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| Harden off to a fast start for Houston. Photo Credit: Kirby Lee/ USA Today Sports |
The Rockets got off to one of the hottest starts in team history as they started the season off red hot by winning their first six games.
By: Niqko Marshall
In those six games the Rockets had been getting great production from their key guys such as James Harden, Dwight Howard, and off season edition Trevor Ariza.
Out of the Rockets first five games four of them were on the road. Each game the Rockets have won this year has been by double digits. Because of the hot start people started to wonder would the Rockets be serious contenders this year. Some are still not convinced as guys like Hall of Famer Charles Barkley still thinks the Rockets are the third best team in Texas next to the Spurs and Mavericks and would be no better than an seventh or eighth seed in the playoffs.
Many people have been discrediting the Rockets hot start because of quality of teams they played. They have racked up wins against the Jazz, Celtics, Lakers, Sixers, Heat, and a Spurs team. The games against the Spurs and Heat were quality wins at the time the Heat were 3-0 and spurs were 2-1 but had rested Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan still Tony Parker and finals MVP Kwahi Leonard had played. In the Spurs game, the Rockets were without starters Patrick Beverley (Hamstring) and Terrence Jones (Leg).
Saturday night the Rockets took on the Warriors who are also undefeated and one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Rockets competed hard during the whole game but ultimately couldn't overcome the Warriors firepower losing the game 98-87. It also didn't help the Rockets that they were down three starters this time as Patrick Beverley (Hamstring), Terrence Jones (Leg), and Dwight (Flu) all sat out. Houston shot an abysmal 23.8 percent from the three-point line Saturday night as they only made 10 out of 42. Houston was also out rebounded 54 to 46 which was to be expected with Howard and Jones out.
Steph Curry had a big night with 34 points and ten rebounds. Second-year player Isaiah Canaan was stuck with a tough task to defend him. Red hot guard coming into Saturday night's game Klay Thompson was only held to 11 points. Harden led the way for the Rockets with 22 points and seven rebounds and 7 assist and was followed by Canaan with 21 points Donatas Motiejunas pitched in 16 off of the bench and Jason Terry added 11.
Next up for the Rockets will be the Timberwolves on ESPN Wednesday night. Hopefully, the Rockets will have a healthy roster by then but if not the Rockets should be able to handle the task shorthanded as the Wolves are 2-4.Follow me on Twitter: @NDMHoops
