Rockets Aim to Silence Thunder as the Rivalry Begins
Burning Building. Uncle Jeff and Benny Rivers. Bearding for Brodie.
“We all believe we’ve run into the burning building. But until we feel that heat, we can never know”, Martin Donovan says in Tenet, the most anticipated movie hitting theaters 9/3/20 as multiplexes see if they can re-open and survive change brought from a pandemic. And the NBA’s most anticipated first round series finally gets under way tonight, as the Houston Rockets battle the Oklahoma City Thunder, and see is they can survive without one of their stars. The story’s been pummeled to death, but OKC’s Chris Paul, who was traded for Houston’s Russell Westbrook, gets his first chance at revenge on Tuesday night as the series begins. No more waiting. No more time to prep. At least for Game 1, time’s run out. And for the Rockets, no Russell Westbrook tonight. Houston’s superstar will also miss at least Game 2. And everyone, from local blogs to the national media, paints this picture like the Rockets are running into a burning building. But the series hasn’t started yet. And if you don’t think Russ is eventually coming back, you don’t know Brodie. I think he’ll be back for Game 3. Depending on how the first two games go, if Houston can hang on without him, Westbrook could return in Game 4.
So how will the Rockets weather the storm, for at least two games, without Brodie? James Harden needs to continue to play like an underrated league MVP, and the squad needs everyone to step up. Eric Gordon will start Westbrook’s place, and needs to find his “Splash Gordon” rhythm. EG’s no Westbrook, but Gordon’s explosive enough to create shots for himself and has the talent to provide more scoring Houston needs in Brodie’s absence. EG had a 50-point game earlier this season in Utah, in a game Westbrook didn’t play. So he’s definitely capable of stepping up to the plate.
Houston’s coach, Mike D’Antoni, will certainly put a mix of different lineups on the court, and guys need to capture the moment if the Rockets are going to weather this early incoming playoff storm. Danuel House Jr., who missed the past few games, is set to return for the squad. Besides Harden, Westbrook, and Gordon, the only other Rocket to top the 40-point mark this season was Austin Rivers, who will be one of the keys to Houston winning without Westbrook. Rivers needs to lead the bench unit and seize full advantage of the extra minutes he’ll see on the floor. Hopefully Ben McLemore can find the touch he was shooting with in the first half of the bubble. Benny Mac was on fire, but cooled off a bit over Houston’s past few games. McLemore needs to step up in Game 1. The Rockets also need the resurrection of Jeff Green, aka “Uncle Jeff”, to continue. Uncle Jeff has been a revelation in Houston, since arriving late in the season. Green fits in seamlessly and helps P.J. Tucker to give the Rockets another “center” to battle opponents’ big men. And P.J.’s hands will be full with Steven Adams tonight. OKC’s Aussie center is tough, and does a lot of the dirty work, like Tucker for Houston. Adams is the big man version of a Patrick Beverley, or a pest. Uncle Jeff has been scrappy for the Rockets and they’ll need him to counter the annoyance that is Steven Adams.
When all’s said and done, the Rockets chances of winning without Russ lie in the hands of one man: James Harden. The Beard has been brilliant in almost every bubble game. Harden finished as the league’s scoring leader for the third straight year, and also lead the NBA in steals. Despite being a guard, his post defense is actually his strongest asset, although Harden’s improved on the perimeter. More than usual, Houston will need those step-back threes to be falling. And more importantly, Harden’s going have to play more defense on the perimeter. Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker can’t guard everyone. Without Brodie, OKC presents a huge problem for the Rockets on the defensive end. The Thunder, led by Chris Paul, have arguably the best trio of guards in the NBA (CP3, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, and Dennis Schroder.) Under the leadership of Paul, SGA is on the verge of being an All-Star, and Schroder is one of the league’s best bench players. Containing OKC’s three-headed perimeter beast is key for Houston getting the upper hand in this series.
D’Antoni said Gordon will start defending Paul, but the Rockets switch so much on defense it doesn’t matter. WIthout Russ, the entire squad needs to be locked in and ready to bring maximum effort. Hopefully P.J. and RoCo’s intensity is contagious. Without his partner in crime, Harden needs to play with more fire, same goes for the entire team. Look for the second unit matchup between Austin Rivers and Dennis Schroder to be tonight’s key of the game. If Houston wants to fill the void Westbook’s absence creates, Rivers needs to outplay Schroder. How will Westbrook’s absence impact Houston? Can Harden provide more than the usual MVP performance? Have the Rockets run into a burning building of firestorm and closure that is CP3’s wrath and his Thunder-ous storm? We’ll never know. Until tonight. Let the real games begin… get ready to feel that playoff heat.
HP Field House: Orlando, Florida
Jersey Colors:
Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0): Orange
Houston Rockets (0-0): Black
TV: 5:30 PM CT – TNT, AT&T Sportsnet SW