Houston Rockets basketball is back.
In case you think you didn’t read that correctly, I will repeat: Houston Rockets basketball is back.
Tonight, for the first time in months, Houston’s lone professional basketball team will play in a regulated, NBA exhibition.
Now I’m in a tizzy because where do I go from here? What can I say that hasn’t already been said about the exciting, highly anticipated return of the NBA and, for this group specifically, Houston Rockets basketball? We’re all pretty damned excited.
Let’s start with some news, shall we? Not going to lie, real news concerning basketball is even exciting too.
Russell Westbrook will participate in today’s match. — Wait. I totally forgot to mention they play in a scrimmage tonight at 6:30 p.m. Central against the Toronto Raptors on NBA TV. Sorry, I’m much more excited about the other things to get consumed with the details. —
ANYWAYS. Westbrook is expected to play tonight after having been the last key member of this year’s rotation to make it to Orlando. The last Rockets player to land in the NBA bubble period was Luc Mbah a Moute, who has not cleared protocol and will not play tonight.
Russell Westbrook will play the first half of today's exhibition game, per Mike D'Antoni.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) July 24, 2020
Less exciting news (not exciting at at all) is that Austin Rivers is no longer in the bubble as of Friday morning due to an “urgent family matter.” Rivers will be out for some time, not including the expected quarantine period upon the player’s return to the bubble.
On that note, what have you been looking forward to seeing most? Is it Westbrook? Is once again seeing the scoring god James Harden on the court? Are you just excited to see some guys with “Houston” on their chest dribble around a giant leather ball? Is it all of the above? Because, if so, we’re in the same boat.
Houston. Toronto. Tonight. REAL Basketball!
Oh, and for the first time in a really long time, LET’S GO ROCKETS!