Why is it so hard for us to give more attention to the underdogs – or to those who are just starting out, trying to build something big?
When multiple games tip off at the same time, we mostly tune into a Lakers or Knicks game instead of the Rockets or the Cavs – even if I might actually be a Celtics fan. Why are we so often drawn to the familiar, rather than watching something new as it grows?
Speaking for myself, I can say I haven’t seen that many Rockets games so far, but I’ve watched plenty of Lakers games – even though I’m not even a Lakers fan. And it would’ve been the same even if Luka hadn’t been traded to the Lakers. I can only tell you – and myself – again: we’re missing out.
Thursday, 20.03 – Departure Frankfurt – Miami
Yes, this is no déjà-vu – just my regular everyday life. Between the last Heat vs. Celtics game that I covered, I was briefly back home in Germany and then already back on my way to Miami – for Heat vs. Rockets last Friday. While prepping for the game, I watched the last three Rockets games and let me tell you: I was genuinely hyped for this one.
The Rockets came in with an 8-game winning streak, and the Heat with a 9-game losing streak. Since this was my first-ever Houston Rockets game that I covered live, I was super curious to watch some player’s warm-up. I really believe you can learn a lot about a player if you pay attention to the little details.
First up was Amen Thompson. Once again, I was impressed by his height and his physique. I had seen him live before – last year at a Boston/Dallas Finals game where he was there as a guest – but seeing him in action is something else entirely. One thing that stood out is how much he struggles with the three-pointer. But I’m sure that’ll get better with time. He actually does more right than wrong in his shooting motion. From the outside, it looks like he gets insecure too quickly when he misses a few in a row – and his body language suffers. That makes his shot look too forced, no longer smooth or fluid.
Totally different story with Cam Whitmore. He moved so incredibly smooth – it felt like he was inviting you to dance, always ready to show you a special dance move – and not to some slow R&B song, but more like: Get It On the Floor – DMX. When he goes into his jump and releases the ball at the highest point, it seems to float in the air for a few seconds, and his wrist flick is just buttery soft.
Next up – Dillon Brooks. He really surprised me – I can’t say I’ve been the biggest Dillon fan based on past events. But if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that when someone has that extra dose of passion, it can easily lead to impulsive reactions that many people don’t understand in the moment.
That’s how you quickly get labeled as aggressive. Not to excuse certain actions, of course – but since I’m also a very passionate person with a strong sense of justice, I can now “understand” some of those reactions differently. His strong passion and energy for the game were clear in his warm-up shooting. I’ve never seen a player go “all in” and at such a high pace during warm-ups. Most players – especially when shooting threes – don’t have a defender blocking every attempt. And when they do, it’s usually a soft block. Totally different with Dillon Brooks. The defender was always reaching into his shooting motion. At the end, he high-fived every single person – trainer or ball boy – even if they weren’t involved in the drill. All of it done with so much joy and respect toward others. I really liked that, and I was impressed by how many of those tough, contested threes he sank.
Last to come out was Fred VanVleet. What really impressed me – something I’ve never seen before – was that he didn’t just take a few logo threes at the end like some players do. The logo threes were fully built into the three-point shooting routine. He took so many from the top of the key and from the wings – more than I’ve ever seen anyone take in warm-ups.
Post-game, I asked him a question about this in the locker room – unfortunately, I didn’t record it, which is a shame because I couldn’t remember the name of the coach he mentioned, the one he worked with to develop this training approach. I asked Fred how long he’s been doing this type of warm-up shooting. He said he started three years ago – and since then, he’s noticed a big improvement in his long-range three-point shooting.
Before the game started, it was time for press conferences. I asked Erik Spoelstra whether – given the current situation – he approached team motivation differently than usual.
“Yes, of course. Some of the messages are just between myself and the team. We’ve had some really good moments in the last six weeks. Some good conversations, some themes that we can all rally around. And like I’ve said a couple of times, we’re being tested, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It makes everybody, you know, uncomfortable. It’s not the first time our organization has gone through adversity, and we lean into adversity. We think that there are great benefits, and you can power through and have breakthroughs. We haven’t been able to have that that leads to a win, but we’ve certainly had some breakthroughs in terms of our process. And if you want the result you think you deserve, you have to stay the course.”
Then the game finally started. My expectations weren’t high that the Heat would go home with a “W” that night. This Rockets team is just too strong for Miami to be better in any category – not enough shot creation, lacking defense. Once again, we saw a Heat team that started with way too many turnovers and gave the ball away carelessly in crucial moments in the fourth quarter – and not make their easy points in the paint. Fortunately, the Heat were finally able to end their 10-game losing streak against the Hornets.
As I mentioned earlier, I went into the Rockets locker room after the game and got to do a cool interview with Steven Adams. Honestly, I didn’t dare to ask him if it annoys him that people always compare him to Jason Momoa (“Aquaman”) – he probably hears that too often – but what can I say: he really does look like him. Aside from that, his 2.11 meters are seriously impressive – and why he eats a giant bowl of pure ground beef with fruit as a side dish every day – well, you’ll get the story on that in the next few days.
All I have left to say is: let’s start watching more teams we usually overlook. The Rockets have definitely gained one more viewer with me.
Next stop: April 2nd, 2025 – back to Los Angeles for Lakers vs. Warriors.
Until then,
Your Flight Girl
