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The Houston Rockets recently locked up their second postseason berth in as many seasons. The Rockets were able to pull off the feat on Thursday — when they weren’t even playing.
<!–qv q:id=6e q:key=vcaa:The Phoenix Suns' loss to the Charlotte Hornets sealed the deal for the Rockets. And as of this writing, Houston ranks fifth in the Western Conference, with a 48-29 record.
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The Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets sealed the deal for the Rockets. And as of this writing, Houston ranks fifth in the Western Conference, with a 48-29 record.
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Houston is seemingly locked in at the fifth spot, as they are 1.5 games back from the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets and two games ahead of the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Houston is seemingly locked in at the fifth spot, as they are 1.5 games back from the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets and two games ahead of the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Again, their seeding is essentially set. With that being said, they should consider giving two-time All-Star center Alperen Sengun some rest.
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Again, their seeding is essentially set. With that being said, they should consider giving two-time All-Star center Alperen Sengun some rest.
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He's been banged up throughout the season, which has limited his play and hindered his effectiveness in stretches. He's clearly been playing with a back injury of late.
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He’s been banged up throughout the season, which has limited his play and hindered his effectiveness in stretches. He’s clearly been playing with a back injury of late.
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Earlier in the season, he missed time with an ankle injury, which he arguably rushed back from. He re-aggravated a pre-existing injury during the Rockets' recent 119-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, who beared the look of a G-League team.
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Earlier in the season, he missed time with an ankle injury, which he arguably rushed back from. He re-aggravated a pre-existing injury during the Rockets’ recent 119-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, who beared the look of a G-League team.
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The game actually turned out being relatively close. Certainly closer than one would've expected.
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The game actually turned out being relatively close. Certainly closer than one would’ve expected.
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The Rockets would be wise to find time to give him some rest, at some point during these last five games. Again, their seed is essentially locked up and confirmed.
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The Rockets would be wise to find time to give him some rest, at some point during these last five games. Again, their seed is essentially locked up and confirmed.
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And they've already made the postseason. And Sengun has already played 68 games, as of this writing, so he's not at risk of missing the league's 65-game mandate any longer.
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And they’ve already made the postseason. And Sengun has already played 68 games, as of this writing, so he’s not at risk of missing the league’s 65-game mandate any longer.
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The Rockets already missed a golden opportunity to rest Sengun during their 140-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. They would've easily won that game without the Turkish center.
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The Rockets already missed a golden opportunity to rest Sengun during their 140-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night. They would’ve easily won that game without the Turkish center.
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The game was over after the first quarter, when the Rockets held a 34-22 lead. Although the Rockets have blown sizable leads all season.
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The game was over after the first quarter, when the Rockets held a 34-22 lead. Although the Rockets have blown sizable leads all season.
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The Rockets led 107-78 at the start of the fourth quarter. Yet Sengun was still in the game logging minutes.
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The Rockets led 107-78 at the start of the fourth quarter. Yet Sengun was still in the game logging minutes.
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So not only did the Rockets not rest Sengun for the Jazz game, they didn't even give him a lighter workload for the night. Which begs the question of whether Houston's brass and brain trust will rest him before the playoffs.
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So not only did the Rockets not rest Sengun for the Jazz game, they didn’t even give him a lighter workload for the night. Which begs the question of whether Houston’s brass and brain trust will rest him before the playoffs.
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If he's hurt, it would be wise for the Rockets to get him fully healthy before the postseason starts. However, the only non-contending team on the schedule through Houston's last five games is the Memphis Grizzlies, which is Houston's last game.
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If he’s hurt, it would be wise for the Rockets to get him fully healthy before the postseason starts. However, the only non-contending team on the schedule through Houston’s last five games is the Memphis Grizzlies, which is Houston’s last game.
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Granted, Houston will have one week of rest between their last regular season game and the start of the playoffs, due to the play-in tournament. Perhaps they'll utilize that time to give Sengun rest
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Granted, Houston will have one week of rest between their last regular season game and the start of the playoffs, due to the play-in tournament. Perhaps they’ll utilize that time to give Sengun rest
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Regardless, their goal should be trying to get Sengun as healthy as fully possible over the course of the next two weeks.
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Regardless, their goal should be trying to get Sengun as healthy as fully possible over the course of the next two weeks.