MVN - Most Valuable Network

Curtains for the Rockets?

Sure looks that way.

Well, they say be careful what you ask for.  You just might get it.  I asked for the Jazz in round one of the playoffs…………. and well……………   I got it…..and in spades.

In what could quite possibly be the worst case scenario for Houston, they are up against the Jazz, down 0-2 after losing both home games, and having to win in Utah twice to have even a chance to get into round two.  Utah is virtually indestructible at home, but did lose to Houston at the beginning of the season behind T-MAC’s 47 pts that night.  Unfortunately, unlike the first game of the season, Houston is down both their starting center and point guard in Yao and Alston.  When 40% of your team can’t suit up, you are most certainly at a disadvantage.  Still, both games were winnable, despite the poor shooting from the Rockets.  When you miss 20 layups and 10+ free throws and lose by only 11 pts in Game one, then lose by only six in Game two, you were at least still in it - despite being outmanned and outsized.  Just poor execution and a permissive interior defense killed the Rockets - both times.  TMAC was stellar for 3 quarters in both games, but could not nary but a single point on 0-4 shooting in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and not much better in Game 2’s final period.   The Utah strategy of limiting his ability to move, duck and shoot throughout the game was enough to make sure he was too tired at closing time.  It worked.  The physical game got to the Rockets, and they even knew it was coming.  I honestly don’t see any chance of taking one in Utah, so the Rockets will probably have just played their last game in the Toyota Center before it’s time to reload, rebuild, and remember how much first-round exits can hurt.  They have just GOT to find a way to keep their talent on the floor and not on the trainers table.  I said it time and time and time again all year that injuries would be the key - and we see it again this year with Yao going out for the season.   It’s going to be another year of this team not making it past the first round and T-MAC will unjustly be shouldering the blame for it, yet again.  His numbers speak for themselves.  He’s done his part from a stats standpoint.  He’s just not got the surrounding staff to pick up the load when he gets double and triple teamed.  Each of the players in Scola, Battier, Hayes, Mutumbo and a slew of pickups have certainly had their shining moments and gave-saving heroics.  That 22-game streak certainly showed what this team is capable of.  But, at the end of the day, it’s the playoffs that matter.  The Rockets just couldn’t hold serve at home when they needed to most.

Now, it’s going to take something more impressive than the 22-game streak to make a date with the Lakers a reality.  I have to give Utah credit.  There’s just something about playing the Rockets that just elevates their play a few notches.  It’s been that way for years.  I’m sure I will have many more to suffer through.  That being said?  I am hoping for another first round matchup with the Jazz again next year. 

All you can do is dust yourself off and get back into the mix.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 12:50 am and is filed under Houston Rockets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.