House of Houston
Fansided

Game 77: Houston Rockets Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Preview

By Brian K. Patterson

Mar 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) fight for a rebound during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) fight for a rebound during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Houston Rockets will tangle with the 53-23 Oklahoma City Thunder for the last time this season in a Sunday matinee today.

Let’s hope that they play some consistent basketball for 48 minutes so that we have the best chance to win.

It’s wishful thinking but I seriously doubt that we’ll see that.

I just hope that this team doesn’t get caught with their pants down and we get embarrassed on national television.

Yes, this tilt will be televised on ABC and it’s going to take a concerted, smart effort from each and every one of the guys in the rotation to make this win happen.

J.B. Bickerstaff needs to incorporate Dwight Howard more in the game as his touches have plummeted dramatically.

D12 is at his best when he gets the touches he needs but with so many of our players being ball-dominant, there’s just only so much of it to share around.

Do the Rockets want to make the playoffs or what?

I’m not 100 percent positive on that question but I’d like them to.

If we don’t, this season would be definitely categorized as a failure so it’s best that we salvage something out of it.

But at least there is a prize for not making the playoffs, a gift-wrapped, first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets that the Rockets acquired in the Ty Lawson trade this past off season.

But I do want to see playoff basketball in Houston; but, as I previously said, I don’t know if this team is on board with that.

We’ll have to see.

So who’s leading the charge for the Thunder?

More from House of Houston

Kevin Durant is the leading scorer (28.0 PPG) and top board-getter (8.3 RPG).  Russell Westbrook is the steals king (2.10 SPG) and assist man (10.4 APG).  Serge Ibaka is the premier shot-blocker (1.90 BPG).

Let’s talk about what the Thunder do well.

They’re offensively potent.  The Thunder are ranked 2nd in the league in offensive efficiency, putting up 110.0 points per 100 possessions.  They’re also decent at defense, being ranked 11th in defensive efficiency, allowing 102.8 points per 100 possessions.

They are rebounding beasts.  The Thunder are 1st in the league in rebound rate, taking down a whopping 54.7 percent of missed shots.

They’re great shooters.  The Thunder are ranked 3rd in effective field goal percentage (52.4) and are 3rd in true shooting percentage (56.6).

Injuries:

There are no injuries to report for the guys that are in the regular rotation.

Next: What Path Will The Rockets Take To The Playoffs?

Three Things to Watch:

  1. Patrick Beverley vs. Russell Westbrook
  2. Dwight Howard vs. Steven Adams
  3. Donatas Motiejunas vs. Serge Ibaka
  4. (Bonus)  Trevor Ariza vs. Kevin Durant

Prediction:

109-104 in a Rockets’ loss.

The Rockets continue their home stretch to take on the Thunder at Toyota Center.

Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CDT.

The game will be televised on ABC and broadcast on SportsTalk 790 AM (KBME), Sirius 207, XM/SiriusXM 86, Sirius/XM/SiriusXM Internet 890 and La Ranchera 850 AM (KEYH) in Spanish.

Go Rockets!

Home/Houston Rockets