Let the Games Begin. Tune Out. Repeat Performance.
The quest begins. We’re finally here. It’s time for some playoff basketball. After 82 games, the Rockets finished 53-29, 12 games worse than last year’s team. Ironically, this season’s team is actually better. And their quest to prove that begins on Sunday night at Toyota Center. Houston will take on a familiar foe in this series, the Utah Jazz. The Rockets knocked the Jazz out of the playoffs in last year’s second round, and will shoot for the same result in the first round of this postseason. Houston split the season-series with Utah, 2-2. This series features the league’s two hottest teams out West since the All-Star break. As the Rockets rose up the standings from fourteenth to fourth, the Jazz climbed a little higher as well. Utah got off to a slow start, but eventually finished with the fifth seed. For a first-round matchup, the Jazz are about as tough as it gets. They’re gritty, tough, and are one of the top four teams in the West, records not included.
The Rockets said it doesn’t matter who they play. And if they’re the best team, it shouldn’t. This first round will be a great test for this Houston team, and will only make the Rockets better moving forward. No other team that’s favored in their playoff series has as tough an opponent as Houston does in the first round, in Utah. To be the best, you have to beat the best. The Jazz aren’t the best, but they’re a great tune up for the best, if the Rockets can take care of business and advance onto the second round.
Houston needs to take care of business at Toyota Center and protect home court. If the Rockets lose Game 1 or 2, it puts added pressure on the squad heading into a disruptive environment that is playing in Utah. The Jazz have some of the most disrespectful fans in the league. The owner had to address the Utah fans publicly about this earlier in the season, after an incident between Russell Westbrook and a fan. Utah’s fans are loud, and their supportive of their team. They may be obnoxious, but they give the Jazz a great home-court advantage. The Rockets need to tune out all the craziness they will hear from the fans in Utah, and just play basketball. It shouldn’t be a problem for Houston, as they won both games in Utah in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.
The Rockets need to take advantage of the Jazz’ inability to take care of the basketball. Utah is the second-worst team in the league in turnovers. Houston happens to be the NBA’s number one team in forcing turnovers. The Rockets defense needs to jump all over this advantage to propel them past the Jazz in this series. Houston also needs to box out on the defensive end. The Rockets have struggled all year on the defensive boards. Rudy Gobert and Utah are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league. Houston may need to use more size in this series to contain Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and others who will be fighting for rebounds. Houston also needs to contain Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, Ricky Rubio, and Joe Ingles on the perimeter. If the Rockets can force the Jazz into a turnover-happy team and win the rebounding war, Houston should win the series.
Last season, the Rockets beat the Jazz in 5 games in the second round to end Utah’s season. Houston is looking for a repeat performance in this year’s first round. Both squads, Houston and Utah, are better than last year. As long as the Rockets don’t look ahead to the second round (where the Warriors will be waiting), they should be able to win this series in 5 games again. It might take 6, but don’t expect this series to go to a Game 7. Houston knows how much is at stake. For the franchise. For James Harden. Chris Paul. Mike D’Antoni. Daryl Morey. They’ve waited months, after last year’s devastating Game 7 loss to Golden State, to get back to the playoffs. It’s that time of the year, and the Rockets are finally here. Ready to go, with a chip on their shoulder, intent on proving the basketball world wrong. It’s time to run it back. It all begins on Sunday night at Toyota Center.
Series Prediction: Rockets in 5