| 28 April 2009
There's plenty of words you could use to describe Brandon Roy, but leader is the most appropriate. How can you not rally around a guy that gets an IV before the game and drops 25 in the Playoffs in spite of having the flu?
Houston had a four point lead in the 4th quarter but couldn't hold off Portland. They're at home with their backs against the wall. You knew they weren't going away. A 15-0 run was enough to ruin the Rockets' dreams of closing this series out.
LaMarcus Aldridge was hurting in his own right, and matched Roy's 25 with a sore elbow. It probably feels a little better now that Portland is only down 1 game.
It is puzzling how the Rockets utilize Yao Ming. One game, he gets the ball consistently, the next he isn't even taking a shot in the 1st quarter. How is this even possible? If you were watching a football game, would you expect to see the Minnesota Vikings not give Adrian Peterson a rushing attempt for the first 15 minutes? No, and you can't tell me that Joel Pzybilla or Greg Oden are playing well enough to shut off ONE shot attempt. A passive Yao is great in China. In the NBA Playoffs, it means a loss is coming.
The Blazers executed and the Rockets didn't. 17 turnovers is 5 more than the Rockets have averaged in this series. Average 2 points for each additional turnover and you get 10 points lost, almost dead on in relation to their 11 point loss.
Why the Trail Blazers Won
The Trail Blazers won because they fought through adversity. Roy and Aldridge didn't let illness or an injury prevent them from attacking the Rockets. When they weren't scoring, Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw were hitting important 3's. Outlaw opened the gap in the 4th with a big shot in the 4th, ensuring that Houston wouldn't get back into the game. The Blazers continue to dominate Houston in blocked shots, and for the first time this series outrebounded Houston.
Why the Rockets Lost
You wouldn't know that Houston was the team with a 3-1 lead the way they played tonight, or maybe you would considering how lazy they looked. Turnovers killed them. Houston has made its' name this season by being a smart and physical team. Tonight they were neither as a team. The offensive rebounds they got in Game 4 weren't there, as they only grabbed 3 of them. Compare that to the 10 they got in the 4th games of the series.
Heading Into Game 4
The Blazers may be down by a game, but it's Houston that has the pressure on their shoulders. Houston has to be aggressive. The three players they need to do that, Yao, Aaron Brooks and Ron Artest, were nowhere to be found in Game 5. If they continue to let Portland play their game, we are going to Game 7 in the Rose Garden, and I don't think Houston can win in such a hostile and pressure packed situation like that. Brace yourself, Rockets fans. It's going to be a wild ride. But if you're a Rockets fan, you're used to it. That's what should scare you.
Prediction: Houston Wins a Close One
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