Game 9: Houston Rockets At Denver Nuggets Preview
I certainly hope that the Houston Rockets had a pow-wow about their abysmal performance against the Brooklyn Nets the other night.
I’m not even going to say that couldn’t believe how the Rockets let that game slip out of their fingers because I actually can.
The Rockets are, of course, getting some semblance of a offensive rhythm on the basketball court but they still have a long ways to go.
Their team defense is even worse and needs to be shored up if they’re going to make headway in not only the Southwest Division but in the Western Conference as well.
Let’s hope that Kevin McHale has motivated these group of men to hold the basic principle of winning basketball games — defense — near and dear.
I’m tired of seeing it but it looks like we’re going to see more of the bad before it gets better.
After having the day off yesterday, the Rockets will take on the 4-4 Denver Nuggets — to which they were blown out 105-85 in their last meeting back on Oct. 28, the team’s season-opening game.
The Rockets were torched by the Nugs hot shooting and it was too much for them to overcome in their opener.
I’m sure some defense would’ve helped against Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried and Emmanuel Mudiay.
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Ty Lawson is going to have to step it up big time in his first trip to Denver since being traded as his replacement — Mudiay — ran circles all around him in a 17 point, nine assist, five rebound effort but his 11 turnovers almost overshadowed his performance.
Lawson had 12 points, six assists and three turnovers against the Nugs.
He’d normally be a league-leader in assist-to-turnover ratio but right now he’s ranked 36th with a 2.14 so it’s time to redeem himself and have that number start trending upward.
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So who’s leading the charge for the Nuggets?
Gallinari has been taking charge with the bulk of the scoring duties, averaging 17.9 PPG. Faried is the top board-getter (9.9 RPG), Mudiay in assists (6.3 APG), Will Barton in steals (1.10 SPG) and J.J. Hickson in blocks (1.30 BPG).
Let’s talk about what the Nuggets do well.
The move the basketball around quite smoothly. The Nuggets are tied for 8th in assist ratio, with 16.7 percent of their possessions ending with an assist.
They’re relentless for the second chance. The Nuggets are ranked 7th in offensive rebound rate (26.2).
Injuries:
Dwight Howard usually sits one game out of a back-to-back and he has decided to “most likely” play tonight and sit tomorrow’s game against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.
According to the Denver Post’s Chris Dempsey, Jameer Nelson will be probable for tonight after missing the last two games with an SI joint sprain.
Three Things to Watch:
- Ty Lawson vs. Mudiay/Nelson
- Marcus Thornton vs. Gallinari
- Will they be able hold this team to under 100 points tonight?
Next: It's The Defense, Stupid!
Prediction:
108-101 in a Rockets’ win!
The Rockets take on the Nuggets on the road at the Pepsi Center.
Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST.
The game will be televised on ROOT Sports and broadcast on SportsTalk 790 AM (KBME) & La Ranchera 850 AM (KEYH) in Spanish.
Go Rockets.