Rockets Travel to Tampa Bay, Aim to Hunt Upstart Raptors
Dinosaur Relocation. Avoiding the Dreaded Ten. Backcourt Firepower.
Houston tries to put an end to their dead-streak, a season-high nine straight losses, as they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Toronto Raptors. Due to coronavirus, Toronto was forced to play their home games in Tampa Bay this season, as Canadian officials wouldn’t allow the team to stay up north, keeping the NBA, and the risk of spreading the virus that comes with the league, out of the country. The Raptors have lost two straight, but before that were rolling after a slow start to the season. Toronto now finds themselves in the thick of the playoff race out East.
The Rockets are still without Christian Wood, but hopefully Victor Oladipo’s improved play in the previous game will carry over, and give John Wall and Eric Gordon, the mainstays who have carried the offensive load for Houston, some help. This game won’t be much different from the previous nine. The Rockets can win if they play hard enough and smart enough. They can also get blown out, as we’ve witnessed almost nine times in a row.
Tonight’s game comes down to a battle of backcourts, as Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Norman Powell form the Raptors’ triple threat on the perimeter. Powell and VanVleet are having breakout seasons, and Lowry is still playing at an All-Star caliber level. Wall, Gordon, and Oladipo will have to be the better trio if Houston wants to escape the Bay with a victory on Friday night. The squad’s not quite dead yet. However, another loss, and pushing the skid to double figures, would almost seemingly kill the spirit of a team… especially one fighting to stay alive for playoff contention.
Amalie Arena: Tampa Bay, Florida
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (11-19): White
Toronto Raptors (16-17): Red
TV: 6:30 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW