The Houston Rockets have won three straight games. Tonight, they welcome the Boston Celtics to Toyota Center, who are on a two-game winning streak of their own (and are crushing the Mavericks in Dallas as I type this).
When these teams met early in the season, Boston was also on a winning streak but were still trying to find themselves in a Jayson Tatum-less, post-Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis world. They were incorporating Joe Mazzulla’s style with new personnel like Anfernee Simons and guys like Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta getting more run than in years past. Simons has been traded to Chicago and Nikola Vucevic, his “replacement” on the roster, is expected to be out tonight while physicals are procured and travel is undergone.
Tonight marks the start of a TOUGH seven-game stretch for Houston that extends on either side of the All-Star break. After tonight, Houston stays home for a game against the SCORCHING Charlotte Hornets, who will be going for their eighth straight win while Houston will be on a back-to-back. Then, it’s off to Oklahoma City for a matinee on Saturday. After a couple of days off, the Rockets will host the Clippers for two straight games in two straight nights. The Clippers just traded James Harden but have been the best team in the NBA since Christmas (by a wide margin). Finally, after the All-Star break, the Rockets will be on the road against those same Hornets, who might be going for their 12th straight win. Finally, Houston heads to Madison Square Garden to take on the surging New York Knicks.
There are definitely still some rough stretches remaining on the schedule after this one, but nothing as sustained as this. If Houston comes out of this 4-3 or even 3-4, I think I’d take it. Now you can call me a “fake fan” or whatever for not predicting 7-0.
The Line (as of this post)
Looking ahead because we can
Thursday (tomorrow) night at home against the Charlotte Hornets