ROCKET SCIENCE

Some important things to consider with the Rockets returning to action

Zach Allen
Jul 13, 2020, 11:19 am
Composite image by Jack Brame.

As the shortened season gets closer, more questions need to be answered. How will Russell Westbrook and James Harden overcome their postseason doubts? What type of defensive structure does Luc Mbah a Moute bring back to the Rockets?

In the last three years, Westbrook has struggled to get past the first round. His first season without Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City was understandable. Westbrook went against a similar built team in the 2017 postseason, the Houston Rockets. In his MVP season, Westbrook and the Thunder were booted out of the playoffs in five games. Later that offseason, Westbrook recruited Carmelo Anthony and Paul George to OKC. This tandem struggled against the Utah Jazz in the 2018 playoffs. As again, Westbrook was out the first round.

That caused Anthony to get traded to Atlanta after the season was over. When George decided to stay in OKC for another season, things looked different for the Thunder. They were able to grab decent seeding but had to face the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. People predicted Westbrook and George would overcome this Blazers team. But Damian Lillard said different in game six as he hit a buzzer beater to send the Thunder home in the first round.

This year's Rockets team averaged 118.1 points per game before the season was cut short because of COVID-19, Westbrook was averaging 27.5 points per game. Westbrook was on a tear before the season ended but will things be different for him in the playoffs?

Harden has heard all the criticism from previous playoffs series dating back to OKC. His biggest downfall in the playoffs was against the Golden State Warriors. Harden has lost to the Warriors four times. His last two playoff appearances against the Warriors were tough losses. In the 2018 playoffs, Chris Paul reinjured his hamstring in game five, but the Rockets went up 3-2 in the series. Harden and the Rockets missed 22 straight from behind the arc in game seven causing them to lose. The following year, the Rockets lost again to Warriors in six games. This time, without Kevin Durant because he got hurt in game five. Harden was just not able to get along with Paul in the most important series.

Before this season started, the last time Westbrook and Harden played together, was the 2011-2012 season. As that Thunder team blew through teams in the playoffs, and made it to the 2012 NBA finals. Harden and Westbrook both struggled in the finals. Westbrook averaged 27 points per game, while Harden averaged 12.4 points per game. While Harden struggled with turnovers, Westbrook struggled with shooting making only 3 shots from behind the arc on 22 attempts. As result, the Miami Heat beat the Thunder in five games.

How can things be different for Harden? Honestly, Westbrook gives Harden a slight push to become even better. Westbrook and Harden started off slow playing together in the beginning of the season. But towards the shutdown, Westbrook started to build chemistry with Harden. The Rockets went 9-2 in the month of February. Both players shared the ball amazingly well. Harden and Westbrook combined for five 40-point games in the month. Hopefully, we see this level of play in the playoffs.


During the press conference Saturday, Coach Mike D'Antoni expressed his optimism about Harden and Westbrook playing together. D'Antoni feels excited because they proved it by beating the tougher teams in the league.

"Defensively we've been good, offensively we're the second-best in the league this year," D'Antoni said. "We demonstrated that against the best teams in the league, which obliviously they're all here, we played really well. We are not going to take a backseat to anybody. We think we can win it."

Now that the Rockets re-signed Luc Mbah a Moute, this brings strong presence back on defense. The reason for bringing his back is that Thabo Sefolosha did not feel comfortable being in Orlando. Ever since the 2017-2018 season, the Rockets defense has not been the same. Trevor Ariza was on the Rockets as well that year, but bringing back Luc from that team, was huge. The Rockets will likely have to guard multiple players from the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers in the playoffs this year. The Rockets are currently ranked 9th in defensive this season. It could change now that Luc is back.

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Houston is now 6-6

Bielak with an impressive start, Astros rally late but come up short as Diamondbacks take series

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

After a rough, disheartening loss the night before to even the series at one game apiece, the Astros tried to shake it off and regroup for a win on Thursday to get the series win against the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Here is a quick recap of the finale:

Final Score: Diamondbacks 5, Astros 4.

Record: 6-6, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Junior Guerra (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Ryan Pressly (0-1, 40.50 ERA).

Bielak tosses an impressive start as Houston puts him in winning position

After both teams finished the first three innings scoreless, the Astros were able to get a little bit of good luck on their side, unlike the night prior. Jose Altuve started the inning with a much-needed single, stole second, then moved to third on a groundout for the second out. That set up Yuli Gurriel, who hit a ball down the third-base line that would strike the bag and bounce away from Arizona, allowing Altuve to score and put Houston up 1-0.

Though he likely would have preferred more run support, Brandon Bielak made do with that one run in his first career MLB start. He was able to complete five innings of work, holding Arizona scoreless over that span despite allowing a runner in each inning. He left in line for the win, with a final line of 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 0 HR.

Altuve extends the lead, then Diamondbacks go ahead

Jose Altuve helped double the lead in the top of the sixth, connecting for a one-out solo home run to make it 2-0. With Bielak's night over at five innings, Cy Sneed took over in the bottom of the sixth and allowed back-to-back one-out doubles to cut Houston's lead in half. He allowed a single to put runners on the corners before Dusty Baker would move on to another reliever to try and preserve the lead. Blake Taylor would enter but allowed the tying RBI-single to take Bielak out of winning position. Taylor would go on to allow a go-ahead run before getting out of the jam.

In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor was still on the mound but would only get two outs before another call to the pen. Andre Scrubb would enter and get the final out of the inning. In the top of the eighth, Jose Altuve would improve to 3-for-4 on the night with a two-out double, setting up Alex Bregman for a go-ahead two-run home run to make it 4-3, Houston.

Ryan Pressly allows the walk-off

Scrubb went back to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and was able to record a 1-2-3 inning to move the game to the ninth. After a scoreless top of the ninth, Ryan Pressly would attempt to get the save in the bottom of the inning. Instead, he would allow the walk-off, loading the bases with no outs on a walk and two singles before a two-RBI single to give Arizona the win and the series victory.

Up Next: The Astros will travel to Oakland to kick off a three-game weekend series with the A's on Friday at 8:10 PM Central. The A's will send Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.93 ERA) to the mound while Houston will turn to Zack Greinke (0-0, 5.00 ERA) to help cut down Oakland's division lead.

mlb astros recap astros vs diamondbacks brandon bielak michael brantley jose altuve alex bregman andre scrubb ryan pressly astros

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