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