Hoops Habit
Fansided

2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 11: Saying Goodbye To Westbrook, The Spurs’ Next Great Point Guard And ‘Ice-O Joe’ Arrives

By Gerald Bourguet

April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after he scores a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after he scores a basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
2017 NBA Playoffs
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) talks to guard James Harden (13) while playing agains the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

On Day 11 of 2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, we say goodbye to Westbrook’s unforgettable season, plot out the Spurs’ next point guard and celebrate Iso-Joe.

The 2017 NBA Playoffs are creeping toward the conference semifinals, and even as we approach a seemingly inevitable Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers Finals matchup everyone’s expecting, would anyone be disappointed as long as the playoffs remain this engaging?

Though the Dubs and Cavs both emerged with first round playoff sweeps, and now the Thunder have been sent home in a gentleman’s sweep, almost every game of the postseason — even the blowouts by the last two defending NBA champions — has been entertaining.

As we advance through the postseason, we’ll be taking a look at what stood out from each day of playoff action. Here’s what we took away from the Rockets sending an MVP candidate home, the Jazz taking a commanding 3-2 lead and the Spurs inching closer to eliminating the Grizzlies Tuesday night.

The Rockets Need To Reach Another Stratosphere

As many expected, the Houston Rockets made short work of the Thunder in their first round playoff series. They ended OKC’s season in five games Tuesday night, outlasting a clearly tired Russell Westbrook at home to move on to the conference semifinals.

James Harden finished with a 34-8-4-3-2 stat line, Lou Williams dropped 22 points off the bench and Eric Gordon tried to murder Jerami Grant in a throwback dunk that made New Orleans Pelicans fans sick to their stomachs:

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/857036421348999168

That being said, the Rockets had better hope they can reach another stratosphere in the next round if they want to live up to their dark horse status in the West. While it’s comforting they were able to win this series so handily despite not being at their best, the upcoming challenge of San Antonio or Memphis won’t allow for this kind of mediocrity.

Houston was only the NBA’s 15th-most efficient three-point shooting team this year, but shooting 28.4 percent from deep ranks them dead last among playoff teams so far. That has to change.

Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza have to find the long range stroke. James Harden has to be better than his .411/240/.904 shooting splits in this series, and his assists (7.0 per game) could do with an overhaul compared to his league-leading 11.2 dimes per game during the regular season.

Maybe we’re nitpicking here, but for the Rockets to even reach the juggernaut Warriors, they’re going to need to be better than what we saw in the first round.