Category: Uncategorized

Rockets Surge into Boston Looking for 5^th Straight Win

 

Mirror Images.    One Game.    Harden’s Show.  

 

There’s nothing quite like the NBA regular season grind.  82 games.  Consistent travel.  The wicked wear and tear on the body, both mentally and physically.  On Sunday, two teams who’ve seesawed through this season face off.  The Houston Rockets visit Beantown to take on the Boston Celtics this afternoon.  Preseason expectations for both squads were high.  The Rockets were expected to have the best record in the West, up there with Golden State.  Instead, Houston’s had a season full of injuries, with part of the roster imitating a game of musical chairs.  However, things are starting to lookup for the Rockets.  Houston has won their past 4 games, and along with Utah, sport the longest winning streak in the league.  Meanwhile, Boston, with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, were expected to have the best record in the East.  The Celtics have been the most disappointing team in the NBA all season.  A squad that was within one game of the NBA Finals last year can’t seem to find its identity this year.  The team is battling with some serious chemistry issues.  Kyrie Irving changes his mind twice every second.  Uncle Drew also seems to thrive in throwing teammates under the bus with his statements to the media.  Boston has been wavering around the 4/5 seed in the East, all season.  They don’t look poised to move up in the standings.  But don’t be fooled, the Celtics are still one the of NBA’s best.  The Rockets hope a visit to Boston will keep them moving in the right direction.

Houston now finds themselves only one game behind the third seed in the West.  Oklahoma City and Portland are currently tied for third, with the Rockets inching closer with each win.  The playoff landscape continues to shift with each game.  Including today, the Rockets have a tough stretch of games coming up against some of the East’s beasts.  Houston needs Harden at his best to go at least 1-2 during this stretch.  But, he’s been at his best all season.  And with Chris Paul looking ready to go for the playoffs, the Rockets are in great position to make some late-season noise, despite their spot in the standings.  Houston plans to spoil Jayson Tatum’s birthday with a win in Boston, as the Rockets try and extend the NBA’s longest winning streak to 5 games.  Houston will have to deal with their worst enemy.  The injury bug is floating around again.  Gerald Green has strep throat, and Iman Shumpert is still dealing with a typically vague Rockets-injury.  There is good news for Rockets fans.  Eric Gordon and Kenneth Faried are expected to play.  Houston needs EG and the Manimal against this deep Boston lineup.  The Celtics are loaded with threats on the perimeter.  Gordon’s defense and ability to create offense can help tire some Boston wings.  Meanwhile, Faried should be a tough matchup for Horford.  Clint Caplea will be guarding him inside but, unlike many opponents Horford faces, Faried isn’t shy to step out to the perimeter to guard big men.

This afternoon, Houston hopes to escape The Hub with a victory, and avoid any late-game letdowns.  Last season, Houston had one of the worst collapses of the year in Beantown.  Don’t expect that to happen today.  The combination of Chris Paul’s leadership and James Harden’s firepower should be enough to overcome the Celtics.  Paul has looked rejuvenated, despite some struggles in the previous game.  The Point God looks ready to guide Houston to a long postseason run.  The streak may be over, but Harden’s level of play hasn’t diminished.  The Beard is coming off a monster 58-point game.  Harden fueled Houston to a comeback-win in arguably his best performance of the season.  The Beard’s had so many epic performances, it’s hard to keep track of them all.  However, in their previous game, the Rockets needed Harden more than ever.  Down 21 points with a depleted lineup, the Beard had his most MVP-caliber performance of the season, to lead the Rockets to victory.  Houston will be looking to give Harden some help this afternoon, as Gordon and the Manimal are expected back from injuries.  Nonetheless, they’re still facing the Boston Celtics.  One of the beasts of the East.  In the national spotlight.  The Beard hasn’t taken these opportunities for granted this season.  Paul might be the key to the playoffs, but in the grind of an 82-game regular season, it’s Harden’s Show.

 

TD Garden:  Boston, Massachusetts

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (37-25):  “Earned” Red

Boston Celtics (38-25):  Black

 

TV:  2:30 PM CT – ABC

 

Harden the Interruption: a Beard Explosion Fuels Rockets’ Comeback to Burn Heat, 121-118

 

Greatness.    Brotherhood Inspiration.    It’s Over, Again.

 

Greatness was witnessed on Thursday night at Toyota Center, on a night that was supposed to be dedicated to a retiring Dwayne Wade.  Houston’s chance to witness the Dwyane Wade Fairwell Tour was quite a show.  The arena was dispersed with Heat #3 jerseys.  A final season that’s seen vintage Wade performances at times (Wednesday’s win over Golden State), and a Heat team mired in mediocrity all year.  No matter the result for Miami, Dwyane Wade usually gets the spotlight.  And he did.  Well, some of it.  Chris Paul and Wade did the traditional jersey-swap.  Something Flash has done after every game throughout his final NBA campaign.  This game however, was about more than exchanging jerseys and hugs.

James Harden took stepped back into the spotlight.  Houston is fighting to get the best possible seed for the playoffs.  For the third time in 4 games, the Rockets fell behind by at least 15 points.  On Thursday night, Houston trailed by as many as 21 in the third quarter.  It looked like another game the Rockets were going to succumb to an inferior opponent.  In Wade’s final game in Houston.  But, Harden, as he’s done time and time again, responded.  The Beard wasn’t going to let a 21-point deficit keep the Rockets down.  Not like this.  The Rockets flipped the script, and this time played the comeback part, rallying to victory.

Harden had another MVP-worthy performance with an astonishing 58 points, including 34 in the 2^nd half, to lead the Rockets to a come from behind victory over the Heat.  Harden’s 58 is the most points scored against the Heat by an opposing player.  He just continues to break records.  The Beard also had 10 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals (for those who say he doesn’t play defense).  Don’t just focus in on the 58 points.  The game was Harden’s most efficient of the season.  The Beard shot 16/32 from the field, including 8/18 from deep.  And he was perfect at the line, going 18/18. Harden also got some brotherly inspiration.  In a bizarre third quarter sequence, P.J. Tucker (who rarely gets tossed), was ejected by Tony Brothers (Scott Foster’s right-hand man).  Apparently, Brothers was offended by the Sneaker King’s footwear.  It only added the fuel to the fire Houston needed to make their comeback.  Harden had 17 in the fourth, and as CP3 struggled, the MVP just would not allow the Rockets to lose.  The Beard’s had many defining MVP performances.  Add Thursday night’s game to the list.

Elsewhere, Gary Clark played his most minutes in ages.  The rookie had 32 minutes of action, and showed why he deserves more playing time.  Houston’s depth has kept him on the bench.  Clark earned more playing time on Thursday.  The rookie had 14 points and 5 rebounds on efficient shooting.  Clark went 5/9 from the field, including 3/7 from beyond the arc.  Hopefully the rookie will see more action.  He’s finally regained his shooting stroke and it’s difficult to keep a rhythm on the bench.  Another Rocket who’s seemed to recapture his shooting stroke, is Austin Rivers.  He provided a spark off the bench, with 17 points for Houston, including some huge threes.  The Rockets clamped down on defense to assist their rally, allowing only 20 points in the fourth quarter.  The win gave Houston 4 in a row, as they now sit only 2 games behind Oklahoma City for the cherished 3 seed.

It’s over, again.  It should be.  And by it, I mean the MVP race.  On the anniversary of last year’s deadly crossover on Wesley Johnson, James Harden had another game to remember.  In another signature MVP performance, Harden dragged the Rockets back from a 21-point second half deficit to give Houston its fourth win in a row.  It was arguably Harden’s defining performance of the season.  Still ailing from a sore shoulder, and with Chris Paul struggling, they trailed by as many as 21-points in the third quarter.  P.J. Tucker got ejected for no reason.  And the depleted Rockets game into the contest with injuries to Eric Gordon, Kenneth Faried, and Iman Shumpert.  Houston had no business winning this game, but the MVP wouldn’t let them lose.  It was the sixth 50-point game for Harden this season, and the third game this season he’s had 50+ points and 10+ assists.  The Beard’s now done that 7 times in his career.  No other player has accomplished that feat more than 3 times in NBA history.  If you still want to complain about Harden, his style of play, or any of the many false narratives floating around, you’re entitled to your opinion.  But go do that in your own time, let the rest of us admire Harden’s greatness.

 

Rockets Host Heat in Wade’s Final Houston Hurrah

 

Heating Up.    Flash vs. Splash, Battle on the Glass.    Consistency.

 

Superstars are consistent.  They bring it every night.  It’s one of the many attributes that separate the superstars from the All-Stars.  The guys who get fairwell tours, from the guys who just, all of a sudden retire.  Dwyane Wade has aged more gracefully than any superstar I’ve witnessed.  Tonight, Wade brings his fairwell tour to Houston as the Rockets face off against the Heat.  The protocol was to rest Chris Paul.  Don’t let him play on back-to-back nights.  Not tonight.  Not against his good buddy Dwyane Wade.  Paul will play tonight, but Houston suffered two setbacks last night.  Shumpert and Faried sustained injuries in Charlotte and are not expected to play tonight.  Nonetheless, the Rockets have enough firepower to get the job done.  Clint Capela is coming off a monster game, Chris Paul is in a complete groove and has forcefully controlled the pace for Houston over the last 3 games.  James Harden, who’s been struggling with his shot, is still James Harden.  He’ll get his rhythm back.  The Beard may have slightly cooled off, but the Rockets are heating up.  Houston goes for its fourth straight win tonight.  The Heat have lost 9 of 12 games, and are currently tenth in the East.  Both teams played last night, so their will be plenty of tired legs on the floor.  However, the Rockets are 12-1 at home on the second night of a back-to-back.  Miami is coming off their most emotional win of the season, a thrilling last second victory over Golden State.  Houston will try and put Miami away early.  Despite the 3-game winning streak, the Rockets have lost leads of 15 or more in each game.  Gaining and keeping the upper hand is something Houston needs to work on, as they continuously let teams hang around.  Tonight the Rockets have a chance to blowout a tired Heat team.  It won’t be easy, as Houston is playing their third game in 4 nights.

Miami’s emotional win cam via one of the craziest buzzer beaters I’ve ever seen.  Dwyane Wade hit a difficult, awkward shot from beyond the arc as the buzzer sounded.  The celebration that followed was a sight to behold.  Miami should still satisfied with their crazy win last night, giving the Rockets a chance to pounce on them early.  Eric Gordon will primarily be on Dwayne Wade tonight.  Flash has shown he can still play, despite this being his last season.  Splash Gordon will need to make Wade work on both ends to try and tire out the future Hall-of-Famer.  The matchup inside will be key to tonight’s matchup.  Capela is going up against a group of bigs in the mold of Cody Zeller, who he faced in Charlotte last night.  Bam Adebayo is an energy guy similar to Faried and is a great rebounded.  Kelly Olynk has quietly played well for the Heat all season.  Miami’s best big man, Hassan Whiteside, is out with an injury, but so is Faried for Houston.  Clint Capela will need some help on the glass tonight if the Rockets want to make it 4 in a row.

At 37, Wade’s having a respectable season for someone playing past the age when many retire.  Many are questioning if he should hang up his jersey for good, as he looks to have plenty left in the tank.  But Wade’s going out his way.  In style.  And last night’s shot to beat the Champs will go down as one of the best plays of this entire regular season.  The Rockets can only hope their future Hall-of-Famers (Harden, Paul) can age like Wade as they mature as players, and battle the unbeatable father time.  For now, the Rockets’ two stars have more than enough left in the tank to lead the Rockets on a late-season surge up the standings.  Houston’s problem all season, besides health, has been consistency.  The Rockets haven’t strung 4 wins in a row in a long time, and it’s been a rarity this season.  They’ve got a great chance to build on their streak tonight.  Maybe they take a cue from Wade.  It’s time to channel some of that superstar consistency.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Miami Heat (27-33):  White

Houston Rockets (36-25):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

 

        

 

 

Rockets Hang On, Beat Hornets, 118-113, in Wacky Charlotte Contest

 

The Swiss Bank is Open.    Unfortunate Trend.    Battle of Runs.

 

It might have taken a few games, but Clint Capela has finally returned to the All-Star form he resembled before the break.  Houston’s big man had his best game since his injury, and the Rockets beat the Hornets in what turned out to be a weird game, 118-113.  The victory gave Houston their third win in a row.  Wednesday night’s duel was a battle of runs.  Houston started out hot, hitting 6 3-pointers en route to 41 points, and an 8-point edge after the first quarter.  And again, the Rockets managed to grab a sizeable lead, this time a 15-point edge over the Hornets.  The lead was soon evaporated, and Charlotte led by as many as 12 at one point in the contest.  Kemba Walker had another stellar game for the Hornets with 35 points.  Charlotte ended the first half on a 28-6 run to take a 7-point lead into the half.  The Rockets would respond in the final half.  P.J. Tucker continued his stretch of shooting the ball with consistency.  The Sneaker King went 5 for 5 from beyond the arc, on his way to 15 points.  James Harden scored half of his 30 points in the 3^rd quarter to get Houston back in the game.  Clint Capela helped seal the deal down the stretch.  Capela finished with 23 points, and 17 boards, including 8 points and 9 boards in the final quarter, respectively.  Chris Paul had another efficiently spry outing.  CP3 finished with 17 points and 10 dimes.  Paul has been nothing short of stellar since the All-Break.  And his critics seemed to go on vacation.  If he can remain healthy, Houston has a chance to go even further than last year in the playoffs.

Houston really can’t catch a break in the health department.  The Rockets’ streak of having the entire lineup available ended, after just one game.  Kenneth Faried went to the locker room in the 2^nd half, after sustaining a knee to the hip.  Iman Shumpert also left the game with an injury.  Houston, more than any other NBA franchise in recent memory, has been bogged down by injuries.  No team is completely healthy all the time.  But the Rockets are never healthy.  I can’t remember the last time they were at full strength besides the lone game this season.  Even with the injury bug flying around again, Houston needs to continue to win and move up in the standings.  They’re only 3 games in the loss column behind Oklahoma City for the 3^rd seed, the spot they’re aiming for come playoff time.  Hopefully, the Manimal and Shump’s injuries aren’t too serious, and they can rejoin the team soon.

Ladies and gentleman, the Swiss Bank is back, and open.  Clint Capela was money on Wednesday night.  He was the best player on the court for Houston, and looks like he’s finally nearing full strength after recovering from injury.  The Rockets are extremely more effective with their big man on the floor.  In Charlotte, Capela led the way with 41 minutes, another sign that the big man is feeling up to speed.  Despite being outrebounded 48-37, Capela had 17 of Houston’s 37 boards, and made his presence felt on the glass when the Rockets needed it most.  This was a huge win for Houston.  Every game is as the Rockets continue to climb out of their early-season hole.  And victories on the road against teams battling for playoff position always present a challenge.  Despite the second half deficit, Houston gutted out the win.  The squad is slowly starting to find a groove again.  Beating Charlotte was a battle of runs, in what’s been a season of runs.  I have a feeling we’re in the midst of the Rockets longest winning streak of the year.  No one’s grasped it quite yet.  It might take a few games.

 

 

Rockets Look to Stir Up Hornets’ Nest in Charlotte

 

Ride the Wave.    Hollow Hornets.    Lead the Road.

 

There’s nothing like playing the Champs.  It brings a different buzz to the arena.  The Rockets know all about this, and so do the Hornets.  The Champs were in Charlotte on Monday night, as the Hornets couldn’t muster enough resistance to put up a fight.  Charlotte’s lost 4 of its last 5 games, and is clinging to the 8^th , and final playoff spot in the East.  On Wednesday night, the Rockets cruise into Charlotte looking to up the gear on their winning streak.  Houston comes in looking for their 3^rd straight win, still riding the momentum from their Saturday night statement-win in the Champs’ house.  James Harden’s 30-point streak was broken on Monday, but the streak ending is a good thing for the Rockets.  The run was becoming a distraction for the team, as great as it was.  Looking at the big picture, it’s good the streak ended on Monday.  Harden had a chance to go for it in the final seconds, but chose otherwise.  Harden’s not quite the stat-padder everyone wants him to be, he’s actually matured as a player.  Maybe he scored all those points because he had to, shouldering a banged up team night-after-night as Houston somehow emerged 21-11 during Harden’s ridiculous tear.  On Monday, 28 points were enough from the Beard, as Houston fended off the Hawks, 119-111.  Now, the Rockets can zone in on the Championship, the only thing worth chasing.   Charlotte’s barely a playoff team and should prove to be no match for the Rockets if Houston brings the focus and intensity.

Houston will look to expose the Charlotte Hornets’ weaknesses tonight.  Their record is under .500, and put Charlotte out West, and they’re nowhere near the NBA Playoff Hive.  The Hornets still have plenty of firepower.  Kemba Walker was a deserved first-time All-Star, and is one of the best players in the league who continues to fly under the radar.  Houston will need to have their eyes on Charlotte’s point guard at all times.  Hornets center Cody Zeller is coming off the best game of his life.  The big man had a career-high 28 points in Charlotte’s previous game against Golden State.  Zeller does a lot of dirty work inside, and plays extremely hard.  He’s not the most talented opponent Clint Capela has faced, but if the Rockets center is caught sleeping, Zeller will take advantage of the lack of effort.  Luckily for Houston, Capela is always active, and they also have a Manimal.  Kenneth Faried is the definition of the word ‘activity.’  The Manimal continues to bring rabid and robust effort and energy every single night.  Coach D’Antoni even opted to start the Manimal in Houston’s previous game.  Faried and Capela have played extremely well together, and it will be interesting to see if D’Anonti keeps Faried in the starting lineup or brings him off the bench.  Regardless, the Manimal has been a perfect fit in Houston, immensely improving the Rockets’ frontcourt depth.  Charlotte also has Rocket-killer Nicolas Batum.  Whether it was in Portland, or now in Charlotte, Batum has always had some of his best games against the Rockets. Houston can’t afford to leave the veteran swingman open, or it could be a long night in Charlotte.  Rookie Miles Bridges has shown signs of promise, but he shouldn’t be much of a threat tonight against the Rockets stronger lineup.  Marvin Williams is expected to play for the Hornets after suffering a toe injury on Monday night.

The Rockets are gunning for 3 wins in a row tonight.  Chris Paul looks like he’s officially back.  Any anxiety about his play after returning from injury can be laid to rest.  The Point God looks as spry as he’s ever been.  This is the Rockets 2^nd game with a completely healthy roster.  They’ll try and pounce on Charlotte early, and see if they can actually hold a  lead on the road for once.  Houston’s done a great job of building leads on the road, but they frequently end up squandering them.  It’s the Rockets worst habit so far this season.  In their last two road games, Houston surrendered leads of 19 or more points.  Tonight, the Rockets need to take care if business early and finish the job.  Only 22 games remain on the schedule.  Houston wants to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs.  Beating opponents you’re supposed to beat helps this cause, and also develops good habits for the postseason.  It’s been a wild, crazy NBA season.  Not just for the Rockets, but for the entire league.  Who knows, in a few months, the Hornets might look back on tonight, and say, “there’s nothing like playing the Champs.”

Spectrum Center:  Charlotte, North Carolina

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (35-25):  Black

Charlotte Hornets (28-32):  White

 

TV:  6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Return Home, Handle Hawks, 119-111

 

The Streak Ends.    Smart Tendencies.    Good Signs Ahead.      

 

In the grand scheme of things it really didn’t matter.  But, oh my!  What a run!  James Harden’s incredible scoring streak came to an end on Monday night, but the Rockets prevailed over the Hawks, 119-111.  The game was closer than Houston would’ve liked, but a win’s a win.  Right now that’s all that matters.  The Rockets are attempting to climb into the fight for a top 3 seed in the West.  Every game matters, and every win gets Houston closer to this goal.  Finishing off Atlanta (a team Houston should beat easily) helped the Rockets move in the right direction.  It looks as if they are done losing to bad teams.  Trae Young showed flashes of why he’s going to be a great player in this league in the near future.  The Hawks’ promising rookie had 36 points on the night, and dished out 8 assists.  Although, this is just one game for the Rockets in terms of finally beating a team they should beat, there were positive signs near the end of the contest.

The Beard’s 30-point streak ended at 32 games, the second longest in NBA history.  When Harden started the steak, Houston was 12-14 and 13^th in the West.  During his scoring tear, the Rockets went 21-11. Houston’s currently 35-25 and sits in 5^th place in the West.  Harden truly played like a superhero during the last few months.  He pulled the Rockets from the depths of the West, back into playoff contention.  It’s a good thing for Harden, and the Rockets, that the streak ended.  The squad has bigger goals to focus on.  The Beard finished with 28 points, 5 boards, and 2 assists.  He didn’t shoot well. Harden looked as if his shoulder was still bothering him.  The Beard had the ball as the clock winded down.  He could have shot it and tried to keep his streak going.  Instead, Harden let the clock run out.  The Rockets MVP knows they’re more important things to this season than a scoring streak.  Houston has bigger goals, and now they can all focus in on the final stretch as the playoffs near.

Harden’s decision to dribble the ball out, and not go for 30 points in the dying seconds, is evidence of his maturity as a player.  Chris Paul had another stellar outing, 2 days after his night of destruction in Golden State.  CP3 finished with 20 points, 8 dimes, and 6 boards.  Paul has the highest basketball IQ of any player in the league and is one of the smartest  players in NBA history.  During Harden’s absence and in this game Paul has shown how valuable he still is to the Rockets.  It’s so pivotal Houston has him healthy for their playoff run.  If CP3 can stay healthy, the Rockets are still the biggest threat to the Warriors.  And it’s not even close.  Houston needs to continue to play smart basketball.  Now that Harden’s streak is over, the team and the Beard can focus on winning as many of the remaining 22 games as possible.    The Rockets can still get the 3 seed (owned by the Thunder).  They only trail Oklahoma City by 4 games, with 2 tough matchups coming up for the Thunder against Denver and Philly, respectively.  If Houston continues to play with smart tendencies, they have an opportunity to move up in the standings.

It’s time the Rockets finally get mentally ready for the biggest run of the season.  The playoffs.  The most important run of them all.  Houston is finally  entirely healthy.  This was the first game all season that the Rockets boasted a completely healthy roster.  Houston can finally start to gel as a full unit, and “Run as One” en route to the highest playoff seeding they can achieve.  Reasonably, the 3 seed is the best outcome.  If the Rockets continue to beat the teams they should, they should have a great chance at grabbing the 3 seed for the playoffs.  Houston’s proven it can battle with the best of the NBA.  Up next are some more average squads as the Rockets travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets before returning home for a game against the Heat.  Houston is in a great place to streak some wins together.  After all they’ve been through throughout this turbulent season, come playoff time, the Rockets will be prepped to make the ultimate run.  The only one that matters.

Rockets Aim to Shoot Young Hawks Out of Town

 

Talented Youngsters.    Home Stretch.    No More Trap Games.

 

Coming off a statement win over the Champs, Houston looks to bring the momentum back home.  The Rockets face off against the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Toyota Center.  The Hawks are one of the youngest teams in the league and boast one of the top 3 rookies in Trae Young.  Atlanta’s star prospect has really hit a stride in the 2^nd half of the season after getting off to a slow start.  The Hawks don’t have a lot of talent, but they’re young and improving.  Dewayne Dedmon is one of the most efficient stat-padders in the league.  Atlanta’s big man won’t overwhelm the Rockets with talent, but he’s gritty and does the dirty work.  Clint Capela is still working his way back to full-speed since his return.  Houston’s big man needs to patrol the paint and get to the loose balls before Dedmon, John Collins, or other Atlanta players swing in for a rebound.  The Hawks are one of the worst teams in the NBA, and the Rockets should be able to take care of business at home.

Speaking of home, 7 of the next 11 games are at Toyota Center.  The Rockets have a nice home stretch awaiting them where they can make some move on the teams ahead of them as they try and claim the 3^rd seed.  OKC sits currently in 3^rd place, 4 games ahead of Houston in the standings.  However, the Thunder face upcoming games against elite opponents in Denver and Philly.  Houston can gain some ground, as their schedule is weak compared to OKC’s.  The Rockets have 3 middling eastern foes to take care of (Hawks, Hornets, Heat) and they can notch a step closer to one of the top 3 seeds.  Houston needs to take care of the league’s bottom-feeders.  Sadly, it’s been the squad’s Achilles heel all season.  Hopefully, the focus from Saturday night’s win will carry over to the final stretch of the season.

Houston faces a different sort of test tonight as they host the “below-average” Atlanta Hawks.  A mental test.  The Rockets have no business losing this game.  Yes, Harden and Shumpert are questionable to play.  But, Harden or no Harden, the Rockets proved last game they can beat anyone on any night.  Houston’s problem has been showing up for games like tonight’s, against Atlanta.  A bad team coming in, the Rockets can’t just lackadaisically show up and expect to win.  They need to start getting up for these bad teams, the way they got up for Saturday night’s statement win.  And tonight, the Rockets can take a step in that direction with a victory tonight.  A win that sends a message: no more trap games.  They’ve got one tonight.  Houston’s lost a fair share of trap games this season.  It’s time that trend comes to an end, with a different sort of statement win.

 

Toyota Center:  Houston, Texas

 

Jersey Colors:

Atlanta Hawks (20-40):  White

Houston Rockets (34-25):  Black

 

TV:  7 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW

Rockets Keep Warriors at Bay Without Harden, 118-112

 

Passing Through.    A Good Problem.    Statement Victory.

Nothing is impossible.  Even beating the defending Champs.  Without the MVP.  In their house.  No Harden, no problem for Houston.  Chris Paul guided the Rockets to victory over the Champs on Saturday night, 118-112.  The win gives Houston a 3-0 lead in the season series over Golden State.  The Rockets led got off to a hot start on both ends.  Houston led 15-0 and by as many as 20 in the first half.  The Warriors would come back to reclaim the lead, but this time Houston had a counterpunch.  Chris Paul had his best game of the season and was masterful as controlling the tempo in this contest.  The Point God sliced and diced his way through the Warriors defense en route to 23 points and 17 assists.  Paul looked like he hadn’t lost a step, and put on his best show since returning from injury.

In a matchup no one expected the Rockets to win, they struck first, and made sure the Warriors could never get enough momentum to take control of the game.  P.J. Tucker had his best game of the season.  The heart and soul of Houston’s hustle found his shooting rhythm and had a typically stout defensive night for the Rockets.  Tucker finished with 18 points and 10 boards to go along with the usual grit and grind.  Kenneth Faried had another double-double in a solid performance, with 20 points and 10 rebounds.  The Manimal has shown he’s more than just a complimentary fit next to Clint Capela.  Houston’s big lineup has worked wonders in the limited time they’ve seen the court so far this season.  Eric Gordon played the role of top scorer, notching 25 for the Rockets, as his ability to make plays and isolate off the dribble helped fill the void left by Harden’s absence.

Last night was Houston’s best team-win of the season.  Everyone got involved in the offense and had at least 6 points.  The Rockets have a good problem on their hands.  It was refreshing to see more ball movement that inevitably comes with Harden’s absence.  However, Harden in isolation is one of Houston’s most-efficient plays.  The Beard can get a shot for himself or others anytime he wants.  Dominating the ball takes teammates out of a rhythm, and is one of the reasons it seems like no one besides Harden can get in a shooting groove longer than 3 games.  Houston needs to find an even balance, the best of both worlds.  The Rockets are SO much more effective defensively when everyone is involved on the offensive end.

Saturday night’s win proved the Rockets can beat anyone on any given night, and also highlighted the biggest issue with the squad this season.  Houston is the only team in the NBA with a better record against winning teams compared to losing teams.  Only in a season like this would Houston get a statement win two days after falling apart, in one of their most devastating losses in L.A.  The Rockets get up to play for the biggest opponents, but have a problem brining this intensity to other matchups.  Houston returns home on Monday night, where this problem will be once again put to the test.  The Rockets host the lowly Atlanta Hawks in a game they should easily win.  If Houston doesn’t come ready to play on Monday they could be in for another disappointing performance in a potential trap game.  This season has proved that anything can happen and nothing is impossible.

Rockets Head to Oracle Searching for a Golden State of Mind

 

Questionable Questions.    Aiming For a First.    Interior Decorations.

 

Houston played down to their competition and let the Lakers come back in a controversial loss in their previous game.  The Rockets limp into Oracle Arena for a primetime matchup with the Warriors on Saturday night.  The defending Champs are sitting pretty atop the Western Standings.  Houston, meanwhile, is playing the dangerous game of walking the thin line between playoff contender and lottery pick.  After giving away another game in their previous contest, the Rockets are clinging to the 5^th seed.  But, Houston’s only 3 games from the 9^th spot, and in danger of falling out of the playoffs.  Nothing is guaranteed in the brutal West.  And tonight, the biggest question is James Harden’s status.  Not even the Beard is a guarantee to go (Harden’s a game-time decision).  But should Houston even play him?  Against the powerhouse Warriors, who will undoubtedly attack Harden every chance they get?  It’s a tough call.

In this ever-unpredictable season, the Rockets seem to come up biggest when you least expect it.  They’ve beaten Golden State twice already this season.  A victory tonight would make them the first team to beat the juggernaut 3 times in a regular season in the Steve Kerr-era.  The Warriors have no doubt circled this game on their calendar since Houston’s epic OT victory at the beginning of the year.  Harden almost single-handedly won that game for the Rockets in a virtuoso performance.  Chris Paul didn’t play in that contest.  If the Beard can’t go tonight, Houston needs CP3 and Clint Capela to have huge performances is they have any chance of winning.  The Rockets are also trying to win their first game in 12 days, hoping this win will spark the group for the stretch run.

The Warriors added a new piece to their fancy outfit of future Hall-of-Famers and former All-Stars.  Golden State finally did some interior decorating and filled the only gap the team really had, which was a thin front line.  That’s no longer the case, as DeMarcus Cousins has proven to fit right in with the Warriors unselfish lineup.  Clint Capela has a monstrous task on his hands tonight trying to contain Cousins.  This marks the first time the Rockets have faced the DeMarcus Cousins-version of Golden State.  Houston would love to do nothing more than to spoil his Warriors debut versus the Rockets, but it’s asking a lot.  Especially with their MVP questionable to play.  Maybe Harden will give it a go, and regain the MVP-momentum he’s seemed to lose since the All-Star break.  A win tonight would be Houston’s most impressive of the season.  The Rockets can prove a lot to themselves going into this David vs. Goliath style matchup.  Tonight, at least, there will be no playing down to the competition.

 

Oracle Arena:  Oakland, California

 

Jersey Colors:

Houston Rockets (33-25):  “Earned” Red

Golden State Warriors (42-16):  Black

 

TV:  7:30 PM CT – ABC

 

Foul Game:  Rockets Shooting Deactivated, Fosters Laker Comeback, 111-106

 

A Familiar Mess.    NBA Fosters the Rules.    Shooting Deactivation.

 

There’s always next game.  But, we’ve said that far too many times already this season.  Everything was fine and dandy for the Houston Rockets at Staples Center on Thursday night.  They held a 19-point lead and looked poised to place a win in the books in the first game after the break.  However, like we’ve seen too many times this season, that lead evaporated, and Houston lost.  The Rockets couldn’t buy a basket in the final quarter as the Lakers stormed back for a 111-106 victory.  James Harden managed to keep his streak alive, scoring 30 points, but it wasn’t enough.  Houston dropped another game they should have won.  The narrative on this season is slowly changing from where the Rockets will be seeded… to will they even make the playoffs?  Houston currently sits only a game and half ahead of the 8^th seed.  Nothing is guaranteed in the West.  If the Rockets can’t find a way to hold leads, the lead on their playoff peers in the standings will be vanquished.

The NBA has a serious problem.  Scott Foster, the lead official in Thursday night’s contest, was at work again.  Houston is now 0-7 this season in games Foster officiates.  The official can’t seem to put aside his ego when calling Rocket games, or perhaps he is throwing games, in similar manner to his buddy, Tim Donaghy, who thankfully was caught and reprimanded for his actions during the 2006/2007 NBA season.  A report was just released detailing who former NBA-official turned convict, Tim Donaghy, made calls to during his time betting on games during the 2006/2007 season.  Donaghy made more calls to Scott Foster (134), than he did to his own bookie (126).  If that doesn’t raise a red flag that this man should not be allowed to officiate NBA basketball, then I don’t know what does.  In the final 20 minutes of the game, the Rockets didn’t attempt a foul shot, while the Lakers had 17 free throws.  Oh, and James Harden, and Chris Paul both fouled out of the contest.  The first time that’s ever happened, and the first time the Beard fouled out of a game since: December 22^nd, 2017.  The lead official for that game?  Scott Foster.  Of course.

Adam Silver and top league executives need to make the proper action in firing Foster.  It’s never a good thing when one of the faces of your league calls out an official, by name, especially when it is not in that player’s nature.  Harden has never publicly called out an official in his career.  The Beard couldn’t help himself after the discrepancies in officiating last night.  Afterwards, Harden said on Foster, “For sure, it’s personal. For sure. I don’t think he should be able to officiate our games anymore, honestly.”  The chances the league takes action is unlikely, as the NBA has an agenda on their hands to keep the Rockets from winning important games.  Harden will receive a fine for his comments, and Foster will go on rigging games until he retires (or until a bigger man can realize the indecency his actions do to the entire sport).  Last postseason, the Rockets went 7-0 at home in games Scott Foster did not officiate. In the playoff games he officiated in Houston, the Rockets went 0-3.  There is simply too much statistical and video evidence for Foster’s actions to be deemed “coincidental.”  Look for Scott Foster to be the lead official in Houston’s biggest games if they make it to the playoffs.

Despite all the terrible calls (and their were a lot), Houston still should have won this game.  Yes, the contest was not only the worst-officiated game of the Rockets season, but the game stands out as the worst called game of the year, and really highlights Foster’s concern for his own ego, over his concern for the integrity of the game.  Houston couldn’t hit a shot in the fourth quarter and managed a measly 16 points, half as many as they got in the 3^rd period.  The Rockets wasted a solid game from Chris Paul, who finished an assist shy of a triple-double, and has looked spryer in each game since his return.  Clint Capela, in his first game back from injury, played nicely alongside Kenneth Faried.  Yet, none of this matters.  Houston wasn’t able to hit a shot. Even if they could?  When it comes down to it all, if the NBA can’t contain Scott Foster, no team will have a chance at dethroning the Warriors.  And up next for Houston?  The Golden State Warriors.  In Oracle Arena.  On Saturday night primetime.  Here’s to hoping Scott Foster won’t be in the Bay Area for Houston’s next game.