Rockets Search for Positive Spells, Face Wizards in D.C.
Formula Test. Average Magic. New Rockets.
The Rockets meet the Wizards for the first time this season as the teams will battle in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night. Houston is trying to snap an eight-game losing-streak. The Wizards started the season 8-3. Since that point, they’re only 8-15, signifying their potential as merely average. However, they still have Bradley Beal, one of the league’s best players. The Wiz also got a plethora of ex-Lakers from the Russell Westbrook trade who are having career seasons. Kyle Kuzma stands out the most as a guy Houston needs to keep their eye on, besides Beal. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has also played well in Washington.
The Rockets have a chance tonight, but it’ll depend on the return of Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. Both players were suspended in Houston’s previous game for their childish outbursts in the Denver game on New Year’s Day. These cases are different, despite happening in the same game. Wood has been a discussion of trade rumors all season, this outburst only seems to almost signify he’ll eventually be traded. KPJ is a harder case to discern. This seems like his final chance. He was shipped out of Cleveland for behavioral issues. If the NBA’s connoisseur of player development, John Lucas, can’t get the best out of Scoot, it’s hard to imagine anyone accomplishing the feat. KPJ has a lot to prove in his return, and Houston will determine if he’s fit to be the point-guard for the franchise long-term. Stephen Silas’ formula will be put to the ultimate test on Wednesday night.
Tonight’s game is the first chance to get a look at the new Rockets. No… no new players have joined the team since the previous game, neither have any new injuries developed. But after the behavior Wood and KPJ displayed against Denver, they will never be the same. They can learn to put their actions in the past, and move on to a better future. Or they can stubbornly play on a squad who will soon ship them to another team. The choice is theirs: Wood and Porter Jr.’s. And these incidents could turn out very different. This is the first problematic issue Scoot has had in a Rockets jersey. Is this a sign he’s trending back towards the immature, raw player in Cleveland who no one wanted? KPJ’s showed flashes of brilliance. Last season’s 50-Burger against the Champion Milwaukee Bucks. But this season, Scoot’s been inconsistent to merely-average. If he can control his behavior, KPJ has the potential to grow into a formidable player, but he has to perform more consistently at a higher level.
Meanwhile, Wood has shown he’s capable of being a legitimate All-Star in this league. That is, when he wants to play. Who knows if the trade rumors are getting to his head, but Wood obviously was upset about coming off the bench. As a player, regardless of talent-level, you have to accept coaching. At least in the eyes of the public. Rocket fans should get a good idea of where these players stand as they return to the court tonight in D.C. It should be fairly easy to tell whether or not Wood wants to stay in Houston long-term. Scoot, meanwhile, will be a trickier puzzle to solve, and one that may take more time.
Capitol One Arena: Washington D.C.
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (10-28): White
Washington Wizards (19-18): Blue “City Edition”
Tip-Off: 6 PM CT
TV: AT&T Sportsnet SW, NBA League Pass