NBA playoffs: Spurs ground Rockets in 6
When the San Antonio Spurs lost point guard Tony Parker in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal against the Houston Rockets, many feared the worst.
At that point, the series was headed back to the Toyota Center in Houston for Games 3 and 4 with the contest tied at a game apiece. San Antonio would be without Parker for the rest of the season with a torn quad, and the aging team was already dealing with various bumps and bruises across the roster. Then, in Game 5 with the series at 2-2, Kawhi Leonard was forced to exit early with knee and ankle issues. The Spurs still won in overtime.
Finally, on Thursday, the Spurs went to Houston, with the Rockets at full strength. Vegas had Houston as 8.5-point favorite in some books, after the new came down that San Antonio would be without Leonard for the night. Instead of folding and playing for Game 7 in their building, the Spurs do what they always do; they won.
San Antonio moved into the Western Conference Final with a resounding 114-75 win, sending the Rockets into the offseason with more answers than questions. Houston had a golden opportunity to win this series and get a shot at the Golden State Warriors with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Instead, the Rockets completely fell apart, getting down 61-42 at halftime and never making a run.
With both Leonard and Parker sidelined, the quiet hero stepped up in LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge, who came over a few seasons ago with the hope of carrying Tim Duncan’s torch, scored 34 points on 16-0f-26 from the field to go with 12 rebounds and a +21 rating. All five starters ended the night in double figures, putting the Spurs into the penultimate round.
On the other side, Houston had nothing to be happy about. James Harden was brutal in 37 minutes, scoring a lousy 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting from the floor. It was a horrendous way for Harden to see his season come to an end, considering he was brilliant throughout the rest of the campaign.
Moving forward, it’s unlikely San Antonio can get any further than this. The Spurs are certainly without Parker and there is no telling how compromised Leonard is going to be. It would be folly to think that San Antonio isn’t going to get a game or two from the Warriors, if for no other reason its size on the interior.
Still, tonight isn’t about where this team could go, but rather what the mettle or it is all about. The Spurs are pressing on and beating some of the best the NBA has to offer without its best players. They were starting players nobody has ever heard of, and it doesn’t matter. Sometimes, culture beats talent.
It did again in Houston on Thursday night.
