Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Try to Quiet Jazz’ Tune in Salt Lake City

 

The Crying Game.   Deadly Duo.   Brutality Awaits.  

 

“As the man said, it’s in my nature.”  The final line from the classic 90’s film, The Crying Game, poses the question what is the nature of man.  In terms on tonight’s contest, human nature exposes itself in several facets.  After snubbed (one of the worst in NBA history) from being voted an All-Star, Rudy Gobert became emotional and cried after getting a call from his mother as she cried her heart out for him.  It’s understandable, crying is part of human nature and Rudy Gobert, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, deserved to be an All-Star.  More than Klay Thompson, whose Warrior teammates took to social media to make fun of Gobert for crying.  Crying is still viewed as a sign of weakness for men in the eyes of many in society.  However, it’s not a weakness. Rudy Gobert knows that, and has been playing with fire since being snubbed only a few days ago, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds last night in a victory over the Hawks.  Sadly for Houston, Gobert’s next target is a Rockets team thin on the frontcourt that was eaten alive in Denver on Friday night.  Last night’s game was a crying shame in Denver.  Houston looks to avoid another crying game tonight in Utah.

Rudy Gobert is the biggest snub in this year’s all-star game, and he’s not even the best player in Utah.  Donovan “Spida” Mitchell, after getting off to a slow start to his sophomore campaign, is really starting to hit his groove and get back to the levels he was playing at in his rookie of the year-caliber season.  Mitchell was snubbed as well.  Honestly, I would have put Mitchell in over Gobert, as Spida has been carrying the load offensively for Utah.  But it doesn’t matter, neither player made it, and that’s not good for the Rockets.  Houston comes into Utah facing one of the hottest teams in the NBA in 2019, with some added-motivation.  Mitchell has been a Rocket-killer throughout his young career, having some of his biggest games against Houston in the past.  Look for this to be another game where Clint Capela’s absence stares the Rockets smack-dab in the face.  Kenneth Faried continues to play with great energy, but as Jokic was too big in Denver, look for Gobert to pose the same problems for Faried and Houston’s frontcourt in Utah.  Gobert, aka “The Stifle Tower” has been getting praise from nearly everyone but Golden State since showing emotion, and the rest of the league will have to contend with added ferocity from the Stifle Tower for his absence from the upcoming All-Star weekend.

This game poses so many problems for the Rockets I don’t know where to begin.  They’re facing one of the hottest teams in the league in 2019.  The Jazz have won 8 of 10 and have quietly climbed the standings since 2019 began.  A win over Houston tonight would propel the Jazz past the Rockets in the standings.  Utah boasts one of the loudest home-courts in the NBA, and is always a very tough place to play.  Throw in the added motivation from their top two players (due to being the All-Star Game’s biggest snubs) and brutality awaits Houston on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.  The Rockets will need to look inwards and hope they can turn the clock back, to a week or two ago, when Harden averaged around 53 points over a 3-game stretch.  Houston needs a monumental game from the Beard tonight if they want to win this contest.  Chris Paul is out tonight for rest, and the whole squad needs to step up and give Harden the required help.  EG left last night’s game in Denver with an injury, which has sadly become part of his nature.  Austin Rivers will get the start if EG can’t go.  Hopefully, it’ll kick-start him out of his current shooting slump.  The Beard?  Tonight’s one of those nights where, unfortunately, Harden will be asked to do almost everything.  The Beard’s starting to look tired in recent games, but if there’s anyone, in any season, who has the ability to put a team on his back en route to a win… it’s this season’s James Harden.  It’s in his nature.

 

Vivint Smart Home Arena:  Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-22):  White

Utah Jazz (30-23):  Green

 

TV:  8 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountain Horror Show: Rockets Streak Against Nuggets Ends in 136-122 Defeat

 

Ghosts in the Paint.    Streak-Busters.    Help.  

 

What started out as a hot first-quarter for both teams soon turned into a dunk parade.  One showcased by Denver’s young talent, as they got anything they wanted in a 136-122 victory over the Rockets on Friday night.  The loss for Houston ended their 9-game winning streak over the Nuggets, and exposed holes in the Rockets defense all night.  Houston had a solid first quarter, scoring 43 points, but after that the offense cooled down.  And the defense… what defense?  There was none to be found on Houston’s end as they allowed layup after layup, and dunk after dunk, in what turned into a Rocky Mountain Horror Show for the Rockets.  Houston gave up a staggering 83 points in the first half, including 48 in the 2^nd quarter when they were outscored by 20, and essentially let the game get out of hand.  James Harden had 30 to lead Houston, hitting a late-3 to extend his 30-point game streak, but the Rockets defensively were the worst they’ve been all season.

The Nuggets got whatever they wanted against the Rockets defense, on the perimeter, and especially inside the paint.  Malik Beasley had the game of his career, leading the Nuggets with 35 points.  Nikola Jokic had 31 points, 13 boards, and 9 dimes as the Rockets were ghosts in the paint, allowing the Nuggets to see no defense, thus fear no defense.  Torrey Craig chipped in with 22 to help the balanced Nuggets attack.  Chris Paul had 20 points in a game he should have sat (was doubtful prior to the contest, then upgraded to probable).  Kenneth Faried was about the only bright spot.  The Manimal had another efficient game filled with effort for Houston.  Faried finished with 23 points and 6 boards, but despite all his hustle, the Manimal isn’t tall enough to match up with a true center like Nikola Jokic, and the Joker feasted on him all night.  Clint Capela’s absence was painfully felt in this contest, and shows why his presence is vital to the Rockets success in the future, especially against bigger lineups.  A game after giving up 70 points in the paint to a Pelicans team resembling G-Leaguers, Houston allowed 62 points in the paint in Denver.  Capela’s defensive presence has been sorely lacking, as opposing teams are starting to take advantage of Houston’s thin frontcourt.

The Unguardable Tour continued, barely.  Harden hit a late 3 to get to 30 and keep his streak going, but all other Houston streaks were busted last night in Denver.  Friday marked the first time the Beard wasn’t the game’s overall leading scorer since his 30-point streak began.  The Rockets streak of 9 consecutive wins over the Nuggets also came to an end (they hadn’t lost to Denver since 2015).  For the first time in 15 games, Houston dropped back-to-back games.  Clint Capela is primed to return the first game after the All-Star break, and the Rockets just need to stay afloat until the break.  Only 6 games remain until All-Star break.  Houston needs to grind together and play with more effort until they get their promising big-man back.

For now, the Rockets need some help.  Chris Paul wasn’t even expected to play in Denver, and he is doubtful for Saturday’s tilt in Utah.  Paul looked slower, and his ability to create his own shot has become noticeably downgraded.  Eric Gordon left the game in Denver and didn’t return, his status against the Jazz is also questionable.  Houston can’t afford to lose any more guys, being shorthanded, and James Harden is starting to look visibly gassed.  The Beard barely had 30, but it seemed forced near the end, as his shooting touch was off, and the wear of carrying a team for over half a season might be getting to Harden.  The MVP needs a break more than anyone (even though he’ll be in the ASG). Harden has looked exhausted as we near the All-Star break.  Only 6 games remain before the intermission.  Houston needs to give Harden the help the MVP has warranted after carrying the team through the toughest stretch of the season.  Rivers, Tucker, Green, Ennis, and others need to feed off of the Manimal’s energy in hopes it will boost the squad.  Right now, the Rockets need a lot of help.  The subsequent guys need to step up if Houston wants to have a puncher’s chance of escaping Utah with a victory.

Rockets Fly into Denver, Look to Keep Rolling Against Mile High Competition

Rocky Road.    New Leaf.    Players of the Month.

At least the Rockets don’t have to play the Pelicans at home anymore.  Something I never thought I would say before the season began.  Two of Houston’s most embarrassing losses of the season have come against New Orleans.  Sadly for Houston fans, that hasn’t been out of the norm for the Rockets this season.  They’ve had more success against championship-contending competition, compared to the NBA’s average to bad teams, with whom they’ve struggled.  Thankfully for Rocket fans, Houston is in Denver tonight taking on the 2^nd-seeded Nuggets.  Something else I never thought I would say before the season started.

This season, Denver has exceeded expectations and currently holds the 2^nd spot in the West.  Fortunately, the Rockets have had recent success against the Nuggets, winning the last 9 matchups between the squads, including a victory in Denver earlier this season.  The Nuggets, being one of the “contending” teams this year, give Houston a chance to beat another great team.  The road ahead for Houston is rough.  They’re in Utah tomorrow night, and 7 of their next 9 games are on the road, with 5 of those games coming against probable playoff teams.  Houston faces a Denver team that’s deeper and healthier than the previous time these squads faced off.  The Nuggets have won 4 straight, including 9 of their last 12 contests since they fell to the Rockets in Houston in early-January.  Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets best player, was named as an All-Star for the first time in his career yesterday.  Houston will need to contain the “Joker” aka “Big Honey”, (as revealed on TNT last night) and limit his production to keep their success in the Mile High City rolling.

For the first time this season, the Rockets will debut and wear the “City Edition” maroon jerseys tonight featuring the Chinese symbols.  Chinese New Year is on Tuesday, and the Rockets will don the Maroon for 2 of their next 3 games.  Hopefully, Chinese New Year will signal the turning of a new leaf for Houston, and the end of the Rockets losing to bad teams and playing down to their competition.  Houston can’t afford to lose too many more games, and they need to win every game they’re favored in order to get the best playoff positioning possible.

James Harden was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Month today, for the second straight month, deservedly so.  The “Unguardable Tour”, as it’s being called, continued throughout the entire month of January.  Don’t expect the tour to stop any time soon.  It’s a season-long show, and the Rockets are hoping it continues deep into the playoffs.  Houston recently called up Isaiah Hartenstein, who had a torrid January, and was named the G-League’s Player of the Month for January.  “Hustlestein” has dominated in the paint and seen an uptick in his production for the month while developing his game in the NBA’s version of the “minors.”  The Rockets need that production to translate against NBA-competition, at least while Clint Capela remains sidelined.  Hartenstein should play nicely alongside Kenneth Faried, as he brings a similar style of hustle to the squad.  And in the NBA, you can never have too much hustle on one team.

The “Manimal” returns to Denver, where he spent the majority of his career, and had his best seasons.  Faried is always ready to play, but should be especially amped-up to take on his former-team tonight.  Houston comes in to Denver on two days rest.  Look for the Rockets to feed off the Manimal and Hartenstein’s energy, as they battle in the paint against one of the best Centers in the League in Nikola Jokic.  Chris Paul was going to rest tonight, given the Rockets are in Utah tomorrow night.  Although a few hours ago, his status has been upgraded and the Point God will take the court tonight.  Houston needs to continue playing with the grit and energy they’ve brought when facing the NBA’s best, and they should get a win tonight.  The Pelicans aren’t in town so don’t expect any surprises.  If the Rockets lose tonight, it’ll be at the hands of a great Nuggets team.  Although Houston has had a pretty great hand themselves when playing great teams this season.  Expect a close game that goes down to the wire.  Look for the Rockets, still angry over their unfathomable loss to the Pelicans, to play with a chip on their shoulder tonight, and take down the Nuggets once again.

 

Pepsi Center:  Denver, Colorado

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (29-21):  “City Edition” Maroon

Denver Nuggets (35-15):  Blue

 

TV:  9 PM CT – ESPN & ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Suffer Embarrassing Loss, Fall to Pelicans 121-116

Shameful Defeat.   Mirror Image.   Tough Road Ahead.

 

In the most embarrassing defeat of the season, the Rockets lost at home to a Pelicans team without Anthony Davis, 121-116 on Tuesday night.  New Orleans was also without Nikola Mirotic, Julius Randle, E’Twaun Moore, and Elfrid Payton.  Houston was the healthiest they’ve been in a month.  The Rockets still didn’t have Capela, but the Pelicans were missing the best big man in basketball, along with 4 key rotational players.  To say the Rockets had the upper hand in this game would be a grave understatement.  Houston couldn’t have been dealt a better hand prior to tip-off.  All of New Orleans’ injuries, combined with the announcement the day earlier that Davis has demanded to be traded.  The Rockets were supposed to take care of business easily tonight against a team they severely overmatched on paper, but that simply wasn’t the case.  The Pelicans played harder, and took advantage of a Houston team that came out and toyed with New Orleans like they have so many teams, until the Rockets got too far behind to come back.  James Harden continued his 30-point game streak (now at 24), but didn’t look as mentally sharp as usual, and the defense forced the Beard into questionable decision-making.  Chris Paul looked lethargic as he struggles to get back into game-shape, and the squad as a whole looked tired and disinterested.  That is, other than Kenneth Faried.  Houston’s Manimal continued his impressive play and was one of the few bright spots in this contest for the Rockets.  Faried had his third consecutive double-double, finishing with 19 points and 11 boards.  Hopefully the Manimal’s energy will be contagious in Houston, and can wake up a Rockets team in need of a boost in hustle and aggressiveness.  The game reminded me of the squad during their first 25 games of the season, when Houston was still “figuring things out.”  Rocket fans don’t need any more reminders of that early part of the season, before the Beard’s “Unguardable Tour” began.

Houston continued their annoying trend of playing down to their competition.  3 of the Rockets last 4 losses have come against teams with worse records than Houston, and teams they should’ve easily beaten.  In the middle of the closest playoff race in NBA history, the Rockets can’t afford to lose any more games to weaker opponents, or they risk being on the road throughout the playoffs, making their quest for a title far more challenging.  Houston has this habit of being a mirror image to their opponents.  The Rockets are a combined 5-0 against the top 3 teams in the West.  Yet, the squad still tends to keep games too close against bad teams, many of which they’ve lost this season.  At least Houston has proven they can play with anybody, as the playoffs feature only strong competition.  Maybe the Rockets are just trudging through the regular season like the Warriors often do, just waiting for the playoffs to start.  But Houston’s doing it in an ugly manner as they fight to even make the playoffs, compared to Golden State, who does it while still having one of the top records in the league.  The Rockets need to sharpen things up, and quick, as they’re about to face some tough teams on the upcoming schedule.

The Rockets hit the road for a West-coast trip for their next 4 games.  It begins with a brutal back-to-back on Friday night in Denver, followed by Utah on Saturday.  Both squads are playoff caliber teams who are in a groove.  Houston’s had Denver’s number, and they’ll look for their recent success over the Nuggets to continue, but it won’t be easy.  Denver is healthier than the last time they faced the Rockets, and the Mile High City is one of the toughest places to play in the NBA.  Besides Golden State, Utah has arguably been the best team in the league over the last few weeks, quietly rising from out of playoff contention back into the mix.  Donovan Mitchell had a slow start but is playing well and the Jazz are always tough to beat at home.  This back-to-back is the toughest Houston will face this season.  After that it’s matchups against the Kings and Suns.  The Kings are an up-and-coming team, only 2 games out of a playoff spot, with a lot to play for.  Sacramento will be loud and proud, and the Rockets need to be ready after rough back-to-back games in the altitude.  Houston should handle Phoenix, but if Tuesday night’s game against New Orleans was any indication, the Rockets are never a sure bet to win a game, at least not this regular season.  It’s a bad habit Houston needs to cure to get the home court they desire for the first round of the playoffs.

 

Rockets Host Pelicans as AD Trade Rumors Swirl

Raising a Brow.    4 For 4.    Preparation Game.

 

What sounds like a crisis for one team, could potentially end up being a crisis for the NBA’s elite.  The best big man in the league has become a crisis for the Pelicans, and has asked to be traded.  It’s understandable.  The Pelicans haven’t won a playoff series since drafting Anthony Davis aka “the Brow”, and 20 other franchises have won more games than New Orleans since Davis joined the team.  It’s not the Brow’s fault, of course.  Davis has been the best big man in the entire NBA for a few seasons now.  New Orleans just hasn’t been able to put a competent, winning squad around their superstar.  After a while, you get sick of all the losing.  When you’re as talented as Anthony Davis, it’s understandable he would desire winning more than anything, as the Brow finally matures into his prime. AD isn’t winning anything in New Orleans anytime soon.  The Pelicans can’t attract talent to their team, and Davis senses it’s time to go if he wants to really contend for a Championship.  Only problem for the Rockets and the NBA’s elite, wherever the Brow lands, that team immediately becomes a contender.  Most likely destinations for Davis are the Lakers or Celtics, with L.A. rumored to be the spot, as Davis and LeBron James share the same agent, Rich Paul.  If they team up, that’s a scary proposition for the rest of the League.  The Brow is the best big man in the NBA, and it’s not even close.  And LeBron James is LeBron James.  That power one-two punch would propel the Lakers immediately into the contender conversation.  But we’ll worry about that if, and when it happens.  The Rockets are rounding into form and can beat any “super team” when healthy, their problem (besides health) has been playing down to their competition, which they will look to avoid as against a Davis-less Pelicans team.

Tonight, the Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans as they are dealing with all the rumors surrounding the Brow.  Davis hasn’t played in 4 games due to injury and this will be his 5^th straight missed contest.  Houston needs to take advantage and beat a New Orleans squad with less talent.  The Rockets have a nasty tendency to fall behind early (see last game), especially against weaker competition.  The Pelicans are an opponent the Rockets should beat, especially without the Brow.  No excuses for Houston in this game, but they shouldn’t have much trouble with the Pelicans.  Kenneth Faried has been playing with excellent energy since he joined the squad last Monday, and is developing chemistry with James Harden and Chris Paul quickly.  Houston is 3-1 since the Manimal came to town.  Look for the Rockets to get their 4^th straight win tonight, and hand the Pelicans their 4^th straight loss.  The two clubs are headed in opposite directions, with the Rockets soaring back up, and the Pelicans, in the midst of a crisis, falling farther down the standings.

Harden will try and make it an improbable 24 straight games with 30 points, which is actually very probable of happening tonight.  The Rockets will try and put the Pelicans away early, and get minutes for the entire squad, and rest for the starters.  This is a preparation game for the Rockets as they face one of their more difficult back-backs of the entire season this weekend.  Houston heads to Denver and red-hot Utah this upcoming weekend in what will be a treacherous, and testing back-to-back games against playoff competition in the altitude.  The Rockets want to make sure they get a victory tonight to keep their spot in the standings before heading off on a tough road trip.  If the Rockets play up to their potential, they should make it 4 in a row tonight with a (hopefully) comfortable win over the Pelicans at home.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

New Orleans Pelicans (22-28):  Red

Houston Rockets (29-20):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – TNT & ATT SportsNet SW

Harden Uninterrupted as CP3 Returns, Rockets Rally to Dispel Magic, 103-98

Wild Bunch.   The Manimal Renaissance.   Misconceptions.  

“Well, me and the boys here, we got some work to do.  You wanna come along? It ain’t like it used to be, but, uh, it’ll do”, the final line from Sam Peckinpah’s epic Western film, The Wild Bunch, resonates now more than ever this season for Houston.  This Rockets team is also a wild bunch, in a season full of wild bunches.  Houston’s been through 3 seasons of ups and downs mashed up into a little over half a season.  They finally got Chris Paul back on Sunday night, and while he’ll never be the same player he once was in L.A. and New Orleans, it was good to see Paul back in a Rockets jersey.  Paul’s return only had a positive effect on Houston and Harden’s streak.  The Beard didn’t score 30.  He had 40, and the Rockets rallied from 16 down to beat the Magic, 103-98, in Houston on Sunday night.  This contest featured another close matchup in what has slowly become a stretch of nail-biters for the Rockets.  Chris Paul made some key plays down the stretch, including finding Harden for the go-ahead bucket late in the game.  The Point God finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 dimes, in 25 minutes of action in his first game back since his latest injury.  Many expected Harden’s scoring to go down with the return of Chris Paul.  However, many don’t realize the positive effect CP3 has on the Beard’s game.  Paul only makes life easier for Harden, as CP3 forces the defense to pay attention to more than just the Beard.  Harden’s tenacity and aggressiveness this season, that all started on December 13^th (with CP3 in the lineup), isn’t going away.  No matter who’s on the court by his side.  CP3’s return gives the Rockets two magicians, and while he may be the older/wiser one, Paul still brings plenty of talent to the table.  Houston is lucky their other magician is at the peak of his powers, and doesn’t look to be slowing down.  The combo still gives the Rockets the best backcourt in the NBA, and when healthy, along with Clint Capela, they’re unstoppable, as they proved last season.  It just took a while to get the supporting cast into their respective roles.

Kenneth Faried continued enjoying his career-renassaince in Houston.  The Manimal finished with another double-double, posting 12 points and 10 boards.  More importantly, his energy has been absolutely vital.  Faried contested 15 shots in the game for Houston, tops on the team, including 9 from beyond the arc, also the most.  It seemed to take Faried and Paul only a quarter to develop some chemistry, as the two worked great together on the floor.  The Manimal and the Beard also continue to be on the same page. Faried’s career is truly being revived in Houston, as his spot on the team is an inseparable marriage.  The newest Rocket is more skilled at switching on defense than Clint, due to his smaller size, although Capela is the better defender overall.  Faried, like Capela, is a fast learner.  The Manimal held Nikola Vucevic to 0/5 from the field in the 2^nd half, after the Magic center went off for 17 points on 8/14 shooting in the first half.  Faried also posted a plus/minus of +13 in the 4^th quarter, highest on the squad in a close, contested final frame.  Faried’s presence only gives Houston more versatility and depth on both ends of the floor.  The Rockets needed someone who could finish around the hoop, after it seemed like the team missed 10,000 layups over the first half of the season.  Faried isn’t shy about throwing the ball down with authority, and will only set the example of how to finish around the basket for other Houston big men.  The Manimal has also proven to be a huge crowd engager in his first 2 home games, as he’s slowly becoming a fan favorite in Houston.  Daryl Morey has found another diamond in the rough.  Faried previously had found himself relegated to a minor role on a bad Brooklyn team.  However, the Manimal is a perfect fit in Houston.  Similar to Gerald Green, Austin Rivers, and the sorely missed Danuel House, Faried is another role player who fits perfectly in the D’Antoni system.

The biggest misconception in not only the NBA, but in all of professional sports, is that James Harden doesn’t play defense.  They said he doesn’t play defense. Well, they were wrong.  The Beard has been playing the best defense of his career this season.  Defense has always been an aspect of Harden’s game that gets overlooked due to his offensive onslaught on opposing defenders, which has now become (literally) a nightly tradition.  Sunday against Orlando, Harden held his own on switches against Magic big men Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, rarely allowing the two to take advantage of the size mismatch.  His post defense has always been the best part of Harden’s game on that end of the floor, but now the Beard is better than ever at defending on the perimeter.  In the last three games (all close Houston victories) Harden has made the key defensive stop to seal the victory at the end of each contest.  In New York, he had the steal and dunk to secure the win. Against Toronto, the Beard made sure Kawhi Leonard saw nothing but Beard when throwing up an airball to help seal a Rockets win.  On Sunday against Orlando, Harden blocked a layup from Evan Fournier that sealed another victory for Houston.  It doesn’t matter what they say.  Harden plays defense every night.  Most people just don’t bother to look.  Chris Paul notices.  With 1:20 left in the game, the Point God noticed something else (a lazy Fournier) as he insisted the Beard inbounds the ball (this never happens).  A few seconds later, Harden rolled around a double-screen initiated by Paul, and ended with Faried handing the Beard the ball for an open go-ahead three-pointer.  It’s this awareness on the mental level that Chris Paul possesses that will never go away.  Harden finally started to feed off Paul’s awareness this season, igniting his own mental resurgence that sparked his current 30-point game streak.  Houston’s a much different group since the last time Paul was on the court, and the Point God will never be quicker and sturdier akin to his younger days.  But, the Rockets still have a lot of work to do to accomplish their goal of winning a title.  And this version of Chris Paul ain’t like it used to be, but it’ll do.

CP3 Returns, Rockets Hope to Magically Stay Healthy, Seek Revenge Against Orlando

The Point God is Back.   Manimal Magic.   23 for 30?

 

         After a 17-game absence due to injury, Chris Paul finally makes his return to the lineup on Sunday night as the Rockets host the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center.  Houston looks to get vengeance on a Magic team that handed the Rockets a loss in Orlando a few weeks ago.  The loss was another Houston collapse, as the Rockets led for most of the game, but fell apart in the end, and lost Clint Capela to injury as well.  Since that victory for Orlando, the Magic have dropped 5 of their last 6 games, the lone win coming against the Hawks, one of the league’s bottom-feeders.  Houston should have no problem with the Magic this time around.  Hopefully the Rockets learned their lesson last time the teams met, and won’t play down to their competition on Sunday.  Tonight’s matchup gives Houston another favorable chance to move up in the standings.  The Rockets need to take advantage when the schedule permits they face a weaker team.  The squad has a tough back-to-back next weekend, and Houston can’t afford to drop any more games they’re expected to win.

Kenneth Faried will look to continue to make his presence felt in the paint.  He’ll be battling Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, one of the league’s better frontcourt tandems, for rebounds and more.  That Manimal Magic has worked for Houston thus far, as Faried has proved to be a perfect fit in D’Antoni’s system and yet another great, nationally unheralded in-season pick-up by Rockets GM Daryl Morey.  When Clint Capela returns the Manimal will still be a key piece of the Rockets rotation, only he’ll bolster the bench by coming in with the second unit.  Look for Faried to still see minutes with the first unit, and even alongside Capela when Houston faces bigger lineups down the road.

With the return of Chris Paul, many are wondering what effect it will have on Harden’s usage and 30-point streak.  Will he keep it up?  Does he need to?  The answers are simple.  No, he obviously doesn’t need to, and he probably will keep it up, but not for the rest of the season, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Harden topped 30 in every game from here on out.  The Beard has been that sensational.  Now that he’s got his backcourt running mate back, Harden won’t have to exert as much effort, and will likely see a slight decrease in minutes, as the Rockets don’t want the Beard to be burnt out come playoff time.  On Sunday, Houston looks to ease CP3 back into the lineup.  It will be great to see Paul on the floor again, but the last thing the Rockets need is their star point guard re-injuring himself after coming back from this injury.  CP3’s already returning sooner than I expected, the Rockets need to be extra cautious with the Point God, so they can have his services when they need them most, this June.  Look for the Rockets to beat the Magic tonight, although they may be a little rusty and rough around the edges as the squad adjusts to CP3’s return to the lineup.  Houston may get off to a slow start, but expect the Rockets to make the proper adjustments to blow by Orlando in the 2^nd half for their 3^rd win a row.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Orlando Magic (20-29):  Blue

Houston Rockets (28-20):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Unleash the Manimal, Hold Off Raptors, 121-119

Too Close For Comfort.   Harden Gets Help.   Starting Dominance.

That was close.  In a game the Rockets seemed to lead comfortably for most of the night, they allowed the final 9 points, with a shot from Kawhi Leonard being the potential difference-maker and game-winner, had it fallen.  Kawhi finished with 32 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists, but the biggest shot he took was off the mark.  Harden played great defense on the final possession and forced Leonard into an airball, as Houston held on for victory, 121-119, over Toronto on Friday night.  The near-collapse marred a nice overall game for the Rockets.  James Harden finally got a decent amount of help, and Houston led by as many as 21 at one point over one of the NBA’s best teams.  Coach D’Antoni and the Rockets need to sharpen their focus at the end of games as Houston has blown several large leads this season, along with several near-collapses similar to Friday’s game.  Nonetheless, the Rockets got a big win over the Raptors as Harden and company, despite being shorthanded, outplayed Leonard and Toronto overall.

Against the Raptors, James Harden extended his 30-game streak to 22 with 35 points, as he got plenty of help from teammates.  Eric Gordon had yet another solid game, as Harden’s right-hand man while Paul and Capela remain sidelined.  However, the biggest form of help came in the squad’s newest member.  Kenneth Faried aka the “Manimal” had his best game as a Rocket, finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.  The Manimal has quietly put together 3 consecutive efficient performances since joining the squad.  Faried’s scored in double figures in each of those games, while bringing some much-needed bounce and energy to a Houston squad tiring from the constant recklessness of the injury bug.  This was the Manimal’s best game yet, when the Rockets needed him most as he fought off countless Raptors to make sure his presence was felt in the paint on both ends of the court.  When Clint Capela comes back, the Rockets will have improved their frontcourt depth immensely contrary to the start of the season.

Houston’s starters dominated in the victory, scoring a whopping 111 of the team’s total 121 points.  Eric Gordon had 24 as he’s starting to round back into form as a key contributor.  P.J. Tucker had another solid offensive game, scoring 18, and Austin Rivers chipped in with 13 points.  James Ennis had only 5 points, but his presence was felt all night, as his hustle and energy led to 8 boards.  It was nice to see all the starters clicking, but Houston’s bench has been one of the worst in the NBA all season.  This is, in large part, due to all the injuries the team has suffered, but the Rockets gets a big piece of their puzzle back on Sunday against the Magic.  Chris Paul will be making his return from a hamstring injury after a 17-game absence.  Houston’s bench will be kick-started with the return of either Austin Rivers or Eric Gordon to the bench (likely Rivers).  Everyone is praying that Chris Paul will stay injury-free once he returns the lineup, and the Rockets can start to gel with their expected rotation, especially once Clint Capela returns, as they aim to make their push for playoff contention and one of the top seeds in the West.

 

Rockets Return Home to Face Their Toughest Challenge Yet

Quiet Man, Loud Game.    Interior Nightmare.   Can Harden Do It Again?

Houston has now split their last 11 games, and they look to buck that trend tonight with a victory, but it won’t be easy.  The Rockets return to Houston to face off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Toyota Center.  Toronto is a legitimate contender and in my opinion will represent the East in the Finals come June.  They’re one of the deepest teams in the league, and they have the best perimeter defender in the NBA, who’s also a lethal offensive player, in Kawhi Leonard.  Kawhi’s missed the previous 4 games, including resting on Tuesday to give him extra time to prepare for James Harden’s onslaught.  Leonard doesn’t say much, at least in the public eye.  However, his play on both ends of the court speaks volumes.  Houston’s problem is, Kawhi will be guarding James Harden for most of the night.  Leonard’s problem is, no one has stopped the Beard’s onslaught.  Fans are on in for a treat, as it will be one of the best individual matchups to watch all season.

Outside of the Harden/Leonard matchup lies the real problem for the Rockets in this game.  Toronto is deep, in size, and at every position.  Former Rocket and current Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry has gelled perfectly with new teammate Leonard.  Serge Ibaka is quietly having a career year, and Pascal Siakam will probably win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.  They pose an interior nightmare to a Capela-less Rockets squad whose thin frontcourt could be demolished in this game if Houston doesn’t play hard as a team.  Luckily for the Rockets, Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas is out with an injury, but Toronto will still pose nightmares all night long if Houston doesn’t come out focused from the start.  The Rockets needs everyone to crash the glass and rebound, as this will be a key factor that decides the contest.  This game exposes why Clint Capela is so important to Houston.  His absence will be sorely missed in this game, and Chris Paul isn’t playing either (rumored to return Sunday).  Houston has their hands full with the Raptors in town tonight.  The squad needs to help the Beard out, as this will be one of the toughest challenges the Rockets face while they’re still hobbled.

Coming off a career-high 61 points, can James Harden do it again?  Can the Beard put up another monstrous performance, while be guarded by the best defender in the entire league?  The Rockets are praying for another special episode of the Harden Show.  Houston will need it, along with performances from everyone on the team to win tonight’s game.  Harden and the Rockets can prove a lot with a victory tonight, but it’s going to be an uphill climb to get it done.  Houston can’t let their foot off the gas, and they can’t afford to fall behind early against a team like Toronto, or they could find themselves in a hole they can’t climb out.  Gerald Green and the bench need to bring the energy, and the Rockets need their shots to be falling if they want to beat one of the East’s beasts.

 

Toyota Center: Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Toronto Raptors (36-14): Black

Houston Rockets (27-20): “Earned” Crimson Red

 

TV: 7 PM CT – ESPN – ATT Sportsnet SW

Harden’s Garden: The Beard’s 61 Points Carry Rockets Past Knicks, 114-110

King of New York.   Splash Gordon Gets Déjà Vu.   Don’t Blink.

 

         “From now on, nothing goes down unless I’m involved”, Frank White claims, after the going gets rough, in the under-seen masterpiece, King of New York.  A crown James Harden can also claim, after roasting the Big Apple for 61 points and leading the Rockets to a 114-110 victory, over the woeful Knicks on Wednesday night.  The going got rough for Houston in a sloppy game at Madison Square Garden.  The Knicks grabbed momentum late, and almost spoiled another game for the Rockets.  This contest was sloppy, and Houston was barely able to escape New York with a victory.  Lucky for the Rockets, Harden owned the Garden.  The 61 points were a career-high for the Beard, who continues to set records, it seems, with each passing game.  Eric “Splash” Gordon saved the day again with a go-ahead three-pointer to give the Rockets the lead for good after they trailed 112-110 in the final minute.  Houston almost blew the contest on several occasions.  P.J. Tucker, in the most head-scratching play of the year, almost literally gave the game to the Knicks.  Tucker let an inbounds toss from Gordon just sit under the basket, until a Knick finally grabbed the ball for a lay-up.  The Knicks had a chance to win the game on the final possession, until Harden simply had enough, stole the ball for a signature dunk that gave him 61 points, and sealed the win for the Rockets.

Despite all the glory around Harden’s career-game, the reality is: since Houston couldn’t come to a contract agreement with Danuel House Jr., they’re two Eric Gordon clutch three-pointers from being 0-4 since departing with the undervalued glue-guy.  Beating the Knicks was supposed to happen for the Rockets, but they weren’t supposed to sweat the contest down the stretch.  Another game that was way too close for Houston, as all of their victories have been since House went back to the G-League.  Hopefully when Chris Paul returns, and eventually Clint Capela, these deficiencies left by House’s absence will be masked.  Otherwise the Rockets will be in trouble when they face elite competition. Splash Gordon has been a lifesaver, finishing with 20-points to go along with that clutch shot late in the game.  Kenneth Faried, in his 2^nd game as a Rocket, finished 3^rd on the team in scoring again, this time with 11 points and 8 rebounds in 26 minutes.  Faried has quietly been a pleasant addition to the roster, and will bolster the bench when the once the squad is at full-health.  Once Paul and Capela come back, Houston’s depth-chart will be maximized, along with any potential trades that may happen before the deadline.

Don’t blink.  You could miss a record-breaking moment from Harden, a game-saving three from Splash Gordon, or even an unexplainable brain-dead play from P.J. Tucker.  And in the blink of an eye, the Rockets go from facing the 2^nd, worst team in the East, to facing the 2^nd best, in the Toronto Raptors.  This will arguably be Houston’s toughest game thus far, with no Chris Paul and Clint Capela, going up against one of the league’s best teams.  Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard has missed the previous 4 games, including resting the last contest to prepare for Harden.  Leonard is one of the game’s best two-way players, with Toronto being one of the deepest teams in the NBA.  They will wreak havoc on the glass and cause a rebounding nightmare for Houston if everyone in red doesn’t crash the boards.  Chris Paul has been upgraded to questionable to play, but I think they will hold him out until Sunday for precautionary reasons.  Capela is certainly out, but one thing’s for sure…  Nothing’s going down unless Harden’s involved, and when the Beard’s playing, the Rockets always have a chance.