Recap: Houston Rockets 122 – Phoenix Suns 108

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard and the Rockets extinguish the Suns in a win that causes mass panic, hysteria, and the end of all photosynthesis. 

Thats unfortunate about the extinction of the human race but a win is a win. Alright alright, I’ll move on to the game, don’t go all nova.

Tonight the Rockets faced off against a team that excels at a lot of the same things they do. The pick and roll was the play du jour and luckily the Rockets figured out how to defend it just in time to cruise to an easy win. I was doing my prep work for this game and looking at the info that basketball reference makes available to me, and it was not easy to figure out how the Suns had accomplished a 29-19 record in the West. Losing Eric Bledsoe was obviously a major blow, but even with out him the Suns have continued to win. I like Goran Dragic a lot, so I’m happy he is doing well, and as far as I can tell he is the reason Phoenix is doing well.

Oh and Daryl Morey got him AND a first round pick for Aaron Brooks a couple years ago. #Moreyed

TO THE RECAP!

The Skinny

The Rockets came out of the gate very strong. The Houston starters logged heavy minutes tonight and while they were on the floor they were very dominant; none more so than Howard. Poor, silly Miles Plumlee. The Suns made a decision early that they were going to play Howard straight up and because of this, the Rockets made an extra effort to get him as many post touches as possible. Plumlee was outclassed on every level, but as far as I could tell Jeff Hornacek was perfectly fine with that. Hornacek also put Alex Len on Howard over and over again, expecting a different result, which I believe is the definition of Lensanity. Streeeeeetch. Anyways, the Rockets outplayed the Suns in the first but as usual when our lone center went to the bench, Goran and company ran the ball down our throats for a couple minutes to make the game 35-30 Rockets.

The Suns bench unit is a strange bunch. Both the Morris twins play at the same time, and Ish Smith seems to be the first option in the pick and roll. Some of you might remember Ish from his early days with the Rockets and boy is that dude fast. He was getting to the basket off the set pick and roll before Dwight even had a chance to react.

Another weird story line for the night was that the refs could’t decide if they were going to “let them play” or if they were going to contain the game. At first they were allowing some VERY physical play including the mugging of D-Mo a couple of times. But then in the second half, the tone completely switched to ticky tack fouls on hand checks. It really dragged down an otherwise enjoyable and fast paced game.

At half time the score was 66-63 Rockets and despite shooting the ball very well from deep (7-10) they were unable to put any distance between them and the Suns. Howard had 16 points and Harden had 15 points, ten of which came from the free throw line.

In the second half the Rockets started to put it together defensively. In the first they were over playing the pick and roll or not playing it at all. So Goran Dragic would gallop into the paint and either take his shot or wait for the defense to collapse and create an easy shot for his teammates. In the second half it seemed that the Rockets decided to keep Dwight off the roller who was setting the pick and so when Dragic turned the corner he could get to the free throw line but no further. This forced many more outside shots and the Suns just didn’t have it working from deep tonight.

Once this adjustment was made the Rockets kept getting good looks at the basket while the Suns were having to make tough shots, except when the Houston bench was on the floor of course. From then on it really seemed to be a matter of time before the Rockets would convert enough easy shots to start to run away with it. All the way until 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter the Suns didn’t double team. The Rockets responded with quality post possessions and Howard finished the night with 34 points and 14 rebounds on 11-17 shooting. The Suns also eventually tried Hack-a-Howard but Howard thwarted the strategy again by hitting 5-6 free throws. Lin was the main contributor off the bench playing some inspired defense and collecting a pretty pivotal charge.

Rockets win the fourth quarter and the game handily, 122-108.

Other Thoughts (I think I have had a different name for this section every recap.)

Will You Be My Valentine?

PJ Tucker would probably reach Chuck Hayes level of man crush for me if he was a Rocket. That guy takes no crap from no body. Harden has had plenty of problems with him and his physical play in the past. So this time it seemed that Harden wanted to prove that PJ isn’t a “Harden stopper”. Harden had a nice game (23 pts), but most of it was from the line and in transition. He drew some fouls on PJ and battled respectably but I would still say Tucker was the victor of their one on one battle. Harden only had one assist tonight and since the team shot around 55% I’m going to say that was a direct reflection of the fact that Harden ISO-ed on Tucker almost every time he had the chance.

Please Stop Being You.

That. Moronic. Toyota. Commercial.  A millennial (HOLLA!) sings to his father and the other men of his extended family, that he for some reason invited to go car shopping with him, about how he’s “Gotta be meeeeee” and choose his own truck. The first time I saw it I actually kind of liked it. The way that major vendors are marketing to my generation isn’t subtle in any way, shape, or form but they want me and dammit I love them for it. However, this commercial gets played every single break of a Rockets game and I can feel the fibers of my sanity beginning to rip. You gotta be you huh? How do you feel about you being you while strapped to the front of your new Toyota truck as I take a joy ride into on-coming traffic? Ah, that was another fiber tearing.

Check out the statistical nitty-gritty here.

The Rockets do it again on Saturday against the Bucks at 7:30PM CST.