Houston Rockets Redux: Week 19: 03/01/2015

The Houston Rockets were finally able to complete that hellish week of scheduling that involved them playing five games in seven days.

At the point toward the end of that swing of the schedule, they had undertaken four games in five nights, which is quite a workload.

But as resilient as our team is, they dug deep and found a way to give it their all even though it still may have not been enough against some of the opponents we had.

The whole week played out like a soap opera — controversial calls by refs, suspensions and trick shots galore.

Mar 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets guard

James Harden

(13) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Despite of all that transpired last week, your Houston Rockets ended up with a 3-2 record.

You know, that’s about where I had expected that they would be.

I knew they’d raise the tenacity up a step against the Cleveland Cavaliers to beat them, maintain a solid effort but lose to the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies.

At the end of the week, I knew they were up for taking care of the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets, two bad teams that could be lottery-bound.

It was a fun, extremely eventful week for Rockets basketball.

Let’s take a look at how they did:

Mar 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward

Terrence Jones

(6) attempts to score during the second quarter as Cleveland Cavaliers forward

James Jones

(1) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Rockets 105, Cavaliers 103 (OT): This special Sunday matinee that was the featured match up on ABC’s Basketball Sunday Showcase was everything Rockets’ fans could ask and more. This game was full of grit, strain, sweat and emotions ran high as each team played with a chip on their shoulder. This was a game that was close through most of the duration with the Rockets taking a brief 75-65 lead toward the end of the 3rd quarter. What fans will remember most about this game is what transpired shortly after we took that lead. With 2:08 left, James Harden and LeBron James were going at it to a point where it got heated fighting over a loose ball causing the Beard to fall on his back to extend his leg out just to fend him off, that definitely appeared that he was aiming for LBJ’s crown jewels. The referees deemed Harden’s actions to warrant a Flagrant Level 1 foul and league eventually suspended him for one game. The two teams continued to grind it out through regulation and into overtime! With the Cavs down by one — 104-103 — with four seconds left in the game, LeBron was at the line in position to possibly win the game but he clanked both free throws terribly and the Beard got the rebound, running the clock down to 0.6 seconds left. CHOKE! He got fouled and made one out of two, sealing the Rockets victory! Harden led all Rockets scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Terrence Jones had 19/7. LBJ had 37 points, eight boards, four assists, three steals and three blocks including shooting an abysmal 3-for-11 from the charity stripe. Love also added 21/6. What a gutsy win!

Mar 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Rockets guard

Jason Terry

(31) and forward Terrence Jones (6) reach for a loose ball with Atlanta Hawks forward

Paul Millsap

(4) in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Rockets 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Hawks 104, Rockets 96: The focal strategy for this game was how to figure out how to generate offense and figure how to win this game without Harden, who was out on suspension. You know what? The Rockets did just fine, staying up with the team that’s at the top of the East; and, at the time, the owners of the league’s best record. They led the Hawks 59-45 at the half as a result of their hot shooting from behind-the-arc but got mighty lax after the start of the half. The closed within four points in the third, making the score 74-70. But it was Josh Smith that got hot late in the third, helping push the Rockets back up 81-72. The Rockets took a nosedive in the 4th as fatigue was their worst enemy because they put so much effort in staying ahead of the Hawks. The Hawks marched out at the start of the 4th to the tune of a 15-0 run. But the Rockets rallied back tying the game at 96-all with about two minutes left in the game. The Rockets would not score for the last 1:46 managing only 15 points for the quarter. This is a game that they should’ve won but didn’t have enough in the tank to do it. Jason Terry led all Rockets scorers with 21 points, TJones had 18/8 and Donatas Motiejunas had 14/8 and delivered seven assists.

Grizzlies 102, Rockets 100: This was another solid match up as the Rockets faced a team that they were trying to catch in the standings. The Rockets were 1.5 games back from a team that continues to clutch to the No.2 seed. This game was badly-needed as it could possibly help the Rockets gain some seeding advantage for the upcoming playoffs. But unfortunately, there were forces at work that would prevent the Rockets from completing such a feat. This was a game the Rockets had control of from the start with things being super-tight but the team finding a way to stay ahead. J-Smoove was reportedly suffering from flu-like symptoms but was still out there playing hard like a boss! He certainly set the tone against his former team as he hit a three-pointer at the buzzer of the 1st half to put the Rockets up 59-54. Whenever the Rockets needed a boost, he was right there in-the-waiting to help the team stay in the game. At the start of the 4th quarter, the Grizz reeled off a 10-0 run to lead the Rox 89-79 but our team countered with a 12-2 run tying the game at 98-all with just about a minute to go. But here’s the part that makes Rockets’ fans cringe. Time was quickly evaporating off the clock as Harden was up at the top of the arc in a isolation play.

Mar 4, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center

Marc Gasol

(33) controls the ball during the second quarter as Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

As he drove toward the basket, Zach Randolph reached in for the ball but instead grabbed all arm because of the Beard’s quickness. We expected a whistle to be blown right? No. The refs swallowed their whistles and let that play continue to go, Z-Bo was credited with a block instead and the Grizz had the ball back with 5.4 seconds left. After a timeout that was called by the Grizz, the ball went into Marc Gasol‘s hands as he made quite a difficult, running jumper — with TJones in his face — sealing the Rockets’ unfortunate fate with 0.1 seconds left. It was travesty that the team didn’t get that call and the outcome would’ve been a lot different because we all know the Beard would’ve made his free throws. The league eventually ruled the next day that there should’ve been a call but that’s after the fact. Beard had 18 points and 13 assists. J-Smoove had 16 points, eight boards in a solid under-the-weather effort. Gasol led the Grizz with 21 points, eight boards and six assists. The moral to this game is to make sure that it doesn’t come down to the refs when trying to win a close game. It all solidifies my proposal that the league should allow coaches to throw challenge flags like in the NFL because this play should’ve been reviewed. Oh well — I’m sure we’ll see them again in the postseason.

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Rockets 103, Pistons 93: The Rockets definitely had to redeem themselves after Wednesday’s tough loss against the Grizzlies. This game entailed both teams going at it immensely but the Rockets continue to stay in control throughout. TJones had a brief scare in the 2nd quarter with 8:38 left when he landed awkwardly on his right leg after a rebound. He was subsequently pulled from the game, went to the locker room but came back out and declared he was fine. He returned with 57 seconds left connected on three-point play the moment he got his hands on the ball with 28 seconds left. The Rockets cruised for a little while and we were even treated to the Beard completing shaking-off Spencer Dinwiddie while stepping-back for a jumper and Dinwiddie taking the bait of the foul. The Rockets started the 4th with an 18-0 run leading 91-69 with about eight minutes left. Kevin McHale pulled most of the starters but the Pistons cut their deficit to 10 points — 99-89 — with 2:27 left. But the Beard saved the day going back into the game, drawing a couple of fouls and the Rockets ended up staying on top winning the game. Harden notched his fifth career triple-double — third on the season — with 38 points, 12 rebounds and 12 dimes. Clyde Drexler was the last Rockets player to do complete such a feat in the 1996-97 season. TJones had 18/8 and Corey Brewer threw in 15 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Joey Dorsey had 10 rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench. Greg Monroe had 19/8 for the Pistons, Reggie Jackson had 17 points/seven assists and Andre Drummond had a whopping 21 rebounds.

Mar 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) works against Denver Nuggets guard

Randy Foye

(4) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Rockets won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Rockets 114, Nuggets 100: This was the final game of a tough week of scheduling for the Rockets. This was their second back-to-back game of the week. In this match up, the Nuggets jumped on the Rockets from the start leading by 11 points with 3:22 left in the first quarter. But the Rockets got it together, took control and went on a 12-2 run late in the 2nd quarter to lead the Nugs by 11 –47-36 — at the half. The Nuggets did knock on the door of opportunity as they did get within four points of the Rockets — 62-58 — in the third quarter but Harden, Brewer and D-Mo worked hard to put them away for good. They eventually led 88-73 at the end of the third quarter. The 4th quarter was one of dominance with the Rockets up by as much as 21 points as they cruised their way to a 114-100 win. Harden had 28 points and seven assists in the win while Brew had 24 points and six rebounds. TJones had 11 boards and J-Smoove dropped 10/10 off the bench. Wilson Chandler led the Nugs with 28 points five rebounds and four steals.

Houston Rockets Redux: Week 19: 03/01/2015 – 03/07/2015

By Brian K. Patterson | Mar 11, 2015

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