Rockets Win Series 4-2: Still Focused on The Task at Hand

With a smooth 16 point victory Thursday night, the Rockets move on in the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Ron Artest stole the show early, churning in 19 points in the first half. It was clear from the start he had no intentions of taking the plane back to Portland.

Houston Rockets' commentator Clyde Drexler made a comment that showed the Rockets attitude; "Ron Artest said to me before we left Portland, 'Clyde make sure you pack all your stuff, we ain't coming back.'"

Artest and the Rockets delivered when it mattered.

With stifling defense, the Rockets held just about everyone in check on the Blazers. Brandon Roy and Aldridge did well but they were the only ones.

The duo shot 20-38 from the floor, but the rest of the squad was a poultry 10-33. It was evident that the young players and the role players were feeling the pressure.

The Rockets were up only two after the first quarter, however, this was key because the winner of the first quarter was 8-0 in the last eight meetings. At the start of the second quarter with Yao on the bench, the Rockets went on a 13-2 run and never looked back.

Even after Roy hit the Blazers' first basket of the quarter after a four minute drought, Rick Adelman put Yao back in the lineup and they held the 15 point lead intact until half-time, never being ahead by less than 10.

The third quarter was pretty much a stalemate until the end. They pushed the lead up to 19 and took an 18 point lead into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter began very scarily yet was all familiar for the Rockets. They went into this gear they have when they try and protect leads by running the clock down to two seconds and jacking up an ill-advised shot. If it wasn't for the defense, it would have been yet another fourth quarter meltdown.

The Rockets started the fourth quarter 0-6—three three-pointers and three jump-shots—luckily the Blazers only managed five points in that span, cutting the lead down to 13.

Von Wafer hit a jumper from the top of the key that woke up the rest of his teammates; they cruised to the end, being up by as many as 20. 

It was easy to see the effects of the pressure on the young Blazers team. They turned the ball over and made careless mistakes late in the game that deprived them of any chance of a comeback.

In all his excitement, Ron Artest grabbed the microphone at Toyota Center and bellowed out a message to the Lakers, the fans, and the rest of his teammates:

"Don't be happy with this one Rockets' fans, we aren't done yet."

Preach on Ron, preach on.

*Series MVP—Luis Scola. He was the only consistent force on the offensive end, especially in games three and four, when Yao had trouble getting the ball.

In Game Five, Scola scored 15 points in the first quarter, keeping them in the game, but it just wasn't enough.

He only struggled in Game 6, but the Rockets did not need him. He scored 19, 12, 19, 17, 21, and seven for the series, and was a constant factor on the boards and defense.

The Rockets would not have won this series without Luis Scola.