Red-Hot Rockets Surge into Mile High, Aiming for 9 Straight
Mountainous Step. Rocky Road. Harden the 13th.
“Watching film on him is like watching a horror movie,” Denver Coach Mike Malone said about James Harden, before his Nuggets try and stop the wrecking train that is Harden and the Houston Rockets. The hottest team in sports, the scorching Rockets, blaze into the Mile High City for an anticipated meeting with the Nuggets. Harden and company are rolling, winners of 8 straight. Houston has owned Denver over the past few seasons. The Beard and company have won 10 of the last 11 matchups with the Nuggets, and 14 of the last 18. Malone knows, he’s been at the helm in Denver throughout their history of horror with Houston. Nonetheless, the altitude always plays a factor in Denver, giving the Nuggets some hope, and a slight advantage over most teams. It’s something the Rockets will have to battle, and will test the team’s endurance as a unit. This game is Houston’s toughest road test so far, the Nuggets are almost certainly playoff bound. Denver has one of the best big men in basketball, in Nikola Jokic, aka “The Joker.” Although the Joker’s not had the laughs he had last year, getting off to a slow start, Clint Capela’s stretch of 4-straight games with 20 rebounds will be tested.
It’s going to be a mountainous step for the squad to get their 9th straight win, tonight. Although, the Rockets are more than capable of beating this Nuggets team they’ve beaten time and time again. Especially with the improvements they’ve made so far in this short season. They’ve taken a mountainous step in terms defensive improvement from the team started the year 3-3. This stat, courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau, is fascinating: Amongst lineups to have played at least 60 minutes together, Houston’s starting lineup (Harden, Westbrook, House, Tucker, and Capela) has the best defensive rating at 87.5, and the best overall (net) rating in the entire league. Minus Eric Gordon, the Rockets are healthy, and getting better with each game. A tough 4-game stretch looms for Houston, and they need to get off on the right foot tonight, with a victory.
Wednesday’s game in Denver begins a difficult 4-game stretch for the Rockets, one of their toughest of the season. Houston will play at the rival Clippers on Friday, in the season’s toughest test to date. Then, they return home to host the upstart Mavs and Heat. The Rockets are riding high at this point in the season, but a slip of the wheel, and Houston could find themselves down a few spots in the standings. And the Western Conference is more ruthless than ever, especially at the top. These two squads are currently seeded 2 and 3 out West. A Denver win tonight, pushes them over Houston in the standings, for the moment. The Nuggets are one of those legitimate threats to beat the Rockets on any night if Harden and company lose focus. They’re not many teams in the NBA that can at the moment, with the way the Beard has started the film to this year’s season.
And so… Pepsi Center hosts quite a juicy matchup on Wednesday night. Two perennial West playoff teams with grand expectations clash in the Mile High City. Houston puts their 8-game winning streak on the line, as Denver’s also playing well. The Nuggets have won 7 of their last 10 contests overall, and are tied in the loss column with the Rockets, sporting a 9-3 record. Tonight presents the biggest test Houston’s faced on the road all season. If the Rockets can stay with Denver, one of the league’s best passing teams, they can run their streak to 10 games. It should be an exciting game, as a clash of styles meet. The Nuggets like to slow the game down. In contrast, Houston plays with the fastest pace in basketball. Westbrook, Harden, and the Rockets are ready to run the Nuggets out of the building. Nearly fully healthy, the squad is firing on all cylinders. And they also have that man who keeps Mike Malone up on nights before Denver plays Houston. A man with a beard that houses superpowers storms into Pepsi Center tonight. Coach Malone’s already seen Harden the 13th. He’s seen this movie too many times. But in case you haven’t, be afraid Denver… be very afraid.
Pepsi Center: Denver, Colorado
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (11-3): White
Denver Nuggets (9-3): Dark Blue
TV: 8 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW