NBA games of the week: Thinking warm thoughts

Friday, Jan. 12: Houston at Phoenix, 8:00 p.m. ET

This game works on so many levels. For one, the sun. During the winter, from mid-December to mid-March, the northern hemisphere is its farthest from the sun, due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Since I’m dramatic, my preference is to take a rocket straight to the sun, I can warm up.

A second level this game works on is NASA is sending a rocket to the sun for the first time in 2018. It’s a big deal in that no spacecraft will ever get as close and since no human can make the trip, a huge deal in our space travels.

Another level the game works on is the classic, and much more expected, “Houston, we have a problem.” The Rockets have lost seven of their last nine, including two losses where James Harden scored 51 points. In the three games he’s been out, which is expected to last a few more weeks, the Rockets have dipped both offensively and defensively. The latter is expected, since no Mike D’Antoni system relies on its defensive prowess.

These lulls are expected for teams who have suffered injuries to its two best players. Only a team like the Warriors could consecutively lose their best and second-best player and go on a win streak. The most important thing for the Rockets to get Harden back healthy and survive the winter, like we all are doing.