Rockets Welcome West-Leading Nuggets to Town, Matchup is No Laughing Matter
Houston-State-of-Mind. No Joking Around. Homeward Bound.
The Rockets are coming off what many call a “hangover” loss to the Blazers in their previous game. A “Hangover” due to their massive comeback-win on the road in the Champs’ house the game prior. The Rockets did come out somewhat lackluster, despite Austin Rivers’ offensive spark to start the game. Portland out-played Houston and won. The squad battled back from sixteen down to make the game interesting, but it wasn’t enough. Harden and the Rockets’ shots just weren’t falling, and they lost to a decent playoff-bound Blazers team. It wasn’t a hangover loss, although the Rockets were feeling great after that win over the Warriors, and did come out against the Blazers slower than usual (especially at the end of the first half). As good as this Rockets team is, they were just out-rebounded and out-hustled by Portland, and ultimately lost. You can’t with all the games you play. However, some wins do matter more than others, and that victory over Golden State was still on the minds of both teams during their respective contests on Saturday night.
Houston had that huge win over the Warriors on Thursday night, and the victory seemed to get inside someone’s head. On Saturday night, Stephen Curry tried to pull-off Harden’s patented, yet extremely difficult, step-back three-pointer, and was called for a travel. Curry put up his hands to resemble the number “13” trying to say if Harden had done the same move, he wouldn’t have been called for a travel. However, Steph Curry obviously travelled. It was a lame attempt at taking a shot at James Harden and the Beard’s invincible move. Looks like the Warriors are still salty from that loss on Thursday night. A loss, that came at the hands of one the Beard’s step-back threes (maybe the most difficult of his entire career). Golden State always says they don’t think about the Rockets, but right now it looks like they have a Houston-State-of-Mind. Harden and the Rockets have finally gotten into the Warriors’ head. Golden State still can’t get over a loss in which Kevin Durant was allowed to play out-of-bounds, Draymond Green complained all night with no techs, and the Warriors had no answer for the Beard’s signature move, that, ultimately, ended up winning the game for Houston. All of these (other than the refs continuation to allow Draymond to say whatever he wants when he wants, no matter how offensive the statement) are good signs for the Rockets and further signs of Golden State’s mental destruction.
The scrutiny on the Beard’s patented move that he’s perfected this season is criminal. It’s gotten to the point of being a crude joke and is frankly, downright disrespectful. The Beard’s in the prime of his career and all people want to do is criticize his smallest mistakes. Sure, Harden travels here and there. But so does every NBA player. He doesn’t literally hold the ball and walk halfway up the court like Russell Westbrook (see: last season). The league even said they’re trying to get the officials to whistle more travel calls this year, although that hasn’t been a major occurrence. The concept with Harden’s move is his incredible footwork mixed with his ability to lure defenders with his ball handling skills. But, the aspect of the move that DIFFERS from the way Curry tries it lies in the difference in the players’ lower body strength. First of all, Harden is a freight train when compared to the frail Curry. Steph’s a great player, but he travelled, and Harden doesn’t (most of the time). The Beard’s lower-body strength and calf muscles are much stronger than Currys’. Combine this factor with the Beard’s quickness and stronger legs, which allow him to avoid the travel and do the move unlike any player in history, prove that James Harden doesn’t travel when he lets his step-back three fly. He may once in a blue moon, but if you think the Beard travels all the time, like the sickening false rumors that run amass the Internet claiming he does, watch him play. Actually watch. Harden’s too quick for most people to even keep up with his footwork, let alone if they’re not multi-tasking, like many when they watch games. People just believe what they hear when others claim it’s true, even when they haven’t seen it themselves. Sure, Harden has that one missed-travel call on Rubio that brought the hate down on him like the plague. It’s funny how that’s the only play people can come up with when claiming that Harden always travels.
What’s not funny is the Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic aka “The Joker”, and the idea of trying to stop him. The guy with the best nickname in the NBA isn’t joking around. The Joker is one of the best Centers in the league, second to only Anthony Davis. Tonight, the league’s best passing Center, and triple-double flirt-machine hits Toyota Center looking to give the Nuggets their sixth win in a row. James Harden and the Rockets look to prove that Saturday’s loss to the Blazers was just an anomaly. It won’t be easy with the Western Conference-leading Denver Nuggets in town. Denver sports an impressive 26-11 record with the top spot in the standings. The Rockets had one of their more impressive wins earlier in the season, 109-99 over the Nuggets in Denver, when Houston was desperately searching for consistency. Since then the Rockets’ improvement has been night and day, whilst the Nuggets have had one of the top spots in the West all season. The Joker is having a career-year as he leads a Nuggets team that’s been hampered by injuries for much of the season, yet still has a small three-game cushion above other teams in the crowded West. The Rockets had trouble with Nurkic in the previous game, Jokic is an even worse nightmare. Capela will have his hand full on both ends of the floor trying to go toe-to-toe with the Joker. The Nuggets are deep and versatile, Gary Harris and Paul Millsap’s recent return from injuries only strengthens their lineup. This game will not be an easy out for Houston. The Rockets need to bring the focus they had on their win streak if they want to get a victory over a relentless Nuggets team currently on their own five-game winning-streak. Houston’s focus was top-notch against the Warriors, and the Rockets need to get back to that level to beat a solid Nuggets team, getting healthier and more acclimated to each other with every game.
Nine of Houston’s next twelve games are at Toyota Center. The Rockets need to take advantage of this home-heavy schedule and take a bound forward in the standings. A win over a competitive Nuggets team would get the Rockets to within three and a half games of Denver for the top spot out West. As we approach the midway point there’s still plenty of time in the season for teams to move up and down in the standings. Houston can do that with a big win tonight that would also guarantee them a portion of the tiebreaker with the Nuggets, as the Rockets already won the first matchup between the teams this season. The Beard and company try for their tenth win in a row at home tonight at Toyota Center. Michael Carter-Williams was traded to the Chicago Bulls, for cash and a second rounder, freeing up the roster spot for Danue House Jr., who has been a prime example of what can happen what you put the determination in to getting better and buy into a system. Other than being supportive on the bench, this Rockets team is just too deep and doesn’t need a player of MCW’s caliber. Carter-Williams will always be remembered as the Rocket who hit the shot to break Houston’s three-point record, until that record’s broken again, probably this season. Denver comes into Houston having won nine of its last eleven games. The Rockets have won eleven of their last thirteen contests. Something’s bound to give. The Nuggets have had a great first half to the season, but Houston usually plays well against Denver. The Beard and the Rockets hope that trend continues, but it’ll be another tough test for a depleted Houston team, still without Chris Paul and Eric Gordon. The Rockets will try and get the last laugh over the Joker’s Nuggets tonight, back in the friendly confines of Toyota Center. This time, Houston shouldn’t have to worry about any sort of “hangover.”
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Denver Nuggets (26-11) – Navy Blue
Houston Rockets (22-16) – White
TV: 7:00 PM CT – ATT Sportsnet SW