What we have learned going forward. By FAR the biggest reason we lost the series.

I would have preferred to see Thomas Robinson over Smith in the later games. Smith clearly was overmatched by OKC's big men, and maybe Robinson's athleticism could have been a factor. If nothing else, maybe the team could have secured a defensive rebound while Omer was off the floor.

 

No, not backup center. Starting PF.

 

I wished we could've played Ohlbrecht some minutes at C. Dude was averaging a double double in D-League.

Smith doesn't have any jumpshot, low post game, and is worse than Asik at FT line. He was just average in D-League play, that says a lot when he couldn't dominate 6'7" scrub centers.

 

We were simialrly weak when we won in 95, but at least then we had a center good enough to fill the black hole of playing Horry like we were Parsons.

 

Been saying the same stuff for weeks - even started two threads on it. We need to pay more than the minimum for a backup center - a veteran defensive presence. Someone like Dalembert.

 

I it led to that situation, I'd take Pau (I think Garnet is a pipe dream). But Lakers would want something back for Gasol... Asik or Lin and there is no way we should give up either for Gasol.

 

PPat means no Garcia. Possibly Douglas and no Beverley. Morris and less Delfino. Who knows.

 

Yes, this. A good step back overall perspective of the playoffs. I would add that the single most deciding team stat was our high turnovers.

 

What you said is pretty true, but part of what I was saying is that Smith can't score on and can't block shots like Ibaka. Collison also was able to get offensive rebounds.

 

The reason we lost the series is because the Rockets are a team built not to win a championship, but a team built of easily movable parts in hopes of acquiring a second star player. The Rockets were never supposed to make the playoffs this year, that was never Morey's plan.

Brooks, Garcia, Delfino, Anderson, Beverley, and Smith are all players that other teams didn't even want that got minutes during this series. After the Rockets acquire their star player to play alongside Harden, then Morey will focus on getting rotation players that fit together and complement our foundation players. Right now the Rockets roster is just a hodgepodge of rookies and castoffs filling roster spots until we get our next star player.

The fact that the Rockets made the playoffs and were very competitive this year is rather remarkable. The coaching staff and players did a fantastic job this year.

 

The reason we lost the series is simply lack of playoff experience. Having PatPat or Aldrich or any other non battled tested player would not have made a difference. The bottom line is that OKC played with a more consistent, greater sense of urgency that only comes from experience. Throughout NBA history, the teams that go far are the teams that have progressive playoff experience either as a team or collectively as players. Our youngsters became a little more seasoned this year and if we can add another piece or two, preferably with progressive playoff experience, we should be able to make a deeper run next year.