Phoenix Suns Host Harden, Rockets
By Johnny Soto
The Houston Rockets (29-14) will travel to Phoenix for the second game of their three game road-trip to take on the Suns (26- 18) on Friday night, who have been red hot as of late.
The Phoenix Suns who are coming off their seventh straight win at home against the Portland Trailblazers, 118 to 113, are looking get their ninth win in their last 11 games.
In their last four games the Suns have averaged 112.5 points per game, five points higher than their regular season average. It seems that the Sun’s run and gun style that was so successful when Steve Nash ran the offense has found its way safely back to Phoenix.
Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic are doing an excellent job at dictating the fast-pace tempo offense and are up there with the likes of the one two punches that include Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors.
Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) celebrates a play with guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Everything seems to be clicking for the Suns at the moment; they are winning games and are in playoff contention for the second straight year. Head coach, Jeff Hornacek, has someone how found a way to work in three point guards with Bledsoe, Dragic, and free agent acquisition Isaiah Thomas.
The only negative about Phoenix is that the team can’t seem to stop opponents on the defensive end. The team cannot always rely on their offense to bail them out and hope they outscore their opponents every game.
We saw this on Wednesday night against the Portland Trailblazers. At the end of the third quarter the Suns ledd 91- 76, but the Blazers surged their way back into the game and even lead at one point late in the fourth, 107-104.
The Suns would eventually stop the Blazers and pull away with the victory, however if the Suns look to keep their playoff spot and make some noise, Coach Hornacek must implement some sort of defensive strategy in practice and executive it in games.
On the flip side, the visiting Rockets are having trouble finding their grove, as the team is an even .500 in their last six games at 3-3. Shooting guard James Harden is still lights out night in and night out averaging 27 PPG along with 6.7 APG and 5.5 RPG.
The Rockets are also trying to fit mid-season acquisition Josh Smith into the rotation. Since signing Smith, the Rockets have gone 9-7 before that Houston was 20-7. While a member of the Rockets, Smith has started four games and is averaging 9.9 PPG while playing around 23 minutes per game.
The Rockets are also having trouble keep opposing offenses under 100 points as of recently. In their last six games, Houston has allowed teams to averaged 112.5 points on offense. Which is 13 points higher than their regular season average.
This showdown on Friday night shall be a high scoring affair and both teams will most likely score over 100 each. The X-factors for the Suns will be PJ Tucker doing his best to guard James Harden and Alex Len protecting the paint against Dwight Howard. If the Suns can stop at least one of them, they will have slight edge in this one.
The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets will tip-off tonight at 7:00 p.m. MST.
Prediction
Suns 109, Rockets 101