The good news is that the Houston Rockets are sitting at 3-0 on the young season. They’ve won by an average of 10.7 points per game, a feat which would shake the league if it continued. The bad news is that the Rockets have won these games despite looking out of sorts, missing open shots and giving up a stultifying 20 turnovers per game. There’s even worse news, too. The Rockets have so far faced three teams who missed the playoffs last season, and have been predicted to miss them again this season. That’s about to change; the next game on the docket is in Los Angeles, against the best team in L.A., the Clippers, and the Rockets will have to prove that they’re as good as their record.
The Clippers have been on the receiving end of a lot of hype and a lot of respect from pundits and oddsmakers. Many have them coming out of the west, and some even predict them to be able to win it all this year. With a lineup featuring Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, nothing seems out of the realm of possibility for Los Angeles, even if they did lose to their ailing older brother, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers were not only a playoff team last season, but are a consensus pick as one of the elite teams in the west. The Rockets can’t stumble through half the game and pick up a win on Monday. It’s time to do or die for Houston.
The fact that the Rockets can give away 20 possessions and win by 10 points is nearly mystifying. The Rockets were turnover-prone last season, and many predicted that with another year under their belts together, much of that bugaboo would be resolved as skill and chemistry improved. In the preseason, the Rockets looked collected and lethal. In the regular season, the Rockets have looked disjointed and sloppy. They’re still lethal somehow, though. The Los Angeles Clippers won’t afford the Rockets second chances the way the Bobcats, Mavericks and Jazz have. If Houston comes out of the gate sluggish and can’t move the ball without giving it up, there will be no mercy. This is a different league Houston’s about to enter.
Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, and by most figuring is the third best player of any sort on the planet. He might not be LeBron James or Kevin Durant, but his impact on the game trumps that of any other player out there. He’snot only a scoring guard with an excellent shooting touch, but a solid defender and one of the best passers in the game. His arrival heralded the beginning of “Lob City,” and the amount and intensity of alley-oops since then has not disappointed.
You can’t finish an oop without someone to jam the ball, and that someone is usually Blake Griffin, power forward extraordinaire. Some allege that all he does is dunk in that game, but that’s not true, not by a long shot. He’s developed a respectable face up game and can hit midrange jumpers reliably. His ball handling and footwork are better than he’s typically given credit for, something which helps him get to the rim and use his greatest strength. He’s as dangerous as big men come in the NBA, and is likely to give Houston’s small lineups fits throughout.
While L.A. might lay claim to Chris Paul, rated third overall in ESPN’s #NBArank, Houston has a couple weapons of their own. James Harden is ranked #4 and Dwight Howard is #7, a pair which has proven to be as lethal as it is exciting. Paul and Griffin might be known for their lobs, but Harden is storming the gates of castle crash, launching alley oops to Dwight Howard from well behind the three point line.
This game will likely be fast, furious, and physical. Teams have begun to attack the Rockets by literally attacking the Rockets, and the Jazz won’t be the last to use size to get their way. The Clippers may not have much frontcourt depth past Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, but they have big players with fouls to give. If, heaven forbid, both teams begin hacking the poor free throw shooters (Howard and Jordan), this game might grind to a near halt.
The Rockets have a chance to fight through the injuries and sloppiness to find victory against a nationally respected foe. The Rockets might be 3-0 so far, but this is the first game that really counts.
Patrick Beverley is suffering from a rib muscle tear and is out for at least another week. Omri Casspi (ankle) is a game-time decision but has stated his intention to play. Tipoff is at 9:30pm central time on Monday, November 4th, 2013 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
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