Rockets 109 Celtics 85

Rockets are now winners of 3 in a row and have now won 2 games back to back winning wire to wire. The Rockets on Tuesday night defeated the Celtics 109 to 85, the Rockets seized the win with a 40 point 1^st quarter. The Rockets only allowed the Celtics to shoot a paltry 32% on 99 shots while the Rockets shot a red hot 60% on 72 shots. For the 1^st time in the past few games, Rockets disgruntled Center Omer Asik saw action with 7 minutes left in the game. 

The big news of the game was the emergence of a power forward. Terrence Jones had his break out game of the season and his career with 24 points in the 1^st half Jones was ON FIRE going 8 for 8 in shots for 17 points. Jones on the defensive end also grabbed 9 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. Post-game head coach Kevin McHale talked about Jones “He’s playing really well, I think he’s play well every chance he’s got” since coming in to the line up a few games ago the team as seemed to have played better. The team on Wednesday will head north to face the Mavericks and they will look to stretch the winning streak to 4 in a row. 

Omer Asik Wants Out

It seems likely Omer Asik will not be here after the NBA trade deadline, it was leaned today that Asik through his agent has asked for a trade for the 2nd time since Dwight Howard joined the team. IMO coach Kevin McHale tried to make Asik happy by starting both him and Howard at the start of the season using the Twin Towers lineup.

After a double overtime win at home against the Raptors it was learned the McHale had soured on the Big lineup and the following game with the 76ers Asik was benched in favor of Terrence Jones. Asik has seen his role on the Rockets disappear VERY quickly, against the Raptors Asik saw 19 minutes action, against the 76ers Asik saw 4 minutes action, and so far tonight with the Knicks Asik has yet to see the court at all.

The big question going forward is what is the return value for Asik who last season made it clear he could be a starting NBA big man. In the coming days Rockets GM Daryl Morey and Hed Coach Kevin McHale will no doubts have talks about what the team needs going forward.

Rockets Greg Smith Injures Right Knee

Greg Smith while playing in only his 5th game of the season injured his Right Knee while jumping up to defend a drive by Knicks Carmelo Anthony. Smith jumped and while coming down laded awkwardly on his leg and seemed to twist is knee badly. It was learned via TNT he was not able to put any weight on his leg and had to use crutches to get his X ray taken. Per Ken Berger, Smith's X-Ray was negative and but an MRI will be taking to find out the severeness of his injury, but it is being described as Right LCL sprain. Similar LCL injuries have taken others 4 to 6 weeks to come back from this injury.

76ers 123 beat Rockets 117

Rockets went in Wednesday’s night’s game without the assistance of All Star guard James Harden who sat with foot issues. The Rockets also decided to scrap the so called “Twin Towers” lineup of Dwight Howard and Omer Asik. Head coach instead of going big, went small with the two guard lineup of Patrick Beverley and Jeremy Lin also starting Terrence Jones at power forward.

The big complaint since the start of the season has been the Rockets only play a few quarters a game, tonight the Rockets picked the 1^st and 3^rd quarters too show up to the game. The Rockets with Harden out got major help from Jeremy Lin who went off tonight. Lin made 9 3pointers tonight and finished with 34 points. Lin was a key component in the Rockets gaining a 10 point advantage heading in to the 4^th quarter. The Rockets played a decent game but just were not able to stop ex Rocket James Anderson who had 36 points, and was very efficient going 12 for 16 from the floor and 6 of 8 from the 3, including the one that sent the 76ers into overtime. The Rockets ended up losing in single overtime to the Rockets of the east 123 to 117.

Jeremy Lin in the last two games has been on fire and been gold for the Rockets, Lin has played 95 minutes in the past two games and picked up 65 points in the past two games. Look for the Rockets to lean hard on Jeremy Lin tomorrow as the Rockets head back to the place from Jeremy Lin became a star…. NEW YORK CITY!  

NBA Week 1 Power Rankings

1 – Pacers - Momma always said if you are undefeated then you are number 1

2 – Spurs - Duncan is day to day but they are still winning get contributions from everywhere

3 – Thunder - Well Westbrook was there game 1 and they look like their old selves, be WARNED

4 – Clippers - Lob city plus a JJ Redick seems to be combo that is working

5 – Rockets - As long as they don't play a team from LA they will win

6 – Heat - When you have LeBron you don't expect to loss 4 and 3 in a 7 game stretch, you gotta take a look at yourselves

7 – Trailblazers - 40 plus points a game from LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard

8 – Timberwolves - 2 of the top 5 scorers in the NBA are…… Wolves, go figure…

9 - 76ers - Its WAY early but this Michael Carter-Williams guy seems to be the real deal

10 – Suns - If the playoffs started today, they'd be the 3 seed in the west OH NO

11 – Hawks - If you’re a good team and lose to the Nuggets, you are now an average team.

12 – Celtics - No stars but they are playing solid team basketball

13 – Warriors - Klay Thompson shooting nearly .500 from the 3 point line

14 – Bulls - Haven’t won on the road yet, oh and D Rose is hurt again

15 – Pelicans - Anthony Davis giving you a double double a game and the uni brow looks legit

16 – Cavilers - Every loss is on the road, but on the plus side they are getting mins from Andrew Bynum

17 – Bucks - Larry Sanders is going spend time riding the pine, so now you get a heavy dose of ZAZA!!

18 – Magic - Beating the Clippers that has gotta mean something right?

19 – Bobcats - If only the playoffs started today… Is it too early to start printing playoff tickets?

20 – Mavericks - Monta Ellis a better scorer than Dirk Nowitzki, yes. Oh that might be why they are losing

21 – Grizzles - Not exactly the same team from last year and I don't know why

22 – Lakers - Steve Blake is your best point guard?? That meant something a few years ago, not now.

23 – Pistons - Beat the Celtics but then lost to 3 straight playoff teams

24 – Raptors - Well at least they are, the best team in CANADA!!!!

25 – Wizards - John Wall continues to grow, the wins will come.

26 – Nets - Yea, I am calling it now. The NETS do NOT make the playoffs….

27 – Knicks - Lost back to back games with the Bobcats…. The Bobcats couldn't even lose back to back games with themselves

28 – Nuggets - Shouldn't of fired the coach, karma is a B!

29 – Kings - Beat the Nuggets but that really means nothing now a days

30 – Jazz - Worst Jazz team of ALL TIME, as a basketball fan I miss a Jerry Sloan coached team

Rockets 110 Raptors 104

Terrence Jones joined the Rockets rotation and join he did. Jones was a key member in the Rockets double overtime win over the Raptors 110 to 104. Before the game a flu bug was going through the team it affected James Harden and it sidelined Francisco Garcia for the night. The Rockets started off like normal and went with twin towers lineup, 6 minutes in to the game Head Coach Kevin McHale had seen enough and scrapped the lineup and inserted Omri Casspi for some spacing.

2 minutes left in the 1^st quarter Terrence Jones entered the game and Jones ended up playing 32 minutes, Jones played more minutes tonight than he played in the 1^st 8 games combined. While Jones may not have had a perfect night, he played the robin to Dwight Howard’s batman very well. Jones on the night finished with 7 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Totally out playing Omer Asik who finished with 18 minutes despite no injury, or no foul trouble. In big spots it was Jones not Asik in the game. The Twin Towers lineup is neat and can cause problems for teams, but it seems Coach Kevin McHale might be wavering on that lineup “you have the big lineup to start off and I’m 50/50 on it”.

So if McHale does scrap the “BIG” lineup with 2 true centers, you would have Dwight Howard starting with Omer Asik providing the relief. It looks like Terrence Jones would be the favorite to start opposite Howard, coach has complained about spacing from day 1 and while Jones is by no means a 3 point shooting specialists he provides more room for the offense to operate.

Rockets vs. Raptors: Game 8

Tonight the Rockets will take on the Raptors at home, with the hopes of snapping a 2 game home losing streak. Rockets have lost to the Lakers and the Clippers in different but yet the same fashion. The Lakers got off to a hot start yet the Rockets were able to counter and take the lead before ultimately blowing it in the final minute. The Clippers game at home the Rockets had pretty much controlled the game from the start but once again had it slipped through their hands at the end.

Today the team is dealing with a problem that is invisible to the naked eye, James Harden and other members of the Rockets are dealing with a flu bug of sorts. Harden did however say that he will go tonight dispute having flu like symptoms and bad feet “I’ll be alright, just get some rest and hydrate myself” Harden said. You could see Head Coach Kevin McHale open up the bench a little bit more than normal with players dealing with this bug and the team playing 4 games in 6 nights.

The Rockets also will get a visit from Ex Rocket Kyle Lowry who will try to move his Raptors to .500 on the season. Lowry battling ankle problems will make it a go tonight and will play against his former team. Lowry after shoot around today mentioned he enjoys his trips coming back to Houston “I always get a good kick coming back here". The key tonight is rebounding the Raptors are snagging 3 extra offensive broads a game more than the Rockets while the Rockets are the number 3 team in the NBA in overall rebounds. If Dwight Howard and Omar Aisk can control the glass this game the Rockets should win.

Below is audio from Ex Rockets guard Kyle Lowry

Rockets vs. Lakers: Game 6 preview and starting lineups

Tonight the Rockets will be able to be seen on TV (T.N.T. Late game), 40 percent of Houston might not understand that. The Rockets free agent acquisition Center Dwight Howard will make his debut over the team he chose to get traded to, but not stay with after his one season in LA. Howard traded ageing stars in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol for the youth of the Rockets James Harden and Chandler Parsons. The X’s and O’s aside the game tonight is all about did or did not Dwight Howard make the right choice in hitching his saddle to the Rockets, the Lakers will no doubt be looking to show up Howard at home.

The Rockets come in tonight’s 4-1 aside from a trampling by the Clippers the Rockets have looked like a top 3 team at various times during the games they have played. Dwight Howard knows the team could be much better than it is now “I don’t think we have played are best brand of basketball yet” he knows it would be nice for the team to PLAY 4 quarters Howard went on to mention that so far they have only really played 2 or 3 quarters.

The Lakers tonight will match Kevin McHale’s twin towers with their poor’s man’s attempt at the same. Lakers will match Howard/Asik with Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman, Kaman when it became clear Howard would not dawn a Lakers uni again the Lakers brought in Kaman to replace Howard. Kaman so far this season is averaging 9 pts and almost 6 rebs in a little over 15 minutes a game.  The Lakers are still reeling from not having all-time great Kobe Bryant who is still recovering from his injury last season. *All though an update is that Kobe is here in Houston and did work out in the team’s hotel*

Tonight the match up of the game will between James Harden vs. Steve Blake this match is decidedly WAY in the Rockets favor. The Lakers will more than likely not spend much time covering anybody in man to man defense because they can’t afford to. Don’t look past the Lakers just because they don’t have Kobe…. In the words of Patrick Beverley “The Lakers are the Lakers their a phenomenal team”

Starting Lineups

Rockets

F – Chandler Parsons

F – Dwight Howard

C – Omer Asik

G – James Harden

G – Jeremy Lin

Lakers

F – Xavier Henry

F – Chris Kaman

C – Pau Gasol

G – Steve Blake

G – Steve Nash 

Rockets beat Trailblazers: Game 5 (4-1)

Tonight the Rockets came back following a really tough loss to the Clippers 137 to 118 and tonight the Rockets beat the Trailblazers 116 to 101. The road trip ends 2-1 and the team heads back to Toyota center 4-1. Patrick Beverley gave it a go after suffering an injury against vs. the Bobcats in game 1, but did not start.


The Rockets started tonight's game just a little bit better than they did against the Clippers only giving up 31 points instead of the insanely high 42 1st quarter points they allowed. After the 1st quarter the Rockets pulled away scoring 86 points over the final 3 periods and limiting the Trailblazers to 70 points.

The Rockets got a HUGE effort from stars Dwight Howard (29) and James Harden (33) getting 62 points from the 2. Harden went 9-11 on shots inside the arc, Howard used monster slams to get his buckets and also manged to pull down 13 rebounds 4 of which were offensive rebounds. The Trailblazers made it close a few times, due to the fact the Rockets turned the ball over ALOT 20 to be exact.

Rockets vs. Trailblazers: Game 5

Rockets last night were dismantled and destroyed by the Clippers 137 to 118 and in all honesty it could have been a hell of a lot worse than that if the Clippers didn’t pull the foot off the gas. Early foul trouble limited the Rockets on defense and just weren’t able to put a stop to Chris Paul and “Lob city”. Paul lit up the Rockets to the tune of 23 points and 17 assists.

Tonight the Rockets will have to deal with a tough 1-2 punch, Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge are combining for just a hair over 50 points a game in this young season. Nicolas Batum is also filling up the stat sheet for the Trailblazers with 13 points, 6 assists and 10 rebounds a game, the Trailblazers are also getting a very efficient 44.1 percent of their 3 pointers made.

The Rockets tonight will look to set a defensive tone early, and the Twin Tower line up will have a lot to do with that. Dwight Howard and Omer Asik before last night’s game have been locking down on the defensive end, and have cleaned up the backboards like nobody’s business to the tune of nearly 30 rebounds a game. James Harden yesterday picked up some early fouls yesterday which limited his aggression on both the defensive and offensive ends, against the Clippers he had only 15 points including 0-7 on 3 pointers.   

The Rockets will have a tough task ahead of them on the 2^nd leg of their back to backs but a win tonight will make for a happy trip back to Toyota center.  

Rockets lose a nail bitter with Clippers

Ok so it wasn't a nail bitter and more of a good ole fashioned butt kicking! The Rockets lost the middle game of their Western conference trip, 137 to 118 was the final score as the Clips handed the unbeaten Rockets the 1st loss of the early season.

For the 1st time in 3 games the Rockets defensively did not show up to the game, during the 1st three games the Rockets would lock it down in either the 1st or 2nd half but not tonight.  The Rockets never really had a chance tonight, from the tip off the Clippers went on a 23-8 run totally taking the wind out of the Rockets sails. The Rockets made it close and cut it to 9 at one point during the 3rd quarter but the Clippers put the pedal back to the metal and with 5 minutes left in the game Head coach Kevin McHale waived the white flag.

Clippers tonight out Rockets the Rockets tonight the Clippers had 15 3's while the Rockets had only 7 including 0 from James Harden who went 0-7. Omri Casspi who missed the last game came back with vengeance to lead the Rockets in scoring with 19 points going 6-12 from the field and 3-6 on 3's. Coach McHale and James Harden both post game made mention of early foul troubles that lead to bad defense.  

Rockets vs. Clippers: Game 4

Tonight is game four in the Rockets young 2013-2014 season, they are in the middle of a three game road trip on the West coast. Saturday they played the Jazz and won, and Tuesday will play Trailblazers before coming back home to the comfy confines of the Toyota center.

Rockets have yet to play a full 48 min game this season which really hasn't came back to bite them yet.... Tonight once again will be with starting point guard Patrick Beverley and Forward Omri Casspi could be set to return to the court after sitting on Saturday. The Rockets Bigs tonight will match up very well with the Clippers bigs as neither is a 3 point shooting threat. The match up to watch will be between Chris Paul and Jeremy Lin, for the Rockets to win Lin will have to try to limit Paul's output. Paul in his last two games 33 points a game and 12.5 assists a game, this is one of those games you wish you had Beverley who you could use to frustrate Paul.

Rockets vs. Bobcats starting lineups

Its here game 1 of the NBA season for the Home team Houston Rockets and the traveling Charlotte Bobcats. Below is the starting line up for each team.

Rockets                                                                                              Bobcats
F - Chandler Parsons (25)                                                                  F - Michael Kidd Gilchrist (14)
F - Dwight Howard (12)                                                                    F - Josh McRoberts (11)
C - Omer Asik (3)                                                                             C - Al Jefferson (25)
G - James Harden (13)                                                                      G - Gerald Henderson (9)
G - Patrick Beverley (2)                                                                     G - Kemba Walker (15)

NBA Start of the Season Power Rankings

Season starts tonight and right now here are the power rankings for game 1. Lots of changes happened this offseason players being moved including lots of coaching changes. So which teams are the hot teams at the start of the season and who is down near the bottom......

1. Heat - They won the championship last season and they still got Lebron James so they get the number 1 spot in my power rankings.

2. Pacers - 2nd best team in the Eastern conference is the 2nd best team in the NBA, plus they got stronger and they get back Danny Granger who spent almost all of last season injured.

3. Clippers - The team was good last season, they kept Chris Paul and they finally get a REAL NBA head coach in Doc Rivers.

4. Spurs - Last season they were a 3 pointer away from winning an NBA Championship, but their BIG THREE is OLD so you have to wonder if they can hold up.

5. Rockets - James Harden and Dwight Howard per NBA GM's are the top players at there positions, plus they have an ever improving Chandler Parsons.

6. Grizzles - New coach same hard nosed defense? You sure as hell hope so, plus they add sharpshooter Mike Miller.

7. Warriors - Last season they had the highest 3 point efficiency in the league at .403% and the come back with almost the same team plus they add ultra athletic Andre Iguodala.

8. Thunder - Just having a Kevin Durant on your team makes you a top 10 team, if Russell Westbrook was starting the season uninjured they'd be a top 5 team.

9. Bulls - They were right behind the Pacers without D-Rose last year, now they get D-Rose back it's kinda like picking up a top tier free agent in the offseason.

10. Nets - This is the 2000 All NBA name team, but really is a collection of old stars enough to get you very far in the playoffs. If that wasn't enough they will be coached by 1st time coach Jason Kidd.

11. Knicks - Carmelo Anthony is the only reason the Knicks are this close to the NBA top 10, with out Anthony they would sure contend for the bottom 10 rather then the top 10.

12. Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki gets something he hasn't had in a while, fairly good guards Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon join the team, plus hopefully an added focus on the D.

13. Hawks - Reworked roster that still has a very decent center in Al Horford, but adds Paul Millsap who could have a breakout season with the Hawks.

14. Pistons - This isn't your brothers Pistons but hey this year they wont be that bad, Josh Smith makes these guys a playoff team for the 1st time in the long time.

15. Nuggets - They were a good team last year, but traded George Karl for Brian Shaw and I am not sure that really helps your team.

16. Pelicans - A loaded young team outside of center, you wonder how long it will take for these guys to gel but they sure are a fringe playoff team.

17. Trailblazers - 33 and 49 last year Damian Lillard is a star in the making and he alone his continued growth pushes them ever closer to .500

18. Wizards - John Wall and Bradley Beal make a good 1-2 punch plus they get a sorta kinda good big man in Marcin Gortat look for them to finish 10 through 8 in the East.

19. Lakers - Can they hang around till Kobe gets healthy, they got a decent team but for so many years they have been Kobe heavy… What will they do with out Kobe?

20. Timberwolves - I am a believer in Rick Adelman and his scrappy group of Kevin Love and friends will surprise some teams but will still finish below .500

21. Cavaliers - The growth of sensation Kyrie Irving and now he gets a real head coach in Mike Brown, who can hopefully make these guys competitive.

22. Jazz - These team was blown out last year and is different at every position, you gotta wonder how long it will take till they gel

23. Raptors - 1, 2, and 3 not to bad for the only Canadian team but at 4 and 5 the just has bodies and not real NBA talent

24. Bucks - Brandon Knight breakout player?? Why not, this team might come up and bite some people but just wont be consistent.

25. Celtics - Don't really feel Rondo makes it a whole season in Boston, but if he does they could finish high, Rondo is that good!

26. 76ers - This team might be good one day, but not this year not sure if I believe in the MCW and J-Rich back court

27. Kings - DeMarcus Cousins a futrue top 3 center, or will he continue to be a head case….. Will Ben McLemore work well with Cousins?

28. Bobcats - Micheal Jordan would make this team better! As a player, not as an owner…. The team is a waste of an NBA Team.

29. Suns - You wonder how the backcourt of Dragic and Bledsoe work out, porbaly not bad but the rest of the team sucks.

30. Magic - In the mix for the most ping pong balls next season already, most teams have 1 star Magic have negative 0 stars

Rockets Next Great Superpower?

Jalen Rose on Grantland said when Kevin Durant becomes a free agent he will leave the Oklahoma City Thunder and join the Houston Rockets. If this does become a possibility, it would make the Houston Rockets the new Los Angeles Lakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-_K3gWqaBk

This season the Rockets added a seemingly rejuvenated Dwight Howard to a team of budding stars. James Harden was voted by NBA General Mangers to be the best shooting guard in the league, one of many signs of the surging growth of this young talented team. Of course this is just speculation by Rose, but if true it "could" turn out to be the best collection of NBA talent the NBA has ever seen in my opinion. If the Rockets are able to keep the core group of Dwight Howard, James Harden, Chandler Parsons and add Kevin Durant to the mix, it would be a near unstoppable force, easily better then the Miami Heat's collection of current stars.