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The Rockets’ Slow Take Off Is A Problem

By Vince Massara

Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni reacts while the Rockets play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni reacts while the Rockets play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Houston Rockets won 105 to 99 .Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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In nearly every game thus far in the playoffs, the Houston Rockets have gotten off to slow starts. That’s going to be a problem, if not fixed, in round two

The Houston Rockets completed a gentleman’s sweep of the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 105-99 home victory in Game 5. In the second round, the Rockets will likely play the San Antonio Spurs, who currently own a 3-2 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Either way, the way the Rockets have started games in the playoffs is setting them up for disaster. They managed to survive with poor starts against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but that won’t fly in the next round.

During their series-clinching Game 5 victory, Houston only scored 16 points in the first quarter. They shot 7-21 from the field and 1-7 from three.

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But this wasn’t new. In every game of the series against OKC, the Rockets were losing after the first quarter. Considering the offensive struggles of everyone on the floor for OKC not named Russell Westbrook, this has to be troubling.

OKC achieved this with with efficient play, whilst the Rockets have barely shot above 40 percent from the field and a horrendous 22 percent from three in the opening quarters.

The Houston Rockets’ offensive rating in the opening quarters this series was the third worst in the playoffs (91.0). During that same frame, Houston defensive rating was 118. Not great.

Another big contributor to these lopsided first quarters was OKC’s ability to attack the pain. During first quarters, the Rockets conceded nearly 15 points in the paint at an incredibly high 70 percent shooting. Houston is also allowing the second-most fastbreak points off turnovers in the playoffs. Twenty percent of OKC’s points in this series came off turnovers.

Houston’s shaky defense and inability to hit shots, especially early in the game, could easily be this team’s downfall in a future series.

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Whilst the Rockets’ bench have been the team’s saving grace in the first round, they can’t be expected to do so on a nightly basis. Overcoming slow starts against the offensively-challenged Thunder is a completely different thing that overcoming slow starts against the super-powered Spurs or Warriors.

To beat the Warriors or Spurs, the Houston Rockets need to be hitting on all cylinders from the opening tip. That simply hasn’t been happening thus far in the playoffs.

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