Rockets Head to Charlotte, Look to Generate Positive Buzz in Tilt with Hornets
Rough Week Begins. Stinging Absences. Oladipo’s Opportunity.
Houston meets a rough patch in the schedule to start the week, playing 3 games in the next 4 nights. For a team already weakened by injuries, and players resting on certain ends of the back-to-backs, this week poses a challenge for the Rockets, despite the lack of elite opposition. Houston hits the road again to begin this stretch with a battle against the Hornets in Charlotte. The Hornets have a record of 11-13, and sit in the playoffs out East, but still are a below-average team compared to an average Western foe the Rockets would face. Under normal circumstances, I’d say Houston should definitely beat this team, but these are no ordinary circumstances by any means.
Christian Wood remains out for the Rockets, and both John Wall and Eric Gordon will be resting the first half of this back-to-back. Meaning Houston’s backcourt will be severely depleted. This game is a perfect opportunity for Victor Oladipo to slip out of his current slump, and lead Houston to a win. Oladipo’s still the best player on the court tonight. He can’t let any trade rumors get in his head and diminish his play. Victor hasn’t looked right the past two games. The Rockets need the Oladipo of old if they want to escape Charlotte with a win. Victor can prove he really wants to be a Rocket with a dominant performance tonight. Without Wall and Gordon, Oladipo will get plenty of looks, so tonight’s contest will be very telling where Victor’s mind’s at. Are these trade rumors affecting his play? Does he really want to play in Houston? The gossip started way before Oladipo even played his first game in a Rockets uniform. Tonight, he has a chance to silence the gossip (for now), with a big game in a Houston win tonight. It won’t be easy, but Oladipo has the potential to carry this Rockets team over a worse Hornets team tonight on the road.
Houston plays in New Orleans tomorrow night, a much tougher opponent. So Wall and Gordon will be back in the lineup Tuesday. But for tonight, the Rockets are going to be relying heavily on Victor Oladipo and Jae’Sean Tate to be the primary ball handlers on the floor, creating plays for themselves and other teammates. Everyone on Houston’s squad will see more minutes than usual. The Rockets would love to see a vintage Boogie performance from DeMarcus Cousins, who will once again be relied on heavily in the paint in Wood’s absence. If Houston can get solid games from Oladipo, Cousins, and Tate, the money should be in the Rockets favor. They’ll also need Sterling Brown, David Nwaba, along with someone else on the roster to step up… and they have a chance to soften this upcoming rough patch in the schedule with a win to start the week.
Spectrum Center: Charlotte, North Carolina
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (11-11): White
Charlotte Hornets (11-13): Purple
TV: 6 PM CT – NBA TV, AT&T Sportsnet SW