Game 2: <pre> 1 2 3 4 OT T PHO 32 27 23 26 16 124 HOU 28 32 40 8 9 117 </pre> 42 points by the Suns over 2 quarters, 17 points by the Rockets.
Game 5 is a pride game. We aren't going to win this series, but we can't let them close us out on our home court - that would just be sad. At least push this to game 6 and have some pride.
I don't think it has anything to do with pride at this point. We haven't had control of a game throughout the entire series. The Clippers may have gotten blown out in game 3 against the Spurs, but they had games 1 and 2 and just gave one away. That's how I knew they would come back. We don't have that. We're getting destroyed. They have us outclassed, amazingly even without CP3. We didn't get swept. I'm thankful for that because what they're doing to us is much worse than what the Warriors did to the Pelicans in their series. We managed to steal one. Pride saved right there.
<iframe width="854" height="510" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VcjzHMhBtf0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Steve Perry says: "Don't stop believing HOUSTON!" ... GO ROCKETS!!! ....... ....... .......
Actually, the Rockets have played very similarly to the way they did in the Mavs series. In the first round, they'd routinely get off to great starts and build double digit leads in the 1st quarter and beginning of the 2nd only to cough them up and allow Dallas right back in the game. The same thing is happening in this series(Game 3 being the lone exception). The Rockets were up by at least 13 in the 2nd quarter of Game 1, around the same in Game 2, and had a 37-30 lead in Game 4. The problem is they're not playing any semblance of defense and since the Clippers roster is better than the Mavs and the Rockets bench has gone AWOL, they're no longer able to withstand those 2nd quarter collapses(other than in Game 2). So they can play with the Clippers. But they have to play defense for 48 minutes, not just a quarter or two. They have to get contributions from Brewer and Smith. And Harden has to bring it from the opening tip. He can't bide his time til the 2nd half like he used to do in the regular season.
The stage has been set for a Clutch City revival. Yes, Im well aware this Rockets team shares nothing in common with the original mid 90’s Clutch City team, other than the name, Houston Rockets. So spare me the berating. If you are a doom and gloomer, or a so-called “realist”, that’s fine, this thread is not for you, move along. This thread is for the never say die Rocket fans out there. The fans that stand up for their team when times are the hardest. Throwing in the towel is the easy way out, the cowards way out, the bandwagoner reaction. As a die hard fan, I refuse to give up. As long as there is a game left, I have hope. I refuse to believe that the LA Clippers are some juggernaut team that we cant beat. If they prove me wrong, so be it. But there is still 1 game left, 1 game, a home game, to show everyone the real Rockets team. Great moments are born from great opportunity. Opportunity is what the Rockets have tonight. 22 other NBA teams are sitting home right now, wishing they had the opportunity to compete in a playoff game. The Rockets have it, right in front of them. They cannot think about being down 3-1. The only thing in their heads should be 1 game. That’s all there is right now, just this one game. I choose to believe they will step up and seize this opportunity. The Rockets must believe as well. They are a 56 win team and in the 2nd round of the playoffs. They are not some scrub unit. Believe, execute and play with passion. I believe with passion. The hard and improbable journey to revive Clutch City begins with one step forward. Game 5 is one step. I believe the Rockets can take that one step tonight. When “hard and improbable” are overcome, that’s when stories are made, great stories. This team has the opportunity to write their own great story, and I believe they can. I believe they will. I believe. The last two games are in the past, they are history. The only thing left is the future and it has yet to be written. Some think losing tonight is a given. Not me. Not Rocket die hards. So I say to you, my Rocket fan brethren... Pick your heads up, put on that red and yellow and represent. Stand up and fight red nation, let your battle cry be heard, for tonight, WE FIGHT!!!!
what's the difference of losing at home or road? Losing at home means they can't celebrate, which seems more desiring to me at this point
Nice post. I still believe. Win Game 5 and force Game 6. Anything can happen in one game. Hopefully the Rockets come out like a cornered animal tonight. It seems like a lot of posters on this board were ready to throw in the towel during halftime of Game 2 (a game the Rockets won, by the way). It's really quite pathetic. I blame the Oilers for the cowardly fan base here.
I love hockey, but it has a huge amount of luck involved. One random carom can change everything at any time. Basketball games are the opposite. If the Rockets want to do this, they're going to need to outplay their opponents for 48 minutes and through hundreds of deliberate defensive and offensive plays. I hope they've got that in them. Side note: I really miss the Aeros.
Well the Rockets have officially entered survival mode. The Clippers came into the series with survival mode already activated. If there's any hope it's that the idea that the season ending will evolve them into the best version of themselves. The Clippers may just be the better team.
For your edification here is article on the 8 NBA teams that have rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the playoffs: http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2015/05/houston_rockets_face_long_odds_1.html Rich Exner, Northeast Ohio Media Group By Rich Exner, Northeast Ohio Media Group CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Houston Rockets are trying to accomplish something not done since 2006 - win an NBA playoff series after trailing 3-1. Just eight times in NBA history have teams rallied from 3-1 deficits to win best of seven-series, the most recent being the 2006 Phoenix Suns. The Rockets-Clippers series is the only conference semifinal this season to stand at 3 games to 1. The Cleveland Cavaliers avoided that predicament with a Game 4 win in Chicago on Sunday to even their series with the Bulls, 2-2. In Cavs playoff history, the winner of Game 5 in tied series has gone on to win the series eight out of nine times. Here's a summary of the NBA teams that have rebounded from 3-1 deficits with three consecutive victories to win best-of-seven series. • 2006: The Phoenix Suns started the 2006 playoffs by falling behind, 3-1, to the Los Angeles Lakers before winning the series. They won the next round against the Los Angeles Clippers before losing in the conference finals to the Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix (54-28 during the regular season) had the homecourt advantage over the Lakers (45-37). Phoenix star: league MVP Steve Nash. • 2003: The Detroit Pistons trailed the Orlando Magic, 3-1, but came back to win the Eastern Conference first-round matchup. The Pistons also won in the next round before losing in the conference finals. The Pistons (50-32) enjoyed the homecourt advantage over Orlando (42-40). Detroit defender: NBA defensive player of the year Ben Wallace. • 1997: The Miami Heat came back to defeat the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but lost in the next round despite a 61-win regular season. Miami (61-21) had the homecourt advantage over New York (57-25). Miami scoring leader: Tim Hardaway. • 1995: The underdog Houston Rockets rallied to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals, and then went on to win the NBA championship. During the regular season, Phoenix (59-23) was 12 games better than Houston (47-35). Houston starting lineup included current TNT analyst Kenny Smith. • 1981: The Boston Celtics stormed back to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals en route to the NBA title. Boston and Philadelphia had tied for the best record in the East that year at 62-20, but Boston had the homecourt for Game 7. Boston star: Larry Bird. • 1979: The Washington Bullets rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the Eastern Conference finals, before losing to the Seattle Supersonics in the NBA finals. Washington (54-28) had the homecourt advantage over San Antonio (48-34). Washington star: Elvin Hayes. • 1970: The Los Angeles Lakers came back to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals and then advanced to the NBA finals before losing to the New York Knicks. During the regular season, the Lakers (46-36) had a better record than Phoenix (39-43). Laker stars: Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. • 1968: The Boston Celtics rallied to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers to win the Eastern Conference finals and then went on to win the NBA championship. The Celtics did this despite having to win Game 7 in Philadelphia. The 76ers (62-20) had a better record than Boston (54-28) during the regular season. Boston stars: Bill Russell and John Havlicek.
