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3 Rockets most to blame for pathetic Game 2 loss to Lakers even with Kevin Durant back
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- 3 Rockets most to blame for pathetic Game 2 loss to Lakers even with Kevin Durant back
3 Rockets most to blame for pathetic Game 2 loss to Lakers even with Kevin Durant back appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
If you said the Houston Rockets would be down 2-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers , a lot of people would have assumed it was a joke. Fast forward, and the Rockets are really down 2-0 heading back to Houston, and things didn't get any better from Game 1 to Game 2.
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Yes, Kevin Durant did return, but they still were not able to score 100 points, losing 101-94. The defense played well, but when you can't put points on the board, it doesn't matter if you get stops or not.
The Rockets have a lot of things to fix before they get to Game 3, and here are just a few reasons they lost Game 2.
Kevin Durant 's turnovers
It was a good sight to see Durant back on the floor for the Rockets, and there's no doubt that he gives them the best chance to win. He did what he was supposed to do, scoring-wise, finishing with a team-high 23 points, while also adding six rebounds and four assists. What really hurt the Rockets was his nine turnovers, which tied a playoff career-high for him.
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The Lakers have pretty much had a strategy all season on how to guard Durant, and it worked in Game 2 as well. They're not giving him much space to breathe, and they're pressing him even when he's dribbling the ball up the floor. The Rockets have to put him in a better position so he doesn't keep coughing up the ball.
Not converting on second-chance opportunities
The Rockets have completely controlled the offensive boards in this series, and in Game 2, they had a 17-9 advantage. Unfortunately, they're not converting enough on those second-chance points, because they'd be winning by a nice margin if they were.
Winning the possession battle is a good thing for any team because it means you're giving yourself more chances than the other teams to score. At the same time, that doesn't matter if the shots aren't going in, which leads to the last point…
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They missed too many shots
The Rockets had more field goal attempts than the Rockets in Game 2, but they were not able to convert. They were bad from the 3-point line, shooting 7-for-29. Outside of the starters, it was mostly the bench that didn't shoot the ball well. Tari Eason shot 4-for-14 from the field, while the rest of the second unit shot 0-for-11. If the Rockets want any chance of getting back in this series, the bench needs to play better.
Related: Ime Udoka reveals head-scratching reason for playing Reed Sheppard only 10 minutes in Game 2
Related: LeBron James hits Lakers with Kevin Durant warning after historic Game 2 shutdown
