This one is tough to write about. This can shows a system problem with the NBA, and a system problem with the Houston Rockets, in stark relief.
The Los Angeles Lakers don’t figure into either issue. They’re more or less window dressing.
The first problem is how the Rockets respond to adversity. How they can’t seem to make open shots to pull ahead. How they keep trying the thing that isn’t working, hoping it will start working again.
I’m not the only one to say this, but the Rockets seem to be the team that’s least correlated with their opponent’s efforts in any result.