| 24 April 2009
The Rockets nearly let Game 3 get away thanks to some hot shooting by Rudy Fernandez and Steve Blake, who went a combined 9-14 from the three-point line. The old saying is that the three is the great equalizer, and it certainly seemed to be the case tonight. It wasn't as if the Rockets were giving up easy shots either. Fernandez's last three came with a hand in his face as he shot off-balance from the corner.
Yao Ming got off to a great start with 7 points in the 1st quarter and then did his Houdini routine, not scoring for the rest of the game. It's the worst kept secret in the NBA that Yao can't handle teams that front him, and once Nate McMillan elected to put Greg Oden in front and have Brandon Roy offer help defense, the Rockets had to find offense elsewhere. This time they were able to do it.
Aaron Brooks had another up and down game, but he was able to shake a 3-11 shooting night by driving to the basket and creating free throw opportunities. Luis Scola and Carl Landry also gave the Rockets a boost (Get it, because puns are funny! Eeeehhh.) and Shane Battier hit crucial three pointers in the second half when Roy left him to help double Yao.
Brandon Roy didn't look nearly as aggressive or comfortable as he was in Game 2. Imagine that, when the Rockets elect to guard him, a player doesn't go off for 42. Roy was scoring at will in Game 2, but if this is the case then you must double him and make the rest of the team beat you. Rick Adelman knows this. I'm not John Nash, but I know that the odds of losing to Portland are less likely if I make Steve Blake shoot 3's as opposed to letting Roy get hot.
Why the Rockets Won
In spite of the Trail Blazers shutting Yao down, the Rockets spread the offensive wealth. They also outhustled Portland, making Brandon Roy work for almost every basket. When Roy came off Battier, he drilled two very critical threes to kill the momentum the Blazers had in their comeback attempt. If Battier can hit that shot, the Blazers are in trouble. It is reminiscent of what Sam Cassell, Kenny Smith and Robert Horry used to do to help combat the double teams Hakeem Olajuwon faced.
Why the Trail Blazers Lost
Simply put, the Trail Blazers lost because they looked young. Their immaturity showed and they let Houston get them out of their game. Portland won Game 2 because they attacked Yao, and good things happened when they did that in the 3rd quarter this time. But they didn't match the intensity Houston brought. Part of this comes from Houston getting to play at home, but that's no excuse. This is Playoff basketball. If you can't win a road game, you're going home more often than not. Portland already gave up home court to Houston and got their butts handed to them. The effort has to be there, not just for the second half of the game.
Heading into Game 4
The Rockets can pretty much end this series with a win Sunday. It won't come easy, as Portland now knows how to stop Yao and tell the rest of the Rockets to beat them. That might be easier to do now, since it seems like different players are stepping up each game for Houston. Portland must attack Yao Ming and get him into foul trouble, a la Game 2. The passive nature that the Blazers have become used to in this series plays perfectly into Houston's game. Down 2-1 on the road, their margin for errors is slimming. Portland has to grow up fast, If they don't, this series is going to end a lot quicker than anybody outside of Jeff Van Gundy expected.
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