Rockets Fail to Hit Nets, Fall in Brooklyn 123-116
Funny, How? Live 3 or Die. Get Back and Attack.
Imagine two basketball gods having a conversation. One jokes to the other, “What if a team could actually win by not playing defense? Maybe they’ll just shoot more 3’s than their opponent?” They both laugh at the absurd idea. A style of play and approach to the game that affects many teams, but seems to live life to the fullest in Houston. And that idea, which has plagued the Rockets this early season, was in full effect on Friday night in Brooklyn. Houston led comfortably, 45-30, in the first half. Opportunity screaming out at Harden and company to stomp on Brooklyn’s throat. Begging. But the Rockets didn’t listen. They kept firing away, low percentage shots from deep. Their 15-point lead over an Eastern Conference team that won’t be in the playoffs? That vanquished… quickly. And with it the opportunity slipped, as the underdog-Nets came back to win 123-116. It was a frustrating game to watch. Houston’s Happy-Shoot-3 style continued. Combined with their completely apathetic approach to defense, the Rockets have shot themselves in the feet through 5 games.
The Rockets are 3-2, but they could be 5-0 right now. Last night’s embarrassing loss to Brooklyn and Houston’s Opening Night collapse have both featured this absurd idea at its fullest. Games the Rockets have managed to win, have been squeakers. Their 3 wins have been by a combined total of 8 points. Besides their first game against Milwaukee, Houston has yet to face playoff-caliber competition this season. So, one could argue, this team could also be an embarrassing 0-5 at the moment. And as the basketball gods laugh about this idea that’s come to fruition for many teams in today’s NBA, I feel like the Rockets laugh back. Consistently using this idea to try and convince the gods it’s possible. But it’s not. The Rockets don’t get the joke. The basketball gods see the Rockets laughing at them, and they don’t find any of it funny. They scoff, and ask, “Funny… how?”, channeling their inner-Joe Pesci. The legendary scene from Goodfellas is possibly the greatest improvised scene ever shot. It’s a beautiful moment. With the perfect mix of simmering tension and uneasy humor. And nothing makes me think about the Houston Rockets’ current state of affairs more than this scene. Because… none of it’s funny. None of it. Especially when you possess more talent than you’ve had in a decade, at the same time the league happens to have the most parity it’s seen. Ever. Jacking up 3 after 3. Settling for 3 after 3. Choosing not play defense… when you’re more than capable. It’s not funny in the slightest bit. To the basketball gods, to me, to the fans. None of us find it funny. Sure… 3 is better than 2, but in basketball, you can’t win just shooting threes. It might be amusing for a while, but the basketball gods aren’t clowns. That phrase “live and die by the 3”, it’s true. Very few teams ever survive shooting merely a high percentage from deep. Even the dynastic Golden State Warriors of recent past played great defense, and possessed the best passing instincts in the game. They were a great 3-point shooting team, but they got plenty of 2’s. They knew the difference when to take a 3, and when to not. A difference that the contenders play with in today’s game. This decision-making instinct might be the most important intangible in the game today. On Friday night, Brooklyn didn’t just out-shoot Houston, they took the better shots. The Nets finished 19-of-32 from deep. Meanwhile, the Rockets shot a torrid 12-for-48 from long range. Houston attempted around 30% more 3’s than the Nets, but Brooklyn made over 50% more shots from downtown than the Rockets.
Houston needs to understand how to apply this instinct to their offense. And obviously, the squad really needs to start playing defense. It’s pretty simple, get back and attack. Get back on defense. Attack the basket. And the opportunities that can be created for easier offensive possessions will be exponential. The Rockets are capable of playing great defense. Even the maligned-James Harden. But, they just don’t try… and it looks like they don’t care. If Houston doesn’t change their mindset and approach to the game, the basketball gods will keep on laughing. A basketball court is 94 feet for a reason. The Rockets need to use all of the court, on both ends of the floor. Or else, this team will never reach their championship-potential. Unlike Houston’s first title team in ’94 that managed to reach the top. If the Rockets want that accomplishment, they need to change. Will they? Hopefully they’ll play harder on defense, and drive it to the basket more. But… I just can’t tell if this Rockets team cares more about looking cool, or winning. If they can’t make the necessary changes, Rockets fans won’t have any title to look forward to this season… they’ll just have to imagine one.