t recover. The vet Tyson Chandler will start in Capela’s place on Saturday. Looking ahead, Eric Gordon is expected to return tomorrow for Houston when they play in New Orleans. EG has missed the last 6 weeks due to a knee injury. For now, the Rockets will have to fare one more game without him, and get past a pesky Nets team who just suffered their worst loss of the season. In fact, with Houston losing in San Francisco, both squads are coming off their worst losses of the season. Both teams will be itching to get back on the right foot. The Rockets need to take a stand, defend home court, and show that simply, they’re the better team. It’s a fact as long as Houston doesn’t take Brooklyn lightly. Although playing down to their competition is the Rockets favorite habit, and can happen on any given night this season.

The schedule gets tough after tonight, as the Houston heads to New Orleans to finish a back-to-back on the road (never easy), before hosting the Nuggets and 76ers, two of the league’s elite teams. Harden and especially Russell Westbrook, are due for better games than their Christmas offerings. Look for Houston’s superstar backcourt to have a bounce-back game tonight. Without Capela, they really need to drive the ball to the hoop with a sense of urgency. The open shots will always be there, but they’re not always gonna fall. if they’re not falling on Saturday, the Rockets need to address attacking the rim as the game’s number one key. Tonight’s matchup is a big game for Houston. They had a chance at the second seed, but with their loss on Christmas, fell to fourth in the standings. It’s packed in the Western Conference, and the Lakers have slipped within reaching distance if the Rockets could only put together four wins in a row. Houston needs to end the year on a high note, and start the decade on a roll. They’ve got the opportunity right in front of them over the next week. It’s time they answer the call. The boys are back in town… ready to cut down the Nets.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

Jersey Colors:

Brooklyn Nets (16-14):  Black

Houston Rockets (21-10):  “Space City” White

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

Golden State Grinchmas:  Warriors Rally in Second Half, Shock Rockets, 116-104

Pick ‘Em Season.    51 Questions.    Par for the Course.

’Tis the season for giving, and the Rockets gave their fans a lump of coal on Christmas Day. Houston ended their West Coast trip with their worst loss of the season, a 116-104 Christmas defeat at the hands of the Warriors, the worst team in the conference. The gameplay was evident from the opening tip. Harden was double-teamed the second he crossed half court, not unusual given it’s become an increasing trend teams try and throw at the Beard. Houston’s MVP didn’t get a lot of great looks, but Harden still shot 50% from the floor, and finished with 24 points and 11 dimes. He just didn’t get any help. Russell Westbrook scored 30 points, but on a rancid 11-for-32 shooting night. Golden State dared Russ to shoot threes, and Brodie fell for the bait, going a miserable 0-for-8 from downtown. Danuel House had 18 points, and Clint Capela posted a double-double, but the Rockets were outplayed by the Warriors Three D’s: Draymond Green, D’Angelo Russell, and Damion Lee. Golden State’s triple threat scored 62 points on 50% shooting, roasting the Rockets, as Houston’s open shooters couldn’t find the rim. After scoring 39 points in the second quarter, and taking a four-point lead into halftime, the Rockets scored only 36 points the rest of the way. Hopefully, Houston’s minds were on the holidays, a possible excuse for a departure of their usual focus, and an extreme decrease in their ability to hit shots. All the squad can do is move forward and hope they can stop the “losing to bad teams trend” trend before too many losses pile up.

It’s pick ‘em season this year for the Houston Rockets. Or so it seems. Right when the Rockets seem destined to win a game, they pull the chair out from under everyone’s exceptions. The Christmas Day loss in the Bay Area is the fourth loss this month for Houston against teams at least 5 games below .500. Every team has bad losses. But the elite teams show consistency in the regular season en route to a high seed in the playoffs. If the Rockets continue to treat each game as a toss-up, they’ll likely finish somewhere in the range of the fourth, fifth, or sixth seed. Houston currently sits in the fourth spot. If the squad could have finished off the road trip with a win on Christmas, the Rockets would be sitting pretty in the second slot. It’s that close in the West. And seeding is too important this season for Houston to play around with the regular season. Fortunately the Lakers have lost four in a row, but they’ve had a tough schedule of late. LeBron and co. will get it together. Brodie and the Beard need to realize what’s at stake, or their wishes for a top seed won’t be granted this season.

Plenty of questions remain this season for the Rockets. 51, to be exact. That’s the amount of games that remain, and the way Houston is currently operating, the remaining matchups on the schedule are all toss-ups. The Rockets could win or lose on any given night, no matter the place, or opponent. Sure, this is true with every NBA team, but this applies to no team more than Houston. After the Christmas loss, the squad finished 3-1 on their four-game road-trip. Pretty much what was predicted before the trip began, par for the course. Although many picked the Rockets to lose against the Clippers, not the Warriors. But, ’tis how the season’s gone for Harden and company. They generally square-off best against elite teams, but it’s a coin-toss when they play inferior competition. Plenty of time remains to right the season’s ship. Houston can still give fans the ultimate present. They’ll be in the mix for the top playoff spots throughout the NBA’s regular season journey …. just expect plenty of lumps of coal along the way.

Rockets Head to the Bay Area, Battle Warriors in Christmas Showdown

Punishing Hour.    Road Warriors.    Fake Noise.

“There’s gotta be a hundred reasons why I don’t blow you away. Right now I can’t think of one,” Houstonian Dennis Quaid says in the 2002 film, The Rookie. A quote that got me thinking about today’s marquee matchup between the Rockets and Warriors. I mean seriously, there’s gotta be a hundred reasons why Houston doesn’t blow Golden State out of their new arena. It’s Christmas Day, the merriest day of the year. Everyone will be watching, the Rockets shouldn’t embarrass the Warriors in front of a national audience. Houston should be nice, and take it easy on a Golden State team who owns the worst record in the West. The Warriors have been plagued by injuries, and now house one of the league’s youngest squads. They still have Draymond Green, but as he’s shown us this season, Green’s no All-Star, just skillful at kicking people in the groin. Despite all these excuses, I can’t think of one reason why the Rockets shouldn’t blast the Warriors out of the brand new Chase Center, for all eyes to see. Golden State’s ended Houston’s season 4 of the past 5 years. It’s punishing hour in the Bay Area on Christmas. The Rockets are in town to dole out some more revenge on the team they used to call their rivals.

Houston finishes their road trip today in the Warriors’ brand new arena, the Chase Center. The Rockets won the first matchup against Golden State earlier this season back in Houston. At the moment, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are playing like the best duo in basketball. The squad’s riding on a 4-game winning-streak as they arrive in the Bay Area. More impressively, the Rockets have been road warriors, winners of six straight on the road. There’s no reason why the Beard and company shouldn’t make it seven in a row on Christmas. This Golden State roster is lightyears away from the dynasty that knocked Houston out of the playoffs in years past.

Harden is having another historic, MVP-caliber season, and Westbrook is rounding into All-Star form for the Rockets. It would take a Christmas miracle for Houston to lose their first game in the state-of-the-art Chase Center. However, the Rockets are prone to setbacks. Right when it appears like you can almost guarantee a Houston victory, the squad has a letdown, toying with their opponent until it’s too late… and the Rockets get played, like rookies at a poker game. The Warriors, despite their last-place record, have won two straight games. The Rockets can’t overlook their opponent’s depleted roster. Houston’s had problems overlooking opponents in the past, but the squad should have plenty of motivation any time they play Golden State. The Warriors gave Harden and the Rockets plenty of anguish over the last five years. It’s time for Houston and the Beard to repay the favor.

Christmas Day represents the “start” of the NBA season in they eyes of many casual sports fans. A day signifying the league’s in full-gear. The NFL season is winding down, and with the MLB offseason in full-swing, the NBA owns Christmas Day. On display for the holiday are five matchups, mainly featuring elite teams. The Lakers, the Clippers, the Bucks, you know.. the favorites people think we will the title in June. Listen to all the national media noise if you want. Big markets have louder voices. They’ll give you a hundred reasons why one of the teams playing this holiday will win the NBA Championship. And they’re right. One of these teams showcased on Christmas will eventually be crowned champs… just not the ones they think.

 

Chase Center:  San Francisco, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (21-9):  “Space City” White

Golden State Warriors (7-24):  Black

 

TV:  4 PM CT – ABC

Rockets Conquer Kings, 113-104, Earn Fourth Straight Win

Terrific Tandem.    Impending Returns.    Something New.

We’d seen this story unravel in multiple games earlier this year, in distant memories of the past. The Rockets up big, before letting a team back in the game. This contest brough to mind the “it’s not destroying, it’s making something new” quote from the 2018 film Annihilation. Revenge comes in many forms, and while the Rockets didn’t quite annihilate the Kings on Monday night, Houston staved off a Sacramento rally to win, 113-104. For a squad prone to allowing comebacks, the Rockets didn’t let this game get away. Something new in its own right, as Houston’s too many heartbreaking losses, the worst of which was to Sacramento in the first matchup of the season. James Harden and Russell Westbrook were a terrific tandem in sync once again, both with efficient performances. If any doubters remain wondering if Harden and Russ can play together, they’re just confused. Brodie and the Beard have been terrific during the squad’s 4-game winning streak. In Sac-Town, the two combined for 62 points, on a combined 20-for-41 shooting from he field, including a lethal 7-for-15 from downtown. Harden scored 34, while Russ finished with 28, as he continues to increasingly infuse himself with Houston’s offensive system with each game. Clint Capela had another solid game for the Rockets, posting 15 points and 14 boards, while providing tough interior defense on Marvin Bagley. Capela’s become a double-double machine, seemingly getting one each night nowadays. Houston needs the big man to continue having the best season of his career as we approach the midway point of the season.

The Rockets withstood a brilliant game from De’Aaron Fox, who had 31 points for the Kings. It wasn’t enough for Sac-Town, as Houston brought too much firepower for the Kings to stop. The Rockets are really starting to gel as a unit. Westbrook finally appears to know the role Houston needs him to provide. Ben McLemore has been the most pleasant surprise of the year for the Rockets. The only question remains, when Eric Gordon returns, how will it affect the play of Benny Mac, and the team? Only time will tell. EG has been seen shooting in pregame warmups, and his return is imminent. Coach Mike D’Antoni said Gordon’s most likely return date will be Sunday in New Orleans. It will be the second night of back-to-back for Houston, and Russell Westbrook likely won’t be playing in New Orleans. It’s also the last place Gordon played before getting knee surgery, having one of his best games of the season. How fitting would it be if EG could literally pick up right where he left off?

For now, Houston will continue to annihilate their competition without Splash Gordon. The Rockets finish up their West-Coast trip on Christmas Day, in Golden State’s brand new arena. The opponent responsible for ending Houston’s season out 4 of the last 5 years. With all their injuries, it’s not the same Warriors team we’ve seen over the last few years. It doesn’t matter. Revenge comes in many forms, and on Wednesday, Santa’s giving the Rockets a shot at some Christmas revenge as they play the Warriors for the first time in their new arena. Golden State’s shiny, luxurious, grand Chase Center. While Houston might not destroy the Warriors, they have a chance to start something new, and make all those losses in Golden States just distant memories of the past.