Rout demonstrates which team is clearly better when at its best
Red shirts everywhere, saturating a buzzing arena.
A barrage of pregame flames.
Kevin McHale working courtside on the same night James Harden went back to work on national television.
The Beard toying with Utah while the Rockets rolled to a smooth-and-easy 122-90 victory.
“He’s so good offensively, it makes me smile; it makes me laugh,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s just so good, I don’t know what you do.”
This is the Rockets’ time,
for as long as they make it last.
Chris Paul and Harden dominating our daily conversation. Daryl Morey, Tilman Fertitta and D’Antoni chasing the one thing they want more than anything else.
It is only about a championship. Since Harden and Paul paired up in downtown Houston, it has always been only about a championship.
Fifteen more wins and, finally, a world title? Or again falling short at the worst time and reigniting the same, tired conversation?
It doesn’t matter until the playoffs for the Rockets. Sunday night inside Toyota Center, the real season began.
Now everything matters, and everything is at stake.
“They’re a really unique team. They’re hard to prepare for,” said Utah coach Quin Snyder, who joked pregame that Paul is a better on-court coach than him and showered the Rockets with serious praise.
Is this actually going to be a series? That was the real question entering Game 1 of a first-round Western Conference matchup, despite D’Antoni’s team having only three more regular-season wins than Snyder’s squad and the Rockets officially being a No. 4 seed matched up against the No. 5 Jazz.
Utah couldn’t hang with the Rockets in the second round a season ago, falling 4-1 and dropping both games in Salt Lake City by a combined 34 points.
Add a healthy Ricky Rubio this time. Factor in the Jazz entering a two-month tournament as one of the NBA’s hottest teams. Still, was there anyone in the country who actually picked Utah to take down Harden, Paul and Co. in seven games before Sunday night?
Snyder intricately described how smart and difficult these Rockets have become. Creative and inventive. An offense that never stops and an improved defense that intentionally fits the roster. Rapid transition, in-game adjustments, Harden’s improvisational skills … the steep challenges only mount.
D’Antoni said little, joking that his recent hospital stay wouldn’t affect his shot and acknowledging he was ready to simply return to the hardwood.
The Jazz had to study, dissect, break down and obsess over every small thing.
The Rockets also do all that. But when their personal fire is roaring, they mostly just play.
“I’ll be ready to roll,” said D’Antoni, echoing the strong heartbeat of his team.
The first 24 minutes were a comfortable, familiar torching.
Harden poured in 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting, literally running circles around Utah’s defense. The Beard either scored, set up an open scorer or just messed with the Jazz, who oddly kept giving the NBA’s best scorer open space.
“I’ve literally seen every defense you can possibly see,” Harden said. “It’s just a matter of adjusting and continue to communicate with the guys and what spots they need to be in, and that's pretty much it.”
Who knew a playoff blowout could be so simple?
Clint Capela outplayed Rudy Gobert — a recurring theme during the Rockets’ second-round torching last year — and P.J. Tucker sank three of his initial six 3s. Paint points: advantage, Rockets. Glass: Rockets.
Star power, long-range touch, decisiveness and intensity: You know the answer.
“When P.J. and Danuel House hit a little streak and they're making 3s, that’s real difficult to beat,” D’Antoni said.
It was 59-44 home team at the half. It was one of those games where it could have been much worse.
“We didn’t play well,” Snyder said. “I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.”
Of course, the Rockets have previously fallen short every season under Harden. And when Utah suddenly pulled within 66-61 — lazy Rockets defense, easy Jazz offense … instant run for the road team — we were reminded that this super-talented squad can still be super frustrating, confusing and disappointing.
Harden overplayed Joe Ingles, despite the 3-point dependent Jazz forward having only three points, picking up his fourth foul with six-plus minutes left in the third quarter.
“We came out in the second half a little soft,” D’Antoni said.
Sudden trouble?
Nope.
Cue the veteran poise. Stack up all those previous playoff W’s and recall exactly what is at stake in 2019.
Paul put Gobert on skates. Harden destroyed the Jazz with ball in hand. Rockets 92, other team 75.
All was normal again.
Another night of echoing MVP chants. Capela turning defense into offense. House drilling huge playoff 3s during the season in which he bet hard on himself. Is this going to be a series?
Not if the Rockets keep torching the Jazz like this.