The Rockets take on the best team in the Western Conference
I’ve got a couple of things I want to cover here, so let’s get into it.
This is a benchmark game for the Houston Rockets. These teams met in the preseason and the Oklahoma City Thunder humbled the Rockets. And yes, I can already hear you crying into your computer/phone screens. “It’s preseason, AK! No one plays hard. No one is trying! And the Rockets won the game!” Well, the Thunder played hard. And the Rockets played hard. And in the first half when both teams were playing their rotations and going 100% (or as close to it as preseason allows), the Thunder led 60-47 at the break. Mark Daigneault sat his starters after the break but Ime Udoka stayed with his. Even Houston’s first teamers struggled to make headway against OKC’s backup until late in the quarter when OKC went to their third stringers.
Point being, the Thunder are multiple steps ahead of the Rockets. So this game is a good one for the Rockets to see where they stack up against the presumed top seed. Also, OKC is coming off their first loss of the season and will be ready to go. Expect a blowout.
The other topic I want to mention is Cam Whitmore. You’ve heard by now that Whitmore has been sent down to the G-League, an obvious demotion for a player on the fringe of the rotation but firmly out of it. The move isn’t a fun one, but necesary. Whitmore has struggled throughout the preseason and regular season, and it’s not like his defense has improved since last season.
This is a good way for Whitmore to get back on track. Meanwhile, there are bound to be injuries with the big club. I can knock on wood all day, but no team has ever gone 82 games with zero injuries to their rotation pieces. When the time comes, Whitmore will be available.
I also keep seeing people complaining that Houston’s rotation only goes 9-deep. Yeah, so do most teams’. Not everyone plays like the Warriors, and even they will tighten up the rotation as the season goes on. Compound that with the fandom believing that this makes Whitmore a “bust” (lunacy) or that Houston should trade him if they aren’t going to use him (even more lunacy). Rockets fans lauded this team’s depth all offseason. We’re lauding it now! Houston’s depth is awesome, and there are few teams that trot out as many good players as the Rockets. So why, at the first sign of trouble, are fans trying to destroy the depth? Because no one is trading a star for Cam Whitmore right now. And if you’re just hoping to get a rotation piece, then you’re missing the big picture. The Rockets want Whitmore to be a key piece—a potential starting piece—down the road. Why would they trade him for another throwaway wing?
Xiane will be in the Playback room tonight, so you should come join to watch the Rockets and talk about the game. Remember, we get a handful of VIP passes that we give out to anyone who wants to watch the game. No League Pass necessary!
Tip-off
7pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Thunder
Kenrich Williams: OUT
Isaiah Hartenstein: OUT
Jaylin Williams: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
OKC -8.5
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Sunday afternoon in Detroit