It's the Rockets' seventh game in ten days. I can't even play 7 pickup games in 10 days, much less full 48-minute affairs (plus two overtimes). Of course, these guys get paid lots of money (as in, tens of dollars!) to keep in shape and play a game that involves placing a ball in a hoop. Sometimes I really wish I was 6-9. And athletic. And in shape. And coordinated. Okay, depression over.
It's back to .500 for the good guys, and tonight marks their first chance to rise above that number. In their way are the New Orleans Hornets, who have had one of the quietest offseasons in recent memory. Seriously, their offseason moves were more boring than the National Championship game played in...New Orleans! I know, I'm so smart.
As of this writing, the Hornets are 3-10 and playing against Memphis, so at least the Rockets will have a little more rest than their opponents.
And just think: the Hornets were this close to having a lineup that consisted of Dragic, Martin, Ariza, Landry, and Scola. Yeah, that almost happened. Then they would be really close to the ever-elusive all-white lineup. I'm going to see it one day, I tell you!*
*SB Nation and The Dream Shake do not endorse the all-white lineup due to potential backlash from politically correct groups. All views (crazy or otherwise) are those of the writer, who is crazy and is admitting it right now by actually writing this disclaimer.
Tip is at 7pm CST.
Matchups after the jump.
Matchups:
PG: Kyle Lowry vs. Jarrett Jack:
That's two games in a row where Lowry hasn't looked All-Universe. Time to trade him.
Jack is averaging 16/7/4. That's pretty darn good, but poor guy is probably just a holdover for the Hornets. Seems like a nice guy.
Advantage: Rockets
SG: Kevin Martin vs. Marco Belinelli:
You know what I hate hearing about upcoming opponents? That they've been shooting poorly. Weird, but as a Rockets fan I've been conditioned to expect them to have amazing bounceback games against us. Belinelli goes 5-7 from deep tonight. Count on it.
This is hilarious:
That is all.
Advantage: Rockets
SF: Chandler Parsons vs. Trevor Ariza:
Okay, so...Tip Dunk Eddy?
Against Handles?
Should be...interesting.
Advantage: Hornets
PF: Luis Scola vs. Carl Landry:
Landry comes off the bench, but he's really the power forward here.
I've never made a real choice when it comes to Luis Landry matchups, but tonight I'll say it's Scola's.
Advantage: Rockets
C: Samuel Dalembert vs. Emeka Okafor:
It's only even because Okafor always has career games against us. I don't think he will tonight, but respect has to be earned, and Okafor has done that.
Though Dalembert is like, good.
Advantage: Even
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Bench:
Hornets: Jason Smith, Chris Kaman, Greivis Vasquez, Al-Farouq Aminu, DaJuan Summers, Gustavo Ayon
Rockets: Goran Dragic, Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill, Patrick Patterson, Courtney Lee
Advantage: Even
Injuries/Inactives:
Hornets: Eric Gordon out
Rockets: Jordan Hill out (flu)
Prediction: Rockets 99-88
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Hornets vs Rockets coverage