Wall’s Rockets Out-Dueled by Beal’s Wizards 131-119, Houston’s Skid Reaches Six
Late Scratches and Little Firepower. Dying From a Distance. Waiting for Wood.
John Wall returned to the D.C. area to play for the first time in a uniform not representing the Wizards. Wall was fine in his return, notching season-highs of 29 points and 11 dimes, but the Rockets didn’t have enough firepower against Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, and the Washington Wizards. Eric Gordon was a late scratch for this game, leaving short-handed Houston in a precarious position, as the Rockets fell to the Wizards, 131-119, on Monday night. All fife starters scored in double-figures for Hosuton, but without Gordon, Victor Oladipo, and Christian Wood, the Rockets were too handicapped to beat a sub-par Wizards team. Bradley Beal led Washington with 37 points, while Westbrook had another triple-double, as the Wizards led this one pretty much from the opening tip.
The Rockets have been downright terrible from beyond the arc in their recent losses. If the shots aren’t falling from the perimeter, Houston has to drive the ball to the rack, and settle for the easy layup or dunk. This three-point addiction the Rockets have is poisonous, and in many situations the downfall of the team in most of their losses. If the squad can play old-school basketball, and look for the best shot available, they’ll finally start trending in the right direction.
Now, if we’re being completely honest, this Houston team won’t be making any noise without Christian Wood. Despite John Wall’s stellar achievements as an All-Star, Wood is in his mid-20’s and has shown he’s the future of the franchise. The Rockets have to try their best as they continue to wait for Wood to get healthy. And there’s no sense in rushing him back. Houston needs to make sure their franchise player is fully-healthy, hoping these were the last of his injuries, before they push his return to the court. Wood will know when he’s ready. And the Rockets will be in much better shape with him on the floor. But for now, Houston will just have to settle for middling returns, and pray they can maybe get a few wins while Wood recovers. It doesn’t get any easier as the Rockets head to Philly to take on the East’s top team, the Sixers, managed by none-other than Daryl Morey, who was a sensational GM in Houston for more than a decade. It should be fun, hopefully the Rockets can make Wednesday night’s Morey-Bowl more competitive than Monday night’s downer in D.C.