Rockets Ready to Teach, as Trae & the Young Hawks Glide into H-Town
Rested vs. the Weary. No Mercy for the Weak. In Good Company.
Tonight, Houston debuts their new SpaceCity Saturday City Edition jerseys that they’ll wear on every Saturday game throughout the rest of the season. For the premiere, we have a matchup pitting the rested versus the weary. Houston hosts the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night, looking to put a new winning streak together. Atlanta lost a tough overtime thriller in Indiana last night, wasting a 49-point effort from their superstar, Trae Young. Tonight is the Hawks’ third game in four nights. Meanwhile, the Rockets haven’t played since Wednesday. Both squads meet in Houston on Saturday, and the Rockets need to pounce on a tired Hawks team. Taking rest out of the equation, Houston’s also more talented and experienced than the Hawks, and should win easily. However, the Rockets will likely be without Clint Capela and Danuel House, both under the weather. Tonight gives Gary Clark and others who don’t usually see as much action, an opportunity to step up and show their potential to Coach Mike D’Antoni.
In their previous game, the Rockets snapped their 3-game losing streak in a win over the Heat on Wednesday. Houston now has a record of 12-6, and has yet to fall to a team with a losing record. What’s most impressive about this stat, the other teams (Lakers, Bucks, Raptors, Heat) are all contenders to win their conferences. Houston’s in good company. The Hawks have lost 9 straight games (NBA’s longest current skid), are 4-15, and tied for the worst record in the East. James Harden and the crew need to continue to show no mercy to the weak. The Rockets will be using their 5th different starting lineup in as many games tonight. Still, there’s no reason for Houston to lose this game… unless they went to South Beach to party last night. Rumor has it, thankfully, they stayed in town.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook should be ready show one of the league’s young stars, Trae Young, how a contender in today’s NBA plays the game. Young is coming off another astonishing performance. Atlanta’s sophomore sensation dropped 49 points in their loss in Indiana last night. The kid has tons of talent, and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. However, at this point in the young man’s career, Trae simply doesn’t have the talent around him to produce a winning product on the court. Young’s future in this league is bright, and he seems to be getting better by the week. Houston just needs to teach him a lesson or two, in what playing against a Hall-of-Fame backcourt feels like. The Rockets start a stretch where 12 of their next 16 games are against teams with losing records. Houston needs to take advantage of this stretch starting tonight, as the Rockets look to continue building on their last win, and put a new streak together. For any team, it’s tough playing the night after a tough overtime loss. For the Hawks, it should be even tougher. Atlanta’s young, and the rest shouldn’t play as much of a factor as it would to team like Houston. Nonetheless, rested or not, these Rockets should beat these Hawks every time they take the court. Hopefully, Houston seizes the opportunity and uses their fresh legs to blow the birds out the building… and start SpaceCity Saturdays with a bang.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Atlanta Hawks (4-15): Red
Houston Rockets (12-6): “City Edition” White
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW