Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets blow NBA Conference Finals
FLVRsports writer: Drew Farmer | @DrewMFarmer
The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets blew their chances of playing in the NBA Finals. There is no way around just how both teams let their opportunities to win the NBA Championship slip through their hands.
Defense wins games
The Celtics dominated Game 1 and Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston’s defense played well in both games, holding Cleveland to 83 and 94 points, respectively. That defense disappeared in Game 3 and Game 4. The Cavs and LeBron James excelled at home and the Celtics couldn’t win away from TD Gardens. In Game 4, James dropped 44 points on the Celtics in typical King LeBron fashion. The guard carried the Cavs in both games, and the Celtics had no answer for him. Back in Boston, the Celtics looked impressive, the defense stepped up once more and held the Cavs to 86 points in Game 5. The Cavs leveled the series in Cleveland before returning to Boston and unexpectedly putting on the defensive performance of the season. The Celtics were held to just 79 points at TD Gardens. For the second straight year, the higher seeded Celtics were eliminated in the conference finals by the Cavs. The good news for the Celtics is their disastrous loss of star players Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward didn’t prevent the team from making the Eastern Conference Finals. Next season, if the duo can stay healthy, the Celtics could finally return to the NBA Finals. Until then, the Cavs remain the best team in the NBA’s east. But will James stay in Cleveland for another year?
Rockets defense absent
While the Eastern Conference Finals featured defense, the Western Conference saw points galore. In five of the seven games, the Warriors put up 100 points or more on the Rockets. Game 3 was the most embarrassing for the Rockets as Golden State won 126-85. Steph Curry showed no ill-effects of the injury that kept him out of the playoffs first round. The point guard averaged 25 points per game against the Rockets while dishing out 5.7 assists. While James Harden continued his stellar player for the Rockets against Golden State, the team suffered without Chris Paul. Up 3-2 in the series, the Rockets had the chance to close out the Warriors. It didn’t happen as the Warriors score 101 points or more in both Game 6 and Game 7. Paul had played a major part in the Rockets’ season and playoff run. However, his absence from Game 6 and 7 due to a grade 2 hamstring injury showed how important having the point guard on the court was for the Rockets. Houston may have missed out on its best chance to win the NBA Championship this season. Paul is set to be a free agent and could leave the team this summer. There are expectations
that he could stay and the Rockets will be able to recruit another big star to compete with the Warriors. Next season, the Rockets will have another chance to knock off Golden State, but having consistency in the playoffs will be the only way into the finals.
