Inside The Wizards

Five Questions Ahead of Wizards vs. Rockets

The Washington Wizards continue their road trip against the Houston Rockets.

Jeremy Brener

Mar 19, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Mar 19, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; during the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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The Washington Wizards are back on the road again tonight as they face off against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

The game marks the third of a five-game road trip and the team is still looking for its first win in the month of November.

To learn more about the Wizards' next opponent, we spoke with Houston Rockets On SI writer Ryan Diamond.

The Rockets appear to be off to a good start this season. What has been the secret to their success?

Tari Eason and Amen Thompson. Both of the players have brought an immense amount of energy off of the bench. Eason is the anchor for Houston in the clutch, he wants to win, and he wants to win bad. He is Houston’s energy.

What’s one thing people should know about the Rockets that cannot be found in a box score?

Tari Eason’s will to win cannot be found in the box score. Players want to win, but special gems who put their body on the line to win show that they want to win. Eason is that gem for Houston. I know I’m talking about the forward a lot, but there is a reason for it: he is Houston’s biggest reason that they have been winning close games.

Who is the Rockets’ X-Factor?

Tari Eason is the Rockets X-Factor.

If the Rockets lose, what would be the reason why?

They would lose because they cannot hold a lead. Plain and simple. It’s been a trend since last season too. Houston tends to have solid first halves, and they fall apart in the second. Another reason would be their shooting. They have not been shooting well.

What’s your prediction for the game?

My prediction is a Rockets blowout. They should win by 10+.

Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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