Rockets Aim to Begin a New Streak, Host Rising Suns
Sunny Stretch. No Nightmares. Team You Love to Hate.
They’re back. After a crazy adventure of sorts, Houston returns home for a match against the young Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. The Rockets are coming off a strange, short two-game road trip. The first game, in San Antonio, featured a controversial dunk, which gave way to a collapse and heartbreak. Houston’s latest affair, in Toronto, featured dazzling teamwork, solid shooting, and resilient defense, resulting in arguably the best win of the season. James Harden and the Rockets now find themselves beginning a very soft, sunny stretch in the schedule. Starting tonight against Phoenix, Houston’s next six games are all against opponents with losing records. It’s time the squad takes advantage of this portion of the schedule to build a gap in the West. The Lakers have been red-hot to start the year, at 20-3 on the season, and leading the West. Harden and the Rockets can catch King James and LA, or at least close in on them, if they continue to win games over bad teams.
Be warned… Don’t take this team for granted Houston. The Suns aren’t that bad, this year. They’ll actually be the toughest test Houston faces over the next six games. Phoenix, despite being 10-11, is sitting in the 7th spot in the West. The Suns have a chance to make the playoffs, but there’s still a lot of basketball left this season. Phoenix started the campaign 5-2, but are 5-9 since, trending downward. Devin Booker, the Suns best player, and most underrated star in the NBA, is coming off his best game of the season. Booker had 44 points, 8 boards, and 9 assists in Phoenix’s last game, an overtime win over the Pelicans in New Orleans. Last year’s number one overall pick in the draft, De’Andre Ayton, has missed the entire season with an injury. He won’t play tonight, and luckily for Houston, Aaron Baynes, who was the highlight of the Suns fast start, remains out with an injury as well. The Rockets do not bode well against players of Baynes’ nature. The big Aussie is the kind of strong grinder in the post who gives Houston’s thin interior nightmares. Thankfully, there should be no nightmares tonight. If the Rockets don’t overlook the Suns, there’s no reason they should fall on Saturday night.
Having played 21 games, Houston is approximately a quarter through the season. It’s been an interesting first quarter of year, as all have in the Harden/Tucker Era. The first quarter of the Harden/Westbrook Era has had seemingly everything. Injuries (of course), winning streaks, MVP-caliber performances, losing streaks, shameful losses, 60 point-games, controversy, even official protests. And then there’s the Rockets Rebounding Machine: the most underrated big man in basketball, Clint Capela. After a slow start through the first six games, Capela changed his attitude after a talk from Coach Mike D’Antoni. Since, Clint’s dominated the boards in nearly every game, eating glass for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s certainly been an entertaining 21 games so far. The Rockets have a chance to gain ground in the West over the next ten games. Other than the Clippers, every team Houston faces over the next ten games is currently a squad with a losing record. It’s time the Harden and Russell Westbrook even out their chemistry. In particular, it’s time for Brodie to improve his decision-making on the court. Westbrook brings a great amount of energy, and his ability to rebound has opened ups space for Clint in the paint. Defenses focus on Westbrook attacking the offensive glass, while forgetting about the Swiss Boardman, preferred meal: glass. Brodie’s had a positive impact on Capela’s game, but Westbrook is too erratic in many situations. If Russ can’t improve his decision-making, when Eric Gordon returns, and if he returns as the Splash Gordon Rockets fans know, Westbrook could potentially ride the pine in key situations later in the season.
Beginning tonight, 61 games remain for Houston. They’ve also become the Team Everyone Loves to Hate. Other than Rocket fans, who actually watch the team, outsiders who love to throw a jab at the Beard any chance they get.. even though they’ll never touch close to his level of greatness. These haters concede that Houston complains too much, the Rockets style of play is boring, Harden is “cheating” the rules or flopping. Whatever the excuse is, they can keep on whining about any of the above. Because the Rockets, and that man with the beard your friend loves to hate, they’re not going anywhere. The refs can take away a team’s basket, but they can’t take away a squad’s passion. It’s time to darken the bright, rising Suns, a team many causal fans enjoy rooting for. Unfortunately for Phoenix, they come to Houston at the wrong time… invading the baddest man on the planet’s house. Coming off that huge win in Toronto, the Rockets are back, ready to show they’re better than ever.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Phoenix Suns (10-11): Purple
Houston Rockets (14-7): “City Edition” White
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW