Wolf-Hunt: Rockets Aim to Start Road Trip on Positive Note, Face Wolves in Minny
Best Chance. Future Rocket? Houston’s New Batman.
“I’ll just go get them,” Russell Westbrook told Mike D’Antoni, after the Rockets coach told the team they were last in the NBA in rebounds a game. This was after Houston’s last loss, an embarrassing collapse to the Thunder at home, aka Real Rock Bottom (hopefully) for Houston. And Brodie responded, or more accurately continued, his efficient and energetic play, as he snagged 16 boards to go with 28 points to lead the Rockets back to the winning side. And whether you like it or not.. want to admit it or not.. this is Houston’s best chance to win a title.. playing Brodie’s style of basketball. That means James Harden will have to take a step to the side. He’s doesn’t need to become Robin to Westbrook’s Batman. But when Brodie wants to be Batman, Harden needs to let his backcourt mate attack. When Russ is attacking consistently, and a more focal point of the offense, the Rockets are just a better team. It really is that simple. Westbrook need to continue to have more of an offensive role in the Houston’s system. That means cutting down shots for Harden. The Beard’s not going anywhere. Houston’s not getting anywhere near a Championship without Harden. The MVP’s already learning, he was an efficient 6-for-13 in the Rockets’ win over the Nuggets. And he let Brodie be Brodie, and it led to a victory. Despite playing a depleted Denver squad, it’s a step in the right direction for Houston if they want to really win this thing they call the Larry O’Brien trophy in June.
On Friday night, the Rockets begin a tough four-game road trip, facing the Wolves in Minneapolis. The tougher part of this voyage, is this Sunday/Monday’s Deathwalk aka a back-to-back in Denver and the red-hot Utah Jazz. Both teams ahead of Houston in the standings. And the altitude. The Rockets also finish their excursion in Portland, which has always been a tough atmosphere for opposing teams. Houston needs a win over a weaker Wolves team tonight, to carry momentum into their mountainous back-to-back. Minnesota is 15-29, and owners of the league’s longest current slide, losing their past seven games. This is by far the Rockets’ best chance to get a win on this road trip. And if they can start it off on the right foot, they’ll have more confidence heading into the rocky part of the voyage, when they head West after tonight. Houston has been searching for a “3-and-D player” for a while now. A 3-and-D player is a role player who possesses great perimeter defense and shoots the three-ball with accuracy. The Wolves have one of the best on the business, in Robert Covington aka “RoCo”, one of the league’s best 3-and-D players. He could also be future Rocket. Houston is rumored to make a move before the February 8th trade deadline, and talks of Covington potentially becoming a Rocket have surfaced since the offseason. Houston will get a good scouting report on what RoCo brings to the floor when they face his Wolves in Minny.
Houston may have survived the worst. A rough four-game losing streak that seemed like the end of the world is over. They’re coming off a 16-point win over Denver. But… now’s not the time to get comfortable. The Rockets are superior to the Wolves in all aspects, and should win whether it’s in Minnesota or Houston. Unfortunately, we’ve all seen this story before. You know.. the one where the Rockets toy with their inferior competition, allow them to hang around in the game, until it becomes too lates and their antics come back to bite them. Houston needs to dominate this matchup from start-to-finish, and get some rest and preparation. Their upcoming three-game stretch out West is brutally relentless, one of the toughest all season. Have they survived the worst? Tonight’s outcome will be reveal if Wednesday’s victory was just a win over a depleted team, or actually something more. It’s time to take of the easy business first. And despite their record, Minnesota’s a team full of professionals. More than capable of beating Houston if the Rockets resort to their old habits. Hopefully, the sight of Wolves spark a fire and intensity into the squad. If not, don’t fear Houston… look for Westbrook to go get them.
Target Center: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (27-16): “Classic” Red
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-29): Blue
TV: 7 PM CT – AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass