Rockets Fail to Launch, Fall to Lakers 120-102
Calming Cousins. Work in Progress. Different League.
“You’re just going to have to live with it,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said on DeMarcus Cousins’ ejection after the Lakers put on a beatdown in Houston, smashing the Rockets, 120-102. Cousins’ stood up for teammate Jae’Sean Tate, who was thrown to the ground by L.A.’s Markieff Morris after putting LeBron James in the spin-cycle on the other end of the floor with a brilliant offensive move. Cousins shoved Morris back, standing up for Tate. Morris immediately charged towards Cousins, and started barking at him, trying to instigate a fight. Boogie calm walked away and ignored Morris. Nonetheless, despite Morris, getting ejected, the matter resulted in Cousins receiving his first technical. And once Boogie gets one, it always seems to be a matter of time before that second tech, and resulting ejection sweeps in to dismantle the Rockets. And it happened again on Sunday night. Cousins got off to a great start and looked poised to be on the verge of having his breakout game as a Rocket. Boogie had 6 points and 4 boards in only 8 minutes, but a hard foul on LeBron James, the NBA’s crown jewel, sent Cousins to the locker room for the night. The foul happened to be above the shoulder area, and was deemed a flagrant foul, resulting in yet another early ejection for Boogie. the Rockets had cut the lead to two points, trailing only 25-23 after Tate’s impressive offensive move on LeBron. But that’s as close, or as impressive as Houston would look all night.
Once Cousins was ejected the Lakers had a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Rockets by 15 points, putting Houston in a 19-point hole at halftime. A hole in which James Harden and the Rockets never escape. Anthony Davis led L.A. with 27 points, and LeBron chipped in with 18, ensuring the Lakers never let this one get out of hand. Meanwhile, the Beard had 20 points and 9 assists for Houston. Harden’s been noticeably less-aggressive on offense since missing a game due to injury. The Rockets need the Harden who regularly scores over 30 if they want a chance against the Lakers in the rematch on Tuesday night. Sunday night was the third straight game Harden failed to score 30 points, a feat head-scratching only for a player with his lethal offensive prowess. For some rare good news, Christian Wood continues to excel in his first season in Houston. Battling the NBA’s best center head-to-head, Wood topped the 20-point mark once again, scoring 23 to lead the Rockets. Houston’s newest sensation, and frontrunner for the NBA’s Most Improved Player, has scored 20 or more points every game this season. The Rockets have to like the consistency they’re seeing out of Wood. Nonetheless, Houston’s squad as a whole, is a work in progress. John Wall had a poor shooting night, scoring only 14 points on 4-for-15 from the field. Wall did lead the Rockets with 10 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists, but Houston’s newest point guard has to finish at the rim. Wall can get to the basket at will. His issue, is finishing the play, whether making the layup or drawing a foul. It’s not a surprise, with the best defensive big-man in the NBA in Anthony Davis manning the paint for L.A., that Wall struggled to finish at the rack. The Rockets need Wall to be more efficient with the ball when these teams face-off again on Tuesday night.
The Lakers thrashing in Houston proved L.A.’s in a different league than the Rockets right now. It also once again showed how important Cousins could potentially be to Houston, if he can only stay in the game. DeMarcus was ejected in the Rockets last loss before Sunday, to Dallas on Wednesday. Just like Sunday, Houston was close until Cousins got ejected, and the Mavs ran away with the game. They didn’t dominate the Rockets like the Lakers did, but they showed how viable an option Cousins is for Houston when he’s available. Boogie already has a bad reputation with NBA refs, the best action Cousins can take is stay as calm as possible. And try to refrain from fouling above the shoulders, as difficult as that is for a big man. Cousins’ reputation is his biggest enemy at this point. He was calm when Morris tried to instigate a double-ejection. But, if Cousins is part of any conflict-inducing situations, he’s bound to get a tech, with the oft-called double-technical, used bye officials when two players begin to get heated. Boogie shouldn’t have received a technical the first time, but when you build a reputation, it sticks with you. These teams battle at the Toyota Center again on Tuesday night. If Houston has any chance of sticking with the Lakers in their rematch on they need DeMarcus to stay in the game. The Rockets can try and change his demeanor, but Cousins has actually behaved civilized since returning to play. Boogie’s tarnished reputation is just something Houston has to live with.