Rockets Seeking Deja Vu in Their Rematch with Thunder
Seventh Heaven. The Mike Jones All-Stars. Next Man Up.
“When I step between those lines, I want you to be able to go to war with me, and fight for me,” John Wall said on the importance of Houston’s team-bonding dinners and why speaking your mind to teammates is so important. These intimate dining sessions take place more often on the road, as everyone is usually together, instead of in their own homesteads. And tonight, the Rockets didn’t travel, but they’re still on the road, just in the same spot as last time… OKC, where the Thunder almost had to call the National Weather Service after the Rockets’ record-setting 28 threes blasted OKC’s chances out of Chesapeake Bay Arena. Houston will attempt to repeat their electric Monday-night performance tonight, as the Rockets, owners of the league’s longest winning streak, shoot for their seventh straight win. But it won’t be as easy this time.
Tonight is the first of a back-to-back for Houston, as the squad travels to Memphis to face the Grizzlies tomorrow. Therefore, for precautionary matters, John Wall will sit out tonight’s game and rest in preparation for Thursday. Expect Victor Oladipo, who will be resting tomorrow, to have a big game, and Christian Wood to put up what he’s been posting: All-Star numbers on a nightly-basis. Guys like Ben McLemore, Mason Jones, and really everyone will see extended minutes without Wall, and David Nwaba still out with an injury. But unlike Rockets teams of the past seasons, this squad is built for that “next-man-up” mentality. This is a team full of guys, who back in the past, weren’t really wanted in their previous destinations. A group of players motivated with a collective chip on their shoulder. Watching these Rockets play is like listening to “Back Then,” by Houston’s own Mike Jones, on repeat. This squad is playing with that “Mike Jones” attitude: “back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot, they all on me.” Minus their floor leader tonight, and an expected regression to the mean (the Rockets won’t hit 28 threes again tonight), tonight will be a tougher test than Monday’s blowout by Houston.
Despite not having John Wall, the Rockets are still more talented than this Thunder team. And while they may not win by 30, they should win tonight if they play with their usual hungry Houston intensity. The squad probably won’t set another franchise-record for threes tonight, so expect more drives to the basket, and more of a gritty, grind-out, lower scoring game than Monday’s first affair between these two West foes. The Rockets are still in the midst of climbing their way back up the standings in the Western Conference. There’s no time to celebrate, regardless if they’re riding the NBA’s longest winning-streak, Houston needs to keep beating the bad teams, as their schedule will only toughen in the future. With another game tomorrow night, the Rockets would love to see Deja Vu, and silence the Thunder early like they did on Monday. John Wall’s absence will hurt the Rockets, but Houston should have enough spirit in them to fight for him on the court. If Wall could, he would do just the same.
Chesapeake Bay Arena: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (10-9): White
Oklahoma City Thunder (8-11): Black
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW