Rockets Return Home Hoping to End Skid, Host Grizzlies
Break but No Brake. Dangerously Swag-Less. Must-Win?
After a road-trip that saw valiant efforts, but resulted in no victories, the Rockets return home to the Toyota Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies. Houston has won six straight games at home after losing their home opener to the Golden State Warriors back on October 29th. Hopefully a change of scenery will help the Rockets break this losing skid. They also get a break in tough, desperate competition. The Grizzlies are struggling to start the season. At 3-10, Memphis is near the bottom of the standings in the West, and is is without All-Star Ja Morant for the first 25 games of this season due to a suspension. His absence, and other changes, are a big reason why the Grizz are off to a poor start. This is also Dillon Brooks’ former team, and he’s shined to start his Rockets’ career. But this Grizzlies team is still a professional ball club, and capable of beating anyone if they’re overlooked. Houston has two big in-season tournament games on the schedule after this Memphis matchup. The Rockets can’t afford to overlook this Grizzlies team, or they might suffer their worst loss of the season tonight. And Dillon Brooks might have given his previous squad some motivation, as he said the Grizzlies have “no swag,” when asked about his former team.
Well they may be lacking swagger, but this Memphis team is dangerously swag-less coming into tonight’s matchup. The Rockets need to pounce on the Grizzlies early. If Houston lets Memphis hang around, and this becomes a close game, anything could happen in the closing moments, as we witnessed in Los Angeles last weekend. The Rockets have no injuries, other than Amen Thompson, who’s been out almost the entire season, but is nearing a return in the coming weeks. Memphis has a quite a few injuries and players missing. Besides Morant, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, and a laundry list of players are out for season for the Grizz. Regardless, other players have stepped up. Desmond Bane is having the best season of his career. He’s coming off 30 points in a close two-point loss to the team with the NBA’s best record, the Boston Celtics. So don’t let their record fool you. If Memphis, like any NBA squad is overlooked, they’ll pull a surprise and end up upsetting the better team. The Grizzles have a solidly underrated three-headed monster in the middle, a beast that will likely gives Rockets star Alperen Sengun fits. Sengun will need help on both ends, as he battles the likes of the reigning defensive player of the year, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo, and the rising Santi Aldama. Keep an eye on Aldama, as he’s slowly taken over the most minutes of this trio and has responded with exceptional play of late. Most people have never heard of Aldama, but he’s coming off back-to-back double-doubles, including a season-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in their loss to Boston. If the Rockets can contain Bane and this three-headed interior monster, they have a great chance to get back on the winning track.
So is tonight’s matchup a must-win for Houston? It certainly feels that way. After playing three desperate, experienced, and talented teams in a row, all on the road, the Rockets get a break as they play a team they should beat at home. Houston can’t afford to put the brakes on despite the opponent tonight. The Rockets have their final two remaining group stage In-Season Tournament Games coming up after tonight’s tilt with the Grizz. And they aren’t easy by any means. They host the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Friday. They’ve already beaten Denver the first time these squads played earlier in Houston, and the Nuggets will be hungry for revenge in part two. After that, they travel to play their in-state rival Dallas Mavericks, who are off to a solid 9-5 start to the season. Both of those games are increasingly more difficult that tonight’s matchup against the lowly Grizzlies. If Houston continues to play hard and respects their opponent’s abilities, they should beat Memphis on Wednesday night… and end their early-season skid.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Memphis Grizzlies (3-10): Navy
Houston Rockets (6-6): “City Edition” White
Tip-Off: 7:00 PM CT
TV: Space City Home Network, NBA League Pass