Rockets get close but fade down the stretch
By Loren Jorgensen
Deseret Morning News
When Houston forward Shane Battier hit a 3-pointer with 8:15 remaining
Thursday night at EnergySolutions Arena, the Rockets were within one point of
the Utah Jazz. Momentum was on the Rockets' side.Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret
Morning NewsUtah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, back, shoots for two over
Houston Rockets' Shane Battier during Game 6 action Thursday night.
But they could never get over the hump.
"They outplayed us down the stretch," summed up Houston coach Jeff Van
Gundy after Utah's 94-82 victory in Game 6 of their first-round playoff
series.
Now the teams will meet one final time on Saturday in Houston with the
winner advancing to the second round. The losing team will be off for the
summer and be wondering "what if ..."
The Rockets had four chances to take their first lead of the second half
after pulling to within one at 75-74 with just over eight minutes remaining.
Instead, Juwan Howard missed a fast-break layup, Tracy McGrady missed a 3-point
jumper and then committed two straight turnovers.
"It was right there, man," said McGrady, who finished with a team-high
26 points. "One point. We put ourselves in great position to pull this game
out, but things went the other direction."
A pair of McGrady free throws with 4:45 remaining cut the Jazz's lead to
one point once again, but from there Utah went on an 11-2 run to put the game
away. McGrady and Yao Ming — the Rockets' two All-Stars — were noticeably
quiet down the stretch. They were a combined 2-for-7 from the field in the
fourth quarter with five turnovers.
"Our turnovers continue to plague us," lamented Van Gundy.
The Rockets turned the ball over 19 times for the game — to 11 for the
Jazz — with McGrady and Yao combining for 13 of those miscues.
"We were thinking about it too much the last couple of minutes," said
Yao, who had 25 points but committed eight turnovers. "We were thinking about
(whether to) pass or drive or shoot or whatever. We need to keep it simple
the last couple of minutes."
While the loss was certainly disappointing for the Rockets, they can
take some solace in having Game 7 at Houston's Toyota Center in a series where
every game has gone in favor of the home team.
"Both teams are really comfortable at home," said McGrady. "
(EnergySolutions Arena) is a hostile environment. It's tough to really win in
this building. It's probably the loudest building that I've ever been in for
a playoff series. As for us, I think we are comfortable as well on our court."
The three Jazz wins in Salt Lake City have all been by double figures by
an average of 13 points. Houston's victories, however, have been much tougher
. All three Rockets wins have been by fewer than 10 points.
The Jazz have led all six games in the series at the half.
"We've got to get on the plane and figure out a way to play a little bit
better and play as well as we can on Saturday," said Van Gundy.
If they don't, it will make for a long summer for the Rockets.
But if they do, their Game 6 meltdown in the final minutes will be easily
forgotten.
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再びジオンの理想を揭げるために !星の屑成就のために !ソロモンよ ! 私は歸ってき
た !!
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