David vs Goliath, The Giant has been slain.

Houston Rockets (4) defeat San Antonio Spurs (2)

 

Game 1: Houston Win 124-114

The experts absolutely nailed their predictions with both Smokey and Dazman predicting the exact outcome of the series. The injury to the Spurs best player in Giannis had thrown this series to the wind, with the dominant force missing the spoon that stirs the drink opening up a chance for the Rockets to create the opportunity for a brand new NSL champion for the league. The Rockets came out firing in this first game, winning the first two quarters and closing with 3 of the 4 quarters. Haliburton shone the brightest over the course of the game putting up 26/6/2 on 71/66/100 doing so much on such little usage that giving him the leading +/- in the game with a +16. The Spurs went with the “tallest tema wins” theory, putting all their focus on players that are tall, athletic and defence orientated. It showed with them winning the rebound battle 57-50 but also in the shooting percentage from the field  with the Spurs shooting 43 percent and trying to grind out the win. It feels like a playbook change is on the cards for the Spurs following this game with Okogie taking 20 shots and only hitting 6 of them. Holiday was the best player for the Spurs in this one with 23/3/3 on 50/40/75 and long boi Bol Bol having 18 points and 11 rebounds on 75/0/100.

 

Game 2: Spurs Win 125-114

This game was nearly a role reversal of the first one with a near mirror image of the final score (just going the other direction) and the team shooting better winning the game in the end. Jokic put in another dominant display on the boards pulling in 22 rebounds for the second game running against the twin towers that the Spurs were running with although they still didn't win the rebound battle overall with the second highest rebounding total Rockets being Julian Champagnie (who?) only grabbing 6 in 36 minutes. The shot distribution was much more balanced for the Spurs and i'm sure much more to Nels liking with the lionshare of the shots going to his two best players in Holiday and MIddleton with 18 and 22 respectively. (Holiday going for 24/6/3 on 44/50/100 and MIddleton going 23/3/6 on 45/25/100). It was a very balanced scoring game for the Rockets with Jokic (25), Haliburton (22) and Maxey (31) all getting there but it seems the bench rotation let them down with no one on the bench having a +/- in the positive with the “best” being a -3 for Paul Reed. Seems the Spurs went away and figured out the Rockets here with them getting the W even with the best Rockets players playing well.

 

Game 3: Rockets Win 113-101

Another game, another 22 rebounds for Jokic who really asserted his dominance from the get go and carried it throughout the match putting up 31/22/4 on 55/0/100. The first showing of all his skills in what ended up being more of a grind it out game that had previously been played in the series so this extra contribution really played an integral role in swinging the game. The Spurs got more of a well rounded effort from the squad rather than a star leading the way with Bol Bol continuing his insane efficiency but taking it up another level with a statline of 14/17/6 on 70/0/0, doing his best Giannis impression from the 4 spot. The bench is where the game was won and lost with the Rockets players having double figure + in +/- and the Spurs having double - in +/-. Telling the tale of how this went down. 

 

Game 4: Spurs win 132-123

Hold onto your hats because this game was a doozy. Houston took control of the game early and did not relinquish it, going into the 3rd term with a sizable lead of 21 points and looking to cruise into a commanding lead in the series. The 4th quarter looked nothing like the other 3 with the Spurs coming out HOT! Not scoring more than 31 points in a quarter throughout the game, the Spurs poured in 52 (yes that isn't a typo) points to come out on top of the awestruck Rockets and tie this series up. There are unsubstantiated rumours that Nels (and Nels bet) snuck in Tim Donaghy at three quarter time to officiate as a large bet was placed on the Spurs in that three quarter break. Haliburton fouled out, Jokic finished with 5 and Morris (in his first start in the series) finished on 4. On the other side Javale McGee also fouled out but none of the other Spurs players had any foul trouble at all. Coincidence? Who can say but the series is tied up and we are heading back to San Antonio.

 

Game 5: Rockets Win 128-121

This game was a battle of the stars with Tyrese Maxey going off for 40 points on 60/-/100 and on the other side Kris Middleton exploding for 46 points on 56/66/100. It was a tight battle throughout with each team winning 2 quarters during the game and keeping it all within striking distance. Nikola Jokic in very uncharacteristic fashion fouled out in only 21 minutes, opening the door for the Spurs to step up and steal one away. The Rockets rallied though behind their young star and managed to hold off the savvy veteran Spurs to put this series on the brink of history being made.

 

Game 6: Rockets Win 121-114

The Rockets starters came to play in this one knowing they didn't want to go back to San Antonio for a decisive game 7 and it was one of the most complete all round team performances. Houston had 4 players score 20 points or more, showing a complete offensive masterpiece and that Vitt was saving something up his sleeve to get this series complete. Kris Middleton had his most well rounded and efficient game of the series but even his 37 points on 53/50/80 and standard good defence wasn't enough to get these Spurs up and over their Texas rival.

 

With this we have an end of an era that has been the Portland and San Antonio league. An untimely injury is the only way it could be stopped and I have no doubt the Spurs will bounce back with a vengeance next season. A huge congratulations to Vitt and Houston moving forward and exciting times for the NSL as a whole as the third all time champion will be crowned at the end of this postseason.

 

Good luck to all that remain!