Somehow the Rockets lose to the Spurs

November 15, 3:09 PMHouston Rockets ExaminerDavid Hartnett

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AP Photo/Eric Gay

I’ll be honest, I really didn’t care after the Rockets lost Friday night, 77-75.

Sure, they held a ten-point lead with a few minutes left, and they blew it to the depleated roster that once is the San Antoinio Spurs. However, once Ron Artest’s 3-pointer failed to go in the basket, I was a bit indifferent. Maybe this indifference was a feeling others were experiencing — maybe it was just I. Regardless, after listening to a rant about how woeful the Rockets were that game, and how they have been mediocre throughout the season — I realized, “the Rockets will be alright”.

Of course the loss should hurt. The Rockets blew a double-digit lead to a bad team. They were 2-17 in their last 19 games in San Antonio , and they were about to acquire something seldomn seen. Though despite watching Murphy’s Law in full effect occur to the Rockets the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, I can’t begin to justify what we witnessed was indicative how the Rockets will play throughout the season. It doesn’t resonate with me that this team is that bad. But they still have much to work on.

Their offense is starting to look more and more pedestrian every game. Seldomn is there much ball movement. Now the offense is comprised of the point guard pointing to different places on the court, passing to a player, and letting him play one-on-one basketball with his defender. Maybe, it’s early season struggles, but I can’t seem to believe this is how the rest of the season will play out. Things have to go up from here, right?

The season is not even 10 games in, so there is no reason for the “PANIC” button to be striked. Yet, it’s not comforting for this team — with such high expectations — to be so pedestrian thus far.

Now let's get back to the game. One of the interesting things which was said about the players only meaning the Rockets held earlier this week, was when the Big Three (Artest, Yao, McGrady) were on the court together, they would distribute the ball to the guy with the “hot-hand”. Artest was playing well, and he finished the game with 18 points — thus it was nice to see Artest have a good, productive night on the offensive end.

Though the biggest problem which arose was not feeding the ball to Yao nearly enough. He had only nine shots (for 13 points), which didn’t seem to be a good plan of action — considering his foul trouble came late in the game.

Aaron Brooks had been great running the second-team offense, but its apparent his offensive skills make him better suited to prove a spark off the bench, and not setting up shots for a lineup comprised of the big three. The ball remained relatively staionary while he ran the offense, and often found himself trying to create a shot with seconds remaining on the shot clock. It just goes to show how valuable Rafer Alston really is. While Alston remains highly inconsistent as a shooter, he can run Coach Adelman’s offense well.  What the Rockets need is for him to be on the court as much as possible… just not have him shoot very often.

Player of the Game:

Tim Duncan, 22 points, five rebounds, one block

The “Big Fundamental” carried his team, with a game-high 22 points —and a key block at the end of the game on Brooks. I’m not a fan of him constantly complaining to the officials, acting as though he never commits a foul. However he is a great player.

Goat of the Game:

Tracy McGrady, 7 points (2-of-12), five assists

He seemed to not want the ball late in the game — not a good sign for a franchise player. While Rafer Alston has the distinction of being known as Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, T-Mac may soon be given the title also. He can’t seem to string together a pair of good performance on the court.