[chron]Pablo Prigioni delivered when the Rockets needed him the most

tinman · May 17, 2015

Pablo Prigioni delivered when the Rockets needed him the most
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...n-the-rockets-needed-him-the-most/#33056101=0

Pablo Prigioni has been alive 38 years.

He’s been in the NBA for just two seasons.

He’s a backup point guard on a Rockets team trying to survive in the playoffs without a true, healthy starting point guard.

He scored zero combined points in Games 5 and 6 and had only one made field goal since Game 3.

So none of this goes together:

Western Conference finals. Outplaying power forward Blake Griffin. Picking apart the Los Angeles Clippers. Recording four points, four assists, three steals and a 27-foot 3-pointer. Lifting up the Rockets at just the right time with 6 minutes, 46 seconds left in the third quarter of Game 7 Sunday at the Toyota Center, then discovering the Golden State Warriors at the end of a surreal second NBA year that refuses to end.

For every team that makes it — enduring, surviving, advancing — in the NBA playoffs, there’s always a Prigioni. Off the bench, onto the court and into a franchise’s postseason history.

“I jump on the court and try to compete,” said Prigioni, whose 38th birthday coincided with the Rockets’ 113-100 victory against the Clippers. “I’m a very unselfish guy and I’m not thinking to score or take shots. I can do a lot of things on the court. … I try to do everything I can to help the team win.”

For the Rockets to take Game 7 and steal the series from the Clippers, they needed 31 points from James Harden, 16 points and 15 rebounds from Dwight Howard, and 37 combined points from Josh Smith and Trevor Ariza.

They also needed Prigioni, who captured the resiliency and intensity of a squad that refused to cave when nearly every single fan, critic and supporter let go of 2014-15 near the end of the third quarter of Game 6.

“Those plays that Pablo made … turn the events of a game and helped us prevail,” said Harden, whose face became animated when Prigioni’s name was mentioned.

Like his addition via a Feb. 19 trade with New York, Prigioni was an afterthought when Rockets coach Kevin McHale inserted the backup for Jason Terry, after the team’s starting point guard drew his fourth foul midway through the third quarter. What followed was Game 7 magic. A steal and a 3. A rebound. An assist on an Ariza 3, which followed an assist on a second-quarter 3 by Terry.

Prigioni played 20:07 total and tied Terry as the Rockets’ seventh-leading scorer. But for a few thrilling minutes Sunday, the native of Rio Tercero, Argentina — who conducted the initial part of his postgame interview in a foreign language — was the best thing about the Rockets in Game 7.

“Pablo had a hell of a game,” McHale said.

Prigioni has had a heck of a season.

Statistics say little: An average of 3 points and 2.8 assists while shooting a weak 34.3 percent from the field in just 24 regular-season contests with the Rockets. But after being celebrated in New York for his rare age, end-of-career NBA arrival and international basketball fame — Prigioni began playing professionally overseas in 1995; he was a member of Argentina’s Olympic squads in 2008 and ’12 — the 35-year-old Knicks rookie gradually found a new home in Houston.

“He’s been in so many big games,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “Obviously, he’s more unknown to the NBA because he has only been in the league for a couple of years. But he’s played in the Olympics, won Gold Medals, won championships in Europe, where they shoot crossbows at you and let off small munitions during the game. He’s been a big part of big games. I was happy he stepped up.”

So was Nicolas. As Prigioni played down everything he did in Game 7 — he was overjoyed that the Rockets won as a team; his outburst on his birthday was just a nice touch — his 6-year-old son sat inside an oversized locker, watching his father be surrounded by TV camera lights. As the dad discussed the new challenge of the Warriors and the wizardry of NBA MVP Stephen Curry, a boy wearing a red No. 9 Rockets jersey tightly gripped his father’s right hand.

Game 7 was perfect for the Rockets. It was even better for Prigioni.

“Today was a great day. … It was a big gift, what the guys gave me, advancing to the (conference) finals,” he said. “But this continues and we have a lot of job to do if we want to keep going and try to make the (NBA) finals.”

brian.smith@chron.com
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rockbox · May 17, 2015

I love Prigs.

hooroo · May 17, 2015

Prigs derseves his own game 7 highlights video.

TracywtFacy · May 17, 2015

That long distance swished three pointer of his will remain in my memory for a long time.

Thank you Argentina!

TracywtFacy · May 17, 2015

hooroo said: ↑

Prigs derseves his own game 7 highlights video.
Click to expand...

Not mine

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H46qWPHO0k8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

oelman44 · May 17, 2015

props to Pablo!!! Dude played hard as hell and made tons of hustle plays. He reminds me of those scrappy players that get minutes in HS and college. The smart, hustle type player is rare at the PG position. I can't think of another guard that plays big minutes and consistently has a positive impact on the game without scoring much.

bmd · May 18, 2015

But he’s played in the Olympics, won Gold Medals, won championships in Europe, where they shoot crossbows at you and let off small munitions during the game.
Click to expand...

Lmao.

Kim · May 18, 2015

Those hustle plays were ridiculous. It's crazy to see how he's transformed from being hesitant and even out of the rotation to now making huge playoff impact.

tinman · May 18, 2015

Kim said: ↑

Those hustle plays were ridiculous. It's crazy to see how he's transformed from being hesitant and even out of the rotation to now making huge playoff impact.
Click to expand...

And he's only been on the Rockets for about half a season under this coaching staff.

Shows strong Basketball IQ

shastarocket · May 18, 2015

He's 38, but I REALLY hope he decides against retiring and returns for the vet min.

I feel like he is the perfect 3rd string insurance PG

rockbox · May 18, 2015

shastarocket said: ↑

He's 38, but I REALLY hope he decides against retiring and returns for the vet min.

I feel like he is the perfect 3rd string insurance PG
Click to expand...

He's signed for another season

shastarocket · May 18, 2015

rockbox said: ↑

He's signed for another season
Click to expand...

My mistake, you are right. Well, I hope he doesn't retire

Tfor3 · May 18, 2015

Prigs is a smart/effective player

tinman · May 18, 2015

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ntieXW6Qm00" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

swyyyguy · May 18, 2015

i love Rockets2K

clos4life · May 18, 2015

bmd said: ↑

Lmao.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the crossbows but the munitions part is true.

dawesome · May 18, 2015

I remember I wrote after watching his first game with Rockets; 'that Pablo guy looked well organized. The ball was sticking to his hand. Surely handles the ball better than our other PG's, I like...'. Thanks Pablo...

LosPollosHermanos · May 18, 2015

The dude had me off my seat today...those consecutive steals and lose ball dives were amazing. All the Argentenian players we've had have been amazing. Ned Scola and Del3ino back here.

SeabrookMiglla · May 18, 2015

everyone played good this game, the team looked good in general. although pablo really came through and gave that spark when terry went out and clippers were trying to make a push. totally killed their momentum, very crucial timing to come up big!

TesseracT · May 18, 2015

hes not kidding about games in Europe lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ADcMfwW8_g&t=58s

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[chron]Pablo Prigioni delivered when the Rockets needed him the most

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