CP3 Returns, Rockets Hope to Magically Stay Healthy, Seek Revenge Against Orlando
The Point God is Back. Manimal Magic. 23 for 30?
After a 17-game absence due to injury, Chris Paul finally makes his return to the lineup on Sunday night as the Rockets host the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center. Houston looks to get vengeance on a Magic team that handed the Rockets a loss in Orlando a few weeks ago. The loss was another Houston collapse, as the Rockets led for most of the game, but fell apart in the end, and lost Clint Capela to injury as well. Since that victory for Orlando, the Magic have dropped 5 of their last 6 games, the lone win coming against the Hawks, one of the league’s bottom-feeders. Houston should have no problem with the Magic this time around. Hopefully the Rockets learned their lesson last time the teams met, and won’t play down to their competition on Sunday. Tonight’s matchup gives Houston another favorable chance to move up in the standings. The Rockets need to take advantage when the schedule permits they face a weaker team. The squad has a tough back-to-back next weekend, and Houston can’t afford to drop any more games they’re expected to win.
Kenneth Faried will look to continue to make his presence felt in the paint. He’ll be battling Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, one of the league’s better frontcourt tandems, for rebounds and more. That Manimal Magic has worked for Houston thus far, as Faried has proved to be a perfect fit in D’Antoni’s system and yet another great, nationally unheralded in-season pick-up by Rockets GM Daryl Morey. When Clint Capela returns the Manimal will still be a key piece of the Rockets rotation, only he’ll bolster the bench by coming in with the second unit. Look for Faried to still see minutes with the first unit, and even alongside Capela when Houston faces bigger lineups down the road.
With the return of Chris Paul, many are wondering what effect it will have on Harden’s usage and 30-point streak. Will he keep it up? Does he need to? The answers are simple. No, he obviously doesn’t need to, and he probably will keep it up, but not for the rest of the season, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Harden topped 30 in every game from here on out. The Beard has been that sensational. Now that he’s got his backcourt running mate back, Harden won’t have to exert as much effort, and will likely see a slight decrease in minutes, as the Rockets don’t want the Beard to be burnt out come playoff time. On Sunday, Houston looks to ease CP3 back into the lineup. It will be great to see Paul on the floor again, but the last thing the Rockets need is their star point guard re-injuring himself after coming back from this injury. CP3’s already returning sooner than I expected, the Rockets need to be extra cautious with the Point God, so they can have his services when they need them most, this June. Look for the Rockets to beat the Magic tonight, although they may be a little rusty and rough around the edges as the squad adjusts to CP3’s return to the lineup. Houston may get off to a slow start, but expect the Rockets to make the proper adjustments to blow by Orlando in the 2nd half for their 3rd win a row.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Orlando Magic (20-29): Blue
Houston Rockets (28-20): White
TV: 6 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW