James Harden: “Hey Paul, it’s The Beard.”
Paul George: *sigh* “… Hey man! What’s up?”
JH: “Nothing much. I was wondering, where’d you get that fishing rod you used to win the Geist Reservoir tournament?”
PG: “Ummm … Bass Pro Shops … Why?
JH: “Well, we’re down in LA getting our asses kicked and the season’s about to be over, so me and the boys are just gearing up and getting ready to go out there . Where do you think we sh–OH SH$% NEVERMIND!” *hangs phone*
I wasn’t there, but I’m sure that’s probably how it went just before Josh Smith and Corey Brewer turned back the clock and went supernova during the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals Thursday.
More from Houston Rockets
- 5 NBA players everyone should be keeping a close eye on in 2023-24
- 5 NBA teams on the rise that will surprise everyone in 2023-24
- The latest intel has Houston ready to overpay for two free agency targets
- NBA Rumors: Houston has a polarizing backup plan if they don’t land Harden
- NBA Rumors: Houston could make a win-now trade for a star this summer
During the first half, it was a pretty tight game that the Clippers led by 2. It was only until the third quarter, again, that the Los Angeles Clippers really turned it on and started closing in on their first Western Conference Finals in franchise history.
And then,
the fourth quarter
Josh Smith happened.
With the season on the line, and The Beard on the bench, the two washed-up veterans came up big for the Rockets during the fourth. After combining for only 10 points through the first three quarters, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer scored 14 and 15, respectively, during the fourth as they singlehandedly led the Houston Rockets‘ 25 point swing.
In the most Clipper-ish way, the Los Angeles Clippers went 4-for-22 in the fourth quarter and were surprisingly outscored/stunned by the scorching hot Rockets 40-15.
Offensively, Josh Smith and Corey Brewer were all over the place — threes, drives, dunks, you name it. Defensively, the Houston Rockets played with the unforeseen passion they lacked during their first 10 playoff games, and forced the Los Angeles Clippers to miss 15 of their last 16 field goal attempts.*
Houston Rockets’ 4th Quarter
Los Angeles Clippers’ 4th Quarter
Now, as they head back to the Toyota Center, the momentum-changing fourth quarter has the Houston Rockets as the favorites to advance to what a week ago seemed like a very unlikely trip to the Western Conference Finals, where anything can happen — once you’re there, you just got to win four more games.
Of course, the Rockets are not making things easy for themselves – Game 7 will be their 12th game of the 2015 playoffs.
If they had played with such a passion during the first couple of games of the series, they would’ve had home-court advantage throughout the series and could’ve been taking a much needed rest before facing the Eastern Conference champion in their first NBA Finals in two decades.
Now, they have to win a Game 7 at home against an unwavering Clippers team that bounced the defending champs six games ago.
Five months ago, the Detroit Pistons waived Josh Smith in what seemed one of the most radical “addition by subtraction” moves in recent memory — the Pistons still owe him about $27 million over the next five years — $5.4-million per year.
And just when the overwhelming 3-1 hole seemed to take the best out of the Houston Rockets, it was the unlikely duo of Josh Smith and Corey Brewer that led the Rockets to an improbable 12-point victory on the road.
The Houston Rockets are back and have never looked better.
*Note: The one they made was a Chris Paul three during the final seconds of garbage time.
Next: A Conversation About the Rockets' Defense.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers