By Angel Rivera 
Wow! For all my Houston Rockets fans, I’m sure your perspective on this team has changed over the course of this month. Last night in a gutsy finish, the Rockets came out on top 114-112. Amen Thompson is the truth, Jalen Green is playing at an all star level, Alperen Sengun is baby Jokic, the Big 3 seems to be established.
Let’s recap on the roll Houston has been on, 10-3 in the month of January, also ranked #2 in the latest power rankings. Although they are currently without Jabari Smith Jr, and overall have dealt with minor injuries throughout the year, still they find a way to win in different scenarios. For instance, last night’s game against the Boston Celtics is a prime example. Starting off the 4th Quarter, Boston was going on a run and jumped out to a 12 point lead right around the 8 minute mark. While I’m at the gym with a buddy of mine, fully tuned into the game in a sea full of people, I thought maybe Boston could secure this win with all the momentum the Boston fans swerved their way.
Not even 30 seconds later, Dillon Brooks hits a great 3, next possession Tatum tries to get in his Steve Nash arsenal and throw a lob to his big Neemias Queta, but it hits the top right square of the backboard into a Fred VanVleet dime to Green for the layup. It just seemed like the whole night it was going to be a battle, the Rockets wouldn’t stay down. Even the Rockets announcer was shouting out that Amen Thompson was “Auramaxxing” because of how amazing he performed, coming into his own now. Although I’m an advocate for Jalen Green, he struggled from the field even though he was battling an eye injury. Having others step up like Brooks and Thompson means a ton for this team, especially when the offense has been the Achilles heal all year. As both teams exchanged buckets until the final seconds of the game, it was all in the hands of Houston to win it with the final possession of the game. Who more to look for than the man who balled out? Amen Thompson would hit a nice floater to win it and send the Boston fans home in shame along with their bad stretch of games.
Houston honestly looks like the 2nd best team in the league as of now. They beat Cleveland twice in a week span, defeated Memphis twice, handed the Thunder a loss and now Boston as well. For a team that wasn’t viewed as a favorite at all to make a run, I sensed this as only a matter of time. Their defense had already been established, it was just getting shots to fall. Going from a bottom 5 offense in the league to now being top 12 in offensive rating, 7th in the month of January. Jalen Green ladies and gentlemen is here by the way for anyone who tried to write off a 22 year old. This month he’s been averaging 26, 4, and 3 with 4 three’s a game while shooting a high 44% which is INSANE. Considering how rough his percentages were for some games this year, he seems to have it firing on all cylinders now. Just last week he earned Player of The Week for the Western Conference. Along with his shot selection and efficiency, his vision and understanding of what the defense is gonna give him has improved a lot as well. How coincidental we talk about his vision as to where now he can probably only seem from one eye until further notice. Even through all the minor injuries Green has played through this year, he’s still gone out for the team to try and win.
Closing in on the trade deadline and soon the playoffs, teams now will try to harness their chemistry and figure out how they are gonna establish themselves in the playoff picture. If I were a betting man, I would put all the chips on Houston and let them decide your destiny.
Joel Perez