ROCKET SCIENCE

Let's discuss the newest addition to the Houston Rockets​

Let's discuss the newest addition to the Houston Rockets​
The Rockets made a big move on Friday night.Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Christian Wood signed a three-year $41 million dollar contract with the Houston Rockets on Friday night. About five years ago, the Rockets signed Woods after going undrafted in 2015. Woods played his college basketball at UNLV before entering the NBA. After the 2015 Summer League, the Rockets waived Woods before he started his career in Philadelphia.

Woods became an NBA journeyman as he improved his game on five different teams. He played in the NBA G-League too, which helped build his confidence. The newly signed Rocket averaged 23 points per game, 11 rebounds, and two blocks in the G-League. As Woods went back and forth from the NBA to G-League, his shooting improved.

Woods shot a career-high 39 percent from the perimeter while averaging 13 points per game with the Detroit Pistons. When Andre Drummond was traded from the Pistons to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Woods increased his play tremendously. He was averaging 22 points per game, shooting 41 percent from the perimeter with 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. The Pistons only had 15 games left in the season before the NBA got furloughed because of COVID-19, so the sample size isn't huge.

Hopefully, the Rockets find a way for Russell Westbrook and James Harden to stay and play with Woods. He can stretch the floor easily because of his athletic frame at 6'10 and 7'4 wingspan. The Rockets got more than a traditional big man because of his ability to create 15 ft from the basket. Woods can also become a great pick-n-roll and pick-n-pop partner to Westbrook and Harden if they decide to stay with the Rockets. The excitement is real because of the upside and ability Woods could add to the Rockets' offense.

Even with the excitement around Woods, the Rockets are still looking to add to their depth. Recently the Rockets drafted Kenyon Martin Jr, spoke with DeMarcus Cousins, and could possibly move Westbrook to the Washington Wizards for John Wall. Stay tuned, because anything could happen at a moment's notice.

Rafael Stone has been impressive so far as GM for the Rockets, but hopefully, more moves are made as the Western Conference continues to get more difficult with the Lakers constantly improving their roster.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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