Houston Blazes Home to Meet Portland, Before the Going Gets Tough
UT2: Now Playing. Rebounding Reinforcements. Calm Before the Storm.
The Unguardable Tour 2: Revenge for the Ring is officially under way. James Harden’s nationwide show and the Rockets return to Toyota Center on Monday night. Player of the Week honors were bestowed upon the Beard once again, as Houston rocketed up the standings with a 4-0 record last week. Harden averaged an absurd 44.8 points a game last week, including 16 PPG in the fourth quarter. Houston, riding a 7-game winning streak, is ready to host the struggling Blazers. A season after making the Western Conference Finals, Portland has been one of the NBA’s most disappoint teams this year. The Blazers have a record of 5-8 on the season, and have lost 7 of their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Rockets are red-hot, winners of 7 straight, boasting a 10-3 record. These clubs appear to be headed towards opposite ends of the spectrum. Houston, a club with the image of a serious title contender, is hungry and off to a hot start to the season. On the other end, Portland just doesn’t look right. Which is strange for a team that’s been in the playoff hunt for at least the past 5 years. The Blazers need to fix whatever the problem is in Portland, or they’re headed towards rebuilding mode faster than anyone expected.
The Rockets get some reinforcements back tonight. After being severely undermanned in Minnesota, Russell Westbrook returns to action tonight, along with Clint Capela and Danuel House. All three of these starters will provide a huge boost for Harden and the Rockets. Although the squad showed just how deep they are with Ben McLemore, Chris Clemons, and Austin Rivers protecting the Beard’s Fort on the perimeter. Tyson Chandler and Isaiah Hartenstein had big games defensively, and on the glass in Capela’s absence. Houston will most noticeably be getting glass reinforcements with the return of Westbrook, House, and Capela. The three combine to average 25.4 boards a game this season. The Rockets have vastly improved on their rebounding this season, specifically on the defensive end. Although they were out- rebounded on Saturday against the Wolves, the return of these rebounding reinforcements should give Houston the advantage in the board battle against a Blazers team without their best big man, Jusuf Nurkic. Portland’s underaged big man suffered a gruesome leg injury in March, and there’s no timetable for his return. The Blazers certainly haven’t been the same squad without him, evidenced by last season’s playoff letdown and this year’s poor start. Nonetheless, Portland’s often been a tough out for the Rockets over the past few seasons. Damian Lillard seems to play his best ball against Houston. But, Dame Dollar is no James Edwards Harden. If Dame drops 40, he makes the ESPN headlines. If James Edwards does it, no one utters a word. Complete silence. Because it’s the norm. We expect Harden to score 40. The man does average 39.5 points per game, the league’s highest scoring average in 56 years. For most players, 40 points is a career-defining performance. For the Beard, it’s just another Classic Average Night at the office. So, someone will score 40. And that person will either be on the losing team, or in the headlines. Harden needs to score at least 50 to garner attention that’s out of his norm nowadays. The Beard and company should have an advantage over a Blazers team still finding its identity this year. They just can’t afford to overlook Portland as part of this game screams “trap game.”
After tonight, Houston heads to the Rocky Mountains as the schedule gets rockier. The Rockets need a win tonight in the friendly confines of home. Afterwards, they head to Denver to begins one of the toughest 4-game stretches of the season. The Nuggets await Houston in the mile-high city on Wednesday before the Rockets head to L.A. for a rematch with their arch-rival, and main nemesis, the Clippers. Two Western opponents that should be jostling with Houston in the standings all season. But, the Rockets can’t overlook these Blazers. As much as this game might seem like the calm before the storm, Portland’s not nearly as bad as their record shows. The Blazers have yet to lose a game by double-digits all season, with four losses coming by 4 points or less. They’ve also had a difficult schedule early to start the season. Portland’s started slow and finished strong the last few seasons. A trend that should continue this season. The Blazers have too much talent on their roster to waste away a season at the bottom of the West. If Houston is too comfortable with the bulk of their starters returning, and isn’t prepared for a Blazers team that always plays tough… the going will get tough for the Rockets at home. However, Harden’s in an atmosphere other players can’t reach. Don’t expect him to slow down any time soon… The Unguardable Tour 2 is only just beginning.
Toyota Center: Houston, Texas
Jersey Colors:
Portland Trailblazers (5-8): Red
Houston Rockets (10-3): Black
TV: 7 PM CT – NBA TV, AT&T Sportsnet SW