Greatest two words in sports? If the Rockets do what they did in Game 6, then yes.
The Houston Rockets are headed to a Game 7 at home versus the Golden State Warriors after a 115-107 victory on the road in Game 6. A Game 7 versus the Warriors in H-Town is a place this organization and Rockets fans may have some PTSD over, but this ain’t your ex-girlfriend’s Houston Rockets. This young team went on the road in a place that may not be Oracle, but is still a very tough place to play, in the face of elimination, and they did not blink.
There have been a few common denominators in this series when the Rockets win, and they presented themselves last night.
Free-Throw Shooting
Let’s keep it a buck… the Rockets would be getting ready to play the Minnesota Timberwolves right now had they made their free-throws in their losses at the same clip they have in their wins. The Rockets shot 71.7 percent from the line last night, but they shot 46 free-throws (33-46). They have shot 104 free-throws in their wins in the series, making 81 of them for 77.9 percent.
In the Rockets losses, they have shot 75 free throws and made just 44 of them for 58.7 percent. Going into Game 6, the Rockets knew they would have to convert their free-throws, and they did so effectively. The Warriors knew the Rockets free-throws would be key as well, which is why they sent the Rockets worst shooter to the line 16 times, but Steven Adams, who is a career 46.2 percent shooter from the line, made 9 of those 16 shots for 56.3 percent. Plain and simple, when the Rockets make foul shots, they win.
Defensive Intensity
The Rockets have played great defense all series long, but in the fourth quarter of Game 6, it was elite. The Warriors shot 3-of-19 with only 13 points in the final quarter before Steve Kerr waived the white flag for the second consecutive game. The Rockets held the Warriors to 41.1 percent shooting from the field, just 30.6 percent from the three-point line and forced them into 16 turnovers.
In the three Rockets wins, the Warriors are shooting 41.3 percent from the field and averaging 15 turnovers. The defense is turning into offense for the Rockets, as they are shooting 48.3 percent from the field in their wins this series. In the Rockets losses, they have forced less than 10 turnovers per game. Rockets force turnovers, they turn those turnovers into points, they win.
Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet struggled through the first three games of the series, including the win at Toyota Center on Game 2. However, since Game 4, even though the Rockets lost, Fred VanVleet has been incredible, with no exception last night. Fred VanVleet scored 29 points on 7-of-13 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 8 assists. He was 9-of-9 from the free-throw line and 6-of-9 from three.
VanVleet’s performance in the last three games, averaging 26.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds, is the exact reason the Rockets gave him the three-year $128 million contract he received before the 2023-2024 campaign began. It wasn’t just to show the young players how to win in the regular season, which he did. It wasn’t just to get them to the playoffs for the first time in five years, which he did. It was for these moments in the post-season, showing them that there can be no panic regardless of the situation. Until the clock runs out on one of these teams’ fourth loss, the series is not over.
Game 7
The two greatest words in sports? Yeah… for the winner. If the Houston Rockets continue doing the things they have consistently done in the three wins they have in this series, then they will be moving on in my opinion. They have had a chance to win every game this series, and one could argue should have won at least one two of the games they lost.
If for some reason they are unable to put this formula of free-throws, defense turning into offense, and other-world performance from the vet Fred VanVleet, the Rockets will need someone else to step up and carry them over the finish line. Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, perhaps Jabari Smith Jr.? Speculation ends Sunday at 7:30 PM CST AT Toyota Center in downtown Houston, Texas