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It’s getting harder and harder to write previews for a Houston Rockets team that doesn’t seem to care that they have a basketball game to play. I was tempted to write this preview with the same intensity with which Houston has been playing, but we have a 150 word minimum.
Since the turn of the calendar to 2020, James Harden has been a different player. This new version of Bizarro Harden doesn’t resemble the MVP that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing during the Mike D’Antoni years. Russell Westbrook can carry some of that load created by Harden’s poor play, but Houston has zero chance of winning a playoff game, much less a series, if the Beard is playing like the Stubble.
Minnesota presents another challenge for the Malaise Rockets, as the T-Wolves are missing Karl-Anthony Towns (fractured wrist), but have several young players trying to prove themselves. Jarrett Culver is a young wing, and therefore needs more time to develop than a point guard or big man. Obviously as a Texas Tech alum I’m hoping he proves himself. But you have to preach patience with wings. They have to learn everything in the NBA and that takes time.
Tip-off is at 7pm CT