The Houston Rockets are slated to make their season debut tonight against the Portland Trailblazers. The Rockets season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed due to the Rockets inability to not provide 8 healthy players to play the game. This was due to 6 players including John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins being unavailable due to either players testing positive for coronavirus or contact tracing. In addition, James Harden in a separate incident was deemed to have broken league protocol when attended a friend’s celebration of starting her business in which he was seen mask less. Harden was fined by the NBA $50,000. He has since tested negative for coronavirus and with him having quarantined for 4 days by the NBA rules he is available to play tonight. This is great news because by having James Harden the Rockets should meet the minimum of 8 players required to play in an NBA game.
The Rockets have had a tremulous off-season in which both of their star players current Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook and James Harden had asked to be traded. Also, there are both a new General Manager, Rafael Stone, and Head Coach Stephen Silas. With all the drama surrounding the Rockets it will be great to see them take the floor and play basketball. The Rockets are going to have the hands full for the first 2 games, as they will be playing without 3 starters. Wall, Cousins, and Eric Gordon have been placed in 7-day quarantine and will not be available until the team plays on Thursday New Year’s Eve against the Sacramento Kings.
I expect Harden to play well tonight against the Trailblazers as he gets to block out the off court distractions. Also, Christian Woods will be a key player for them not just the next 2 games but also this season. I see James Harden getting a 40-point triple double in a loss to the Trailblazers in which fatigue will set in for the Rockets. The score will be 110 to 95.
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