The Rockets had worked on many things, but nothing more diligently as their offensive execution.
They pointed to the need to hone their game for the final minutes, but really, they wanted to be so secure in what they do and how they do it, that they would execute in the tough times, whether they come when teams apply defensive pressure, get on an offensive roll or bring a game to the close final minutes. The Rockets had four practices in a week before hitting the road and another in Los Angeles, but showed little signs of progress.
They went through six scoreless minutes in the fourth quarter in Phoenix, then bogged down throughout the game in Los Angeles. Against the Lakers, they committed 20 turnovers, the 49th game they had more turnovers than an opponent, the second-most in the NBA. They spent much of the night racing the shot clock.
"From the first minutes of the game until the last minutes, we did not run our plays well," said Yao Ming, who took just 12 shots, scoring 16 points. "We did not execute well. We said that from the first day of the season until now. In two weeks, the playoffs will start. We're still not executing well."
This has been an issue all season, usually because of the rapidly changing lineups forced by injuries and the loss of Tracy McGrady for the season. McGrady had been their most reliable trigger of the offense in past seasons, but could not provide then even when he could play. The offense has been retooled since McGrady went out of the season and has shown signs of being effective, but never of improving to consistent.
A night against the Lakers, even with the Lakers shooting poorly, offered another example.
"We just didn't have any offensive flow, or really, any continuity to the offense to really put pressure on them," Shane Battier said.
"Execution. They're getting what they want in terms of the shots they want and we're struggling to get the shots we want."
LAKERS 93, ROCKETS 81: The Rockets got within five points late, but never really seemed close to the Lakers. There were just 4-1/2 minutes remaining and through the first 30 minutes, there had been 22 ties or lead changes. But from the opening tip, even when the Rockets led, the Lakers seemed to have a run just waiting to provide the knockout. A rapid third-quarter run built a 10-point lead. Then after the Rockets cut that in half, Kobe Bryant twice stepped behind screens to nail three-pointers. There was still 3:54 left, but the Rockets never recovered and the Lakers cruised the rest of the way to the win and a sweep of the season series.
