James Harden gets his much sought-after second shot at vanquishing rookie dynamo Ja Morant in Wednesday night’s first of two ESPN prime time games, as the Houston Rockets look to defend the Toyota Center against the Memphis Grizzlies, who already have an advantage in the win column against Houston this year.
You could say that James Harden and his Rockets took the next-generation Grizzlies lightly, as told by their defensive effort late in January 14th’s contest, a 121-110 loss to the young upstart franchise that is currently sitting at eighth in the West. In his words, Ja Morant feared no man, for they laced up the same kicks as he did, and that was evident in their last meeting with the Rockets as the ROY favorite scored a team-high 26 points in the rout. Harden was up to his usual scoring antics with a normal 41-point night, but he and the rest of the Rockets were humbled, to say the least.
But, as fortune would have it, things haven’t been so peachy for the eighth-seeded Grizzlies. Injuries have piled on to this young team, and their schedule is going to be tough to not only finish over .500 in but maintain their playoff spot, now only 2 1/2 games over Portland and four games over New Orleans. In their second matchup against Houston, both Brandon Clarke (quad) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee sprain) will be out of commission for tonight’s game, and that’s not all.
Memphis is still without the viable pieces of Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen — two of their best perimeter scorers and defenders. Head coach Taylor Jenkins will have to sort out minutes and lineup combinations against the small-ball lineup that has been giving defenses nightmares in the past two weeks.
These Rockets have thrown the collective basketball conscience for a loop. Now 5-1 after trading away Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks and acquiring Robert Covington as part of that massive, four-team, 12-player trade during the deadline a while back, they’ve excelled and defied all limitations on the offensive and defensive end as they’ve opted to play all 48 minutes center-less for the rest of the season.
Sliding 6’5 forward PJ Tucker at the five seemed maniacal, almost obscene considering how today’s pace and space style of play revolves around size mismatches, but Mike D’Antoni — I guess we can call him the “mad scientist of current basketball” — has devised such a unique and effective scheme, that it’s hard to guard when Harde, Russell Westbrook, and others go 5-out.
Regardless of however this game turns out, it’ll still be entertaining seeing Ja and Harden duke it out once more, and if we know one thing this time around, it’s that Morant’s certainly earned Harden’s respect.
Tip-off for this exciting duel of guards is at 8:00 p.m. ET.
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