In recent days the Rockets inability to execute down the stretch
against the upper echelon of teams in the NBA has been well covered. The New Orleans Pelicans were 5-22 going into Thursday’s game in NOLA. They have young talented players, but they are nothing close to the “upper echelon” of teams. That didn’t stop the Rockets from doing the same things that caused them to lose their previous three games on the road.The Rockets led 99-83 going into the fourth quarter after giving up 38 points in the third
letting the Pelicans dwindle down what had been a 25-point lead to 16 points. It was a tale of two halves as the Pels had only scored 45 points in the first half. In addition to the Rockets allowing the Pelicans to shoot 50.5-percent from the field, including 68-percent in the second half alone, and sending New Orleans to the free-throw line 28 times, with them making 24 of those free-throws, the Houston Rockets looked as if they forgot how to play offensive basketball in the fourth quarter and overtime, where they scored 20 and 9 points respectively.
The familiar problem of offensive incoherence, lack of ball movement, players stating around and at times looking as if this team doesn’t even practice half-court offense. With the Pelicans taking the ball out of Kevin Durant’s hands down the stretch the Rockets looked lackadaisical on the week side, unable to take advantage of the 4-on-3 advantage. Their lack of aggressiveness and hesitance only led to turnovers and bad shots. The Rockets shot 42-percent in the second half and turned the ball over 18 times in the game, five of those coming in the 4th quarter. In contrast, the Pelicans got whatever they wanted in the second half, with Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III leading the way for them.
The Rockets were lazy offensively and defensively, but one of the biggest indictments of their play down the stretch was that Kevin Durant played 42 minutes and scored 32 points on only 15 shots Ime Udoka was unable to find any creative way to get him free and the rest of the team seemed too scared to try and go make a play. Don’t take my word for it, those were the words of Ime Udoka after the game. Kevin Durant said after the game that the Rockets second half was “not indicative of who we are.” Well Kevin, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is kind of indicative of who this team has been in their disappointing losses, and it’s what’s beginning to make Rockets fans a bit uneasy.
We know this team is talented. Alperen Sengun nearly tallied his second double-double in as many games with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Yet for the second game in a row, he was a negative in the plus/minus category. Amen Thompson with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists and yet was a -9 in the game. It’s not time to panic but lack of team execution down the stretch is a real concern that the team will need to figure out, or the calls for them to make a move will only grow louder and louder.
The Rockets have four games remaining on this road trip, starting with their second game in Denver this week, coming up on Saturday. They should be eager to get the bitter taste of their last two losses out of their mouths. We will be right here as always previewing the game, opening up the discussion to all of you during the game, and of course recapping after the fact. Happy Holidays to all of you TDS faithful! Let’s bounce back on Saturday.
