Happy Thanksgiving from The Dream Shake

It’s that time of year again. We all have four days off from work, hopefully, and are sitting down to our first (or fourth) drink of the day, strapping in for a day of football and/or family, and hopefully some self-reflection.

This year, I’m thankful for our readers and to SB Nation for continuing to let us have this platform to discuss and cover our favorite team.

I’m also aware Thanksgiving means something a lot different, and more painful, to Americans who have been in this country longer than any of us. We can celebrate while keeping in mind how we got to this point in the first place.

Back to lighter topics: I’m thankful for James Harden who, despite his potential trop 12-turnover turds in the mashed potatoes, brings the turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and green beans to every Rockets game. He also brought the whole family together this offseason, and it’s certainly shown in the on-court chemistry so far.

I’m thankful for Daryl Morey, who successfully re-signed Harden, hired Mike D’Antoni, brought in Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Nene, and, lest we forget, used post-lottery picks to get a starting center in Clint Capela and an exciting backup wing/small-ball 4 in Sam Dekker.

I’m also grateful for Capela, Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley, who have wiped the stench of last season off them to become better players and teammates. Capela and Beverley, in particular, have shown that the assertion that the Rockets have “no talent around Harden” looks wronger and wronger every day.

Mostly, I’m grateful for basketball, whose season grows longer every year and I absolutely love it. Basketball, when the Rockets are rolling and the league is fun to watch and filled with exciting players, is a beautiful thing. Thanks to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Karl-Anthony Towns, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Vince Carter and every other basketball player who is fun to watch.

Finally, I’m thankful to Hakeem Olajuwon, the greatest center this side of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the reason I am a Rockets fan, the namesake of this site and the patron saint of the Houston Rockets. Happy happy.