Houston have it all to do as Portland take it home

Jay Asser 12:08 22/04/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Off to a flyer: Damian Lillard (r) of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots against the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarter-finals.

    Dropping Game 1 on your home floor to open the play-offs is always concerning.

    But losing to the team with the least amount of post-season experience and an offence that is more than capable of matching your own is downright problematic. 

    This is the predicament the Houston Rockets find themselves in following their first-round 122-120 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers.

    The Rockets held an 11-point lead on Sunday night with under five minutes left to play but couldn’t hold off Portland.

    Even after the Trail Blazers tied the contest, Houston had countless opportunities to win at the end of regulation, in overtime, and even in a second overtime.

    Rather, it was an inexperienced Portland squad that capitalised to quickly take home-court advantage.

    “I just think that we had some quick shots,” said Rockets centre Dwight Howard. “We got offensive rebounds and threw it out, quick shot. In the play-offs, you have to value each possession. That’s something that our team is learning.”

    Another home team who lost on Sunday was the Chicago Bulls, who came up short 102-93 to the Washington Wizards in Game 1.

    Washington cut down a 13-point deficit in the third quarter before going on an 18-6 run in the final minutes of the fourth to close out Chicago.

    “You have to stay in the moment,” said Wizards head coach Randy Wittman. “There will be times in the play-offs where we have to survive and stay in the game with six or seven straight possessions and not score. Both teams can do that.

    “Who is going to stay in the fight when you do that? We did.”

    In San Antonio, the Spurs took care of business with a 90-85 win over the Dallas Mavericks on the strength of Tim Duncan’s performance.

    “Timmy, he’s not going to score 24 a game or anything like that,” said San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich. “He’s the base from which everything else occurs, whether he’s scoring or not. It just gives us a comfort level and a point from which to operate.”

    The Miami Heat, meanwhile, began their post-season like they ended their last one – with another win.

    LeBron James and company got all they could handle from the Charlotte Bobcats in the first half, but ultimately turned on the jets to cruise to a 99-88 win.

    Meanwhile, the New York Knicks yesterday fired head coach Mike Woodson after the team missed the play-offs, team president Phil Jackson said.

    “But the time has come for change throughout the franchise as we start the journey to assess and build this team for next season and beyond.”

    Recommended