RUNDOWN ROCKETS
How you can reap big benefits from Rockets season of discontent
Nov 23, 2021, 3:02 pm
The Rocket have lost 15 straight games. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.
3 jump-out-the-gym reasons you should be watching the young gun Rockets
Quietly, without fanfare, flying under the media's radar, your 2021-22 Houston Rockets are on course to absolutely demolish the most unenviable record in NBA history:
Worst. Team. Ever.
Let's Cap'n Crunch the numbers. The current mark for sucking is held by the 2012 Charlotte Bobcats, who finished with a 7-59 record and 10.6 winning percentage. As a glass half-empty guy, I prefer to say they had an 89.4 losing percentage. The crummiest record over a full 82-game season is held by the 1973 Philadelphia 76ers, who trudged home with a 9-73 record and 10.9 winning (89.1 losing) percentage.
The current Rockets are sputtering with a 1-16 record, highlighted by a festering 15-game losing streak, which distills to an impossibly infinitesimal 5.8-percent winning percentage. Monday's night's loss to the Boston Celtics, 108-90, was another hopeless blowout. If the Rockets keep up this pace, they'll Bob Beamon the NBA record for season-long futility.
How horrible are the Rockets? They're making the Houston Texans and their dismal 2-8 record look good. But don't think you're off the hook, Texans. We still hate the owner and that weirdo who pulls his strings. And don't think we're going to start attending your games, either. I wouldn't count on a sold-out NRG Stadium next week for the Jets game. Plenty of good seats are available. Plenty of bad seats, too. Plenty of everything, especially fan support.
Fan calls the Texans office: "What time does Sunday's game start?" Texans answer: "What time can you be here?" Credit to Highlights Magazine.
The Rockets have scheduled two bobblehead giveaways this season: Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Is the promotions department aware that neither plays for the Rockets anymore?
Here's the most impressive thing about the Rockets' fall/winter of discontent. They're not just awful on the court, they're a 5-tool disaster. Once the hottest ticket in town, the Rockets are practically giving away tickets to get fans into Toyota Center. For example, they're currently offering deals like one ticket and two beers for $25. You know what arena beers cost. If you shop the secondary market, you'll find tickets for next Monday night's game against the Thunder for only $7.
Hey! Earlier this season, the Thunder became the 1 in the Rockets' 1-16 record. I'm expecting a sold-out Toyota Center with a total box office of $867.
So let's talk money. The Rockets' highest-paid player is John Wall. He is making $44.3 million this year. Notice I said "making," not "earning." That's because John Wall has not played, and will not play, any games for the Rockets by "mutual agreement."
John Wall makes more money than the next three highest-earning Rockets: Eric Gordon ($18.2 million), Christian Wood ($13.6 million) and Jalen Green ($8.9 million). This is how business is conducted in the Bizarro World.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski explains, "There are no plans for John Wall to play for the Rockets, and it's becoming increasingly likely that (he) may not play anywhere in the NBA this season."
We shouldn't judge the Rockets too harshly for their underwater pay scale. Houston has to be the only city in American sports history where the highest-paid players on its three major sports teams don't play. The Astros paid Justin Verlander $33 million for not pitching in 2021. At least Verlander was injured (for most of the season anyway). Anybody else think it was weird that he was throwing 97 mph the week after his team lost the World Series?
The Texans aren't playing their $156 million quarterback Deshaun Watson because, well, you know. And John Wall sits and collects $44.3 million by "mutual agreement."
The Rockets haven't been kind to bettors, either. They're an ATM-draining 6-10-1 against the spread, and 1-5 ATS in front of the home folks at Toyota Center.
You know what's getting old? Watching Rockets coach Stephen Silas' hang dog face after each mounting loss. The NBA needs to impose a mask mandate for last-place coaches.
How did all this Rockets misery happen? And so fast? Just two years ago, the Rockets had a 44-28 record. The year before, 53-39. In 2017-18 the Rockets were an elite 65-17 with James Harden winning MVP and general manager Daryl Morey named NBA Executive of the Year. It wasn't so long ago that you could plan spring break vacations around Rockets playoff games.
You know the Rockets have a legacy of winning, right? Since the franchise entered the NBA in 1967, the Rockets have an all-time record of 2,444-2,239, good for a .522 winning percentage. That's the 8th best mark for all NBA teams.
But that was then, this is now. With all their historic losing and dwindling crowds, the 2021 Rockets continue to tell their best and highest-paid player, "We know you're only 31 and you're not injured and you'd rather play, but nah, we're good."
Except the Rockets aren't good. In fact …
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
How these 3 critical factors could swing battle between Texans and Jets
Oct 30, 2024, 3:06 pm
The Jets host the Texans and their scary defense on Halloween night! Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
Houston (6-2) at New York Jets (2-6)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EDT, Amazon Prime
BetMGM NFL odds: Jets by 2.
Against the spread: Texans 3-4-1; Jets 2-6.
Series record: Jets lead 7-3.
Last meeting: Jets beat Texans 30-6 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 10, 2023.
Last week: Texans beat Colts 23-20; Jets lost to Patriots 25-22.
Texans offense: overall (9t), rush (18), pass (8), scoring (14).
Texans defense: overall (2), rush (13), pass (3), scoring (15t).
Jets offense: overall (24), rush (30), pass (13), scoring (25).
Jets defense: overall (4), rush (17), pass (2), scoring (11t).
Turnover differential: Texans plus-4; Jets minus-3.
Texans player to watch
RB Joe Mixon. He has carried Houston's offense in the three games since he returned from an injury and could be even more important this week after wide receiver Stefon Diggs tore the ACL in his right knee last Sunday and is out for the season. Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 100.6 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing and a TD run in three straight games.
Jets player to watch
Edge rusher Haason Reddick. After ending his lengthy contract holdout early last week, Reddick made his Jets debut and played 26 snaps on defense with two quarterback pressures while working mostly on third downs. His snaps might increase a bit Thursday and he could help the Jets get after C.J. Stroud, who has been sacked 22 times this season — tied for third most in the NFL.
Key matchup
Jets offensive line vs. Texans' pass rush. New York has had issues this season with injuries, consistency and protecting Aaron Rodgers. The Jets will face a tough test Thursday night against the Texans, whose 27 sacks are third in the NFL. DE Will Anderson Jr. is tied for third in the league with a career-high 7 1/2 sacks, including at least one in his past three games. DE Danielle Hunter has 5 1/2 sacks and DT Tim Settle has four, powering a formidable defensive front for Houston. Hunter leads the league with 51 quarterback pressures and Anderson is fourth with 39, the only teammates in the top 15, according to Next Gen Stats.
Key injuries
Diggs' injury leaves Houston without its top two receivers. Nico Collins, who leads the Texans with 567 yards receiving, is out for at least one more game after being placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. ... S Calen Bullock was limited in practice Monday and Tuesday after injuring his shoulder Sunday. … LBs Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) and Henry To’oTo’o (concussion) both missed the Colts game, but could return this week. … S Jimmie Ward could miss a fifth straight game with a groin injury. … LG Jarrett Patterson is in the concussion protocol and is likely out. … RB Dameon Pierce missed practice this week with a groin injury. ... Jets LB C.J. Mosley suffered a stinger in his neck during pregame warmups at New England and was meeting with neck and spine specialists this week. ... RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), WR Allen Lazard (chest), DL Leki Fotu (knee) and safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion) all missed the game vs. the Patriots and their availability for this week was uncertain. ... K Greg Zuerlein was placed on IR. Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader were signed to the practice squad, and one will be promoted for the game.
Series notes
The Jets have won the past two meetings. ... New York won the first five meetings, including the first game between the franchises in 2003, when LaMont Jordan's late 8-yard touchdown run helped lift the Jets to a 19-14 victory. ... Zach Wilson threw two touchdown passes in the most recent meeting, a 30-6 rout by New York during which Stroud left with a concussion.
Stats and stuff
The AFC South-leading Texans have won four of their past five. ... Stroud is 2-0 with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in two career starts in prime time. He had 285 yards passing last week for his ninth career game with at least that many yards passing, which is tied for second most in the NFL since 2023. ... WR Tank Dell had a touchdown reception last week and has a TD catch in two of his past three games. ... TE Dalton Schultz had a season-high 52 yards receiving against the Colts. He has two TD receptions in each of his past two Thursday night games. ... Hunter has 10½ sacks in eight career Thursday night games. … LB Neville Hewitt, who spent the 2018-21 seasons with the Jets, forced a fumble last week. … Rookie CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high three passes defended last week. … S Jalen Pitre had his first interception of the season last week. ... S Eric Murray had seven tackles and a season-high three passes defended last week. ... New York is trying to snap a five-game skid. ... Jeff Ulbrich is 0-3 as the Jets’ interim head coach since replacing the fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. Ulbrich, also the team's defensive coordinator, said earlier this week he'll continue to call plays on defense. … Rodgers snapped a streak of three consecutive games with an interception. He has seven in eight games, six shy of his single-season career high set in 2008 in his first year as Green Bay’s starting quarterback. ... Rodgers hasn't passed for 300 yards since throwing for 341 against Chicago on Dec. 12, 2021 — a span of 30 regular-season games and 31 overall, including one playoff game. ... WR Garrett Wilson leads the NFL with 84 targets, 11 more than the Giants’ Malik Nabers. Wilson’s 51 receptions are second in the league behind Las Vegas’ Brock Bowers, who has 52. ... WR Davante Adams had four catches for 54 yards, giving him seven receptions for 84 yards in two games since being acquired from the Raiders. ... Second-year WR Xavier Gipson caught his first career TD pass last Sunday. ... TE Tyler Conklin has a TD catch in consecutive games after not having one since catching two TD passes in Week 8 of the 2022 season against New England. ... RB Breece Hall has 316 yards receiving, the most among NFL running backs. ... Edge rusher Will McDonald has eight sacks, second in the NFL to the Giants’ Dexter Lawrence (nine). … The Jets have only six takeaways, ranking among the fewest in the league. Backup CB Brandin Echols has New York's only two interceptions.
Fantasy tip
Houston wide receiver John Metchie is coming off a career-best three-catch game and could see more targets — and perhaps his first NFL touchdown — with both Diggs and Collins out. Might be worth a stash as a potential WR3.
_______________________
Fans of Houston sports and Houston food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm November 11 at 8th Wonder. Tickets are $75 for VIP and $50 for General Admission. For a limited time, we’re giving you $10 off; use code SPORTSMAP at checkout. Get your tickets now!