Anderson forced San Antonio to have a big on the perimeter, opening the lane for drives from Houston's guards. They found success with that in Game 3, but the Spurs will test Anderson's defense more with more type to prepare. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 26 for San Antonio in Game 3, and Danny Green had his 3-point stroke working when the Spurs needed it most. For some reason, it hasn't happened in Texas - or really anywhere else in May.
Rockets' coach Mike D'Antoni said that Nene is one of the team's X-factors night in and night out no matter who they play, but even Spurs coach Greg Popovich had a few surprising comments regarding the Rockets bench player after hearing about his injury. And will we see an interior heavy offense from the Silver and Black to counter the Houston three-pointer? With the series now at a best of three, it seems like two teams are more evenly matched than before the series started.
When Houston Rockets guard James Harden had a big-scoring contribution in Game Three against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, he got little help from his team-mates, and the result was a defeat.
The Cavs waltzed into the Eastern Conference Finals, completing a sweep of the Raptors with a 109-102 win in Toronto. On Sunday, the Rockets were able to stave off a de facto elimination by defeating the Spurs 125-104 in game four of their best-of-seven series, evening the series at two games apiece.
"Game 5 is a Game 7", Ginobili said. The Houston Rockets are averaging 111.4 points on 45.3 percent shooting and allowing 105.3 points on 45.2 percent shooting.
The starters have largely been on the bench and the fans on the way to their cars by late in the fourth quarter.
Nene played as if rejuvenated (9.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) in his first season with the Rockets after five in Washington and ranks as Houston's senior veteran. His opponent, he said, hadn't done all that much differently, and the loss had come down to his team's singular inability to create and hit open three-point shots.
Rondo out again as Bulls visit Celtics for Game 5
Eight of those points were scored at the free-throw line, as Chicago committed a series of fouls, including two technicals. The Bulls averaged 109 points a game when Rondo played in the series and only 93 points in the games he didn't play.
"I mean, it's insane".
The Rockets set the tone early, nailing four 3-pointers in racing to a 34-22 lead after one quarter. "It's all about tempo". It's a shot that can bail a team out when first and second options are taken away by the defense.
Seriously, can you recall an NBA Playoffs that have been so barren of drama and bereft of any real buzz through the first two rounds like we're experiencing this year? I think we have to communicate better in transition and try to get to shooters better.
The Rockets have gotten back in the series after dropping games 2 and 3. The Spurs host the Rockets for game 5 of the National Basketball Association playoffs 2017 series on May 9 starting at 11 a.m. AEST with a live stream available via Watch ESPN.
NEED TO KNOW: The NBA suspended the Wizards' Kelly Oubre Jr. for Sunday "for charging and making forceful and unwarranted contact" with the Celtics' Kelly Olynyk in Game 3.
James Harden finished the night with a game high 28 points and 12 assists. Golden State's go-to strategy against LeBron is to go under the pick and dare him to beat them with his jumper, because that's less risky than him on the drive, but if LeBron is knocking down those shots a Finals rubber match just got a lot more interesting.
Comments