Houston Rockets: How They Can Upset The Oklahoma City Thunder
Omer Asik’s tough defense and rebounding provides a problem for the Thunder. (Flickr.com photo by thepanamerican)
The playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder looked to be going only one way after Kevin Durant‘s Thunder team had raced out into a 2-0 lead in the series. The whole dynamic of the series changed in Game 2, after All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook went down with a torn meniscus after some tough defense from Patrick Beverley. Despite that, the Thunder were able to squeeze past Houston in Game 3–led by Kevin Durant’s 41-point haul–to give last year’s Western Conference champions a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead.
In Game 4, the Rockets avoided the series sweep by beating OKC 105-103. Chandler Parsons came up huge, contributing 27 points.
It raises the question: How can they upset the Thunder and become the first team to come back from a 3-0 lead to win the series?
Just as in Game 4, they’ll need to get vital contributions from a myriad of players. Omer Asik needs to dominate the paint, rebound the ball and hold down the paint. If he can get 15 to 20 points with 12 to 18 rebounds, that should give the Rockets a basis on which to build–as his offensive rebounds will invariably give Houston more possessions.
You know what you are getting from James Harden: points. He’ll need to catch fire and drop at least 30 points if the Houston Rockets are to steal a game in OKC. The bearded one can put the ball in the hole like few in the association. He can get whoever is guarding him in foul trouble. If his jumpshot isn’t flowing–he’ll take it to the rim and get to the foul line, where he shoots 85 percent. Last season for example, he led the playoffs in fourth-quarter free-throws made. If he can do the same, expect the Rockets to steal one or two more games in this series.
What the Rockets did very well was get the ball out of Kevin Durant’s ball for the crucial possession. Instead of the 50-40-90 shooter on the ball, tough defense meant Reggie Jackson and Serge Ibaka had to try and score the ball at points down the stretch. No Russell Westbrook means nearly all of the scoring burden is on Kevin Durant–so stop him and you invariably stop the Thunder.
As you can see, forcing Durant to pick up the dribble limited OKC’s options without Westbrook to take the ball.
The series now goes back to OKC. Can they win there to really put the pressure on the Thunder? Yes. On any given night Harden can explode for 40 to 50 points. If he can do the same, it is hard to see the Thunder getting the necessary contributions from all areas of their rotation.
It must be said though: No team has ever squandered a 3-0 lead and the Thunder will probably just about squeeze through. What we do know is that the absence of Russell Westbrook has done enough to give the Rockets a slight chance. It is now onto Harden and Co. to try and seize this slight chance.