Reserves Ignite Houston in the Clutch, Down Blazers, 111-104
Just another game. In a season close to slipping away. On the verge of a 4-game losing streak. Or so it seemed. The Rockets trailed by 15 points in the first quarter and were manhandled on the glass. They looked like they didn’t have the effort. Turns out, they just needed a little rest, as the reserves came in and sparked the Rockets to go on a 24-6 run en route to a huge 111-104 victory over the Portland Trailblazers on Tuesday night. Nene had far and away his most productive game of the season with 10 points, making his presence felt in the paint. In-season pickup of the year, Danuel House, had another tremendous effort on both ends of the floor. Gerald Green found his groove with 13 points. Houston’s bench, which had been the league’s worst, finally came to life as a unit, outscoring Portland’s reserves 37-13 in the ballgame. The Beard led the way with 29 points, but it was his insistence on a 2-hour practice before the game, that had the more valuable impact on the game. The Beard will get his production, also known as “Bearding”, when he’s really got his full arsenal of tricks on full display. It’s the rest of the squad that needs to follow suit, and this instrumental meeting/practice before the best team-win of the season, could prove to be the pivotal moment that turns this season around (if the Rockets continue their team effort on both ends of the floor). Eric Gordon was inserted into the starting lineup for James Ennis. EG had 14 points, but Ennis suffered yet another hamstring injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks. This is tough, considering Ennis was really starting to come into his own as a member of the rotation. His aggression was improving, especially on defense, and he managed to stay out of foul trouble after that was an issue earlier in the season. Ennis’ defense on the perimeter will be missed, but the Rockets have enough bodies to fill that hole, as long as they use the formula they used tonight. Crisp ball-movement, trust your teammates, RUN AS ONE, and the Rockets should win most of the games they play. Chris Paul had about as quiet a triple double as one can have, finishing the contest with 11 points, 11 boards, and 10 dimes. Overall, this was Houston’s most complete team-effort of the season, and it resulted in a victory. The Rockets bench came in, and made several key plays in the fourth to seal the victory. The squad needs to continue to run as one and they can beat anyone on any night. Houston tied a season-high with 7 Rockets finishing in double-figures. Basketball is a team game. You can have all the star power in the world, but if you don’t use your teammates and play together, or in the Rockets case, Run as One, you won’t win as many games as you expect, no matter the lineup (See the 2004 US Olympic Team, who only managed a bronze medal, despite all the star-power on display). Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Portland’s most lethal threats and one of the NBA’s best backcourts, combined for 57 points. But it wasn’t enough. The Rockets held the rest of the Blazers in check, and proved they were the better team tonight in a game they needed to win. Up next for the Rockets, NBA royalty arrives in Houston on Thursday night, in what should be an electric environment, as Houston will play host to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The first matchup featured the infamous “spittle” brawl that got CP3 suspended, and got the Rockets season off to a shaky start, despite winning that game, losing CP3 tipped the balance of court efficiency for Houston, and it showed in the games he didn’t play. The Rockets have yet to win a game without CP3. But he’ll be in the building on Thursday night. Ready to show his good friend LeBron James why the Rockets are still better than the Lakers, despite both team’s surprising positions in the standings.