Stun-Burnt: Heat Blaze Past Rockets, 129-100
Drunk at the Beach. A Missing Swiss and the Splash. Appropriate Fear.
Houston, we could have a problem. I want to give the Rockets the benefit of the doubt. There is a pattern here. After the disaster that was Sunday afternoon’s “Hangover Delight”, Houston has now lost 9 of the past 11 games they’ve played in South Beach. Miami is known for its nightlife. James Harden is known to like to go out at night. It’s not a good combination, and never has for Houston. The Rockets fell again to the Heat on Sunday, 129-100, in Miami. Except they didn’t fall. They got torched. The 29-point loss is Houston’s worse of the season, and by far one of the most embarrassing games in recent Houston Rockets history. The Beard and crew came out like they were still drunk at the beach. Their defense mimicking people trying to move their feet in sand. Those late-Miami nights take a toll, especially when tip the next day is in the late afternoon. And this 6 PM local start didn’t help Houston. In fact, they never had a chance. The Rockets couldn’t move to help or make a decision off the ball on defense. Their offense was a schizophrenic mess of schemes gone wrong. A wave of basketball so bad, it was almost comical. Houston, too busy to care, rode their own wave of Tequila-infused “rhythm.” I’m not sure what to call it, whatever it was they were doing last night, the Rockets weren’t playing basketball. It was painful to watch. The only bright spot was Chris Clemons. He certainly earned more playing time on Sunday, going up against the Heat’s bright young perimeter players. In his first game, the rookie didn’t disappoint. Clemons had 16 points in his Rockets debut, and appeared to be the only one who stayed at the team hotel on Saturday night. Everyone else just kind of wandered in and out of the game.
The usually trigger-happy Harden, still feeling the effects of Saturday night’s South Beach Rendezvous, was too tired to even get up 15 shots. He didn’t shoot poorly, leading the way for Houston, with 29 points on 6-for-14 from the field. But it doesn’t matter when you face multiple 41 point deficits, and trail by 22 before it’s even halfway through the first quarter. Russell Westbrook had the worst game of his career. His plus/minus of -46 in only 26 minutes isn’t a coincidence. Brodie was frenetic, and looked frustrated as he tried to play the game he loves, while combating a mean Miami hangover. Westbrook managed to get 10 points. No triple-doubles tonight. Clint Capela continues to look weak in the paint. His digression is seriously a major concern for Houston. Capela needs to get it together. The Swiss big man looks unmotivated, and seems to have lost his passion for the game. Those alley-oops that Harden and Capela seemed to do every-other play last season, are now just rare occurrences. Eric Gordon continues to be MIA. Houston is desperately missing what Splash Gordon brings to the table. EG is a difference maker on both ends of the perimeter. Or was. Gordon just has not looked like himself this season. If Splash Gordon and Capela can’t return to their regular selves, Houston has some severe problems. Granted, it’s still only six games into the season. But, how many games do you get to keep using that phrase? I mean, Game number 7 is already here.
Houston travels to Memphis on Monday for the second half of a back-to-back, their first of the season. The Rockets don’t have time to play around in the West like last season. This Western Conference isn’t last years. Sure, the Warriors are worse. Just about everyone else is better. Especially previous bottom-feeders like the Mavs, Wolves, and Suns, who’ve all had promising starts to the NBA season. And then there’s the teams in LA, and Utah, and the Spurs aren’t going anywhere. They’ll be one of the 8 playoff teams. If the Rockets don’t start showing some effort. It’s that simple. Rarely is it the case in the NBA, but Houston just isn’t playing hard at all. They just don’t care, and it’s obvious to anyone who’s watching. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. The Rockets need to make their actions on the court speak louder than their pompous, “assuring” post-game quotes about the future of the season. Because, they said they’d change. And be better. Well, it’s only gotten worse. Slowly, but it’s gotten a lot worse. To the point to where 6 games in, the Rockets need to respond. And starting now. Mike D’Antoni said after the game that his team needs “appropriate fear.” The Rockets have shown no sense-of-urgency at all this season. All of their wins coming in close games. Their competition hasn’t been elite. 76 games remain. If Houston wants to meet the likely Eastern Champion 76ers in the Finals, they need to be afraid. This isn’t the year to start 11-14 like last season. The Rockets need to confront their fears: driving to the basket, settling for less threes… and the utter, dreadful chore of having to actually try to play defense. Otherwise, Houston can have the appropriate level of fear about their playoff chances this season. Making the offseason? Houston might have a problem.