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Houston Rockets: Good Job, Good Effort

By Mauricio Putz

May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts during the second half against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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After blowing out the Golden State Warriors in a win-or-go-home Game 4 at home, the Houston Rockets now find themselves in a rather familiar

/dangerous

3-1 deficit as they go back to the toughest place to win in the NBA, Oracle Arena.

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After going through a rather unlucky chain of events during Games 1 through 3 of the Western Conference Finals and standing up to the bullyish Warriors, the Houston Rockets seem to have found the rhythm that has kept their season alive so far.

In Game 1, the Houston Rockets led by as much as 16 points during the second quarter and trailed by only two points with 16.4 seconds left in regulation just before a turnover by none other than former season-savior Josh Smith gave the Warriors the ball and, consequently, a valuable Game 1 win over the Rockets.

In Game 2, with the Rockets trailing by one, the Splash Brothers smothered James Harden with 2.3 seconds left in regulation and the game on the line. James Harden fumbled and turned over the ball as the clock expired and the Warriors escaped a magical performance from the Rockets’ cornerstones Dwight Howard and Harden.

In Game 3, in the words of former All-Star center and self-proclaimed team cornerstone Howard, not only the players but the whole arena gave up — just like they did during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals — when they faced a 25-point deficit at the break.

Per Kristie Rieken of the Associated Press:

"“I saw quit from everybody in the arena, we can’t have that … no matter how far you fall you’re never out of the fight. That’s the way you’ve got to look at it. We may be down 3-0, but we’ve got to continue to fight. That’s the only way. If we don’t believe, then who else will?” – Dwight Howard"

During Saturday’s blowout, James Harden went 3-for-16 from the field and the Houston Rockets shot a peasant 20 percent from beyond the arc. Terrible news for a team that’s been basically living and dying by three-point shot for the entire 2014-15 season.*

The Warriors held the Houston Rockets to less than 95 points for the first time in the playoffs.

In Game 4, with the season on the line, Harden exploded for a playoff career-high 45-points and carried his wobbling team to

what will likely end up being their last appearance

a much-needed victory in front of their home crowd that could end up sparking their title #Pursuit once again.

The Warriors had a season-high 20 3-pointers during the game, but Harden and the rest of the Houston Rockets’ high-octane offense was too much for the Warriors to handle.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, Howard was at it again. As usual, Howard got frustrated during the game and, in perfect Dwight Howard fashion, lost his cool and threw an elbow to Andrew Bogut‘s head. He got a flagrant 1 during the game but such fouls can eventually be reviewed by the league after the game is over.

If Howard’s foul was to be upgraded to a flagrant 2, Howard would miss a crucial win-or-go-home in Oakland. Of course, it would be foolish for us to believe that Howard is in fact able to pull himself together, if even for a game, just to try and make his team better.

He’s been this way ever since he came into the league.

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2 Houston Rockets international players that never played a single minute /

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    • During the course of the regular season, such performances against the mighty Warriors would’ve given the Rockets the respect any legitimate title contender deserves.

    Nevertheless, during the playoffs — where you’re just looking to squeeze a couple of wins, precisely 16 in total, regardless of their margin — losing close games tends to be the most heart-breaking feeling of them all and, sometimes, the worst possible sign for a team that’ll eventually fall short of the ultimate goal.

    It took a lot of heart, talent and luck — and an expected implosion from the Los Angeles Clippers — for the Houston Rockets to become only the ninth team in NBA history to bounce back from a 3-1 hole in a best-of-seven series. And as of Monday night, the Rockets trail the Warriors 3-1 and remain hopeful for a comeback.

    Unfortunately for them, the Warriors won’t fold under pressure. And this time around, not even all the heart, talent and luck in the world

    will

    might be enough for the Rockets to become the first team in NBA history to bounce back from a 3-0 series deficit.

    June 14 marks the 20th anniversary of the Rockets’ second and last title in franchise history. When If they lose the conference finals, they will have won only three playoff series since they took on the “Clutch City” moniker.

    * The Houston Rockets broke the NBA record for made three-pointers in a season — 933.

    Next: Houston, We've Got A Problem

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