Tag: Eric Gordon

Takeaways: Alperen Sengun records first triple-double as Rockets’ skid continues

In Wednesday’s loss at Sacramento, Alperen Sengun made history with the first triple-double of his young NBA career while becoming the youngest player in #Rockets history to do so.

The losing streak for the young Houston Rockets (10-31) is a season-high eight games after Wednesday’s 135-115 loss at Sacramento (box score).

With the first triple-double of his NBA career, second-year center Alperen Sengun became the youngest player in franchise history to record the feat.

Sacramento outscored Houston in the fourth quarter, 41-20, to break open what had been a very competitive game. Kevin Porter Jr. left the game in the first half with a left foot contusion and his prognosis was not immediately clear.

Led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the improving Kings (22-18) have won five of their last eight games as they seek to earn their first berth in the Western Conference playoffs since 2006 — a run of futility that leads the NBA over that span.

Sabonis led the Kings with 25 points (75% FG), 14 rebounds and 9 assists, while Fox tallied 24 points, 9 assists and 1 turnover on 9-of-18 shooting (50%), including 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50%).

Key statistics for the Rockets in Wednesday’s game included:

  • Jalen Green: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 turnovers, 9-of-25 shooting (36.0%), 3-of-12 on 3-pointers (25.0%), 5-of-7 on free throws (71.4%)
  • Alperen Sengun: 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5-of-9 shooting (55.6%)
  • KJ Martin: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 9-of-13 shooting (69.2%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
  • Eric Gordon: 19 points, 6-of-12 shooting (50.0%), 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%)
  • Garrison Mathews: 12 points, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%)

Scroll on for highlights, analysis and postgame interview reaction. Next up for Houston, as its four-game West Coast road trip continues, is Friday’s rematch in Sacramento. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. Central.

Trade candidates who could benefit in a new situation

We are a month away from this year’s trade deadline and candidates to be moved are starting to emerge. There are several players who are having down years compared to previous seasons and could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Some of …

We are a month away from this year’s trade deadline and candidates to be moved are starting to emerge. There are several players who are having down years compared to previous seasons and could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Some of these players are miscast in new situations while others have seen their roles reduced by big changes to their team’s roster. While some of these players haven’t been explicitly reported to be trade candidates, their respective teams are probably willing to listen to offers for them.

Here are some players who could benefit from being traded to a new team…

Podcast: New Year’s resolutions for Rockets in second half of season

With 11 losses in 12 games, today’s @TheLagerLine explores how the #Rockets can improve in the 2022-23 season’s second half, along with New Year’s resolutions for key players and coaches.

With the midpoint of the 2022-23 NBA regular season almost here, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets (10-28) remain on a virtually identical pace to last season. So, what’s gone wrong in this recent stretch of 10 losses in 11 games, and how can they fix it?

Thursday’s episode of “The Lager Line” (sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing), explores key themes from the first half of this season and potential changes for the second half.

Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, discussion topics include:

  • Differences in coaching style between Stephen Silas and John Lucas, and the impact of a potential change;
  • Why the contract standoff with Eric Gordon needs to be resolved soon;
  • Reasons for the recent improvements by Kevin Porter Jr. and regression from Jalen Green;
  • Where Alperen Sengun fits long term, and how he can be better utilized in the short term;
  • Tactical changes worth pursuing in the coming weeks.

Thursday’s full podcast can be listened to below. Each episode of the show is also available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790, as well as to all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Podcast: Should the Rockets run more offense through Alperen Sengun?

Houston’s struggling offense improved versus Dallas with the return of Alperen Sengun, and today’s @LockedOnRockets explores whether that trend should hold moving forward.

With Monday’s loss to Dallas, the young Houston Rockets (10-27) have lost nine of their last 10 games. After ranking No. 17 in net offensive rating among the NBA’s 30 teams in November, they’ve ranked dead last (No. 30) since and are 29th for the full season.

Yet, after the team bottomed out with only 88 points (and 53 in the final three quarters combined) in Saturday’s loss to the Knicks, second-year big man Alperen Sengun returned to the lineup Monday and led a resurgence of sorts — both as a scorer and facilitator in Houston’s narrow defeat to Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.

With that in mind, should Houston run more offense via Sengun as the 2022-23 season nears its midpoint? Hosted by credentialed media members Jackson Gatlin and Ben DuBose, Tuesday’s “Locked on Rockets” explores that topic and much more, including New Year’s resolutions for the team and fallout from Eric Gordon’s controversial comments after that New Year’s Eve loss to New York.

Tuesday’s “Locked on Rockets” episode can be listened to via Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and nearly all major podcast distributors. It can also be watched on YouTube below.

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Takeaways: Luka Doncic leads furious rally as Rockets lose 18-point lead to Dallas

The #Rockets have lost nine of 10 after Monday’s home loss to Dallas and Luka Doncic, who scored 29 of his game-high 39 points in the second half as the Mavs overcame an 18-point deficit.

All-Star guard and MVP front-runner Luka Doncic had a game-high 39 points and 12 rebounds while directing a furious comeback from an 18-point deficit in the second half, leading Dallas to a 111-106 road win (box score) over the Rockets on Monday night at Toyota Center.

Kevin Porter Jr. led Houston with 25 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds on 11-of-20 shooting (55%), while backcourt mate Jalen Green added 20 points and 5 rebounds but on only 5-of-17 shooting (29.4%).

Eric Gordon scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting for the Rockets, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers, while Alperen Sengun added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists on 5-of-7 shooting (71.4%).

Former Rockets big man Christian Wood, traded to Dallas in June, gained some revenge versus his old team with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and a season-high 5 blocks for the Mavericks in 29 minutes, shooting 8-of-14 from the field (57.1%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%).

Dallas (22-16) has won seven straight games, while the Rockets (10-27) have dropped nine of their last 10, overall. Doncic scored 29 of his 39 points in the second half and went to the free-throw line 22 times, which Rockets head coach Stephen Silas did not appreciate.

“The issue was the fouls and the … I don’t have enough money to get fined, so I’ll just stop there,” Silas said after the game.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interview reaction from Toyota Center. Houston returns to action on Wednesday night in New Orleans, with the tip at 7 p.m. Central.

NBA Twitter reacts to Eric Gordon’s harsh critique of Rockets

“There’s no improvement,” says Eric Gordon, whose harsh assessment of the 2022-23 #Rockets raised eyebrows around the NBA.

The young and rebuilding Houston Rockets finished with the NBA’s worst record in each of the past two seasons, and they enter 2023 with eight losses over their past nine games and tied for the fewest wins (10) of any team in the league during the 2022-23 campaign.

That’s a tough spot to be in for one of the team’s lone veterans, Eric Gordon, who turned 34 years old a week ago and could certainly offer value to a team looking to compete in the 2023 playoffs.

While Gordon is clearly a candidate to be traded by this season’s Feb. 9 trade deadline, he enters 2023 still on Houston’s roster. And after Saturday’s lifeless New Year’s Eve loss to the visiting New York Knicks, some frustrations seemed to boil over postgame.

“There’s no improvement,” Gordon said when asked if the team had improved on its weaknesses since the season started last October.

“Same old thing all year,” Gordon elaborated. We have a small margin for error. … It’s a lot of things. It’s mindset. You got to play for one another. Do what’s right by your teammates. If you do that, it’d be more fun. You give yourself a better chance to win.”

To say the least, that blunt assessment raised eyebrows from many observers around the league. Here’s a look at some of the responses.

Rockets, James Harden tidbits from ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Tim MacMahon

In a new podcast episode of The Lowe Post, ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Tim MacMahon break down everything related to the #Rockets and a potential James Harden pursuit in 2023 free agency.

In a new podcast episode of “The Lowe Post,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Tim MacMahon break down everything related to the Houston Rockets and a potential James Harden pursuit in 2023 free agency.

The episode was taped Tuesday afternoon, two days after a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski rocked the NBA by suggesting Harden could be headed back to Houston next summer.

While both Lowe and MacMahon said they personally wouldn’t pursue Harden, if they were the Rockets, they also acknowledge the team may decide differently and explored the potential reasons.

The ESPN duo also dropped a few interesting tidbits related to other options for the Rockets in the 2023 offseason, including Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving and Indiana big man Myles Turner. See below for select excerpts, and listen to the complete discussion below (the Houston portion of the podcast starts at the 21:15 mark).

Season of giving: Rockets give back with holiday events around Houston

Jalen Green, Eric Gordon, Tari Eason, Boban Marjanović, Jae’Sean Tate, and Kevin Porter Jr. are among #Rockets players giving back with community events this holiday season.

The Houston Rockets, their partners at Kroger and numerous players hosted Season of Giving events this holiday season.

On Dec. 14, the team hosted a holiday shopping event for families from Target Hunger, Wounded Warrior Project and Latter Deliverance Revival Church at the Kroger’s store on Studemont Street near downtown Houston. Rockets forward Tari Eason and center Boban Marjanović were on hand to present those families with gift cards, courtesy of Kroger, and to assist them with shopping.

During the Dec. 17 game vs. Portland, the Rockets and Kroger hosted a holiday party for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston. The children enjoyed the game from holiday-themed suites and were presented with gifts, in addition to Kroger gift cards for their families.

In recent days, the Rockets’ Christmas activities have included Jalen Green’s holiday bowling event for families from Julia C. Hester House on Sunday, Dec. 18; Eric Gordon’s holiday party for families at Ronald McDonald House Houston on Thursday, Dec. 22; and separate events by Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate.

Scroll on for further details and highlights from each of these holiday events, along with accompanying photos and videos.

Report: Rockets, Eric Gordon appear increasingly likely to part ways

Is a split between the #Rockets and veteran guard Eric Gordon finally happening? The Athletic’s @KellyIko believes this season could be the time, and there are several plausible reasons.

Since the blockbuster James Harden trade in January 2021 sent the Rockets into a franchise rebuild, veteran guard Eric Gordon has been an odd roster fit in Houston.

Yet, for several reasons, general manager Rafael Stone opted to hang onto Gordon during the transaction windows in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 NBA seasons.

But in 2022-23, with Gordon turning 34 years old on Christmas Day. In perhaps the final year of his existing contract, the circumstances could finally be different. Kelly Iko of The Athletic explains:

The Rockets have turned down offers for Gordon at every possible juncture — the draft, offseason and trade deadline — but a resolution to this saga may finally be had this season. Team and league sources tell The Athletic the Rockets are more inclined to moving the 33-year-old than at any point over the past two seasons. …

While he’s long been admired by the front office and coaching staff, Gordon has made no secret of his desire to return to winning, contending ways and he’s made his preference for a move to a contender known during the offseason.

A 6-foot-4 wing with versatile defensive capabilities, Gordon is averaging 11.8 points in 29.6 minutes per game this season.

For the Rockets, getting some sort of asset value in return for Gordon — even if it’s less than what they think he truly deserves — might be a greater priority now given his contractual status, since Gordon could conceivably leave for no compensation in 2023 free agency. That may also expand his potential trade market, since other teams wouldn’t be on the hook for as many years of his salary, relative to years past.

There’s also the reality that Houston added a pair of rookie forwards to its rotation mix this season in Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. While finding minutes hasn’t been a problem to this point, that’s likely to change in the near future when Jae’Sean Tate finally returns from his ankle injury. That roster crunch is different than the past two seasons, when Smith and Eason weren’t yet part of the equation.

Finally, there’s also the matter of Gordon, himself. While the Rockets have long valued his locker-room presence, it stands to reason the value of those intangible factors could be diminished if Gordon truly wants to go elsewhere, as Iko’s reporting indicates.

Thus, from both the team and player’s perspectives, a split looks to be more likely as the February 2023 trade deadline nears.

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Who are three players the Philadelphia 76ers could target for trades?

Here are three players the Philadelphia 76ers could look at in terms of possible trade options.

The Philadelphia 76ers have begun to turn things around and move forward in a positive direction as they have won four games in a row to begin a 7-game homestand. The Sixers are beginning to move up in the standings, but there is always the possibility of change.

Especially, with Daryl Morey running the show.

Therefore, there are always players out there who the Sixers could look into in order to help the roster. Maybe they could use another two-way guy or somebody who can help the bench unit to help the team grow.

Bleacher Report came up with three targets that the Sixers could look at before the Feb. 9 trade deadline: