Can the Rockets Outplay San Antonio Forever?

Last night the San Antonio Spurs were spanked by the Houston Rockets on their own home court, 126-99, allowing the Rockets to set a franchise single game playoff record with 22 triple point shots and simply got flat out dominated with a showing of incredible skill and offensive firepower. The Rockets attempted a whopping 50 three point shots in last night's game, and MVP candidate James Harden recorded 14 of his teams 30 assists.

Harden was in full form last night. No, he didn't score 40 points, or lead his team in scoring, or rebound a whole lot. He didn't score five master highlight reel dunks, nor did he even shoot his teams highest percentage. He was in full form last night because he looked like a leader, and a complimentor to the talent already on the team.

Trevor Ariza was on fire, he scored on 7 of his 14 shots, 5 of 10 from beyond the three point line, and led the team with 23 points.  Center Clint Capela was consistent, getting inside the paint and scoring 8 of his 10 baskets. While scoring 20 points himself, he collected 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. Harden scored 20, shooting 6 of 13, and leading the team in assists and steals (4). Six different Rocket players scored double digits. It was  truly an onslaught.

San Antonio didn't know what to do. After Houston scored 34 points in the first quarter, the most allowed by the Spurs through the playoffs, the Rockets came right back and scored another 35 in the second. There was no break from the Rockets merciless pounding and improbable three point shots that sunk into the basket.

Seriously, though, you take away five of those improbable three point shots that the Rockets hit in this game, and the they are scoring 111. The last time these two teams matched up, San Antonio won 112-110. San Antonio is 3-1 in the regular season against the Rockets. So, seriously, can we expect the Rocket's to run like this through the whole series?

Let's go look at the stats. San Antonio generally holds opponents to a 44.3% basket rate. The Rockets hit 46% last night. San Antonio has held opponents to a season average 34% conversion rate on 3 point shots. Houston hit 46% last night. San Antonio normally holds their opponents, on average, to a 8 of 24 on 3 point shots. Houston hit 22 of 50 last night.

Is Houston accustomed to taking so many 3 point shots through the game? Well, kinda sorta. While they take more then the average NBA team, averaging about 40 shots a game, last night they were on a roll and took more then they normally would try and look at. So let's say they still shoot good, hit 40% of their three point baskets at the normal 40 shots a game rate, and now Houston scores 102.

Last night, San Antonio's shooting was downright terrible. This season, San Antonio averaged a 46.9% basket conversion rate, 39.1% from the three, and a 79.7% free throw percentage. Last night, San Antonio hit 36.9% of their baskets, 31% from the three, and 77.8% from the free throw line. If San Antonio was hitting at just below their normal average at 45%, and 35% from the three, San Antonio is scoring 116.

No, this isn't a match up issue that San Antonio is dealing with. While Harden is having an MVP caliber season, so is Kawhi Leonard. One of the few bright spots for San Antonio in the dismal showing, Leonard put up 21 points while collecting 11 rebounds, 6 assists and a block. San Antonio has a great defense, with Leonard, Tony Parker, Danny Green, LaMarcus Aldrige, and Marc Ginobili, they just didn't show last night.

As the game got into the second half, the shots started falling for San Antonio and it looked more normal. San Antonio actually scored more then the Rockets in the 2nd half, gaining a +3 point advantage. But the damage was already done and the comeback wasn't happening.

The first thing you have to remember is that the Rockets can't shoot like they did last night forever. We talked about the averages earlier in the article, it was clearly beyond what San Antonio normally allows. Over and over and over again, there were clear three point shots that were terribly open, and San Antonio couldn't keep the pressure on.

The second thing you need to remember is San Antonio isn't going to shoot like they did last night forever. They have a lot more offensive talent then they showed last night. It was just an off night. They weren't in sinc. They weren't in rythem.

San Antonio's one advantage that they owned over Houston was the offensive rebounds. San Antonio collected 11, Houston only 7. The Spurs are physical and will keep multiple bodies in the paint on both sides of the ball, and that's why they normally have the rebound adantage. They wait for you to make mistakes, and then they make you pay. That's what we saw in the second half a little more then we saw in the first.

The Spurs are now 1-2 against the Rockets at home this season, counting last night's loss. The last thing you need to remember is that they are 2-0 in Houston. They have another game to go in San Antonio, but Houston will have to return the favor and play very hard over the next 3 game span if they want to stay alive in the Playoff race. Last night all the cylanders were clicking. Let's find out if they have what it takes to keep them moving.