PrintRockets Fall Short Against Spurs
Cold-shooting dooms Houston to disappointing defeat
Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer
Houston - One after another, the Rockets’ shots flat-out refused to find the bottom of the net. Bunnies, long bombs, mid-range – it didn’t matter, the end result was all the same: just another in a long line of agonizing misses, sabotaging Houston’s hope for victory.
That the Rockets nearly overcame that sordid stretch – one which saw them misfire on 17 straight shots to start the second half – is a testament to the fact that their defense, work-rate and effort never waned. But going more than seven scoreless minutes against a team like the Spurs is rarely a recipe for victory. And ultimately that drought proved to be the difference in a disappointing 92-84 defeat to San Antonio.
“We didn’t score at all,” said Rockets’ Head Coach Rick Adelman after the game. “We had shots at the basket, we had open jumpers and we had opportunities. I looked up there one time and they’d scored 12 straight points but it was over a matter of minutes. It wasn’t like it was a two-minute run or anything. We kept missing. They missed opportunities (too) at the start of the third quarter – they weren’t scoring either. But we just couldn’t get a basket to stop any run at all.”
The Rockets’ scoreless stretch resulted in a handful of season lows on the offensive end, including total points and field goal percentage (.359, 33-92 FG). Houston also recorded its lowest scoring quarter of the season with just 12 points on 4-24 shooting in the third quarter. This, despite receiving a variety of open looks from all angles and distances.
“We couldn't get it in the basket,” lamented Luis Scola, one of the few Rockets who managed to post strong offensive numbers (18 points on 9 of 14 shooting). “I think we were playing decent. We were moving the ball and we were taking the shots that we wanted to, they just didn't want to go in. It was very frustrating.”
Yet for all of Houston’s struggles to score, never once did the Rockets allow it to adversely affect their effort at the other end of the floor. Houston’s defense, much maligned after giving up 130 points to the Mavericks Wednesday night, kept the club in the game as San Antonio never was able to run away and hide, despite having every opportunity to do so in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for the Toyota Center faithful, the Rockets simply rediscovered their scoring touch too late. Trailing 86-76 with just 1:38 to play, Houston rallied with 8 straight points in less than a minute, cutting the Spurs’ lead to two and igniting hope that a miraculous comeback could be in the works. But San Antonio hit its free throws down the stretch while the Rockets did not score again, leaving the club to ponder what might have been.
“You can always feel proud when a team comes back and doesn't give up,” said Scola. “With three or four minutes left, it would be easy to quit but the guys stuck to it and kept fighting and we came back. We were so close to a victory in the last minute.”
Added Adelman: “The difference between the other night and tonight is we were still defending. We stayed in it, battled back and got it down to two but that stretch in the third quarter really, really hurt us.”
QUOTES
RICK ADELMAN
Tough loss. It was just that stretch in the third quarter again where we could not make a shot. I thought we were getting good looks, especially early. The difference between the other night and tonight is we were still defending. We stayed in it, battled back and got it down to two but that stretch in the third quarter really, really hurt us.
We didn’t score at all. We had shots at the basket, we had open jumpers and we had opportunities. I looked up there one time and they’d scored 12 straight points but it was over (six) minutes. We kept missing. They missed opportunities (too) in the third quarter – they weren’t scoring either. But we just couldn’t get a basket to stop any run at all.
Give our guys credit because they just hung in there. We kept talking about how we weren’t scoring so we had to keep defending and stay close enough to give ourselves a chance to make a run. We did that but you get down too much to this team and it’s a hard team to come back on. Even at the end there, we missed some opportunities.
(why Scola didn’t play in fourth) I liked the way the guys out there were playing. They were playing their butts off. Carl was giving us something inside, David was giving playing hard. It wasn’t just Scola, I didn’t have Aaron out there either until the last few minutes. I just went with that group that made a run. They stayed there and I was going to let them go and finish it.
KYLE LOWRY
It’s a step for us. We wanted to win but at least we fought a little bit better. We went through a real bad dry spell in the third quarter that hurt us but we fought back and finished the game strong and that’s a step better than the Dallas game.
They’re the same Spurs. They’re a very, very good defensive team. Coach Popovich is a great coach and they’ve got guys who’ve been doing it for a long time. That’s a pretty strong defense out there.
We had to keep shooting. We’ve got great shooters and we’ve got guys who can make shots but sometimes you miss shots. The next game you’ve got to keep shooting and make them next time.
It was a hard fought game and guys were getting the open shots that we like to get we just missed them.
SHANE BATTIER
They were good looks, shots that guys make 9 times out of 10. When that stretch happened, it seemed like it was contagious and we just couldn’t buy a bucket.
(on the difference in the fourth quarter): We made some more shots. I think that was really the difference. We started attacking the rim a little more and getting to the foul line. In that third quarter, we were just having such a tough time getting the shots to go down and they sort of weighed us down, I thought. We got a few easy ones in the fourth, got the crowd in the game and we seemed to be able to score a little easier but it was a little bit too late.
Defensively we were better. Our offense let us down tonight and just our inability to make shots. We’d like to put together a game where we play well and feel good about ourselves on both ends. We feel if we do that then winning and losing will take care of itself. We need to put together a full game.
LUIS SCOLA
(On the Rockets 3rd quarter struggles) “We couldn't get it in the basket. I think we were playing decent. We were moving the ball and we were taking the shots that we wanted to, they just didn't want to go in. It was very frustrating.”
(On the closeness of the game in the 4th quarter) “You can always feel proud when a team comes back and doesn't give up. With three or four minutes left, it would be easy to quit but the guys stuck to it and kept fighting and we came back. We were so close to a victory in the last minute.”
AARON BROOKS
(On the close ending of the game) “I think we did a great job on defense. We gave up 130 points to Dallas, we really did a good job. I think during the game we did a pretty good job on offense. We had that one stretch where we were getting good shots but missing. We got to find a way to fight through it and get better.”
(On whether anything can be learned from this game) “No, it's not like we didn't have opportunities. We had wide open shots and layups. We just missed them. We all missed them. It's not on one particular person. We just all missed shots in the beginning of the 3rd (quarter). Defensively, we still played pretty good but when you don't score at all at the beginning of the game and they score 6 (points) and they score 8 (points) then you know that is how it goes.”
TREVOR ARIZA
(On the 16 straight misses by the Rockets) They (Spurs) contested a lot of our shots and they hit shots and they got defensive stops.”
(On the frustration during the 3rd quarter stretch) “Definitely there was a little frustration during that stretch where we missed (17) straight shots. We started forcing things. I started forcing things to get to the line, to get something easy but it didn't work out like that.”
COACH GREGG POPOVICH
(on the game) “I was thrilled to get a win. We hung in there in the first half and played very well in the third quarter. Houston came back in the fourth quarter and we were able to hold them off for the win.”
(on stopping the Rockets offense) “ Houston scores a lot in the transition game and you have to get back on defense and if we didn’t do that well we wouldn’t have been in the game. Houston is always a tough game and it is a great rivalry. We were fortunate to end up at the top of the ledger at the end of the game.”
(on the addition of McDyess) “You’re right on the money. He is a great addition. Antonio is a big time professional and he only cares about winning. He is a big plus for us.”
TIM DUNCAN
(on the third quarter) “That was the big difference and it gave us breathing room. We let them back in the game in the fourth quarter. It was a good win for us. Defensively, we did a much better job (in the third quarter) on contesting shots and it made a big difference.”
(on McDyess’ play) “It was great, great to get that kind of play from him. He made some big shots and got some big boards for us.”
ANTONIO MCDYESS
(on his game and coming to San Antonio) “I really felt good shooting around. I got my rhythm going early and the ball was falling. I’ll do whatever it takes. It’s not about stats, it’s all about winning. I told coach I’ll play anywhere he wants me to. All I want to do is win and I’ll do whatever it takes. When you first come to a team you are not as aggressive because you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”
RICHARD JEFFERSON
(on the game) “ Houston got out to an early lead and that made our job tough. McDyess had a huge game and Duncan carried us like he usually does. In the third quarter we made good decisions on the offensive end and that got us going. I’m glad we got the W.”
NOTES
Tonight’s attendance of 18,164 marked the fourth sellout for the Rockets this season.
The Rockets suffered a 92-84 defeat to the Spurs, setting season lows in points (84) and field goal percentage (.359, 33-92 FG).
Houston also recorded its lowest scoring quarter of the season with just 12 points (.167, 4-24 FG) in the third quarter. The Rockets actually missed their first 17 shots of the third quarter.
The Rockets kept in the game defensively as the Spurs set or tied Houston’s opponent season lows in field goals made (32, tied), field goals attempted (71, tied), 3-point field goals made (2, tied), 3-point field goals attempted (5) and assists (14).
Luis Scola (12) and Trevor Ariza (11) combined to score all 23 first-quarter points for the Rockets tonight. The last time the Rockets had just two players score in a single quarter prior to this game was in the fourth quarter (Ron Artest-9, Von Wafer-5) at Chicago (2/28/09).
Luis Scola posted 18 points (9-14 FG) and 12 rebounds tonight, which marked his ninth double-double of the season.
Trevor Ariza recorded 17 points (4-6 3FG), a season-high 11 rebounds and five assists tonight. Overall, it marked Ariza’s first double-double with the Rockets and his seventh career double-double.
Carl Landry hit all three of his free throw attempts on his way to 13 points (5-13 FG, 3-3 FT) tonight. Landry now has an active streak of 23 straight free throws made.
Shane Battier had his string of games with at least one 3-pointer made snapped at 27 regular season outings (3/20/09-11/25/09).
Tim Duncan finished with 21 points (8-17 FG), 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Duncan (19,465) tonight surpassed Terry Cummings (19,460) for 39th overall on the NBA’s all-time career scoring list.
Tony Parker had 19 points (8-18 FG) and a game-high seven assists tonight. Last season, Parker had a game-high 28 points (10-23 FG) and eight assists in San Antonio’s prior visit to Houston (3/14/09), including 11 fourth-quarter points.
Antonio McDyess scored a season-high 15 points (6-11 FG) and pulled down a season-best 14 rebounds tonight.
Roger Mason left tonight’s game with a strained left hamstring.
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