Rockets Spurt to the Alamo City for Matchup with Rival Spurs
Road Stop. Beastin’ Eason. Double-Edged Sword.
The Rockets hit the road one last time before Christmas, as they travel to face their in-state I-45 rivals, the San Antonio Spurs. For the first time since in a few seasons, San Antonio is are beneath Houston in the standings. The Spurs sit in last place in the Western Conference. They’re currently in the midst of an 11-game skid, the longest losing streak of Gregg Popovich’s career. The Rockets aim to stretch San Antonio’s sorrows to 12 game as a battle of the West’s bottom feeders takes place Thursday night in the Alamo City. However, take a look at the Rockets recent play, and you’ll see Houston isn’t playing like their record shows. This is a game the Rockets should win, and in the rare case, they actually are the slight favorite heading into tonight’s Texas Showdown. This is also the lone road game during this home-heavy stretch in Houston’s schedule. The Rockets have been a much better team at home opposed to the road so far this season. That trend needs to end tonight, as Houston’s lost three of their last four road games, having won only three away from Toyota Center all season. Thankfully after tonight, the Rockets play their next seven games at home.
Regardless of their record, The Spurs still has legendary coach Popovich at the helm. San Antonio’s coach is arguably one of the best mentors the NBA’s ever seen. And while he doesn’t possess a talented group of players comparable to the Tim Duncan-Days, Pop still gets the most out of anyone he puts on the court. The Spurs will be ready to play hard tonight, and the Rockets need to follow Tari Eason’s energy, to ensure a letdown doesn’t ensue in the Alamo City tonight. Eason’s scored 19, 24, and 18 points in his last three games respectively, along with his token furious energy on the court. The rest of the Rockets need to follow suit. The Spurs traded away their best player, All-Star Dejounte Murray, who ironically started Houston’s fire after poking at Jabari Smith Jr., resulting in the Rockets storming back to shock Atlanta. Houston’s played with a different fire since that moment. This San Antonio team doesn’t have any household names at the moment, but Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are slowly evolving into All-Stars, espclailly Johnson. The duo is Houston’s primary focus on defense tonight.
The key to Thursday night’s tilt is simple: avoid falling into an early hole. If the Rockets keep digging early deficits for themselves, they’re going to run out of energy before we reach the season’s halfway-mark. Comebacks are fun, but they’re difficult. Houston needs to quit toying with this double-edged sword habit. This road the Rockets have been traveling needs to stop. Tonight is the first matchup between these Texas rivals, and Houston has two days off coming into the San Antonio’s AT&T Center, aka the House Duncan Built. The Rockets should win tonight’s tilt, but they have a tendency to let complacency leak into their game plan. If Houston can carry the momentum from their infectiously exciting win over Philly on Monday, then opportunity awaits the Rockets… as they have a great chance to win on the road one last time before the holidays.
AT&T Center: San Antonio, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (7-17): Black
San Antonio Spurs: (6-18): Turquoise
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass