Let’s all take a deep breath. Breathe in, breathe out, and AAAAAAAAAAAA.
In case you missed the Rockets’ game against the Denver Nuggets, I think the fact that I am starting the article off with breathing exercises shows how it went. Now before anyone tries to make excuses for the loss since it was the second night of a back-to-back and Denver is in high altitude, just save your excuses as a team that entered the season with contention aspirations should not be getting embarrassed like this for the second time in less than seven days.
The game was close heading into halftime, with both teams making mistakes, as both Denver and Houston were turning the ball over. The difference, however, was the shooting. Amen Thompson started the game by missing his first four shots, and going into the second quarter, nobody on the Rockets had scored more than nine points. However, in the second, it appeared that Amen had something going as he then made all four of his next shots. Thompson finished the game with 16 points, four assists, five rebounds, and a steal while shooting 8/14 from the field and 0/1 from the free-throw line. Jabari Smith Jr. only scored two more points after scoring nine in the first quarter, but shot relatively well, going 5/10 overall and 1/2 from three. Both Sengun and KD had mediocre to bad games, and honestly, the only reason I am saying their games weren’t outright bad was that their efficiency shooting not at the free throw line was decent (I will get to the free throw shooting), with both going 5/8 from the floor. However, both Durant and Sengun turned the ball over at least twice.
Perhaps the worst aspect of this game was the poor free-throw shooting. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but free throws are called what they are because the points are supposed to be FREE. With that in mind, how on earth do you go 5/14 for 35.7%? I legitimately believe I could have made more free throws than that, and I quit basketball in the sixth grade when I couldn’t make a layup.
If the free-throw shooting was the worst aspect, then the three-point shooting would definitely be the second worst. Up until the second part of the fourth quarter, the Rockets were in contention to break the record for the fewest threes made as they had made just two threes in over 36 minutes of basketball. I honestly believe the kids I teach after school could have made more threes, and most of them are under the age of ten. Honestly the best part about this game is that it is over.
Houston will look to turn things around on Friday versus the Pelicans at home, and for everyone’s sake, but especially my therapist, they will hopefully look much better back on their home court after a bit of rest.
