Rockets Host Clippers in Battle of Western Heavyweights
Define Yourself. JV Rockets. Favorites.
“Other people’s definitions of you, sometimes they’re more about making themselves feel better. You gotta define yourself,” Christopher Moltisanti says at one point in The Sopranos. At this point in Houston’s season, we’ve now reached the 10-game mark. The Rockets are 7-3. A respectable mark, but Houston’s had one of the easiest schedules to start the year. All that starts to change tonight, as the Los Angeles Clippers come to town for a battle of Western Conference heavyweights. It’s the biggest game of the season so far for the Rockets. Other than Milwaukee on Opening Night, Houston has yet to play a true title contender. That changes tonight, as the Clippers are favorites to win it all in the eyes of many. Wednesday night’s game will be the first measuring stick to witness how good the Rockets are, right now. Many fans, critics, and experts have defined the Clippers as title favorites. Houston gets mentioned further down the list of contenders, usually after pretenders like the Lakers, Denver, Portland, and Utah. On national television, the Rockets get a chance to show the league they deserve to be discussed amongst the NBA’s elite. Houston’s riding a season-high 4-game winning streak entering tonight’s first real test. They aim for 5 in a row in the first of many battles to come against the Clips this season.
The Clippers have won 4 of their last 5 games. The Rockets lost Danuel House Jr. to a back contusion in the previous game. The Houstonian will miss tonight’s game, with no timetable set for his return. News broke yesterday that EG is expected to miss six weeks due to a knee injury. The Rockets limp into this match a little hobbled, but they still have enough firepower to make tonight’s game must-see TV. Paul George was rumored to be making his Clipper debut in Houston, but it now appears George will play his first game of the season tomorrow, when the Clips head to New Orleans.
As of now, the Clippers are the favorites. And, as of this moment, that’s fair. There is no clear-cut favorite. And the Clips do have last season’s Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, leading the way. The Load Management King is arguably the best two-way player in the game today, when he decides to play. And, who woulda thunk it? Kawhi’s actually playing tonight, as he’s one of the few players who can (try) to contain the Beard. It should be a close game. Minus House and Gordon, the Rockets need to be better than ever. Westbrook needs to be ready for his best game of the season. Russ shot the ball above 50 percent over his last two games. This trend needs to continue for Houston to win tonight. The Beard will likely be hounded all night by the Claw (Leonard), meaning other Rockets need to step up.
Familiar faces always pop up when these two rivals meet. Many former Rockets now play for the Clippers. In Los Angeles, these JV Rockets have become one of the most stellar rotational units in basketball. Patrick Beverly, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell were all included in the 2017 deal for Chris Paul. All these guys play with a chip on their shoulder when they face Houston. Beverly is arguably the biggest pest in the entire league (and the guy I miss most from the CP3 trade). Lou Williams is the best sixth man in NBA history. Sweet Lou’s the favorite the win the award once again this season, as the best reserve in basketball doesn’t seem to age. The Clippers also have Patrick Patterson, who Houston drafted back in 2010. Houston’s Austin Rivers is also a former Clipper, and used to be one of the most hated opponents for Rocket fans. That’s changed, but Houston can still boo another Rivers on the Clips sidelines. Austin’s father, Doc Rivers, coaches the Clippers. This has been a rivalry in the making for a few years now, ever since the Rockets erased the Clippers 3-1 lead the last time these squads met in the postseason. Two years ago, the “Secret Tunnel” game highlighted the battle between the clubs. Last year, the undermanned Clips went 2-1 against Houston, igniting more fury, ensuring this rivalry was only heating up. Now, these two teams are finally legit contenders.
It’s time Houston. Tonight’s a chance for the Rockets to make a statement. Beat a team considered to be one of the favorites. ESPN, most publishing outlets, and writers all want the Clippers win. It’s a feel-good story for the media. The Clippers “shocking” everyone going 8-3 without Paul George. Nonetheless, this team is the best team the Rockets will face all season, with or without PG13. George only makes the Clips scarier. Not many people nationally appreciate Houston. They love to talk about how Harden and the Rockets are boring to watch. These are the two deadliest duos in the NBA this season. I would include the Lakers, but Anthony Davis is already complaining about his shoulder. Before the season began I didn’t think AD would make it through the playoffs. Now, I don’t even think The Brow make it to the playoffs without suffering a season-ending injury. AD’s injury history has never been good. And aging does nothing to help that history. Especially for tall, lankier big men. Nationally, most will be rooting for the Clippers, but Harden and Westbrook need to show how far they’ve come. In their previous performance the two combined for 74% shooting inside the arc. Houston’s deadly duo needs to attack the rim if the Rockets want to sail over the Clippers for a win.
If the Rockets win, the first thing the media will point out is that Paul George was absent. House and Gordon are unlikely to be mentioned. However, their absence is just a detriment to Houston as George’s is for Los Angeles. There are no excuses for tonight’s loser. These squads will meet twice more in the regular season, and probably in the playoffs. Wednesday night is just Act One in pitting the NBA’s best teams face-to-face. Although most don’t consider these two foes the league’s two best, Houston believes otherwise. Harden, Westbrook, and crew already know how others label the Rockets: Pretenders. Tonight, Houston can show the world who they really are: title contenders. All those people, the ones who say the Rockets are pretenders, the ones who believe Houston has no chance at winning the title, people who feel better when the Rockets lose because they want their definition of Houston clarified. They’ll be tuning in tonight. Toyota Center hosts the biggest game of the NBA season thus far. The world will be watching. Whether it’s the King of Load Management, or the Greatest Scorer Who Never Rested… definitions get tossed, jumbled, and altered by false-narratives and rumors. In this league, you define your own legacy… it’s time Harden and the Rockets define themselves.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Los Angeles Clippers (7-3): Black
Houston Rockets (7-3): White
TV: 6:30 PM CT – ESPN, AT&T Sportsnet SW