Rockets Try to Quiet Jazz’ Tune in Salt Lake City
The Crying Game. Deadly Duo. Brutality Awaits.
“As the man said, it’s in my nature.” The final line from the classic 90’s film, The Crying Game, poses the question what is the nature of man. In terms on tonight’s contest, human nature exposes itself in several facets. After snubbed (one of the worst in NBA history) from being voted an All-Star, Rudy Gobert became emotional and cried after getting a call from his mother as she cried her heart out for him. It’s understandable, crying is part of human nature and Rudy Gobert, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, deserved to be an All-Star. More than Klay Thompson, whose Warrior teammates took to social media to make fun of Gobert for crying. Crying is still viewed as a sign of weakness for men in the eyes of many in society. However, it’s not a weakness. Rudy Gobert knows that, and has been playing with fire since being snubbed only a few days ago, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds last night in a victory over the Hawks. Sadly for Houston, Gobert’s next target is a Rockets team thin on the frontcourt that was eaten alive in Denver on Friday night. Last night’s game was a crying shame in Denver. Houston looks to avoid another crying game tonight in Utah.
Rudy Gobert is the biggest snub in this year’s all-star game, and he’s not even the best player in Utah. Donovan “Spida” Mitchell, after getting off to a slow start to his sophomore campaign, is really starting to hit his groove and get back to the levels he was playing at in his rookie of the year-caliber season. Mitchell was snubbed as well. Honestly, I would have put Mitchell in over Gobert, as Spida has been carrying the load offensively for Utah. But it doesn’t matter, neither player made it, and that’s not good for the Rockets. Houston comes into Utah facing one of the hottest teams in the NBA in 2019, with some added-motivation. Mitchell has been a Rocket-killer throughout his young career, having some of his biggest games against Houston in the past. Look for this to be another game where Clint Capela’s absence stares the Rockets smack-dab in the face. Kenneth Faried continues to play with great energy, but as Jokic was too big in Denver, look for Gobert to pose the same problems for Faried and Houston’s frontcourt in Utah. Gobert, aka “The Stifle Tower” has been getting praise from nearly everyone but Golden State since showing emotion, and the rest of the league will have to contend with added ferocity from the Stifle Tower for his absence from the upcoming All-Star weekend.
This game poses so many problems for the Rockets I don’t know where to begin. They’re facing one of the hottest teams in the league in 2019. The Jazz have won 8 of 10 and have quietly climbed the standings since 2019 began. A win over Houston tonight would propel the Jazz past the Rockets in the standings. Utah boasts one of the loudest home-courts in the NBA, and is always a very tough place to play. Throw in the added motivation from their top two players (due to being the All-Star Game’s biggest snubs) and brutality awaits Houston on Saturday night in Salt Lake City. The Rockets will need to look inwards and hope they can turn the clock back, to a week or two ago, when Harden averaged around 53 points over a 3-game stretch. Houston needs a monumental game from the Beard tonight if they want to win this contest. Chris Paul is out tonight for rest, and the whole squad needs to step up and give Harden the required help. EG left last night’s game in Denver with an injury, which has sadly become part of his nature. Austin Rivers will get the start if EG can’t go. Hopefully, it’ll kick-start him out of his current shooting slump. The Beard? Tonight’s one of those nights where, unfortunately, Harden will be asked to do almost everything. The Beard’s starting to look tired in recent games, but if there’s anyone, in any season, who has the ability to put a team on his back en route to a win… it’s this season’s James Harden. It’s in his nature.
Vivint Smart Home Arena: Salt Lake City, Utah
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (29-22): White
Utah Jazz (30-23): Green
TV: 8 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW