Rockets Return Home to Face Their Toughest Challenge Yet
Quiet Man, Loud Game. Interior Nightmare. Can Harden Do It Again?
Houston has now split their last 11 games, and they look to buck that trend tonight with a victory, but it won’t be easy. The Rockets return to Houston to face off against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at Toyota Center. Toronto is a legitimate contender and in my opinion will represent the East in the Finals come June. They’re one of the deepest teams in the league, and they have the best perimeter defender in the NBA, who’s also a lethal offensive player, in Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi’s missed the previous 4 games, including resting on Tuesday to give him extra time to prepare for James Harden’s onslaught. Leonard doesn’t say much, at least in the public eye. However, his play on both ends of the court speaks volumes. Houston’s problem is, Kawhi will be guarding James Harden for most of the night. Leonard’s problem is, no one has stopped the Beard’s onslaught. Fans are on in for a treat, as it will be one of the best individual matchups to watch all season.
Outside of the Harden/Leonard matchup lies the real problem for the Rockets in this game. Toronto is deep, in size, and at every position. Former Rocket and current Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry has gelled perfectly with new teammate Leonard. Serge Ibaka is quietly having a career year, and Pascal Siakam will probably win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. They pose an interior nightmare to a Capela-less Rockets squad whose thin frontcourt could be demolished in this game if Houston doesn’t play hard as a team. Luckily for the Rockets, Raptors Center Jonas Valanciunas is out with an injury, but Toronto will still pose nightmares all night long if Houston doesn’t come out focused from the start. The Rockets needs everyone to crash the glass and rebound, as this will be a key factor that decides the contest. This game exposes why Clint Capela is so important to Houston. His absence will be sorely missed in this game, and Chris Paul isn’t playing either (rumored to return Sunday). Houston has their hands full with the Raptors in town tonight. The squad needs to help the Beard out, as this will be one of the toughest challenges the Rockets face while they’re still hobbled.
Coming off a career-high 61 points, can James Harden do it again? Can the Beard put up another monstrous performance, while be guarded by the best defender in the entire league? The Rockets are praying for another special episode of the Harden Show. Houston will need it, along with performances from everyone on the team to win tonight’s game. Harden and the Rockets can prove a lot with a victory tonight, but it’s going to be an uphill climb to get it done. Houston can’t let their foot off the gas, and they can’t afford to fall behind early against a team like Toronto, or they could find themselves in a hole they can’t climb out. Gerald Green and the bench need to bring the energy, and the Rockets need their shots to be falling if they want to beat one of the East’s beasts.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Toronto Raptors (36-14): Black
Houston Rockets (27-20): “Earned” Crimson Red
TV: 7 PM CT – ESPN – ATT Sportsnet SW