Rockets series win was historic


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I should probably open this column by stating that I am from Houston, or Clutch City, and have been a Rockets fan my entire life. The team’s recent performance, however, is historic and deserving of praise from more than just Rocket fans.

Only eight other teams in the NBA have ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit, as the Rockets did against the Clippers. Furhermore, the Rockets held the home court advantage, but forfeited it in the Game 1 blowout loss to the Clippers. The Rockets won Game 2 at home, but lost Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. The Rockets won Game 5 in Houston, but the series went back to the Staples Center for a must-win Game 6.

The Clippers had a 92-79 lead heading into the fourth quarter. It seemed the Clippers had all but punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. James Harden, the runner up for the MVP Award, was on the bench and Dwight Howard was in foul trouble. Josh Smith checked into the game, Corey Brewer and Trevor Ariza got hot, and the Rockets came back to win,      119-107 and force a Game 7.

The Rockets’ momentum from Game 6 carried into Game 7 and Houston led the entire game. According to ESPN, in their biggest deficit in the third quarter of Game 6, there was a .1 percent chance that the Rockets would come back to win the series. Only eight teams before them had ever come back from a 3-1 deficit, making their series win not only improbable but historic.

The MVP runner up will now have to face the reigning MVP Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors, who rarely drop games at home, will have home court advantage in the Western Semifinals. The Rockets will need all of their momentum to take a game in Oakland and win the series.

The Warriors are an explosive offensive team accompanied by a top-ranked defense. James Harden will be without Patrick Beverley, who suffered a broken wrist. Brewer, Smith and Ariza will need to repeat their Game 6 performance if the Rockets have any chance of advancing to the Finals. Even if the Rockets route the Warriors, they’ll likely have to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers out of the East.

Whether or not Houston can repeat its historic performance will likely be the deciding factor in the Western semifinal series.

Reagan Estes is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She is also the sports editor of the Daily Trojan. Her column, “Wild Wild Westes,” runs every other Wednesday.