Code Red: Lakers Cruise Past Rockets, 124-115
First Half Wrap. Paying the Price. Necessary Depths.
Everything was set up perfectly. The Rockets were in control, earning an 11-point lead over the Lakers in the first half at Toyota Center. Fans were rocking, despite the copious amount of L.A. jerseys seen in the crowd. Houston’s reputation, falling to bad teams, but beating good ones, looked to stay intact. At halftime, the Rockets led by six. Everything was lined up for a Houston victory. But it was just a first half wrap, on the game, and the season, on Saturday night. The third-quarter came, where any chances of a Rockets victory were barricaded by a Lakers storm. Houston kept the match contested, until a game-defining block by JaVale McGee on Clint Capela permanently swung momentum L.A.’s way. The Rockets were outscored 32-17 in the third, as the Lakers handed Houston their third straight defeat, 124-115, on Saturday night. And the final score isn’t as close as the numbers indicate. The Lakers, without Anthony Davis, were in complete control once they gained the lead in the second half.
LeBron (who else) led the way for L.A. LeBron scored 31 points and 12 assists. Nothing dominant, but LBJ didn’t need to take over in this one. Houston left too many shooters wide open. The trio of Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Danny Green combined to shoot 28-for-45, and torched the Rockets for 63 points. Russell Westbrook led the way for Houston, scoring 35 points, shooting 15-for-23 from the field. Brodie also had 9 boards and 7 dimes, as he continues to thrive individually despite the team’s woes.
Other Rockets have to pick it up. “Tough times don’t last long,” James Harden said after the game. Hopefully, he’s right. The Beard remains in a slump, and looks bothered by something. Harden lacked his usual aggression, and shot only 2-for-9 from downtown, scoring 34 points against L.A. He’s either frustrated with his teammates’ inability to knock down down open threes when he’s double-teamed and forced to dish. Or he has some strange injury we can’t see, but he doesn’t look physically hurt. It’s always mental with Harden. Whatever it is, the Beard has to figure it out.
Houston is now officially halfway through the season, with a record of 26-15. They’ve fallen to the sixth spot in the West standings, and now are a distant 7 games behind the Lakers for the top seed. The Rockets are paying the price for losing to bad teams in the first half. Houston lost to eight teams with losing records in the season’s first half. Harden and the squad need to pick it up, starting with Monday’s MLK day game against the Thunder. It took Westbrook time to adjust to the Rockets’ system, but now Brodie is the only Rocket playing well. Houston’s problems aren’t rocket-science. Harden has to snap out of his funk, and the team NEEDS to knock down open-threes. Connecting from distance fuels the Rockets’ offense. If guys aren’t hitting their open shots, Houston simply won’t win as many games as many expected.
Sometimes it takes rock-bottom to motivate a person, or team, to bounce back to expectations. It appears Westbrook’s team-meeting after Houston’s previous loss to Portland, was a bit premature. Hopefully, Brodie gave the squad another lecture after Saturday’s loss. The Rockets have now dropped 4 of their last 5 games. Houston failed to play hard against Memphis and Portland, losing both games. They brought more intensity against the Lakers, but you can’t just bring it against the good teams. Because, even when you bring 100% energy, sometimes you’re gonna get beat anyways. It’s pro sports, and the best teams in this league are consistent. The Rockets have to find the consistency in the second half of the season. The kind of consistency the Lakers and Bucks display. Otherwise, this second half will put Houston in the middle of a Western Conference full of hungry teams, all eager to be the first team in 5 years to represent the West in the Finals, after Golden State’s dynasty won the West for the past half-decade. I hope the Harden’s right about tough times. If they last much longer for the Rockets, Houston’s journey will be set up for another disappointing end.