Rockets, Thunder, Clash in Christmas Day Bash
The Tale of Two Seasons. A River Runs Red. Here We Go.
“Do I look like a guy with a plan?” Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker asks, in the best comic-book movie of all time, The Dark Knight. The Rockets looked like a team with a plan. Coming off a franchise-record 65 wins, getting within a game of beating the unbeatable juggernaut known as the Golden State Warriors. So far, this season, the Rockets look more like dogs chasing cars. They’ve had injuries, new additions, and key losses this past offseason that have the plan for this season slightly off the beaten path. Houston has had its fair share of problems, but with 50 games remaining on the schedule, they’ve got more than enough time to get back on the runway to success. The Rockets have looked better as a team of late, despite losing Chris Paul to another hamstring injury, only two games ago. ‘Tis the life of an NBA team, in a league where injuries to star players effect a team’s performance more than any other professional league. Injuries happen. It’s how you’re team responds as a unit that makes or breaks your franchise’s season. Every NBA team faces a similar grueling schedule (depending on your conference) each season, consisting of a lengthy 82 games, comprised over 6 months. The season is often viewed as a tale of two very different seasons. Whether you look at the All-Star Break in February, or Christmas Day (annually the biggest regular season day on the NBA schedule), the league has moments where teams can reflect on their spot in the standings, and where they sit amongst pretenders, playoff-contenders, and title-contenders. The NBA has, finally, given the Rockets the honor of hosting a game on the cheeriest day of the year. It’s been a long time Rockets fans. Ironically, the Rockets hosted the first ever national-televised Christmas Day game in league history. However, that was back in 1967, when the franchise was still in its inaugural season in San Diego. A lot of people say the NBA season doesn’t really start until Christmas. Take a glance at the standings, and you’ll see we’re well into a third of the way of the regular season. Christmas Day, besides being the most celebrated holiday, is the NBA’s coming out party, and grand opening. Casual fans begin to cheer and turn their heads to the NBA, as the dominant, headline-stealing gauntlet known as the NFL and its season winds down. It’s a time of the year when the NBA is the center of the sports-world, with a slate of games that consistently involves star-studded lineups and top-tier competition (the Knicks have bucked this trend for several seasons now, as Madison Square Garden has hosted more Christmas-Day matchups than any arena in the league’s history). This season is no different, as Santa brings NBA fans another slate of entertaining games this Christmas. Booked for the holiday matchups include: the Freak-led Bucks at the Garden, the hotly anticipated annual matchup between LeBron and the Warriors, a battle between Finals contenders Philly and Boston, and a Western matchup between the Blazers and Jazz. Oh, and of course, smack dab in the middle of the proceedings, Westbrook (or George’s?) upstart Thunder face off against the unpredictable Rockets. The matchup at Toyota Center may not be the most star-studded of the day, but there’s no lack of star-power in Tuesday’s holiday bash. Russell Westbrook is quietly averaging a triple-double for the third year in a row, and early season MVP-candidate Paul George is playing out of his mind, having the best season of his career. George, who played for Indiana before being traded to Oklahoma City, is hitting his stride in his second year with his new team. Russell Westbrook and Paul George form one of the deadliest tandems the league has to offer. That’s only part of the storm the Thunder will be bringing into Houston on Christmas. OKC boasts one of the league’s best offensive rebounders and underrated big men in Steven Adams, to go along with one of the NBA’s most potent defenses this season. The Thunder are currently exceeding preseason expectations, claiming the 3 seed at the moment, up near the top of the dominant Western Conference. Houston, however, is a little behind what prognostics thought before the season began. The Rockets are clinging to the 8th seed in a jam-packed West that becomes more competitive with each game. Houston got an early Christmas present as they try and climb a little higher in the relentless West. Austin Rivers, the heated-rival and prior member of the Los Angeles Clippers, officially signed with the Rockets for the remainder of the season on Monday. Rivers, despite being in street clothes, made his presence all-too-known in last season’s “Secret Tunnel” escapade. One in which, Chris Paul and Austin Rivers, were some of the main advocates. That beef has been squashed, according to sources close to the Duke graduate. Rivers said Houston’s “a very fitting place” and the Rockets have been a team he’s “always admired and wanted to play for.” Houston needs help in the backcourt regardless. Chris Paul is still out at least another two weeks, and Brandon Knight is slowly trying to reach his ceiling coming off a lengthy injury. And, Michael Carter-Williams has been, other than hitting the record-setting 3-point shot to break the record (in garbage time), Michael Carter-Williams. Which, so far this season for the Rockets, simply hasn’t been good enough. This is another huge game for Houston amidst their brutal stretch against the NBA’s elite. The Rockets and Thunder each have 50 games remaining in their season. If you would have asked someone, who would have had the higher seed on Christmas day this season, the vast majority would have said the Rockets, but Houston’s witnessed the rocky road to Christmas: Defensive whizz, Jeff Bzdelik, retires right before the season. The Carmelo Anthony Experiment. Injuries. Bzdelik returns. More injuries. Rockets fans hope with the addition of Rivers, the team will move further towards their ultimate goal: winning the Championship for the third time in the franchise’s storied history. Houston is coming off its first win without Chris Paul this season, a gutsy win in the clutch over San Antonio in their previous contest. The Rockets have said Austin Rivers is expected to play in the Christmas Day showdown against the Thunder. Houston hopes he can fill some much-needed depth in the backcourt with Chris Paul’s timetable for a return still uncertain. CP3 is expected to miss at least another 2-3 weeks, and the Rockets will be cautious bringing him back. Paul’s age and recent injury history only reveal the obvious: if Houston isn’t careful and can’t avoid the injury bug (something they’ve been stung by all season), Chris Paul is more likely than not to suffer another injury before the playoffs, when Houston will need him to 100% healthy. 32 games into his second season with Houston, Paul and the Rockets championship window is closing faster than Usain Bolt on the track. But, it’s not closed yet. The Rockets still have time to prove they’re worthy title contenders. They’ve been through a lot this season, and now the entire sports world will turn its eyes to the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule. Houston needs to embrace the spotlight, as teams league-wide will be gearing up for playoff positioning, or Zion-positioning, depending where your squad sits in the standings. It’s not the All-Star break yet, but Christmas Day usually involves teams who end up in the playoffs later that season, including the eventual Champion. It might not be make-or-break time for the Rockets yet, but it’s getting close. This season’s no longer a joke. Houston looks to gift their fans a present, wrapped in a win over the testy Thunder on Tuesday. The Christmas Day matchup marks the first game between the two teams this season. It’s lift-off time for the Rockets, and Christmas marks the NBA’s launching pad. Hopefully, they have a plan ready for a Thunder team storming into Houston, playing tenacious basketball. Look for Eric Gordon to have a big game on his birthday (Happy Birthday EG!!) and Austin Rivers to make an immediate impact as a nuisance to Russell Westbrook. The season starts now in many viewers’ eyes, the Rockets need to be ready. They’ve had enough scars for two seasons combined. It’s time for Houston to set their winning plan in motion. It’s been time. They need to play like contenders. Houston will be debuting their new “Earned” jerseys, made exclusively for teams that made the playoffs last season. A win over the Thunder on Christmas Day is just what the squad needs to gain confidence without Chris Paul, and prove they’re more than capable of earning a playoff spot this season. The Rockets need to take the court with that ready-set-go mindset, and take a cue from some of the Joker’s final words: “And. Here. We. Go!”
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11): Navy Blue
Houston Rockets (17-15): “Earned” Crimson Red
TV: 2 PM CT – ABC