Rockets Look to Stir Up Hornets’ Nest in Charlotte
Ride the Wave. Hollow Hornets. Lead the Road.
There’s nothing like playing the Champs. It brings a different buzz to the arena. The Rockets know all about this, and so do the Hornets. The Champs were in Charlotte on Monday night, as the Hornets couldn’t muster enough resistance to put up a fight. Charlotte’s lost 4 of its last 5 games, and is clinging to the 8th , and final playoff spot in the East. On Wednesday night, the Rockets cruise into Charlotte looking to up the gear on their winning streak. Houston comes in looking for their 3rd straight win, still riding the momentum from their Saturday night statement-win in the Champs’ house. James Harden’s 30-point streak was broken on Monday, but the streak ending is a good thing for the Rockets. The run was becoming a distraction for the team, as great as it was. Looking at the big picture, it’s good the streak ended on Monday. Harden had a chance to go for it in the final seconds, but chose otherwise. Harden’s not quite the stat-padder everyone wants him to be, he’s actually matured as a player. Maybe he scored all those points because he had to, shouldering a banged up team night-after-night as Houston somehow emerged 21-11 during Harden’s ridiculous tear. On Monday, 28 points were enough from the Beard, as Houston fended off the Hawks, 119-111. Now, the Rockets can zone in on the Championship, the only thing worth chasing. Charlotte’s barely a playoff team and should prove to be no match for the Rockets if Houston brings the focus and intensity.
Houston will look to expose the Charlotte Hornets’ weaknesses tonight. Their record is under .500, and put Charlotte out West, and they’re nowhere near the NBA Playoff Hive. The Hornets still have plenty of firepower. Kemba Walker was a deserved first-time All-Star, and is one of the best players in the league who continues to fly under the radar. Houston will need to have their eyes on Charlotte’s point guard at all times. Hornets center Cody Zeller is coming off the best game of his life. The big man had a career-high 28 points in Charlotte’s previous game against Golden State. Zeller does a lot of dirty work inside, and plays extremely hard. He’s not the most talented opponent Clint Capela has faced, but if the Rockets center is caught sleeping, Zeller will take advantage of the lack of effort. Luckily for Houston, Capela is always active, and they also have a Manimal. Kenneth Faried is the definition of the word ‘activity.’ The Manimal continues to bring rabid and robust effort and energy every single night. Coach D’Antoni even opted to start the Manimal in Houston’s previous game. Faried and Capela have played extremely well together, and it will be interesting to see if D’Anonti keeps Faried in the starting lineup or brings him off the bench. Regardless, the Manimal has been a perfect fit in Houston, immensely improving the Rockets’ frontcourt depth. Charlotte also has Rocket-killer Nicolas Batum. Whether it was in Portland, or now in Charlotte, Batum has always had some of his best games against the Rockets. Houston can’t afford to leave the veteran swingman open, or it could be a long night in Charlotte. Rookie Miles Bridges has shown signs of promise, but he shouldn’t be much of a threat tonight against the Rockets stronger lineup. Marvin Williams is expected to play for the Hornets after suffering a toe injury on Monday night.
The Rockets are gunning for 3 wins in a row tonight. Chris Paul looks like he’s officially back. Any anxiety about his play after returning from injury can be laid to rest. The Point God looks as spry as he’s ever been. This is the Rockets 2nd game with a completely healthy roster. They’ll try and pounce on Charlotte early, and see if they can actually hold a lead on the road for once. Houston’s done a great job of building leads on the road, but they frequently end up squandering them. It’s the Rockets worst habit so far this season. In their last two road games, Houston surrendered leads of 19 or more points. Tonight, the Rockets need to take care if business early and finish the job. Only 22 games remain on the schedule. Houston wants to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs. Beating opponents you’re supposed to beat helps this cause, and also develops good habits for the postseason. It’s been a wild, crazy NBA season. Not just for the Rockets, but for the entire league. Who knows, in a few months, the Hornets might look back on tonight, and say, “there’s nothing like playing the Champs.”
Spectrum Center: Charlotte, North Carolina
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (35-25): Black
Charlotte Hornets (28-32): White
TV: 6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW