Rockets Fall Flat To Chicago

Brad Miller turns back the clock, scores 25 points to lead Bulls to 104-97 victory

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Houston - So much for the afterglow.

Just 24 hours after putting the finishing touches on a stirring win in San Antonio, the Rockets fell flat on their home floor, losing to Chicago 104-97.

The stinging disappointment cut to the quick and it was evident right away that this loss hurt more than most. Houston’s players were riding high after Friday night’s big victory. They felt as if they had turned a corner. Perhaps they did. Regardless, Saturday’s loss could only be seen as a step backward; one few, if any, saw coming.

Yet it wasn’t so much the loss itself that had heads drooping and voices hushed in the postgame locker room, as it was the way that Houston stumbled. This is a Rockets team which prides itself on its superior work rate and one that, historically, has always been able to hang its hat on bringing a strong defensive effort night after night.

And though the heart, hustle and energy possessed by this team is still often second to none, it’s become increasingly clear that the defense is now officially on red alert. That much was evident after a first half which witnessed the Bulls – 28th overall in offensive efficiency coming into the evening – ring up 64 points on 63 percent shooting.

Yes, the Rockets righted the ship in that area to some degree in the second half and even nearly managed to steal the game in the final minute. But the damage done in the first half proved to be too much to overcome. And more to the point, it again placed the white-hot glare of the spotlight on the breakdowns and mental errors the club simply must eradicate if it’s to become the team it ultimately hopes to be.

“We just make it hard on ourselves,” lamented a clearly distraught Chuck Hayes after the game. “We know what to do. We’re not shot blockers, so you’ve got to help with your whole body.”

“It’s really frustrating that after such a great, inspiring win that we had last night, to come out here and just, our awareness and discipline was not there. The energy picked up but our awareness was just not there. Our competitive nature was not there the whole game and it just has to be. We just went through the motions.”

Hayes seemed to take this loss personally and it’s no surprise why. Eliminating mental errors was a key point of his impromptu address to the team last Wednesday and it clearly drew his ire to see his club fall victim to some of the same mistakes which he had implored his teammates to correct.

Chief among the miscues Saturday night was Houston’s inability to contain Brad Miller – a last minute starter due to Joakim Noah’s foot injury – who obliterated his previous season-high of 16 by exploding for 25 points, many of which came after pump-faking defenders into the air before making his way to the basket; a move the Rockets were well prepared for yet seemingly powerless to stop.

“We know his game and we know that if he doesn’t shoot the three quickly, he’s going to pump fake and drive,” said Head Coach Rick Adelman, who was all too familiar with Miller’s game having coached him during his stint in Sacramento. “I’m sorry, if our big guys can’t get to him and move their feet and stay in front of him, then we’ve got a whole lot of problems.

“I think that’s another mental aspect: knowing who you’re playing and that when you get to him quickly, as soon as he pump fakes, just stay down because he’s going to drive. We did it so many times and he probably drove more tonight than I’ve ever seen in his career total. And that’s really frustrating to me.”

Yet for all the postgame doom and gloom, it’s worth pointing out that similar feelings swirled around the Rockets this time last year, too; sentiments that surrounded Houston well into the second week of February, in fact. So things can change. Quickly. And change they must if the team is to rebound for the rest of its 6-game homestand which doesn’t get any easier with Atlanta, Denver, Portland and Phoenix all scheduled to make appearances at Toyota Center during the upcoming week.

The Rockets showed what they’re capable of Friday night in San Antonio. But the team can’t count on offensive explosions like that on a regular basis which is why the defense simply must improve. It has to. Otherwise, momentum will continue to be a fickle friend to Houston.

After the game, Adelman summed up his club’s mood best by saying, “As good as we felt last night, it’s just the opposite tonight. We just have to regroup, get ourselves together, figure out why we weren’t ready today and get ready for Atlanta.”

Time after time over the years, the Rockets have responded to just this sort of adversity. Every time you count them out, they seem to dig deep and deliver another signature victory. One thing’s for sure: They’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so this week.

Recapturing the afterglow, as always, is just one win away.

QUOTES

RICK ADELMAN

Just very disappointed in the way we came out and played. As good as we were last night, we just came out like we thought we had all day to get in the game. They shot (63) percent in the first half and scored 64 points. It’s an attitude. I don’t know if we thought this would be a cakewalk because we beat San Antonio. We really buried ourselves in the first half.

We can’t play that way. We can’t win that way. You can see it. We can’t do it. Tonight we had 3 or 4 guys who didn’t play offensively the way they played (Friday night) and we don’t have enough to come back from that. I just don’t see how that should ever be an excuse for as much as we talk about it. We talked about building off last night and coming out with the same attitude we had last night but we didn’t do it. We’ve got to give all out effort.

I don’t question our ability to play hard. I question our ability mentally to be in the game. When you go out on the court, you’ve got to think about how you’re going to play the pick-and-rolls. You know exactly what they’re going to do but if you don’t come out with an attitude that you’re going to make them have to play plays and not just react to everything they’re doing, then you have no chance. We aren’t that good defensively with the changes and everything; we don’t have a presence at the basket so we better be active. We have to have all five people into it and for whatever reason we didn’t tonight.

I don’t want to take anything away from Chicago. They were very, very good. They passed the ball very well, they shot the ball very well and they dictated the play in the first half. That’s what we talked about before the game: we should dictate play and it just took us forever to get into it and then you can’t make a mistake.

(on Brad Miller): I love Brad Miller but I’m sorry, we know his game and we know that if he doesn’t shoot the three quickly, he’s going to pump fake and drive. I’m sorry, if our big guys can’t get to him and move their feet and stay in front of him, then we’ve got a whole lot of problems. I think that’s another mental aspect: knowing who you’re playing and that when you get to him quickly, as soon as he pump fakes, just stay down because he’s going to drive. We did it so many times and he probably drove more tonight than I’ve ever seen in his career total. And that’s really frustrating to me.

I know he’s a good player and we knew he could make threes and makes shots. But to drive like that and be able to get to the basket, that’s just the type of thing that happens when you’re not really ready to play. It’s a mindset we have to have when we play people. And as good as we felt last night, it’s just the opposite tonight. We just have to regroup, get ourselves together, figure out why we weren’t ready today and get ready for Atlanta.

AARON BROOKS

We’ve got to come out with more energy in the first quarter. We fell behind and it just seemed like we were constantly battling uphill. So we’ve got to figure out a way to get started at the beginning of the game and get a lead.

(difference in the two halves): Energy. We fed off the crowd and got our hands up on shooters and did a better job on defending pick-and-rolls. Brad Miller had a very good game. And I think that’s where we lost it was on the pick-and-rolls.

(Miller): Yeah, I wish Noah would have played today. Because Brad Miller was on his game, hitting threes and taking it to the hole. Noah picked a great one to sit out.

CHUCK HAYES

(what’s missing at beginning of games?): Energy. Discipline. We don’t have it at the beginning of the game. We don’t. The energy will pick up but our discipline and our awareness, it just was not there. Our basketball sense was not there.

(can this team regain its defensive identity?): Yeah, we can – we just make it hard on ourselves. We know what to do. We’re not shot blockers, so you’ve got to help with your whole body. You have to beat them early and help with your whole body. Nobody out here is blocking shots; we don’t get those, we just live with the contest at the rim and that’s not going to help.

It’s frustrating. It’s really frustrating that after such a great, inspiring win that we had last night, to come out here and just, our awareness and discipline was not there. It was not there. Slow start, yeah, but it’s a long game and you can always pick up your energy. The energy picked up but our awareness was just not there. Our competitive nature was not there the whole game and it just has to be. We just went through the motions.

CHASE BUDINGER

(On the difference between the first & second half) “It was just our defensive intensity. At the start of the game and the in the first half we were just going through the motions and also, give credit to them (Bulls) because they were knocking down shots. At the start of the second half and the start of the 3rd quarter, we picked our intensity up and we got after them and started being the aggressors. That's what led us to being able to get back in the game.”

(On his thoughts on the end of the game) “The people we wanted to shoot the ball, shot the ball. We executed just fine. Maybe we could have done a better job but the people we wanted to shoot the ball, shot the ball. We clawed back. We were able to get it back within 2 points but we just weren't able to finish.”

LUIS SCOLA

(On the Rockets energy) “I think we didn't start with a good game. I believe everybody wanted to win. I think everybody wanted to win and knew the importance of the game but we couldn't put it on the court. We came out in the second half but it was kind of late. We came back, made a few mistakes and lost the game. “

(On how disappointing this loss was) “It was very disappointing. If you want to win on the road, you have to back them with wins at home. Without winning today, yesterday's win doesn't mean a lot so it was pretty disappointing.”

COACH VINNY DEL NEGRO

(on the win) “I’m really happy for the guys and the way they played. Brad (Miller) stepped in and had an excellent game, rebounding, scoring and defending. We had a lull in the third quarter but then we got things going again. It was a big win for us. We have been sharing the ball better and that helps our overall confidence.”

(on Brad Miller’s play) “Brad stepped up at a perfect time for us. He knows Rick’s (Adelman’s) system and it really helped him find the open spots on the floor to get good shots. The offensive rebound he got at the end of the game was huge for us.”

(on the Rockets) “ Houston is a very physical team. They play very hard and try to out-work you every play. We stepped up and everyone contributed to the win.”

BRAD MILLER

(on his play) “I felt great coming in. I didn’t know Joakim was hurt until about nine minutes before the game. I have confidence in knowing the way Houston plays and my shot felt good. I know every aspect of what Houston does on the court. You get one, then another (basket) and your confidence goes sky high. My body is fresher. I help out when I need to.”

JOAKIM NOAH

(on his foot injury) “It’s been bothering me for a while and it is getting worse. I tried to go, but I couldn’t. The pain was just too much. I was proud of my teammates and the win was a big bonus. Brad played huge. He had a great game. I was proud to see Brad hit some big jump shots.”

DERRICK ROSE

(on the game) “It’s hard playing here. This was a difficult game. We just came together as a team and we rebounded the ball well.”

(on Joakim Noah not being able to play) “I had no idea until the lineups were announced, I said “wow” and I knew everybody would have to pick up their game. We had to rebound more and help take the pressure off Brad.”

(on his basket when the score was 99-97) “I was so fatigued after playing last night. I drove to the hole and then stepped back and I knew I had to hit the shot.”

NOTES

Tonight’s attendance of 18,119 marked the eighth sellout for the Rockets this season.

The Bulls, who entered this game averaging 106.3 points over their previous nine games, snapped Houston’s three-game home winning streak against Chicago with a 104-97 decision tonight over the Rockets. Chicago actually opened this game with 64 points (.634, 26-41 FG) in the first half.

The Rockets went 21-of-23 (.913) from the free throw line tonight. In 2008-09, Houston made 27-of-30 (.900) free throws vs. Chicago (2/3/09) and went a perfect 14-of-14 from the line at Chicago (2/28/09).

Chicago tied Houston’s opponent season high for blocked shots with 12 tonight, matching the 12 blocks by the Trail Blazers at Portland (10/27/09). The Bulls actually blocked nine shots in the first half alone.

The Rockets dished out 18 helpers tonight, snapping their streak of games with at least 20 assists at a season-best 11 consecutive contests (12/29/09-1/22/10).

Houston dropped just its first game this season in the second outing of a road-home back-to-back set (were 4-0).

Including tonight, Houston has now faced a double-digit deficit in each of their last four games. The Rockets hold a record of 2-2 in those contests.

Houston failed to hold a lead in a game for the just the second time this season, but it marked the first home outing the Rockets have been unable to grab a lead since the 2006-07 season (2/28/07 vs. Toronto).

Carl Landry came off the bench to lead the Rockets in scoring with 22 points (8-14 FG, 6-6 FT) tonight, which marked his 16th 20-point outings of the season.

Luis Scola, who scored a season-high 27 points (10-18 FG, 7-8 FT) and grabbed 15 rebounds in the last home outing vs. Milwaukee (1/18/10), finished with 20 points (7-16 FG, 6-7 FT) and seven boards tonight.

Aaron Brooks totaled 20 points (8-19 FG) tonight, including a 3-of-8 night from downtown. He now has 101 3-pointers on the season for back-to-back campaigns of reaching the century mark from beyond the arc (113 3FGM in 2008-09). Brooks has also made at least one 3-pointer in each of his last 16 games (12/22/09-1/23/10).

Brad Miller got the start at center tonight with Joakim Noah out with a left foot injury. Miller finished with a season-high 25 points (9-14 FG, 2-2 3FG, 5-5 FT) and five rebounds.

Derrick Rose added 20 points (7-14 FG, 6-8 FT) and four assists tonight, which marked his third straight game with 20 or more points. He scored a game-high 32 points and dished out five assists at Phoenix (1/22/10). Rose also tallied 23 points, eight boards, seven assists and two blocks at the L.A. Clippers (1/20/10).

Taj Gibson posted 16 points (6-8 FG, 4-6 FT) and a career-high 14 rebounds tonight, marking his fifth double-double of the season.

Tyrus Thomas notched a season-best six blocked shots tonight. Thomas actually set his season best in blocks with four in the first half alone (prev. high: three done five times).

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