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RIght now, the Houston Rockets are bad. They might not end up that way— it is a long season, after all— but right now, currently, as things stand... they’re bad.
There’s no consistency. They played decent defense for small stretches— in the first quarter and again in the third— but ultimately, they let up 133 points and 54 percent shooting in a 133-113 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Carmelo Anthony started the game hot, but despite finishing with a season-high 24 points, he was just 8-18 from the field and had not a single assist on the night.
Despite being down 9 points at halftime, the Rockets fought back to 73-72 in the third quarter, but they collapsed down the stretch for an embarrassing 1-4 start to the year.
Chris Paul was just 3-13 from the field for 12 points, and he was a game-worst -26, and Eric Gordon looks like he’s completely lost all confidence, as he went just 3-14 from the field and couldn’t even down a layup. Oh, and he also went 1-6 from three.
Clint Capela had a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double, but he was no match inside for former Rocket Montrezl Harrell, who went off to the tune of 30 points and 6 rebounds for the Clippers. L.A. also got 23 from Lou Williams, and their bench outscored Houston’s a ridiculous 85-41.
The Rockets do have a plethora of injuries contributing to this serious lack of chemistry, but there’s nothing to explain the apparent lack of effort (outside of P.J. Tucker, who is still all-hustle), and the NBA waits for no one. These teams will be happy to feed off of the Rockets’ rotting carcass, so the injuries can’t be an excuse.
The season might not end up this way, but right now, the Rockets are bad on offense, they’re bad on defense, and they have the second-worst record in the Western Conference (hello, Oklahoma City).
It’s certainly not the start anyone expected, and the Rockets thankfully only have two games in the next seven days, because they need some serious time to rest up, heal up, and to practice up.
They’ll be back in action next Tuesday night at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, looking for any kind of spark to get this early season wreck back on track.