Every team has this type of game. When passes don’t connect, screens don’t work, and shots rim out, losses pile up. The good teams shake one of these out of their system every month and get right back to their dominant ways thrashing though inferior competition on their road to the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Houston Rockets are not a good team.
Following an ugly win in Charlotte on Tuesday, the Rockets traveled to San Antonio on Wednesday to visit the Spurs who were also on the second night of a back to back. Like the Rockets, The Spurs played poorly the previous night falling to the Bucks when Richard Jefferson’s game tying three-pointer hit the back of the rim as time expired.
The Spurs refused to fall victim to a second sub .500 team in as many nights as they managed to ward off the efforts of Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola to preserve a 105-101 overtime victory.
Tony Parker led the Spurs with 22 points, five rebounds, and eight assists and routinely wriggled through Rockets defenders at will on his way to an open shot. Tim Duncan added 17 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Duncan also passed Larry Bird for 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
After a sizzling first quarter where the Rockets shot 65% from the field, their offense became stagnant relying on the one-on-one efforts of Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, and Kyle Lowry to create points. There was minimal ball movement and very rarely did any type of drive or screen result in an open look for the Rockets who shot 37% from the second quarter on.
Down five with under a minute remaining, Lowry nailed a three and Luis Scola converted on a layup with five seconds left to send the game into an extra period. After Lowry hit another three to bring the Rockets within one, the Spurs were able to convert their free throws and halt the Rockets comeback attempt.
Discounting the first quarter in the Spurs game, the Rockets have shot a woeful 38% from the field in their back to back set. Even more discouraging is they did it against two of the worst defensive teams in the league. San Antonio is 23rd in points allowed while Charlotte ranks 29th.
It is acceptable to have your offense out of whack when your defense is playing well. It is a recipe for disaster to have both go sour simultaneously. Seriously. Ask Rachel Ray.
Defensively Houston has given up a staggering 50% of their points in the paint this season. That is bad enough for 29th in the league, only ahead of Sacramento. Oddly enough the Rockets lost their best post post defender, Chuck Hayes, to Sacramento in free agency this summer.
The two biggest problems plaguing Houston on the defensive end have been the pick and roll and the post up. Jordan Hill isn’t strong enough to defend anyone on the low block and finds himself in constant foul trouble when trying to play physical. Samuel Dalembert is too slow to do anything constructive except block an occasional shot or two. And Luis Scola, well, he can’t really defend anyone.
One can only wonder what Pau Gasol and NeNe would have been able to contribute had the Chris Paul deal been rightfully approved.
With little offense to speak of, and a non-existent defense, it is feasible the Rockets may finally find their way into the top half of the lottery giving them a shot at landing a franchise player in one of the most loaded drafts in recent memory.
It would be a nice consolation prize if Commissioner Stern could make the ping pong balls bounce the Rockets way come June. After all he did derail the plan of an entire franchise for no reason.
I mean basketball reasons.