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The reaction to the Houston Rockets' failure to defeat the Golden State Warriors last Friday was swift and scathing. Of The Guardian SB Nation on this very site, its title window has been declared closed. All the Rockets' approach – from James Harden's high utilization rate to the frequency at which they launch insulation games and fire at 3 points – was attacked. On the NBA TV, Brendan Haywood, a center analyst turned center, said they needed to pull more mid-range jumpers and put Harden to the post.
"It takes more than talent," said Marcus Thompson, of The Athletic, in the podcast "Warriors All-82". "Something more than a ploy – and the Rockets just do not have it, man – they just do not have it." He added that if Kevin Durant signed up again with Golden State, the Houston office would have to disband the team.
The dominant theme is not that the Rockets lost, but how they lost. In a playoff game against the team that they were obsessed with beating, they did not take advantage of Durant's absence or the goal-free first half of Stephen Curry. When they had to be better, they were not, and it was all the more overwhelming because of the contrast presented by the team that had beaten them.
Beating Houston was the toughest challenge of the Warriors, but it earned them the best. They played freely, knowing that they had two balls and that their best chance was to create chaos. If it had been a battle of execution, the Rockets would probably have won. Instead, it was messy and their mistakes condemned them.
After the ring, the euphoria of Golden State speaks volumes. Veteran Andrew Bogut, present in the first title race and Klay Thompson's miraculous night in Oklahoma City, called the win the best Warriors victory he had ever been to. They were the biggest underdogs since hiring in the playoffs since hiring Steve Kerr, and they needed everyone. Bogut, Jordan Bell and Quin Cook played significant minutes. Andre Iguodala made five 3 and Kevon Looney scored four offensive rebounds. Shaun Livingston got rid of his pains and scored 11 points, including two on a one-handed dunk that put all his teammates in their shoes.
Even with all this, they were late by seven early in the fourth quarter. They could not have gone without Curry and Thompson creating clutches 3 in a hostile environment against a defense that was trying to stop them from touching the ball.
"After the fifth game, I sent a text message to Steph:" If it was easy, it would not be fun "" http://www.cbssports.com/ "Dell Curry told Ethan Sherwood Strauss from The Athletic. " When you win, that's what makes it so rewarding. Because it's so hard.
Golden State kissed that it was difficult. It's a team that's struggling to get motivated, having competed in the last four finals of the NBA and won three of them. Many warriors were clearly tired, but the nature of the situation fueled them. Losing Durant was a real adversity from the point of view of basketball – they had missed his score of isolation, his shot and his protection of the rim – but it was also an opportunity. "With Kevin, you have the luxury of being a little lazy," Draymond Green told reporters. Without it, they would have no choice but to be more precise, faster and more dynamic.
Now the Rockets are in a situation that seems very difficult. It would be wise to learn from the team that put them there.
Houston's players, coaches, and management will probably not feel better until they have needed a little. Despite being one of the most successful teams in the league in recent seasons, the Rockets have become an easy target for ridicule. For some people, they represent pride (for recognizing their willingness to face the Warriors), geekiness (due to Daryl Morey's experience in the field of analysis and his mid-range avoidance) and cowardice (for the referee fiasco and for its appearance great moments). They have been roasted on the Internet and will be a little more, but sometimes, being fired can – punish somehow – harden a team.
In the 1994 playoffs, a Houston team led by the most valuable player, Hakeem Olajuwon, had lost the first two games of his second-round series against Phoenix Suns, despite the field's advantage. the Houston Chronicle& # 39; read on the front page, "CHOKE CITY". When he returned to win the series in seven and win an NBA title, "Clutch City" was born. Many analysts have criticized the team this year after his departure from 11-14, but Harden took advantage of the desperate situation of the Rockets – they were slain, fought to defend themselves and no longer other playmaker – as a stepping stone to save historical figures, their season in the process.
There are reasonable arguments to explore the main trades. The Rockets have flawed alignment and Morey could be the most aggressive leader in the league. However, I can not accept the idea that they are fundamentally irreparable or destined to fail each year. The costly turnarounds and missed free throws of Harden in a crucial match should not invalidate one of the best individual seasons in the history of the NBA. The offensive that produced 27 points 3 in Game 7 last year also produced 112.1 points against 100 for the Warriors in this series. Only Golden State, Milwaukee and Denver have overshadowed this mark in these playoffs.
While Houston is recovering from its unfortunate and heartbreaking loss, it should double the qualities that made the team successful: innovation, creativity and a willingness to find small things. One of the most admirable things about the Rockets is their willingness to get started. In order not to lose the best of Harden, the franchise turned to one of the most talented teams in the league. Harden adds something to his game every year, and maybe Clint Capela can develop some skills to make it more suited to the game that matters to him the most. Their next effort to diversify their attack will probably work better than Carmelo Anthony's experience.
After losing the seventh game against the Portland Trail Blazers, coach Michael Malone explained how last season ended for his Denver Nuggets. He called their game match of the last night of the regular season a "motivating loss" as this led to the improvement that nearly led to the final phase of the conference. The loss suffered by the Blazers, he said, will have the same effect. No one is telling the end of the Rockets season this way, but imagine what a story would be like if Harden, Chris Paul, and Mike D's Antoni finally put an end to their demons in the playoffs.
Of course, it will be difficult to come back from this. If it was easy, it would not be fun.
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