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Houston Rockets: A breakdown of the LA Clippers clash with the team

By Brian K. Patterson

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Trevor Ariza
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 15: Trevor Ariza /
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The Houston Rockets fell to the Los Angeles Clippers 113-102 Monday night at Staples Center but what’s the most eye-opening wasn’t the game itself but the intense amount of friction between the two teams down the stretch.  Here’s what went down.

The Houston Rockets aren’t known for a team that tends to fight a lot but they will defend themselves if provoked.  That was certainly the case last night whether it was against the terrible officiating, the trash-talking or most importantly Blake Griffin.

With a good chunk of this team being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers with Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and Sam Dekker being the centerpieces of an eight-player swap for Chris Paul, there’s obviously going to be some mixed emotions from both teams.

It just wasn’t this intense the last time these two teams met, despite a controversial ending that the Houston Rockets were set to protest on but eventually withdrew.  But here were are again, facing into what is now becoming a hot rivalry despite what we saw out there tonight.

Things were chippy throughout the game but things escalated late in the game when Griffin allegedly hit Mike D’Antoni for his brazen behavior among the coaching box with 3:34 left in the game:

After an ensuing shoving match between Griffin and Paul, things escalated a bit more when an injured Austin Rivers — who’s still on a walking boot — started to talk trash to Trevor Ariza on the sidelines.  He had to be pulled away because things weren’t going to end well between the two.  To be honest, it just wouldn’t be fair in regard to how much punishment Ariza would inflict on him.

With 1:04 left, Griffin and Ariza got into their own altercation causing both to be ejected from the game.  Do you see a pattern?  Griffin was involved in all of these instances and I believe the Houston Rockets were just reacting by defending themselves and refusing to stand down to their opponent.

As the final buzzer sounded, there was more in store in the respective locker rooms as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:

Apparently, James Harden, Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green tried to confront Griffin and Rivers in their own locker room through a hallway in the middle of both locker rooms.

They didn’t make it in there as security quickly had to intervene to ensure that the Rockets weren’t successful in getting their man.

Woj then reported that Clint Capela was involved as well:

Feigen then had a counterpoint to set the record straight to which I believe what happened:

Woj even reported that Clint Capela was a the 4th person involved into attempted barge-in through the main door but Feigen indicates that he wasn’t allowed in.  He just stood in the hallway, unsure of his next move while the other three guys were trying to get through the adjoining hallway between both locker rooms.

All in all, I think the aforementioned guys didn’t necessarily want to fight but to get some answers

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as to what’s their beef with them as of late.  Griffin had allegedly hit their coach and wanted to find out why.  And most importantly, why in the hell was Rivers was talking trash from the sidelines in a walking boot?  One quick shove and that string-bean frame of a basketball player would’ve been toast.

Regardless of what comes from all of this — there will likely be punishment doled out on both sides — is that we’ve officially entered into an era of a healthy strife between both teams and it’s time for the fireworks to begin.

Next: How the Rockets keep rolling in James Harden's absence

The Rockets take on the Clippers again Feb. 28 at Staples Center once again and then close out the season series March 15 back home at Toyota Center.

Get your popcorn ready — go Rockets!

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