Rockets Blown Out by Jazz, 118-91, in Embarrassing Rout
Houston, we have a real problem. Not just a, “oh, some guys are injured, they’ll be back and we’ll be ok” problem. Not just a, “oh, the new players aren’t quite adjusted into the system yet, just give them some time” problem. The problem, as much I hate to admit, is that this Rockets team is simply not that good. Other teams have figured them out. Houston was given a great opportunity to start the game inn Utah on Thursday night when the Jazz’ defensive beast and reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, was ejected early in the first quarter. Still, the Rockets provided little resistance, and couldn’t take advantage of the open paint area left by Gobert’s absence. Even on a night when Utah’s best player (and regular Rocket killer) Donovan Mitchell provided only 6 points in one his worst efforts of the season, Houston just wasn’t good enough. Utah’s two best players (Mitchell and Gobert) combined for a measly 8 points, yet the Jazz were able to handily beat the Rockets by 27 points. The game was hard to watch (for Rockets fans). Jazz power forward Derrick Favors took over for Rudy Gobert and bullied Houston in the paint, on his way to 24 points and 10 rebounds. Not a single player wearing a Rockets uniform scored more than 15 points in the game (for the first time all season, and I don’t remember the last time that happened). It doesn’t make sense, other than the fact that the Rockets just aren’t putting in the effort in practice and aren’t playing hard enough come game-time. Houston has two of the best guards of all time in James Harden and Chris Paul in their backcourt, yet the team is staggeringly worse this season. Maybe the two future Hall-of-Famers had too much fun last season, and are satisfied with cruising through the schedule like they’ll be an automatic playoff team. I hope they take a look at the standings because this season, the West is a LOT better. The Rockets just aren’t playing hard enough and are sleepwalking through the regular season like they can just put on a uniform and they’ll punch their ticket to the playoffs. Not this year, guys. Not in a season, which has never seen the Western Conference with so many teams who will legitimately have a chance to make the playoffs come springtime when the season winds down. Teams building chemistry, yet pummeling each other as they etch, crawl, punch, and climb their way to try to earn a playoff bid. The Rockets are taking the most of these punches. They currently sit in 14th place out of 15 teams in the West (the 15th being the Phoenix Suns, the NBA’s worst). The loss of Trevor Ariza was huge not just on the court for Houston, but in the locker room and off the court.as well. Trevor is a fun guy to be around. The Rockets loved playing with him and he was a veteran who took things seriously yet knew how and when to have a good time and understood all the little things it takes in the regular season on the long journey to win an NBA championship (Ariza won a title in 2009 with the Lakers). The Rockets will need to get him back once he’s available via trade Dec. 15th (something that has been rumored). Otherwise, things don’t look they’re going to change much and the Houston could very well find itself on the outside looking in come playoff time. “I’m just not having fun anymore”, said Eric Gordon, among other things, after the shameful loss. Neither are the fans. And the team doesn’t look like they’re having fun. Last year, the chemistry was evident. You could just see it at games as guys rooted for each other and were just so happy to be doing what they love. Trevor Ariza was a huge part of that chemistry. This year, the squad looks confused and rattled. As if they expect they’ll be in the playoffs, no matter how much effort or attention to detail they give in the regular season. Harden and Paul need to be better leaders. The Rockets have way too much talent, and the team as a whole has way too much talent, versatility, and experience to be playing like an NBA bottom-feeder. They have the potential to be one of the best teams in the NBA, like they proved last season. If Houston thinks they can do just show up and yield positive results without playing hard, they’re in for a shorter season than they might expect. Simply put, the Rockets are the most disappointing team in the NBA at the moment. There is no reason for them to have this sort of record, with their current roster, at this point in the season. There are no excuses they can make. Up next for the Rockets, they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavs, the same team who smashed the Rockets in Houston only 10 days ago. Houston needs to start winning. Now. Starting tomorrow afternoon in Dallas. Or the Rockets might be going on vacation sooner than they expect.