Game 5 Continued......
The Game Harden Couldn't Finish
James Harden: "For sure, we let one slip away."
James Harden on final possession: "Something was supposed to happen. It didn't happen. Just tried to make a play."
Rockets offense = Harden stalled big-time late......misfired after halftime badly (10 of 35 on 3s.)
NOTE: all I've shared above is true......but who else in the NBA, out of ALL Point Guards, would be bashed for 33/10/10 on 24 shots and guarding the team's best big to less points than shots?
Entire Rockets team revolves around Harden driving and finishing or guys knocking down shots......Rockets hit just 33% of their 3's and Spurs shot 17 more shots.
If the rockets made 2 of the 20+ wide open 3s we missed we would've won!!!
Rockets are 1-4 in close games against San Antonio this season. 4 losses were all late game failures = Rockets are better, but Spurs execute-finish!
SPURS were 6 of 24 in fourth quarter, 2 of 7 in OT. Had nothing to do with stops.
Last night, Kawhi Leonard became fourth Spur ever with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in a playoff game (David Robinson, Dennis Rodman, Tim Duncan)
Kawhi: "Spurs won't feel like they're in control of the series unless they close Game 6."
Now the question for San Antonio is: Do you hold Kawhi out of a Game 6 to buy him an extra few days to heal that ankle for a possible Game 7?
14 lead changes in Game 5.
The Rockets won't practice Today, a rarity for a Mike D'Antoni team. With a 7-man rotation, they need the rest!
