The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of only three NBA teams with a worse record than the Houston Rockets, and they entered Wednesday on the second night of a back-to-back and with 10 losses in their last 11 games.
Even so, it still wasn’t enough for the Rockets (11-19) to end their losing streak, which is now at nine games and the longest for the franchise in more than 20 years. Overall, Houston is 0-9 since Christian Wood’s Feb. 4 ankle injury after going 7-1 in the eight previous games.
With the Rockets suddenly devoid of size after Wood’s injury and the release of DeMarcus Cousins, Cavs center Jarrett Allen (26 points, 18 rebounds, 4 blocks) towered over PJ Tucker, Jae’Sean Tate, and every Houston frontcourt piece besides Justin Patton. Allen was dominant in Cleveland’s 112-96 victory (box score), shooting 10-of-11 (90.9%).
John Wall led the undersized Rockets with 20 points in defeat.
“Defense wasn’t very good,” head coach Stephen Silas said postgame. “Offense was disjointed. Bad all the way around.”
Wall, a five-time All-Star and the clear team leader, offered more targeted criticism regarding Houston’s sudden lack of size. “We definitely need some type of paint presence,” Wall said from Cleveland.
Veteran guards Victor Oladipo and Eric Gordon each played for the Rockets after being listed as questionable with injuries, but it still wasn’t nearly enough. Oladipo and Gordon scored 17 points apiece, but they shot just 3-of-15 from 3-point range (20.0%). Meanwhile, the Cavaliers shot 16-of-36 on 3-pointers (44.4%), led by 4-of-4 from Dylan Windler.
With Cavaliers making 16 of 36 3s and Rockets going 10 of 33, Rockets now officially undertake the Cavs to be the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA, making 34 percent this season.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 25, 2021
The Rockets will finish up a two-game road trip Friday in Tampa, where the Toronto Raptors are playing this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central. For now, here’s a collection of highlights and postgame reaction from Cleveland.
Stephen Silas on what changed with the Rockets defense from the first half to the second half: “Effort”
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 25, 2021
Coach Stephen Silas after Rockets’ 112-96 road loss to the Cavs: “Defense wasn’t very good. Offense was disjointed. Bad all the way around.”https://t.co/Gg0ZX1GJmX via @YouTube
— Kris M Gardner (@TheHRReview) February 25, 2021
Stephen Silas’ postgame presser lasted about 75 seconds. I think he said fewer than 75 words pic.twitter.com/FdAb0bkwhv
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 25, 2021
John Wall was asked about Jae’Sean Tate filling in at five with Wood out: “I wouldn’t say that we’re missing bigs. That’s the way we want to play (small).”
Wall said he doesn’t really like smallball. He prefers to have a rolling big.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 25, 2021
“It’s difficult for me. Not having a big you can throw to and finish down there. We definitely need some type of paint presence.” https://t.co/xnqGn7lKyN
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) February 25, 2021
John Wall said he really doesn’t like small ball, prefers to have a lob threat.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 25, 2021
.@JohnWall on playing small ball: “Small ball,I don’t really like it to be honest because I need a big that can roll, finish..It’s just difficult. I’m a person that likes to pass.I’m used to finding my bigs on the roll..Just to have a big u can throw the ball to that can finish”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 25, 2021
“We gotta work with what we got.”- Victor Oladipo. He says they aren’t going to wake up and have a center tomorrow
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) February 25, 2021
Oladipo says he’s used to playing with a traditional big as well, but they have to work with what they have.
“We’re not going to wake up with a center tomorrow. Just gotta stay even-keeled. It’s easy to go south, but I’ll stay positive. Control what I can control.”
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) February 25, 2021
Oladipo said this whole season has been an adjustment for him. Like Wall, he prefers to have a big man on the floor but “We just got to work with what we got right now. We’re not going to wake up and have a center tomorrow. Or for the next game.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 25, 2021
Oladipo clarified that he didn’t say he likes or doesn’t like smallball. He just says it’s an adjustment for him.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) February 25, 2021
Victor Oladipo giving a workplace analogy to describe the #Rockets difficulty finding rhythm and consistency. pic.twitter.com/y20VUbRcoX
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) February 25, 2021
.@VicOladipo: “At the end of the day it’s easy to play the blame game. It’s to easy to kind of get ‘woe is me.’ Obviously I’m used to playing w/ a traditional big as well, just like John (Wall) is.We just got to work w/ what we got..We’re not gonna wake up&have a center tomorrow”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) February 25, 2021
