Rockets-Jazz: Are the Rockets done?
Posted by Houston Sports Nut on April 22, 2008
It’s done. Over. Finito.
For all intensive purposes, the Western Conference first-round playoff series between the Rockets and the Utah Jazz is done.
Yes, they still have to play until the Jazz win two more times. But nobody outside that locker room really believes the Rockets can beat the Jazz four times in the next five games, right?
The Jazz are 37-4 at EnergySolutions Arena. Yes, one of those losses came at the hands of the Rockets, but that was early in the season, when Yao Ming was healthy.
For Rockets fans, Monday night was a heartbreaker. The Rockets appeared as if they were doing everything they needed to do to put themselves in a position for a win. Unfortunately, some of the same problems from Game 1 creeped up in Game 2.
They missed free throws (16-of-26 – 61.5 percent).
They missed layups (17).
Tracy McGrady came up short in the fourth quarter (1 point).
Those were all issues in Game 1.
To McGrady’s credit, he had a great night before the fourth. He finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks. You can’t ask much more from him.
He was worn down in the fourth quarter. He tried to carry the Rockets and couldn’t. I’m not trying to bad-mouth him, but I think we learned something very important about McGrady on Monday. He’s a star. Not a superstar. Superstars rise above the fatigue and extenuating circumstances to elevate their team to victory.
It’s not all on him. But if you want to be a superstar, that’s what you have to do. He didn’t. Deron Williams hurt his tailbone, but came back in the game and hit crucial shots and made crucial plays. He’ll be a superstar before long.
So now the Rockets are headed for another first-round exit. I can’t say I’m that surprised. It’s extremely hard to lose your best player and expect to have playoff success, especially against a team as deep, well-coached and hungry as the Jazz are.
Now the question is, how long do the Rockets last? I think they pull one out in Salt Lake City and go out in five. What say you?
