By: Forrest Walker
Heading into this evening, the Houston Rockets were one game back of the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies, one game ahead of the fourth-seed Portland Trail Blazers, and an enviable situation. With Memphis and Portland facing off, the Rockets could be assured to pick up a game on one of them if they could just beat the Phoenix Suns, a team at the bottom of the playoff bubble and a team all but eliminated from that race. All Houston had to do was complete the sweep against Phoenix to make a huge stride in a close, crucial playoff race. Even in a worst-case scenario, the Rockets wouldn't lose any ground to the Blazers.
Worst case scenarios have a way of updating themselves when you're not looking, like phone apps or guest lists. It turns out that falling two games behind Memphis wasn't the worst that could happen, because other, worse things happened, too. Not only did that Rockets go from being up 12 to down 13 in a quarter and a half, they also lost another big man to injury and saw one of James Harden's worst performances of the year. Some nights, the only consolation is that lightning didn't strike James Harden and burn his beard off.
A wrecking ball swung through the Toyota Center and knocked the Rockets over like an aluminum shanty, and that wrecking ball was named Eric Bledsoe. He gave Houston a taste of what it feels like to watch James Harden walk into a road arena, absolutely torching every defender and hitting every shot. He shot 11-18 and scored 34 points, in part because he shot one fewer free throw (11) than the Rockets did as a team (12). 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block capped off a monstrous night from the so-called "Mini LeBron." His dominance was infectious, and the Suns at large were slipping their defenders, hitting open looks, and knocking down some contested looks for fun. If the Suns played like this every night, they would be in the playoffs right now.
If the Rockets played like this every night, they would be in a battle for the 13th seed. Houston once again got badly outrebounded, this time to the tune of 49-36. More importantly, they lost on the offensive glass, 14 to 4. Alex Len crushed them early on that end, and the extra possessions created by rebounds kept the Suns in the game when they were behind, and kept the Suns away when they led. The Rockets also didn't do themselves any favors on defense, with Motiejunas being forced to help at the rim far too often. The nail in the coffin was the three point shooting disparity, which favored Phoenix's red-hot 8-15 over Houston's chilly 10-34. The Rockets picked up a 12 point lead in the second quarter and seemed to think the job was done. The Suns had no such illusions.
Trevor Ariza had the best game for the Rockets, and he scored 15 on 13 shots. He topped the game with 12 rebounds, dished 5 dimes, and grabbed a couple steals for good measure. He was a game-time decision due to illness, and managed to play well despite it. He did, however, miss two threes in a row after the Rockets had closed the game to within five points with three minutes left, two threes which would have given Houston a lead and possibly the game. His partner in decency was Corey Brewer, who shot 5-11 and scored 14 points. He brought 7 rebounds, an assists and two steals to go with his effort, and was doing everything he could to put Houston back in the game, as always. In the end, Ariza and Brewer couldn't do it all, and it only gets worse.
Josh Smith twisted his ankle late in the game and had to leave, though he returned to the bench. His reported calf strain may not be serious, but another Rockets big man bites the dust at a time when the Rockets cannot afford to lose any more rebounders. Smith had been playing well enough, shooting 8-13 and grabbing 5 rebounds to that point. He had been key in Houston's lead and was integral to a comeback effort in the fourth. Hopefully his recovery will be swift, as the Rockets are running out of players and time.
Harden's awful game featured more shots than points (16 on 19), a combined 7 rebounds and assists, and a revolting 1-8 line from three point range. Whatever help his 50 point game did for his MVP case, this game undermined. The Rockets still have a shot at the two seed out west, and Harden still has the second best MVP case at worst, but he can't have many more games like this before both go out the window. PJ Tucker may defend him as well as anyone in the league, and the trap may have been set, but games like this don't come cheap. Houston discovered the meaning of worst case tonight, and what they have to avoid in April.
