The biggest concern about the Rockets' radical strategy came back to haunt them at the worst possible time

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May 29, 2018 3:13 PM

The Houston Rockets 3-point-centric offense helped them to the top seed in the Western Conference — but the team went cold in their biggest game in the season and gifted the Golden State Warriors a trip to the NBA Finals.

Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets, 101-92, in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to earn a shot at the NBA title.
The game turned in the Warriors' favor after Rockets 3-point-shooting collapsed in the second half, missing an astounding 27 straight shots from beyond the arc.
Houston had relied on their shooting from distance all year to earn the top seed in the Western Conference, but their hot hand went cold at the worst possible time, and it cost them their season.

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets, 101-92, in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to punch their ticket to a fourth consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

At first it felt like the Rockets might be able to knock off the NBA's Goliath — taking a 54-43 lead into halftime after the Warriors came out looking in disarray.

But Golden State Warriors once again found their third-quarter magic, outscoring Houston, 33-15, out of the break to take a lead they'd never give up.

What changed for the Rockets was easy to diagnose, and a product of the strategy that made them the winningest team in basketball this year: They went cold from beyond the arc.

The saying "Live by the 3, die by the 3" is familiar to NBA fans, and for the entire season the Rockets thrived on 3's.

Last February, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey outlined the team's strategy for creating a team that could challenge Golden State in an interview with SiriusXM NBA radio.

Too simplistic (especially ... @ Bill Barnwell