Team needs to reprise Game 1 for a chance
Game 1 seemed like an eternity ago as the fans in Toyota Center poured out of the arena on Friday night.
The Rockets didn’t look like the same team. They didn’t even look like a team in the same league as the one that destroyed San Antonio less than a week ago.
Shots weren’t falling, frustration was evident, tension was building as the Rockets fell to 2-1 in the series with a 103-92 loss to the Spurs.
This is not where the Rockets wanted to be at this point.
They did what they were supposed to do — went to San Antonio, stole a win there.
And when they did, the Rockets turned heads.
On Tuesday, a lot of people were penciling in the Rockets as one of the teams that would be playing in the Western Conference finals.
On Saturday, that doesn’t seem as likely.
It’s not time for gloom and doom. It’s not time to panic. But it is time for a good,
hard look in the mirror before Game 4.
The Rockets could have a bad shooting night against Oklahoma City and win. They could battle out fourth quarters with Oklahoma City and win. They could have a handful of missteps against Oklahoma City and win.
They cannot do those things against the Spurs and expect to earn victories.
Friday night was an ugly game for both teams.
But when it’s that ugly, it works in San Antonio’s favor.
The Spurs experience — even without 16-year veteran Tony Parker, who has played their last 221 playoff games — was evident on Friday night.
In grind-it-out, gritty games, they don’t get rattled. They’ve been there too many times before.
So the Rockets are just going to have to avoid that.
And they can. Remember Game 1?
The Rockets have to be better offensively. When they are hitting shots, everything else falls into place. They control pace, their transition game improves, their defense is better.
On Friday, the Rockets shot 36.4 percent from the field in the loss — their lowest mark in the postseason.
James Harden had to carry the load, and he did, coming alive in the second half to score 30 of his 43 points.
He also had five assists — three less than his average in the postseason and six less than his average this season against San Antonio. Harden is a far more dangerous player when he is facilitating.
He had little help. Trevor Ariza had 17 points (15 in the first half ) and Clint Capela had a good game with 10 points and 14 rebounds. But that was about it. The Rockets bench has been incredible in the postseason.
On Friday night, it was atrocious, scoring just 10 points.
Heading into Friday night, Lou Williams was averaging 15.9 per playoff game, Eric Gordon was averaging 13.4 and Nene was averaging 12.1.
The Rockets don’t stand a chance when their offense is this bad.
Not against a team like San Antonio.
There were too many chances for the Rockets to take control that they didn’t capitalize.
The Rockets were playing at home. The Spurs were starting a rookie point guard — Dejounte Murray — in place of the injured Parker. San Antonio had 21 turnovers. The team star, Kawhi Leonard, was off for the entire first half. He ended up finishing with 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting, which the Rockets can easily live with.
There’s no reason the Rockets shouldn’t have capitalized and won the game.
They were clearly rattled at times.
In the first half, when called for his third foul, Harden laid on the center of the court, kicking his legs up and down because he didn’t agree.
In the fourth quarter, Harden was hit with a technical foul for complaining. After Leonard hit a free throw for that, the Spurs went on a 10-4 run that put them up by 12 midway through the final quarter.
In a series against a team like San Antonio, which won’t get very high or low no matter what is happening in the game, the Rockets are going to have to keep their cool to prevail.
If they can do that and shoot the ball better, things will be back on track.
Coach Mike D’Antoni said the Rockets didn’t play “good enough” on Friday. It’s the second round of the playoffs. Good enough is not even close to good enough anymore.
Every night, the Rockets have to be outstanding.
Game 4 is Sunday night, and it’s a must-win.
Going back to San Antonio trailing 3-1 would be a tough predicament.
The Game 1 Rockets have to return and turn this series around.
Because the Spurs can easily handle the Rockets who showed up on Friday night.