It didn't happen in the 1st round, so I would say it is too small of a sample size. Edit: JR owned me. Never mind.
2nd quarters: Clippers: Game one: 27-25 (25-19 Rockets after one; 50-46 Rockets at half) Game two: 41-21 (35-24 Rockets after one; 65-56 Clippers at half) Overall: 68-46(-22) Mavs: Game one: 36-27 (32-19 Rockets after one; 59-55 Rockets at half) Game two: 27-30(HOU adv) (24-23 Mavs after one; 53-51 Rockets at half) Game three: 36-23 (42-36 Rockets after one; 72-65 Mavs at half) Game four: 36-19 (34-25 Rockets after one; 61-53 Mavs at half) Game five: 28-25 (31-22 Rockets after one; 56-50 Rockets at half) Overall: 163-124(-39)
I think it indicates that the game plan at the beginning of the game is solid, but the opposing coach makes adjustments, and McHale doesn't adjust to those until after halftime. Not that it's all his fault; the team in general seems to get complacent after taking a bigger lead. It happened during the year and in the mavs series, as well.
This is a ROTATIONS issue to me. McHale has to figure out a way to keep a lineup in that is effective while also giving his starters the rest that is needed. IMHO, he should try to change the rotations a bit to this, with the exception being foul trouble of course: Starters/On the floor: Terry, Harden, Ariza, Jones, Howard 1) don't sub out any of the starters in the first until about 4 minutes left...then sub out Dwight, Jones, Terry and Ariza all for Capela, Smith, Brewer and Prigs...ALL at once. Prigs, Harden, Brewer, Smith, Capela 2) at the beginning of the second quarter, sub out Capela for Dwight and Harden for Ariza. Prigs, Brewer, Ariza, Smith, Dwight 3) bring James back in with 8 minutes left in the second, but for Prigs. Harden, Brewer, Ariza, Smith, Dwight 4) With 6 minutes to go, Sub out Dwight, Ariza and Smith for Capela, Jones and Terry. Terry, Harden, Brewer, Jones, Capela 5) With 4 minutes left in the half, sub tout Capela and Brewer for Howard and Ariza. Terry, Harden, Ariza, Jones, Howard Minutes distributed 1st half (repeat the same in second half if possible): Harden 20 minutes (40 per game verses 35:03 last game) Howard 18 minutes (36 per game verses 35:24 last game) Ariza 18 minutes (36 per game verses 44:52 last game) Jones 14 minutes (28 per game verses 26:55 last game) Terry 14 minutes (28 per game verses 28:05 last game) Smith 12 minutes (24 per game verses 16:39 last game) Brewer 12 minutes (24 per game verses 29:53 last game) Prigs 8 minutes (16 per game verses 19:52 last game) Capela 6 minutes (12 per game verses 3:17 last game) I think the problem with our rotations is keeping the right players in together at the right time, especially when Harden is NOT on the floor. He is doing a decent job of keeping Howard on the floor when Harden is not on, but not the rest of the lineup. Harden is 25 years old. Keeping him below 40 minutes for the regular season was fine and perfect to not wear him out. But during the playoffs, you have to amp up those minutes to keep the team from struggling to much and 40 minutes for maybe another 19 games or less. if we are blessed enough, is not too much to ask for our MVP player. Keep Howard at 36 because of his age and health issues. Ariza is playing too much at 44 minutes and will wear down. Let Brewer use his energy to take some of those minutes.
The 21 points is awful given the number of possessions the Rockets had. Too many turnovers and ball sticking. The missed layups didn't help either.
I counted us being outscored by 68 points in the second quarters of the playoff games. 8 games total.
Used this old thread to point out a trend that we observed about the second quarter woes. In the last three games against three eastern sub 500 teams, the Rockets were out scored by average of 13.7 points in the second quarter, yet somehow they managed to win all three. Any explanation of why this is happening in the second quarter?
