By: Forrest Walker
The Sacramento Kings had 29 turnovers and still won by 10 points. That's the most striking stat from their tilt against the Houston Rockets, a team that beggars belief at this point. The Rockets are so listless, disengaged and apathetic that it honestly doesn't seem like they want to be on the court, much less winning games. But you're reading this, right now. What are you doing here? What do you expect? Why?
It's fantastic that you're reading this, at least for me. Click and pageviews are always great. Maybe you want to hear about how James Harden did. He scored 33 points on 18 shots, had 7 rebounds and 6 assists and still had a +/- of -5, probably due to horrible defense and 7 turnovers. Is that what you want to know about James Harden? Or do you want to know something deeper? If you want to know why he is the way he is, I don't have that answer. You won't find that here, though I suppose I can try.
He's a human, and he's probably having a lot more fun when he doesn't think about basketball, and how much failure lies on the court. Or maybe he's lazy, or maybe he's too devoted, or not devoted, or maybe the moon is in the wrong position. We can never know the inside of another man's mind, his soul, can we? I don't have a window into the heart of James Harden. I merely have access to a record of his actions in one small part of his life. If that's what you want, I'm sorry. I cannot help.
Perhaps you'd like to read about how the team as a whole managed to lose to a team that committed 29 turnovers. That's really two questions in one, now isn't it? We have to wonder what they did tonight, and we are also forced to wonder how they came to be a team that can manage such a thing. Tonight, they gave up 50 points in the paint and let the Kings shoot 50.7% from the field. Those two fifties give you a one-hundred percent chance of a loss, at least tonight.
But you know this. You've read about this team, seen them regress on defense over and over. You know that their interior defense, and their pick and roll defense, and their transition defense are all dumpster fires. So maybe you're hoping that this piece of the puzzle will fit into place, to give you the big picture. Or even better, maybe you're hoping the piece won't fit, and you'll realize you have it all wrong. The Rockets aren't a bad team, and they have been beset upon by unseen factors that will clear up! Is this the hope you came here to find?
Dwight Howard had no answer for DeMarcus Cousins. Ty Lawson didn't do anything. Clint Capela piled on fouls and was the only player other than Harden to shoot above 50% with a measly 2-3. There's no revelation here, except for the one you probably don't want. And even that isn't a revelation, it's a specter slowly creeping under the back door, and it's going to get in eventually.
No, I have it now. I know why you're here. If you live and die with the Houston Rockets, you don't want anything. You're fleeing from the die part of that equation, hoping to live. But by looking for box scores, for silver linings, for something to grow on, that lust for life just brings you to that conclusion you don't want. You can read that Donatas Motiejunas went 2-7 for 4 points and only grabbed 3 boards, but maybe you'll only pay attention to his 3 steals and the fact that he played a mere 14 minutes. Maybe he just needs to get back into game shape, right?
Do you know why you're here? Do you know what your left hand is doing while you shut the door with your right? You might not want to know, but you need to know. Do you want your fears to be realized? Do you want the band-aid pulled off? Do you need to read about how the sky is falling? "Donatas Motiejunas can't save this team." "Ty Lawson is a bust and a cancer" "Dwight Howard is leaving" "You can't win with James Harden as your best player."
Are these what you want?
You won't get that here. This is just a game recap. The Rockets were tired and the Kings were well rested, and the Rockets' defensive issues cost them a winnable game they badly needed. That's what you'll find, just one more piece of info to put in the puzzle.
There, it's yours. I hope it's what you wanted. Now what are you going to do with it?
