What We Learned from Clippers vs. Rockets Game 7

Despite going the full seven games, the Clippers vs. Rockets playoff series felt anything but “close.” After falling behind 3-1, Houston capped their remarkable comeback with a 113-100 victory in Sunday’s Game 7, closing out the series with three straight wins by double figures.

James Harden led the Rockets with 31 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Dwight Howard chipped in with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Harden will now get a chance to avenge his runner-up finish in the MVP voting against award-winner Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

For Los Angeles, an introspective summer awaits. The series appeared won following a decisive victory in Game 4. Given three chances, the Clippers failed to put away the resilient Rockets, a development they’ll surely rue for the months ahead.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Sunday’s Game 7.

Houston's "role players" can ball 

During the summer, after general manager Daryl Morey failed to sign Chris Bosh and lost Chandler Parsons to Dallas, Harden said something that could’ve been controversial and divisive. Speaking to the Philippine Star, Harden said he and Dwight were the team’s “cornerstones,” while everyone else was a “role player.”

As it happens, those other guys on Houston’s roster are pretty good at basketball, too. Harden and Howard combined for 51 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday. How did the role players fair?

Player	Minutes	Key Stats	Plus/Minus
Tervor Ariza	43	6-12 (3PT), 18 points	+6
Corey Brewer	23	11 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST	+11
Pablo Prigioni	20	4 PTS, 4 AST, 3 STL, 0 TOs	+20
Terrence Jones	23	8 PTS, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 0 TOs	+16

Ariza’s game-sealing three-pointer in the fourth quarter may seem like an innocuous offensive sequence against a weary, gambling defense, but it’s a clean example of role players performing to the level of expectations. Here’s the play, courtesy of the NBA’s official YouTube page:

Let’s take a step-by-step view of what happens during this possession:

First: The Clippers double Harden, who passes to Jason Terry.

Second: Blake Griffin closes out on the open Terry, who makes the smart play by swinging the ball to the versatile Terrence Jones on the wing.

Third: Instead of taking the open mid-range jumper, a shot the Rockets advocate against, Jones drives into the paint. From there, he’s able to spot a wide-open Ariza in the corner against the Clippers’ collapsed defense.

Last: Ariza, of course, buries the shot, his sixth three-pointer of the game.

Again, there’s no reason to overstate the above sequence. This was essentially a 4-on-3 possession for Houston going up a Clippers defense that knew they needed a miracle.

Still, there’s a massive difference between role players doing their job and role players who bungle easy opportunities. Golden State will be wary of a power forward (!!!) driving and kicking to a wing player capable of knocking down six three-pointers in a game.

Harden and Howard might get all the attention, but the other guys can play, too.

Chris Paul remains an enigma

Paul’s quest to reach the Conference Finals was a large part of the Clippers’ narrative heading into the postseason. This year marked his eighth trip to the playoffs, but he’s yet to advance past the second round.

Over the last eight years, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony and Marc Gasol have all led teams to the Western Conference Finals.

Paul is putting up one of the best statistical careers in point guard history. Currently serving as president of the National Basketball Players’ Association, Paul clearly has leadership skills, too.

So what’s going wrong? No one seems to know. Statistically speaking, at least, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton says Paul is the best point guard never to reach the Conference Finals.

During the game, general weirdness surrounded Paul, too. Check out this meme-inducing Vine, courtesy of SB Nation and Vinnyviner.

While good for a laugh, grabbing an opponent around the shoulders and neck is a good way to earn a flagrant foul (at a minimum). While that may have proven inconsequential, one would expect Paul to know better.

Add it all up and the picture is, well, foggy. For another summer at least, we’re left with more questions than answers when it comes to Paul and his legacy.