The weekly look at James Harden and the Rockets. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
With everything going on with the World Series, I’ll be the first to admit that the Rockets have taken a bit of a backseat at the moment. Just about every game I’ve caught has been thanks to game replays from my NBA League Pass. This Astros run has consumed me. Work? Distraction. School? Distraction. Friends that don’t watch baseball? Distractions. I’ve invested far too much into this baseball season to be sidetracked by anything else now.
This month of intense, high-pressure baseball has left me physically and mentally broken. I never could have predicted how much of a toll the stress of a championship run this tight would have taken on me. I love baseball, but it’s killing me. I’m ready to focus on some stress free Rockets action.
I did promise Rockets updates though. I said we’d get through this together, and I’m a man of my word.
Game Four: Rockets vs Memphis Grizzlies (L, 90-98)
As soon as I suggest that the Rockets could go undefeated for a week, they lose the very next game. Of Course. In one of the rare Rockets games that didn’t cross the 100-point threshold, James Harden and company seemed in control throughout. Marc Gasol was nearly unguardable throughout the first quarter, even with the stockier Nene brought in to slow him down. Both teams beat each other up inside with very little resistance, with Harden and Eric Gordon leading the charge. The Rockets built up a lead as high as 12 points in the third, however Memphis stormed back and grabbed the lead with three minutes left to go in the fourth. Trevor Ariza and Nene each left the game with injuries, and the Rockets dropped their first game of the season to the notoriously defensive-oriented Grizzlies. Harden finished with 22 points and 8 assists, while Gordon lead the charge with 27 points and 7 assists.
Game Five: Rockets at Philadelphia 76ers (W, 105-104)
With Ariza out due to a left knee sprain, Luc Mbah A Moute was given his first shot in the Rockets starting rotation. The 76ers jumped out to an early lead with the help of their two prized players, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. First impressions? Those kids are good, and play well together. The Rockets simply do not match up well with Embiid, who bullied Tarik Black all night to the tune of 21 points, 2 blocks, 1 steal, and 6 rebounds. It was a close game throughout. Clint Capela turned in another outstanding night on the boards with 20 rebounds, and the Rockets would cap a spectacular fourth quarter rally with a last second buzzer-beater from Eric Gordon. He would finish with 29 points. Harden ended the night with 27 points and 13 assists.
Game Six: Rockets at Charlotte Hornets (W, 109-93)
Fueled by a 29-16 second quarter, a 31-19 fourth, and Harden’s first triple-double of the season (27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists), the Rockets left Charlotte with a victory Friday night. It was moonshots all night, as Gordon and Ryan Anderson alone combined for 31 of the team’s 57 three point attempts. Ariza and Nene sat out once again. Gordon and Anderson finished with 26 and 21 points, respectively.
Game Seven: Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies (L, 89-103)
In a less than encouraging second round against a divisional opponent, the Rockets turned in a dud. Gordon sat out with a stomach illness Saturday night and the Grizzlies cruised to a win, fueled by former Rocket Chandler Parsons and his 24 point showcase. Ryan Anderson lead the team with 22 points on a great shooting night for him, however the lack of scoring support outside of Harden proved to be too much. After Harden’s 20 points, the Rockets’ next highest contributor was Capela with 12. None of the Grizzlies’ starters scored in double digits, but the bench shouldered the load with the help of Mario Chalmers (15 points) and Tyreke Evans (14 points).
Game Eight: Rockets vs Philadelphia 76ers (L, 107-115)
In another quick rematch, the Rockets took on the 76ers for the second time in less than a week. The original matchup required a Gordon buzzer-beater to steal a win, but this time the Philly’s young duo would not be denied. Embiid dominated once again inside with 22 points, while Ben Simmons poured it on with an unexpected mid-range shot. He would finish with a career high 24 points to go with 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Gordon and Harden shouldered as much of the load as possible, shooting a combined 16-39 from three point range, finishing up with 25 and 29 points each.
Takeaways:
Harden and Gordon need help. Together, they are accounting for almost 50% of the team’s points each night. When Gordon was out against Memphis, the Rockets suffered their biggest defeat of the young season. A healthy Chris Paul will be a welcome addition.
Capela has been dominating the boards so far. At 11.3 rebounds per game, Capela is tied for 10th in the entire league as a glass cleaner. He’s also averaging 13.5 points per game with a 72.3% field goal percentage.
As productive as Capela has been, the Rockets seem to have the most issues with teams that have dominant post players. Nene was tagged as a priority to resign in the offseason to help push back against the bruisers. Tarik Black was picked up as insurance in case Nene was injured. All three centers have shown an inability to contain the likes of Embiid and Gasol.
Rockets Player of the Week (not named James Harden):
Eric Gordon. Week one was a miserable 3 point showing, but he’s since raised his 3P% from 20% to 30%. He’s the only other reliable scoring threat on the team at the moment that can create his own shot, and he’s made it a point to be more aggressive at driving the lane. Until Paul returns, the Rockets are going to continue to lean on Gordon as a starter.
Looking Ahead:
Wednesday the Rockets take on the Knicks in New York, followed by the Hawks at Atlanta and a home tilt against the Jazz later this week. The Rockets will have to figure out how to stop Kristaps Porzingis if they’re to avoid a similar fate dealt by Memphis and Philly’s big men. Atlanta should be an easy win, before taking on the Jazz on Sunday. This past week has been a stumble, but I see the Rockets taking at least 2 of the next three games and heading into next week at 7-4.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
A new challenge awaits, and the Astros know what’s at stake
Jun 27, 2025, 2:05 pm
The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.
In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.
It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.
Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?
Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.
Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.
If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.
As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.
And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!