NBAP West Finals Game 2: Houston Rockets Crimped By Warriors 99-98
May 21, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) hits Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the face during the first half in game two of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Keep your chin up ladies & gents…
Houston Rockets fans should be encouraged by the high level of play that they’re executing in this series so far.
Numerous members of the national media continue to pummel the Rockets credibility by mentioning that we didn’t have a chance this series with all of the hyperbole that came with it.
Despite these two cringing losses we’ve had in the series so far, the Rockets should hold their head up high knowing that they are the best in West and the top two teams this season are duking it out to win that ultimate title of supremacy.
This team is light years ahead of the group of guys that couldn’t beat the Golden State Warriors all season and got blown out on top of that.
It’s showing this series…
As long as we give it our all and not get embarrassed on the global stage that they’re on, it’s all good.
Any way, let’s take a look at how Game 2 went down.
The news of Dwight Howard being able to play gave us all an emotional shot in the arm as we know his presence is integral to us being able to compete with the Warriors front line!
It was littered with twists and turns, smiles and frowns but it was every thing that you’d expect out of a gritty, competitive battle.
The Rockets started out quite fiery with both teams going at it with breakneck pace.
It was great to see but toward the end of the quarter, the Rockets defensive miscues loudly pronounced as Stephen Curry got himself in a spectacular rhythm, allowing him to make just about every shot that he saw.
The turning point was after a wide-open Corey Brewer dunk that put the Rox up 21-19 with 3:25 left.
After that point, the Warriors went on a 17-9 run led by Curry to push them up by eight points at the end of the first, 38-26.
The Andrew Bogut that we didn’t see last game because of foul trouble, was very much present for tonight’s game.
He was everywhere — snagging rebounds, scoring at-will and catching lobs from Curry as well.
He must’ve felt as if he had to redeem himself from his performance from Tuesday night.
The Rockets defense was waning and it wasn’t pretty to see — our guys weren’t rotating/switching as they should be and we’d get burnt in the process.
They were also turning over the ball as if it were a fad that was going out of style.
But the Warriors weren’t that much better taking care of the basketball either so that’s certainly a reason why the Rockets remained in striking distance despite of.
As for the 2nd quarter, it got worse as the Warriors continued to put it on the Rox, pushing themselves up by as much as 17 points after a Harrison Barnes three-pointer with 7:43 left. Warriors 49, Rockets 32
But the Rockets buckled down and got headstrong by going on a 14-2 run to creep within five points with 1:56 left after a James Harden lay-in.
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Did you think they were done?
Hell no!
The Beard kept working over Klay Thompson, nailing a three-pointer with 41 seconds left and Howard catching a lob with 11 seconds left to tie the game at 55-all at the half!
Beard already had 19 points — 12 in the 2nd quarter — to lift the Rockets out of the doldrums and back into the game.
In that last 7:43, the Rockets outscored the Warriors 23-6, shot 10-for-15 from the field and did not commit a turnover in that stretch.
They held the Warriors to 3-for-10 FG with four turnovers to boot.
Fine job Rox!
Next: Would The Rockets Continue Their Torrid Pace?