That play epitomized the Rockets’ 105-94 win over the Thunder on Friday at the Toyota Center.
Switching to a faster, up-tempo offense with Yao Ming out for the season, the Rockets scored 22 fast-break points and 54 in-the-paint points. They led Oklahoma City by double digits most of the game.
Houston’s in-the-paint points, though, no longer are traditional, bang-inside baskets. The Rockets thrived on "beep, beep” flash-to-the-basket points and fast-break points when the Thunder failed to get back on defense.
"I think it would surprise people how fast they play,” said Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. "They’ve picked up the pace. They’re running the floor. Even their bigs are running.”
Without Yao, the Rockets suddenly are the smallest team in the league. Their starting center is 6-foot-6 Chuck Hayes.
Many predicted gloom and doom for Houston, with Yao out, Tracy McGrady sidelined again and Ron Artest now with the Lakers.
Houston coach Rick Adelman adjusted his offensive philosophy. At 4-2, the Rockets are one of the early-season surprises.
"That team is good,” said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "They have smart, physical, playoff-tested, experienced players. They play extremely hard. They play together. They pass the ball as well as any team in basketball.”
The Thunder discovered that lesson the hard way, first in a lopsided preseason loss last month and again Friday night when Adelman’s Princeton, back-door-cut offense carved up OKC’s defense.
"We had great effort defensively the first four games. But anytime a team shoots 54 percent that’s not good,” Brooks said.
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