Houston Rockets @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Takeaways: Game 4

The Houston Rockets came, saw and conquered. They undertook perhaps their toughest test of the season and despite what many may feel about this team, I think we’re trending in the correct direction.

The Houston Rockets came, saw and conquered. They undertook perhaps their toughest test of the season and despite what many may feel about this team, I think we’re trending in the correct direction.

Why?

This team has fight and it has heart — two integral components of any cohesiveness of team looking to get a chip.

This team could’ve rolled over and let the world champs embarrass us but they didn’t.

They fought with each possession, each ball tip and with every bounce of the basketball.

If this were the 2015-16 season, we’d all be shaking our heads figuring out what the hell happened.

But since the Houston Rockets season opener versus the Los Angeles Lakers, this team is committed to ensure that they fix the things that have gone wrong.

And I see upward trends with each game indicating that the Houston Rockets WANT to get better and not just survive.

You can credit Daryl Morey for putting together a team that is not only statistically efficient but brought in the right blend of personalities to make his latest concoction work.

More from House of Houston

The Houston Rockets battled hard throughout the entire game and even though it wasn’t good enough to beat the Cavs, they knew they gave it their all.

And that’s what matters to us fans the most…

We always want to see our teams win but what makes us prouder is to see tenacious effort as if everything is on the line.

Those are the type of things that make you proud to be a Houstonian — hell, I know I am!

But this game was as tight it could possibly be for most of the way.

There were six ties, only four lead changes with neither team leading by more than 10 points.

For most of the outsiders from H-Town, they’d you tell that this game was going to be a blowout.

But that’s not so — and it’s wrong — definitely not with the talent that has been assembled for us this offseason.

Although this team got rebounded 46-32 — I knew we were going to lose that battle — the Houston Rockets moved the ball around quite well out-assisting the Cavs 30-22.

They also kept an keen eye on their turnovers, only conjuring up seven of those compared to the Cavs’ 11.

But the Cavs were able squeeze the juice out of the turnip a bit more — getting 17 points off those said seven turnovers.

At least the Rockets made the most out of benefiting from the Cavs’ mistakes by getting 13 points off their 11 turnovers.

But nonetheless, it was a hell of an effort by the Houston Rockets and they just unfortunately fell victim to a 4th-quarter shootout.

Yep, they got out-gunned by Kyrie Irving, who made some amazing shots down the stretch.

James Harden finished with 41 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and just ONE turnover in 38 minutes of action.

Next: It's Time To Unleash K.J. McDaniels

That was, once again, another dynamite stat line where those 15 assists were half of the team’s total.

Wow.

Eric Gordon also threw in 16 points while shooting 4-for-9 (44.9 percent) from behind-the-arc.

The Cavs had six players in double-figures tonight but Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 32 points.

Kevin Love also contributed 24 points and LeBron James had 19 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, just two shy of a triple-double.

Wowzers.

But what we’ve learned from this game is that this team can scrap it up with the best and remain competitive every step of the way.

Let’s hope that this continues.

The Houston Rockets now will have to muster up some pride from this 128-100 loss.

They’ll head up to Gotham City to take on the New York Knicks in a back-to-back, the 2nd stop of this five-game, eight-day road trip.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CDT.

I’m positive they’ll be making some noise up at the Mecca.

Go Rockets.

Home/Houston Rockets