Deja Boo: Rockets Deflate Late Again, Crumble to Thunder, 104-100
Russ-strated. Recurring Recipe for Disaster. Closer to the Edge.
“How big a plane?”, The Protagonist, asks about crashing a plane, in Tenet, to which Neil replies, “well, that part is a little dramatic.” I was hoping I could use this quote in a later series, but unfortunately the Rockets crashed again, falling to OKC, 104-100. Once again, Houston were outplayed by Chris Paul and the Thunder in the clutch. CP3 scored 28 points, including some huge clutch threes to seal the victory against his former team, and force a decisive Game 7. Danilo Gallinari had one of his hot-shooting nights, with 25 points. James Harden had an average Beard-night, scoring 32 points, 8 boards, and 7 dimes. Other than Robert Covington, who finished with 18 points for the Rockets, Houston continues to be ice-cold from downtown.
Russell Westbrook’s certainly deserves much of the blame for this loss. But, haven’t played in weeks, and with only nitro gear to play on, Russ was bound to be rusty and turnover prone. Not only did Houston’s coaches know this before the game, any NBA fan did, and yet with the game on the line, Brodie found himself in charge of ball-handling duties. It’s time Coach Mike D’Antoni (MDA) takes some blame. There’s no reason James Harden shouldn’t touch the ball on the final three possessions of a close game. Yet, as Russ continuously turned the ball over, the Thunder creeped back in, and …after leading the series 2-0, and then 3-2, the Rockets find themselves facing a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night.
This series has been predictable, in that OKC’s won every close game, while all of Houston’s victories have been blowouts. So if you’re watching and wondering, as time clicks away on the clock, who’s more likely to win the deciding game in this series, just look at the score. The longer the Rockets allow the Thunder to stay in the game, or for as long as it’s a close face-off, the game favors OKC. The Thunder have been far and away the better team down the stretch against Houston. However, if the Rockets can replicate the dominance they displayed in their Game 1, 2, and 5 wins, they need get off to a hot start in Game 7.The squad needs to play with the mental aspect of blowing OKC back home, the second the ball is flipped at half-court.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I mean, most expected a close series, but for the “home” team to win every game is certainly surprising given there’s no fans in-house durning the playoffs. And they’ll have one last chance to advance. And to move on for a matchup with King James and the Lakers, the Rockets need to make a statement with another blowout win in Game 7. But blowouts are rare in Game 7’s where injuries and anything unexpected can occur. In a Game 7, everyone leaves all their energy out on the floor. Houston doesn’t need to win via the destructive blowout, but the longer the game goes with score close, favors OKC. Now, with the season on the line, the squad’s best chance to beat OKC comes by getting off to a quick start. The Rockets need to jump ahead early in the first quarter, and pad the lead over the second and third quarter to avoid any dangerous close-calls with the best crunch-time team in the NBA. It’s been a season full of drama for Houston. The Rockets play for their lives on Wednesday night against their former teammate, Chris Paul, who can now almost taste revenge. In a Game 7, where the winner advances, and the loser goes home, anything’s possible, with injuries more likely due to extra effort exerted on both sides, in a winner-take-all game. A loss would arguably be the most embarrassing end to Houston’s season in the James Harden era. A win, and the Rockets might gain the confidence boost/sigh of relief they need to play more relaxed, and possibly beat the Lakers in thinnest round. But to even see LA on the court, Houston has to get through the toughest storm they’ve faced in the MDA and James Harden era. Up next, either the Rockets’ season comes to a crashing end, or they’re invigorated with new life. Game 7… now that’s more than little dramatic.