CAN THE SPURS WAKE UP?

The San Antonio Spurs looked tired and disinterested in their match-up this past week against the Miami Heat, and got easily dispatched, 107-89. DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay were the only Spurs to hit double figures and the team only shot 40% from the field. With the loss, the Spurs drop to 0-2 in the preseason.

Head coach Gregg Popovich and his men ought to step their energy up if they want to build some momentum before the regular season starts. They are minus 36 in points just two games (232 points allowed) and have appeared conservative in establishing an attack, as the offense only attempted 18.7% of its shots from three (31 of 165 field goal attempts).

The Spurs should have no time playing conservative basketball against an explosive offensive team like the Houston Rockets, especially since it didn’t particularly work last season. In the season series, the Spurs went 1-3 and gave up 111 points and 16 threes per game. DeRozan (18 PPG) and LaMarcus Aldridge (18.8 PPG) had identical scoring averages in those meetings.

THE HARDEN AND WESTBROOK DUO ARE HERE

The Houston Rockets returned to the win column after a 118-111 win over the Toronto Raptors this past week. With the victory, they are now 3-1 in the preseason.

Considering how poor the Spurs are performing asand the success they’ve had against them last season (won season series, 3-1), the Rockets should be able to earn another W.

The Rockets are also boasting a new superstar – Russell Westbrook. He and James Harden have given a couple of glimpses of what their tandem could do. Each scored 22 points and collected three steals in the aforementioned win, all while showing off some of the moves that made them household names in the basketball world.

Harden (37 PPG, 6 RPG, 6 APG) and Westbrook (22.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 13 APG) also maintained their respective season averages against the Spurs last season.

PREDICTION:

The Rockets should take this one, with their star duo opening things off with a lot of energy. Westbrook should have a lot of success against the Spurs’ guards, while Harden could be in for a back-and-forth against DeRozan.