Faith (W’s 52, Rockets 36)

It could’ve gone an entirely different way. Someone could’ve written an entirely different script. And the Rockets could’ve come in on Christmas Day and ho-hum blown the W’s up on national tv. In which case likely we’d be looking back at the W’s previous two wins over lackluster teams as trifles. Signs signifying nothing. Yes, coach, we hear you. The team’s improving.

And to what end?

And I’d have given myself Christmas night off.

But instead the script actually enacted…

…implausibly enough (and it would’ve been even more implausible a month ago) began and ended foremostly with defense.

The defensive scheme itself.

It was the first thing you noticed.

The very high (near the half court line) soft…