Houston Rockets Game Day:
Record: 41-20, Western: 4, Record: 43-20, Western: 3,
Northwest: 1st, last ten 7-3 Southwest: 2nd, last ten 7-3
Houston Rockets vs Portland Trailblazers
Wed Mar 11, 10:30 PM EST – ESPN, CSNH, KGW, RTSW
Moda Center at the Rose Quarter – Portland, OR
Recent Matchups
Feb 9 POR 109-98 HOU Dec 23 POR 95-110 HOU May 3 HOU 98-99 POR
May 1 POR 98-108 HOU Apr 28 HOU 120-123 POR
Latest Results:
Stats:
Walking Wounded:
Blazers:
- Wesley Matthews out for season with ruptured tendon (targeting opening day for return)
Rockets:
- Kostas Papanikolaou remains day to day with an ankle sprain
- Dwight Howard continues his off court training of swimming, weight lifting and tread mill running. As per Houston Chronicle: underwent an examination Wednesday with the Rockets’ team physician, who confirmed that the center’s recovery is “on schedule”(projected to miss 6-8 weeks)
Each day is another day closer. @DwightHoward going through drills after practice in Portland. https://t.co/T3gb3SE9ya
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) March 9, 2015
Bench Mob:
We’ve touched on this repeatedly that Houston’s reserves have experienced a steady upward climb in their bench production. Expect the consistent energetic approach from Corey Brewer and Josh Smith to spearhead the Rockets bench over the low performing Blazer bench.
Key Match-up:
For my money the Blazers had the best starting-5 unit in the Association. While All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard lead the way for the team it’s truly the intangibles of Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum which separates this team from their competition. With the loss of Matthews it certainly puts extra pressure on Arron Afflalo to not only pick up the slack but to bring the kind of energy Matthews was known for. Additionally it once again highlights the lack of depth for the Blazers who had added Afflalo and Alonzo Gee at the trade deadline to make a championship run.
Obviously James Harden represents the biggest challenge for Portland, but where they could make a dent in the game will be their bench who have progressively been climbing the reserve ladder in terms of their output
Leaders:
Blazers:
- LaMarcus Aldridge 23.2 points per game
- LaMarcus Aldridge 10.5 rebounds per game
- Damian Lillard 6.2 assists per game
- Robin Lopez 1.6 blocks per game
- Damian Lillard steals per game
Rockets:
- James Harden 27.1 points per game
- Dwight Howard 11 rebounds per game
- James Harden 7.1 assists per game
- Terrence Jones 2 blocks per game
- James Harden 1.9 steals per game
Keys to Winning:
- Ball and player movement will be key against the Blazer’s defense.
- Slow the production of Lillard with a focus to building a sizable lead margin, this is one team you don’t want to let smell a chance or they’ll see blood
- Use bench depth to build a lead
- Control the pace and the ball (i.e. keep the turnovers low)
The Pick:
The odds makers favor Portland by 2.5 points I would assume because the game is being held in Portland. This will be a lock down drag out fight and I’d guess whoever controls the pace, their turnovers and literally holds the ball last will be the victors.
Next: Who has the power in week 18?
More from Space City Scoop
- Rockets: Time to return the slander towards Rachel Nichols
- What the Rockets must do with the second overall pick
- Houston Rockets: The case for, and against, trading Christian Wood
- NBA Rumors: Why the Houston Rockets shouldn’t trade up to no. 1 in NBA Draft
- 3 players that would be a perfect fit for the Houston Rockets at 23 or 24