I understand what you're saying, but they closed out those games last year. It's not so much about the other team making a run as it is the Rockets going ice cold for long stretches and refusing to do anything other than keep shooting from deep.
Even last year's team blew leads. They choked a massive lead in Boston during their worst stretch of the year. They blew an 11-point 4th quarter lead at home to Memphis early in the season. And let's not forget they were up 15 late in the 2nd quarter in Game 7 against the Warriors and lost that one.
I think it's a shot selection issue. We really need to go into the mid-range on occasion when we have the lead. It just helps us preserve the lead and get us through the cold spells. Teams CLAMP down on the 3point line and then pack the point.
Here's the thing with the 3s. We were shooting well the first 3 quarters. If that continues we look great and nobody bats an eyelid, it's only after the fact that they are bad shots. In the 3rd quarter we hit 8/15 on 3s, were they supposed to preemptively stop shooting them in case they start missing once the 4th starts? We actually did adjust halfway through the 4th, we started the first 7 minutes going 2-8 on 3s. But two of those were in the first minute or two from Gerald Green who had just hit 5 3s and had the hot hand, so of course he's gonna keep shooting. The funny thing is, if you take away the last second desperation shot from James, we only took one 3 point shot in the last 5 minutes. CP missed a pull up mid-range J, Clint and James missed free throws, both Tucker and James had turnovers (including the charge on James). The shots we made were a Harden-Clint lob and a Tucker tip-in after Harden missed a floater. It's not like we were just jacking up 3s towards the end there. We coughed the ball up, missed FTs at important moments, and we didn't get stops.
I feel you man. So frustrating. If they can’t beat a very important game against okc to secure 2nd seed then how can we trust them in the playoffs.... man... ugh...
More pressure and higher stakes will make distance shooting more erratic. I mean, I don’t have any hard data on that, but that seems entirely common sense.
I was afraid that we were going to lose against them. They are deep and cause mismatch problems for us despite their erratic play. The 4th quarter collapse was highly disappointing. Defense first has to be the motto of the team in the playoffs. Faried was missed. He infuses energy despite his weaknesses. Energy can reduce the chances of deflation if nothing else.
I thought we had picked up Melo in the off-season for when we are up 15-20ish points and a team makes a run. Then we could throw it down to him in the post and score a few buckets to slow down their run and take time off the clock. Obviously this did not work, but it would be damn nice to have SOME KIND OF A POST UP GAME to protect a damn lead. Shoot a damn mid range two if we have to during these runs. Its all about stopping the momentum and we have a hard time doing that.
Bad offense down the stretch where we ISO and milk the clock is reminiscent of McHale years. We still haven't figured out late game situations. Add on top our terrible transition defense where our guards allowed OKC to cherry pick quick and easy buckets let the lead slip. Poor focus.
Teams are gonna make a comeback no matter what, but part of it has to do with rotation in the 4th and questionable decisions.
It’s definitely shot selection that allows teams to get back in the games. OKC has struggled ALLLLLLL year on the offensive side yes outscore Houston in the 4th, meanwhile Houston can’t even score more than 7 points on the first 5 minutes of that 4th Q.
But if they step in 1 foot and shoot a super long 2 that pressure and those stakes won't bother them? Eric Gordon missed wide open shots, including a bunny at the rim. The idea that they'd be better off if he had turned those into mid range shots is just perplexing.
You foul Westbrook's when harden missed the 3rd free throw not let them get the rebound on a miss with 9 seconds to go. Westbrook hasn't been great from the line this year
