Clippers/Rockets: Poor Rockets Defense Helps Lift Clippers to 2-1 Lead In Conference Semifinals


The Clippers are playing stellar offensive basketball. Or, the Houston Rockets’ defense is making the Clippers look good.

NBC Sports is reporting that the Clippers used a 23-0 run in the third quarter of last night’s Game 3 to take what looked like an easy win, 124-99, to seize command of the NBA’s Western Conference semifinals. The Clippers continued their regular season ways, shooting 54.2 percent for the game and dominating the suddenly clueless Rockets. The Clippers were the NBA’s regular season’s best offense, as well.

Whether it was an uncontested layup or a clean three-point shot, the Rockets simply couldn’t put a man on a Clippers shooter. The reason the Clippers shot 54.2 percent was that most of the Clippers’ shots were free from distraction or defense. It’s been that way throughout the entire series for the Clippers. Per 100 possessions, the Rockets have allowed 110.6 points. That ratio is the lowest of any teams that made the playoffs. The Rockets had this problem in the opening series against the Dallas Mavericks but were able to outscore the Mavericks.

The Rockets are having difficulty scoring against the Clippers. In a playoff series, that is a dangerous combination.

“We’ve had one good defensive half so far,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said after the Game 3 loss. “That was the second half of the second game. But other than that we haven’t gotten anything.”

USA Today is reporting that the Clippers’ transition game is shredding the Rockets up and down the court. Even with the Clippers’ Chris Paul playing infrequently due to a hamstring injury, fellow Clippers guard Austin Rivers is contributing in Paul’s place, giving the Clippers a huge lift. Rivers, acquired in a trade from the Boston Celtics in January, has provided the Clippers with a solid second point guard to run the offense. Doc Rivers, the Clippers head coach and head of player acquisition, remembers Austin Rivers from Boston and from many years before.

For those who don’t know or remember, Doc Rivers is Austin Rivers’ father. No kidding.

So far, the dynamic of father-son has been replaced with coach-player on the court. All business. Rivers has given the Clippers a lift in a couple of games so far in this series. Instead of gloating like a boastful father, Coach Rivers just tells player Rivers, “Just keep playing.”

It keeps Austin Rivers, and the rest of the Clippers, grounded.

“Just keep playing,” said Austin, who shot 25 points on 10-of-13 for the Clippers. “That’s all I can do, is just keep playing hard. That’s all I can control is my hard work, and just keep attacking on both ends.”

Doc Rivers is constantly pressing Austin, and all the Clippers, to not rest on their laurels.

“That’s the way it has always been. He grew up in Boston. I grew up in Orlando. Every time we talk it’s always basketball… He’s hard on me, but it’s just because he wants the best out of me.”

[Image courtesy of the NBA]

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