This is not the best way to approach the playoffs. Period. The Rockets’ effort against the Dallas Mavericks tonight was a disappointing one. Depending on the outcome of the Denver-Portland game, the Rockets can be seeded as low as 5th place, which means 2 things: no home court advantage at all AND they will play Portland in the first round. As many have been saying, Portland with their young and sassy team, is very dangerous. If Houston keeps playing collapsing basketball in the fourth quarter, they WILL NOT make it out of the first round…again. Houston needs to step up in the fourth quarter, take control, and put games away. Tonight’s lack of intensity in the waning stretch will not do come playoff time. Shot selection at the end of the game is vital and let’s just say Ron Artest needs to learn how to pass the ball in certain situations. This does not take away from anything that the team has accomplished this season, but they could be sitting in a much prettier position if they can just learn to suck it up in the fourth quarter and put a dagger in it.
Image by ESPN.com
