Rockets Open Season Against Bucks, Look to Start a New Era
It All Begins… Take it Back. Pretenders.
A new age in Houston Rockets basketball begins on Thursday night. The squad has new jerseys, a new-look logo, and a new superstar to pair with the Beard. The Rockets start their 2019/2020 season with the highest of expectations. Not only is it the most anticipated Rockets season in memory, it’s the most anticipated season in NBA history, due to all the free agency movement this past summer. One positive Houston has: stability. This is essentially the same team from last season. Except Houston replaced Chris Paul with another superstar point guard. Albeit a younger, healthier superstar, one still in his prime… Russell Westbrook. Yes, there will be a few growing pains. The same cynics are out there who said Chris Paul and James Harden couldn’t share the ball before they paired up. If it weren’t for injuries, Chris Paul might still be a Rocket, with a ring. Look for Westbrook to seamlessly fit into Mike D’Antoni’s system by the time the playoffs begin. Signs of growing pains are sure to be seen in Westbrook’s first game as a Rocket, but Harden and Westbrook have history together that should ease any chemistry issues that arise. More importantly, both are more motivated than ever with the same goal in mind: an NBA Championship. Harden and Westbrook remain the best two ringless players in the league. That can all start to change on Thursday night, as they begin the long journey towards the playoffs and (hopefully) the NBA Finals. And so the era begins tonight, as the Rockets play host to one of the beasts from the East, the Milwaukee Bucks.
James Harden should be licking his chops as the last season’s MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, comes into Harden’s House for Game 1 of the regular season. Any NBA fan that has any actual knowledge and intellect knows Harden was the real MVP last season, but got snubbed by voters once again. Both players had tremendous seasons, but Harden carried the banged-up Rockets last season. Meanwhile, the Bucks had the Coach of the Year, an All-Star besides the Greek Freak, and a healthier squad throughout the season. The Beard can begin his revenge tour tonight, by showing the national public who the real MVP is this season. Despite the addition of Westbrook, Harden’s improvement with each season puts him on the verge of another historical season, and another MVP at year’s end, in my opinion. Harden has looked like he’s in midseason form, even causally dropping 44 points during one of Houston’s preseason games. Look for the Beard to get off to a fast start to the 2019/2020 campaign.
Many people are picking the Bucks to win the East. They won the most games in the conference last season, but that’s in the past. Milwaukee parted ways with point guard Malcolm Brogdon, one of the most underrated and overlooked players in the NBA right now. Brogdon already shined in his debut for the Indiana Pacers, with 22 points and 11 assists. Look for the Bucks to severely miss his absence. Milwaukee will still be a playoff team and a threat in the East, but Brogdon is a piece that takes teams over the top. Without Brogdon, the Bucks won’t finish above the Philadelphia 76ers or the Indiana Pacers out East. The Rockets can expose the Bucks as pretenders with an opening night victory, but it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Milwaukee were one of the only teams to go undefeated against Houston last season. The Bucks play great defense, and have plethora of shooters on the perimeter to help Giannis on offense. Milwaukee, also rebounds the ball well, as the Lopez brothers (Brook, Robin) do damage inside, as well as on the perimeter. The Rockets need to close out on open shooters and crash the boards to ensure they get an opening night win. The Russell Westbrook Era begins. Rockets basketball is officially back. And this season promises to be… one for the ages.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Milwaukee Bucks (0-0): Black
Houston Rockets (0-0): Red
TV: 7:00 PM CT – TNT