The Houston Rockets, who finished high last season, are one of the teams called to storm postseason positions in the West. But often ignored in that vaunted step forward was a playoff team lethargic by injuries and other issues. Memphis ranked thirteenth in the conference last April, battered by absences. However, they came from two meritorious second places, so we can expect them to be closer to the home court factor than to the play-in where Houston aspires to live, causing them to have to climb two steps instead of one.
Date and time of the Rockets vs. Grizzlies
Date: The match is played on October 25 according to the time zone of the United States and the rest of America. In Spanish time and the rest of Europe, it will be in the early morning of October 26.
Time: These are the start times of the Rockets vs. Grizzlies depending on time zone.
Site: Toyota Center (Houston)
Quintetos del Rockets vs. Grizzlies
Two possible changes in the debut quintets. Jaren Jackson Jr could come in for Santi Aldama and Amen Thompson for Dillon Brroks.
Breaking news for the Rockets: injuries and form
Dillon Brooks and Cam Withmore are doubts for tonight after finishing the first crash of the course. Steven Adams should return this week, but it probably won’t be today. Otherwise, the Rockets make up for a rather bad debut. Nobody was excited to receive the Charlotte Hornets at home, a team that is assumed to be one step below Houston in project development.
The starting quintet scored only 26 of their 76 field goals despite the fact that the defense did work as usual. In general, too much haste in its star duo and little support beyond the good role of Amen Thompson, who begins the season as the previous one ended. The Texans continue to have generation problems in the middle of the court, losing 18 balls for only 19 assists. Memphis at least is a team that pushes the pace for better and worse, so the Rockets will feel more comfortable in that game plan.
Player to watch: Jalen Green
He finished the season like a shot and this altered the perception of the team and Rafael Stone’s plans. Finally Green has signed a strange extension for two years and a third with a player option for 105 million dollars. This renewal comes into effect next summer and is strange to see in a contract rookie like Green’s. The guard has started with the same impetus that he left him, but not with the same success. And his 28 points against Charlotte came at the cost of shooting up to 15 triples and 23 field goals in total with less than 40% accuracy. With the signed contract it may seem that he has nothing to prove, but he still has to dispel doubts if he wants to be the star of the Rockets or, at least, one of them.
Breaking news for the Grizzlies: injuries and form
Jaren Jackson Jr. is a doubt for tonight’s game after missing the first game due to muscle problems. Santi Aldama had one of his best games against the Utah Jazz replacing the interior, but if JJJ is healthy, he will start. Zach Edey seemed to have cleared up doubts about his fit in the NBA by falling into a team that takes away his mobility weaknesses. But he was sent off for fouls after barely playing 14 minutes.
Memphis still has to adapt to the new structure of the team on both sides of the court, although they played a creditable game due to how lackluster their defense was at times in the absence of Jackson and without Edey. Marcus Smart played a disastrous game and Demond Bane can still give a little more. It’s time to dig in against a team that is quite weak in attack and get even for the 124 points that the Jazz gave them.
Player to watch: Ja Morant
Ja Morant leads you to win basketball games. It’s that simple. The other day he didn’t even have to put the turbo into the scoring aspect until the last stretch, he played with a calmness and an intention to involve his teammates at times that were uncharacteristic of him. Now, the clutch and the point guard took out the knife again with his usual expeditions to the rim. One of the most decisive players in the world.
Rockets vs Grizzlies: matchup history
The recent balance between both teams is somewhat misleading. Like everything that happened with Memphis last year. The Rockets took three of four games against the Grizzlies last season, but had lost five in a row against them. Nine of the 11 before 2023-24. Historically, little surprise, the pulse goes to the two-time champion with 67 wins against 47. They have never faced each other in the playoffs.
Predictions for Rockets vs. Grizzlies
Order the defense. Whether Jaren Jackson is there or not, the Grizzlies are going to have few nights unscathed if they receive 124 points. The defense has to improve, starting with Zach Edey being able to stay on the court and be the intimidator he is supposed to be. Memphis was a top ten defense in 2023 and 2022, positions they must reoccupy to return to where they belong.
Rhythm of the night. Both teams are interested in playing at dizzying pace. Memphis greatly appreciates avoiding the midcourt through transitions, and Ja Morant is a shortcut to these. Houston modified its defense in the final stretch to play more in flight, but Sengün fell too far into slowing down the offense. The other day they stayed at 96 possessions while the Grizzlies played 104.
Ja Morant’s first explosion. Perhaps it is not the best day to predict a scoring exhibition by Morant against VanVleet, Thompson, Brooks and company. But the point guard is one of those players who are oblivious to the context and who, if they have the night, will not care who is in front of them. It’s only a matter of time before it goes over thirty or…
Where to watch the Rockets vs. Grizzlies
The match between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns can be seen in Spain through the NBA League Pass subscription.
