Rockets Host Pelicans as AD Trade Rumors Swirl
Raising a Brow. 4 For 4. Preparation Game.
What sounds like a crisis for one team, could potentially end up being a crisis for the NBA’s elite. The best big man in the league has become a crisis for the Pelicans, and has asked to be traded. It’s understandable. The Pelicans haven’t won a playoff series since drafting Anthony Davis aka “the Brow”, and 20 other franchises have won more games than New Orleans since Davis joined the team. It’s not the Brow’s fault, of course. Davis has been the best big man in the entire NBA for a few seasons now. New Orleans just hasn’t been able to put a competent, winning squad around their superstar. After a while, you get sick of all the losing. When you’re as talented as Anthony Davis, it’s understandable he would desire winning more than anything, as the Brow finally matures into his prime. AD isn’t winning anything in New Orleans anytime soon. The Pelicans can’t attract talent to their team, and Davis senses it’s time to go if he wants to really contend for a Championship. Only problem for the Rockets and the NBA’s elite, wherever the Brow lands, that team immediately becomes a contender. Most likely destinations for Davis are the Lakers or Celtics, with L.A. rumored to be the spot, as Davis and LeBron James share the same agent, Rich Paul. If they team up, that’s a scary proposition for the rest of the League. The Brow is the best big man in the NBA, and it’s not even close. And LeBron James is LeBron James. That power one-two punch would propel the Lakers immediately into the contender conversation. But we’ll worry about that if, and when it happens. The Rockets are rounding into form and can beat any “super team” when healthy, their problem (besides health) has been playing down to their competition, which they will look to avoid as against a Davis-less Pelicans team.
Tonight, the Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans as they are dealing with all the rumors surrounding the Brow. Davis hasn’t played in 4 games due to injury and this will be his 5th straight missed contest. Houston needs to take advantage and beat a New Orleans squad with less talent. The Rockets have a nasty tendency to fall behind early (see last game), especially against weaker competition. The Pelicans are an opponent the Rockets should beat, especially without the Brow. No excuses for Houston in this game, but they shouldn’t have much trouble with the Pelicans. Kenneth Faried has been playing with excellent energy since he joined the squad last Monday, and is developing chemistry with James Harden and Chris Paul quickly. Houston is 3-1 since the Manimal came to town. Look for the Rockets to get their 4th straight win tonight, and hand the Pelicans their 4th straight loss. The two clubs are headed in opposite directions, with the Rockets soaring back up, and the Pelicans, in the midst of a crisis, falling farther down the standings.
Harden will try and make it an improbable 24 straight games with 30 points, which is actually very probable of happening tonight. The Rockets will try and put the Pelicans away early, and get minutes for the entire squad, and rest for the starters. This is a preparation game for the Rockets as they face one of their more difficult back-backs of the entire season this weekend. Houston heads to Denver and red-hot Utah this upcoming weekend in what will be a treacherous, and testing back-to-back games against playoff competition in the altitude. The Rockets want to make sure they get a victory tonight to keep their spot in the standings before heading off on a tough road trip. If the Rockets play up to their potential, they should make it 4 in a row tonight with a (hopefully) comfortable win over the Pelicans at home.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
New Orleans Pelicans (22-28): Red
Houston Rockets (29-20): Black
TV: 7 PM CT – TNT & ATT SportsNet SW
It all makes sense to me! I agree. Go Rockets!!🚀🚀
Lol thanks Anne! GO ROCKETS!!!!!!!