Key matchup: Chandler Parsons vs Michael Beasley

Minnesota has been playing with a purpose ever since Beasley returned from his foot injury. Adelman has shuffled his lineup and now has Beasley in a sixth man role, a position Beasley relishes and maximizes. Parsons cannot allow another offensive explosion from the volatile forward similar to what happened in their last tiff.

X-factor: Kyle Lowry

Lowry is coming off a 5-8-9 night against Phoenix that left many scratching their heads. Lowry seems to be all over the court with his hustle but looks gassed when the Rockets set up their offense. Lowry will need help from the big men in terms of initiating the offense from the post for him to be at peak performance longer.

Code Red: Nikola Pekovic is coming off a career night, pouring 27 points and grabbing 11 boards in their win last night. Pekovic has been a revelation, providing significant contributions whenever he spells Darko Milicic. Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson cannot rest on their laurels against the up-and-coming big. In their last game, Kevin Love also got a lot of open looks from the perimeter. Someone (by someone, we all mean Luis Scola) has to keep the defense honest on him.

Twitter: @favianpua

The All-Star starters have just been announced. The Rockets are currently at 12-10 and would like to gain traction in an increasingly tight Southwest Division race. They are currently tied with the Grizzlies for the ninth seed and a game out of the playoffs behind the Lakers.

1. Fact or Fiction: Houston will have a winning record this month.

Eric Todd, Red94: Fact. The expectation is that Lowry’s recent slump is the anomaly, not his fast start. February’s schedule should allow the Rockets to keep their heads above water, if just barely.

Favian Pua, Red94: Fiction. The Rockets might be headed to a 7-8 or 6-9 record this month as strength of schedule catches up. They will be traveling to Denver, Memphis, and Portland while playing host to the Thunder and Sixers. It could get ugly.

Michael Pina, Re94: Fact. With five back-to-backs and seven of their 15 games on the road, it won’t be easy. But Houston will catch a break by playing four of the teams twice, which is wonderful for familiarity purposes. Also, the competition isn’t exactly dominant: Phoenix (twice), Golden State, Toronto, Utah (twice), and Minnesota (twice).

2. Fact or Fiction: The Rockets will send an All-Star Game representative to Orlando.

Eric: Fact. Kevin Martin will be Kobe’s back-up at the two, not so much because Martin is having a break-out year, but more-so because the lack of super-star shooting guards in the Western Conference will make him the de-facto choice for most coaches.

Favian: Fiction. Kyle Lowry has slumped ever since his triple-double, and the recency effect psychology will definitely play a significant role when the coaches place their ballots.

Michael: Fact. I know he’s sputtered in the last week or so, but the body of work Kyle Lowry has put together this year can’t be overlooked. When you combine his two-way talent with all the responsibilities the coaching staff has placed on his shoulders, Lowry qualifies as one of those early season MVP candidates with no actual shot at winning the award. He’s been fantastic this year.

Eric: Fact. This rumor has been circulating now for a few weeks, and though the trade would certainly not propel the Rockets into the upper echelon of NBA talent, it would improve the team in the short term without burdening its future salary commitments. All this, of course, assumes that Kaman is in shape enough to actually play.

Favian:Fact. The Hornets could seriously consider what Houston is offering them (Thabeet/Williams/Hill/Flynn) provided that the Rockets include the 2012 first round pick acquired from the Knicks. Does it make the Rockets stronger overall? Yes, but only for half a season. He’s a rental and won’t be around for the long haul.

Michael: Fiction. For all intents and purposes, I don’t see why the Hornets would bite on a Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams pu pu platter, or why the Rockets would include a Knicks draft pick that’s increasing in value by the day. Placing Kaman on the Rockets would make Houston a match-up nightmare come playoff time, but the two sides arriving at a fair deal seems unlikely.

Key matchup: Samuel Dalembert vs Marcin Gortat

Dalembert did not see action in the closing minutes of the Spurs game. He will be raring to bring down the Suns’ double-double machine, but Gortat will not be boxed out easily. The last time the Polish Hammer had less than 10 rebounds was back in January 8 against the Bucks.

X-factor: Chandler Parsons

Parsons has looked completely out of sync in the past four games. It goes beyond his pedestrian stats. It’s the little things: shot selection, staying in front of his man, making scrappy plays. He looks lost on the basketball court. Against Grant Hill and Jared Dudley, Parsons won’t have any excuses.

Code Red: Nash’s 30-10 night makes him the oldest player to achieve such a feat at 37 (and 11 months). Lowry must not allow another point guard to blitz past him after he was abused by Tony Parker.

Houston Rockets

91

Final Recap | Box Score

99

San Antonio Spurs

	Luis Scola, PF 25 MIN | 2-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 4 PTS | -1 The glaring statistic? Five turnovers. Scola forced it too hard and too often, fumbling the ball whenever he took it inside. He also failed to crack double digits. Worst of all, he allowed Duncan to bring the Spurs back in the third quarter.
	Chandler Parsons, F 16 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 3 PTS | +9 Parsons was bipolar tonight. He missed on a couple of transition threes early in the shot clock during the first quarter, then reverted to a hesitant nature the rest of the game. No putback dunks to boot either.
	Samuel Dalembert, C 25 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 4 PTS | -5 Here’s how intimidating Dalembert is: Gary Neal already had a layup gift-wrapped and he still elected to kick it out to Duncan. However, foul trouble limited his effectiveness.
	Kevin Martin, SG 36 MIN | 10-21 FG | 3-3 FT | 9 REB | 4 AST | 29 PTS | -5 Martin ushered in his 29th birthday with 21 points in the first half. Most of his shots came from downtown and all Kawhi Leonard could do was watch. Martin gets high marks for his all-around effort across the board.
	Kyle Lowry, PG 35 MIN | 5-12 FG | 4-6 FT | 2 REB | 7 AST | 15 PTS | -7 Parker ran rings around Lowry like it was the latter’s rookie season all over again. Lowry had a respectable second half but the damage had already been done.
	Courtney Lee, SG 32 MIN | 7-12 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 15 PTS | -17 With Martin getting his breather, Lee went berserk in the second quarter, freeing himself up for open looks and knocking them down with confidence. Lee has been the steady force for the Rockets when their other bench players have been up and down.
	Goran Dragic, PG 16 MIN | 2-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 3 AST | 5 PTS | -5 Rough night for Dragic. He threw up an airball, got poked in the face, but managed to initiate the transition for a couple of plays.
	Chase Budinger, SF 9 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | +1 Nine minutes of insignificance.
	Jordan Hill, C 23 MIN | 2-3 FG | 2-2 FT | 10 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS | -3 Hill crashed the glass and gave the Rockets a lot of second looks at the basket.
	Patrick Patterson, PF 23 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 10 PTS | -7 Kevin McHale trusted Patterson down the stretch and the gamble almost paid off. He knocked down several jumpers but left Bonner for the three that sealed the outcome.

Twitter: @favianpua

Key matchup: Kevin Martin vs Kawhi Leonard

The Rockets need to chase all the Spurs’ swingmen, as evidenced by Michael Beasley’s 34-point attack last night (which included 12 trips to the charity stripe.)  Martin will be expected to outperform Leonard scoring-wise but he cannot afford to be a slouch defensively.

X-factor: Courtney Lee

Danny Green has strung together a couple of games off the bench as a spark plug, posting 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals. Lee will be expected to close out on Green from outside and Leonard from doing his damage from midrange.

Code Red: The Spurs (13-9) continue to stay dominant at home, having only lost once at AT&T Center the entire season. Ginobili remains out and will continue to be so until sometime next month. T.J. Ford will also be a no-show tonight. It must be reiterated: the Rockets cannot give up 42 points in a quarter.

Twitter: @favianpua

Key matchup: The whole Rockets frontline vs Kevin Love

Love’s svelte frame makes him a tireless workhorse on the court, putting up 25-13 averages, definitely worth an MVP conversation. He will crash the boards with ferocity and frustrate whoever is boxing him out. Jordan Hill will need to produce twice the effort he delivered against the Knicks, and even that still might not be enough.

X-factor: Chase Budinger and Chandler Parsons

Specifically AND, not an OR. With Kevin Martin’s status still uncertain, these two players both need big games to stave off a deep T’Wolves backcourt and also to draw attention away from Kyle Lowry, who left his jump shot somewhere in the Target Center when these two teams met last week.

Code Red: Goran Dragic and Patrick Patterson both lit up the T’Wolves the last time they met, combining for 27 points off the bench. Rick Adelman will have his drawing board ready for these two tonight.

Houston is getting the ball in their hands and forcing it out of their opponents. Their recent 3-1 stretch has them at a +7 in total rebounds and a -3.5 in turning the ball over.

Even Brandon Jennings would cringe at Kyle Lowry’s shooting the past four games. Lowry is a dismal 8 out of 42 (19%).

Stat of the week: Chase Budinger strung together 40 points over a span of 48 minutes the past two games.

Key matchup: Samuel Dalembert vs Tyson Chandler

These two prized big men hauled over the offseason will strut their defensive wares. It will be a rebounding battle to keep an eye on and both teams will have difficulty operating in the paint with these two giants muscling and boxing out every possible possession.

X-factor: Courtney Lee

Martin remains questionable for tonight, so Lee will be tasked to stay in front of Iman Shumpert and Toney Douglas, guys who won’t be afraid to keep gunning as long as they have the ball in their hands. Chris Kaman also deserves a mention, if only because he is on the trading block and the Rockets should look to be a significant player in the Kaman Sweepstakes.

Code Red: Without Carmelo Anthony in their last game, the Knicks moved the ball and did not settle for isolation plays, posting 20 assists collectively. The Knicks will be playing with desperation now that they have dropped eight of their last nine outings. Over that same span, Amare has been held below 20 points and five free throw attempts on eight instances.

Key matchup: Kyle Lowry vs John Wall

After a sluggish start to the season, Wall has found his groove, posting numbers that resemble his stellar rookie season rather than a baller trying to hurdle the sophomore slump. Like Lowry, Wall is also capable of posting a triple-double. The catch? The third category would most likely be from turnovers, where he averages a staggering 4.2/game.

X-factor: Chandler Parsons

Parsons was everywhere and made his presence felt in their most recent game, punctuated by an and-one dunk on a fastbreak play. If Chandler Bang places his fingerprints all over tonight, this game is the Rockets’ to lose.

Code Red: The Wizards are the lone squad without a road win. Just saying.

Key matchup: Kyle Lowry vs Brandon Jennings

Lowry minted the stat sheet against the Timberwolves, finally earning an elusive triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. As long as Lowry hounds Jennings into another horrendous shooting affair (a woeful 14/42 the past two games) and prevents him from going to the line, the advantage goes to the former.

X-factor: Samuel Dalembert

With Andrew Bogut patrolling the middle and flanked by lanky frontcourt members such as Drew Gooden, Ersan Ilyasova, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, the pressure falls on the Haitian Sensation to corral every rebounding opportunity. It won’t be easy and both Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson cannot idly go ball-watching.

Code Red: Lost in the shuffle is Stephen Jackson, who was held scoreless last game despite playing 28 minutes. Jackson is too good of an athlete to be kept invisible and should look to get his points early on. Mbah a Moute, recently inserted in the starting lineup, will also be tasked to lock down on Scola/Parsons/Budinger/Martin defensively as the need arises.

Key matchup: Kyle Lowry vs Ricky Rubio

One has surprised the league, while the other one is living up to the hype. Lowry continues to burn the stats sheets and flirt with triple-doubles while Rubio has engineered a supreme passing game that has more than compensated for his lack of athleticism.

X-factor: Goran Dragic

The Rocket’s spitfire backup has been very heady, posting 14 points and four assists against the Spurs. With loaded T’Wolves relievers like J.J. Barea and Wayne Ellington, the Dragon has to step it up on Chinese New Year.

Code Red: Watch out for the Tar Heel. Since Ellington was made into a sixth man six games ago, he has averaged 10.7 points on 61.3% shooting. Michael Beasley remains on the mend with a sprained right foot. Jonny Flynn will be dressed but it is uncertain whether he will face his former team.

Key matchup: Chandler Parsons vs Richard Jefferson

Jefferson has strung together four consecutive stinkers before redeeming himself against the Magic. Parsons’ string of highlight reels came to an abrupt end after a lone trey made his night. They would like nothing more than to use this game as a stepping stone to build momentum from.

X-factor: Kevin Martin

Martin has made his last 22 free throws dating back to the overtime win against Portland. He needs to stay aggressive and keep younger legs in Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Gary Neal constantly on their feet.

Code Red: Leonard will be a marked man. His minutes have increased since January 8, and over that span of seven games, he has garnered an average of 11.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals with those large mitts of his.

Key matchup: Luis Scola vs Carl Landry

The Hornets are a complete mess right now and much of the blame falls on Carl Landry, who has failed to register a double-digit performance and looks completely lost on the offensive sets. Scola might not have to do much defensively, his former teammate Landry is already imploding by himself.

X-factors: Courtney Lee

In the absence of Gordon, Marco Belinelli will have no true backup to rely on. Kevin Martin has the luxury of one with the return of Lee, and Lee’s inside-out game will be counted upon to spark some plays while the starters get a breather.

Code Red: Jarrett Jack has been on a tear the past three games, posting averages of 23.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists on 59% FG shooting, 62% from downtown and 94% from the stripe. It will be Lowry’s job to take the sting out of Jack’s numbers.

The year is 2007. Present any Celtics fan (let’s go with Bill Simmons) a hypothetical situation. You have Paul Pierce at the apex of his career. He is wasting his prime on a 24-58 team where Ryan Gomes is the third-best player on the team and Rajon Rondo is benched in favor of Sebastian Telfair. Goodness gracious, that team was dysfunction personified.

Let’s say I tell Bill that they will get Undisclosed Superstar A, Undisclosed Superstar B, give their roster a massive overhaul, beginning with the release of the immortal Allan Ray. We’ll also provide Bill with a semi-functional basketball GPS, letting him know before the season starts that sometime between 2007 and 2012, the team will win a championship, but the year when that happens will be kept a mystery.

If I’m Bill Simmons, or any sane basketball fan for that matter, I would say yes without batting an eyelash. That’s a Larry O’Brien we’re talking about here. Whether it takes place in 2008 or 2011, a title is a title. Of course, we can say this because of this too-late-the-hero superpower everyone in the world is gifted with: hindsight.

There have been two methods to creating a contender, much akin to a house: buy or build. The Celtics went with buy, going after Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Heat went with buy, hoarding LeBron James and Chris Bosh. The Lakers rigged Pau Gasol in a trade. Twice, for those of you keeping score.

On the other hand, the Thunder went the opposite way, farming young talent with the hope that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden mesh and succeed. Only time will tell where that direction takes them. The Bulls are somewhere in between while the Spurs are the result of the perfect storm consisting of a David Robinson injury at the right time, extensive scouting and picturesque chemistry.

And how about those Houston Rockets? They are neither buying nor building. They are the highly liquid team who doesn’t want to spend on a marquee asset or two. Somehow, it works. Since 2002, they’ve only had one losing season. They toil through the season with quasi-decency and flame out in the playoffs. In a previous article, Daryl Morey has been chided on focusing too much on statistics, thereby bloating the offense while compromising the defense.

The thing is, Morey is a great GM. But he has been so enamored with his Moreyball approach, grabbing value-for-money players. The problem is that there are too many what-ifs. For example, he picked up Donatas Motiejunas with the 20^th pick, a 21-year old 7-footer with an outside touch. That pick is decent, mind you, but at the same time I am troubled with how Morey plays the waiting game. A bit too long, in all honesty.

You see, the problem is Morey is banking on unrealized gains possibly more than any other GM. If this were a finance class, you could say that he keeps computing at the future value of money but has no context on the repercussions of the Euro crisis or the Nigerian oil price inflation, a byproduct of economics.

Going back to D-Mo (as Kevin McHale calls him), let’s say he jumps to the NBA at the age of 25. That would be sometime in 2016 or 2017. What if Kyle Lowry suffers a season-ending injury that year, knock on wood? There are too many variables.

The point I am driving at is that Houston should aim buy, not build. Building would mean that Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, and Marcus Morris get as much, if not more playing time that Samuel Dalembert and Luis Scola. That isn’t the case. McHale stubbornly keeps his best five in, not the five that should be bringing this team forward. His decision to play Chandler Parsons and hand over the keys to Lowry have been the two best decisions he has made as the Rockets’ coach so far.

I do not mind dropping this truncated season with a record of 24-42. None of you would remember how many wins the Rockets had in this season seven or eight years from now unless you have an eidetic memory. Trivia: What was the Rockets’ win-loss record in 2005-2006, the year both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were significantly sidelined? My point exactly.

Now, I know most of you will point out the Knicks as an example of a team that bought talent, bringing in Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, but the payroll has not yet translated to wins, if it ever will. That concern is understandable. You see, the team was so infatuated at the idea of “AnthoNY” back in his home turf that they were oblivious on how gutted their roster was post-trade.

Let’s tip our caps to the Rockets. The team is giving their full effort, eking out wins against the Blazers and Spurs. However, the wins are flukes, the exception rather than the norm. It would be nice to be keeping in step with the Clippers, who prove that the sun does shine, even for the unluckiest of franchises. A team with so much potential cannot be kept waiting, going for one Pyrrhic victory after another.

There is only one instance where the build scenario works out: the 2012 draft pick. Build on that pick, whether it turns out to be Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Austin Rivers. Then dole out. Buy talent. This team also needs to sell some tickets, so a true superstar that can draw the masses would be very much welcome. Their game against Sacramento saw people coming in to cheer for the Jimmer. That was a sad sight to witness.

As we have seen, the Celtics’ window lasted four seasons, as they have spiraled downward this year and are looking more like a washed-up team than a Gatorade-pouring one. But that four-year window has been much better than anything the Rockets had going for the last 15 years.

The Dwight Howard Sweepstakes is coming up, and it would be better to punch in a ticket for that miniscule fraction of a chance. Remember, it was thanks to another big man that the Rockets were able to raise a couple of banners.

Because counting division title banners is so lame.

Key matchup: Kyle Lowry vs Brandon Knight

Heaps and dollops of raves have been directed towards Lowry’s way, and deservingly so. He continues to burn unsuspecting defenses with plays that demand a high basketball IQ. Knight will have his hands full, but one thing he has going for him is a wide 6-6 wingspan that could frustrate Lowry. However, Knight also has a knack for turning the ball over (3.1 TO/game).

X-factor: Luis Scola

Pitted against the Swedish swingman Jonas Jerebko, it will be a classic case of offense against defense. Scola will have a harder time than usual getting his points as Jerebko is expected to use his athleticism and 6’10” frame. On the flipside, Scola and his marshmallow-soft defense has to recognize that Jerebko has a mediocre outside shot and should bang bodies once Jerebko takes it to the low post area.

Code Red: Greg Monroe has been the lone bright spot for the Pistons and the team’s only true threat on a nightly basis. Guys like Austin Daye and Rodney Stuckey have seen significant dropoffs in terms of scoring and Ben Wallace has been reduced to a screen-setter, nowhere near the defensive stalwart he once was.

The Rockets continue to stay reliable at the line, going 61/75 (81.3%) in the past four games. Highlighted by Kevin Martin’s 12/13 display against Portland, the Rockets will always be a threat for as long as they do not settle for contested jumpers.

For one week, at least, the Rockets could exhale and breathe a sigh of relief. Their last four opponents failed to capitalize on open three point looks, going for a combined 19/75 (25.3%).

Stat of the week: Kyle Lowry – 33 points, 8 rebounds (2 on the offensive end), 9 assists

The gist: The Rockets ended DeMarcus Cousins’ double-double streak with a 103-89 win behind Sam Dalembert’s 21-16 explosion and another near triple-double from Kyle Lowry. The Blazers look to bounce back after dropping a 99-83 decision to the Spurs on the road.

Key matchup: Kyle Lowry vs Raymond Felton

While Lowry has been overachieving, Felton has been disappointing with his stats dropping across the board. It will be an opportunity to see if the law of averages come into play here.

X-factor: Jordan Hill

Could the young one be a reliable post presence against Kurt Thomas, the oldest player in the league?

Code Red: Portland’s depth will tip the scales. Houston’s starters will not go off for 91 points every night like they did against the Kings. The bench firepower has to come in to keep up with Nicolas Batum and Jamal Crawford.

The gist: The Rockets ran out of gas in an overtime loss to the Spurs while the Kings rode on a 20-point performance from rookie guard Isaiah Thomas to upend the Raptors, 98-91

Key matchup: Kevin Martin vs Tyreke Evans

What was supposedly a matchup between Martin and Marcus Thornton is doubtful with the latter suffering from a thigh contusion. Instead, Martin will be taking on the former rookie of the year in Evans, who has struggled from three point line this season at 21.7% but has been on a scoring tear, averaging 24.5 points in his last four games.

X-factor: Patrick Patterson

With the Hasheem Thabeet experiment already regarded as a laughingstock 10 games into the season, Patterson will have to resemble the same effort and brillance he delivered similar to the time when Scola went down last season.

Code Red: Talk about inspired. Since Keith Smart took over the coaching gig, DeMarcus Cousins has strung together four consecutive double-double games on 18.8 points and 13.5 rebound averages.

Key matchup: Chandler Parsons vs Richard Jefferson

Jefferson has been blistering from outside, converting on 56.1% treys this season. If Parsons gets the starting nod again tonight over Chase Budinger, he will have to do two things: (1) close out Jefferson from the arc and (2) make his free throws, as he is shooting a Chris Dudley-like 20% for the season.

X-factor: Kevin Martin

While Martin has been a pedestrian 40.7% from the field, he torched the Spurs in their last outing, gunning 10/17 for 25 points.

Code Red: For all the reps the Rockets have been getting as an offensive juggernaut, the Spurs are fourth in scoring, averaging 100.9 points thanks to streaky downtown shooting and unselfish basketball. The Rockets cannot expect to trade baskets, especially knowing that they are on the road.

The gist: The Rockets are still winless on the road and are losers of their last four outings. The Bobcats have dropped their last three, the most recent coming off a loss in Madison Square Garden when they allowed the Knicks’ starting lineup to combine for 88 points.

Key matchup: Luis Scola vs Boris Diaw

Despite having one too many hors d’oeuvers, Diaw can still produce if the defenses slack of him, as it was evident in their two meetings with the Knicks. With a defensive slouch like Scola, don’t be surprised with Diaw runs amok and gets his share of numbers across the board.

X-factor: Jordan Hill

Kevin McHale has chided the Rockets for a lack of road intensity. To be able to compete with gusto, energy must come from the big man, McHale’s students of the game. There are no more excuses for allowing hosting opponents to crush the Rockets with an average of 110.2 points a game. It starts with post defense.

Code Red: D.J. Augustin is surprisingly the Bobcats’ top scorer but he is shooting well under 40% from the field. If he suddenly gets his act together in this game, the Rockets will be in trouble.

Stat of the week: Kyle Lowry – 22 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists (January 3 @ Lakers)

Key matchup: Goran Dragic vs Russell Westbrook

Both point guards played each other to a stalemate but something that stood out was Dragic’s empty turnover numbers in the stat sheet. On a night Houston was outshot 52% to 46% from the field, the least they could to was to protect the ball and have the opportunity to at least have more possessions come their way. If Dragic can coax Westbrook into chucking, all the better.

X-factor: Jonny Flynn

Granted, most of his 7-4-6 stat line (like Dragic, also 0 turnovers) came during garbage time, but he will be backing up Dragic and has to urgently show a semblance of being an NBA player in the 20-something minutes he will be playing.

Code Red: The Rockets, at 2-5, have gradually fallen all the way to the West’s worst heading into tonight’s game. Houston is evidently not tanking; the current composition simply cannot keep up with the elite squads in the league. Scola and Martin were held to a combined 23 points, a signal that they would be better off exposing guys like Patrick Patterson and Chandler Parsons more.

Key matchup: Kevin Martin vs James Harden

The one-dimensional gunslinger takes on the jack-of-all trades. With Courtney Lee sidelined indefinitely, Martin is expected to log more minutes while being expected not to keep firing blanks, obviously a Catch-22 situation for a shooter like himself.

X-factor: Chandler Parsons

The rookie made heads turn when he placed Blake Griffin on the receiving end of the poster in the previous game. He posted a respectable 11-point, 8-rebound outing and should see significant minutes facing Serge Ibaka and Durant.

Code Red: The alarms have been escalated. The Rockets have yet to win on the road, going 0-4 in foreign territories. Only Milwaukee and Washington are as awful.

The Rockets are coming off a 108-99 loss to the Lakers and a 117-89 dismantling at the hands of the Clippers. Our analysts assess the situation.

1. Miracle or Mirage: Kyle Lowry’s early bid for Most Improved Player.

Rahat Huq, Red94: It’s not too surprising that he’s producing as a starter–when extrapolating his early advanced stats–but I don’t think anyone expected he’d reach this level.  Including the tail end of last season, I think we now have enough of a sample size to feel confident that what we’re getting is close to who Kyle Lowry really is.

Jacob Mustafa, Red94: If it qualifies as a miracle, Lowry’s emergence as a semi-star certainly only counts as a small one. The last 20 or so games of last season allowed Lowry to display his new shooting touch, and the beginning of this one has simply continued the coronation. MIP almost doesn’t seem like quite enough for someone with all of the tools that Kyle has.

Eric Todd, Red94: Neither. Lowry has shown flashes that alluded to his potential since he was a rookie in Memphis but was trapped behind Mike Conley there and Aaron Brooks for his first season in Houston. His production this season has been consistent with what it was last year after he became the starter.

2. Fact or Fiction: Chase Budinger is better suited coming off the bench.

Rahat: Fact, if Kevin Martin is the shooting guard.  The problem is that this team doesn’t really have any other options.  Parsons would probably fare just as poorly defensively and Terrence Williams hasn’t shown much so far.

Jacob: Fiction. Unless this team suddenly deems Marcus Morris a valid option at the three or finds out which cog has been malfunctioning in the five-tool-machine that should be Terrence Williams, Budinger’s manifold skills on the offensive end offer just about the only level of consistency the Rockets have at the wing. And it’s certainly better than those awful three-guard sets.

Eric: Fact, but only on how he relates to this particular Rockets’ starting unit. Houston desperately needs a defensive stopper to play alongside Martin and Scola. I’m not suggesting that Budinger is the worst defender in the league, just that the team needs someone far better than average to try to compensate for what his running mates lack.

3. In a best-of-seven series, the Rockets are most likely to:

(A) Defeat the Lakers and the Clippers

(B) Defeat the Lakers, lose to the Clippers

(C) Lose to the Lakers, defeat the Clippers

(D) Lose to the Lakers and the Clippers

Rahat: D. Right now, the Rockets just don’t have enough to hang with either LA team.  The Clippers just seem overall better, after last night’s showing, and the Rockets have no answer for Bynum.

Jacob: D. Too much firepower resides in Staples Center for either Los Angeles team to be pushed to more than six games in any given series, at least as the Rockets’ are currently constituted. Houston’s ball movement and overall offense can be superb, but this Rockets defense has no chance stopping the Bynums, Pauls, Griffins and Kobes one-on-one.

Eric: D. Is this even a question? Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin, the Rockets don’t have a single player who can compete with any of these guys. We’d be lucky to make it to 6 games against either of these teams.