‘Props for Ronnie’ (M. Majchrzak - NBAE/Getty Images)

Waking up today we are all a bit stunned. Last night’s loss was not in the plans. Sometimes I wonder if players are really any different than you and I. Every caller to my talk show, (1320 K-Fan 3 to 6 PM,) the last few days, has been about how the Jazz will do against the Lakers. Do our players do the same? It would seem almost impossible not to lose a bit of focus, and that is how subtle the difference between winning and losing is in an NBA game.

Here are some of the other thoughts on last night’s Rockets win.

The Other Guys are Good too

After winning 37 of the last 41 at home, we expect to win every game at EnergySolutions Arena. However, the other guys are in the playoffs, also. In my first insider letter to you, I reminded you this won’t be a push over. The Rockets had won 40 of their last 51, to close the season.

Notice what happened in the other two NBA games last night. The teams that were down 2-0 blew out their opponent. Both of those teams returned home and surged to huge wins. In this case it was on our home floor, but the concept is similar. One team is a little more desperate, and again that alters the slight difference between winning and losing.

In this same vain, AK and Memo didn’t have as good of games as Jazz fans would like. However, very few players in the NBA have games that are good enough to beat a defense that is designed to stop them. The Rockets gave AK and Memo no room to operate. If the Rockets insist on eliminating AK and Memo from their primary offensive moves, and not leave them to help on other players, it will be tough sledding for Memo and AK.

Watch all the playoff series. Very few non-star players get better as a series develops.

The Return of Rafer

Last night the Rockets got back on the floor with their starting point guard Rafer Alston. This changed the entire complexion of the game and the series.

During the regular season, the Rockets play was more dependent on Rafer than any other player on their roster. When Rafer was on the floor, the Rockets outscored their opponents by an average of 6.3 per 48 minutes. However, when he was on the bench, they only outscored their opponents by 1.9 per 48 minutes. The difference of 4.4 is the largest of any Rocket who has been with the team all season.

The player who has the biggest difference is back-up veteran guard Bobby Jackson, who was acquired at the trade deadline. The Rockets have been 10.7 points better per 48 minutes with Jackson on the floor. However, that was with him coming off the bench as a scorer. In games 1 and 2, Jackson had to start because Alston was out, and he is not as valuable in that role.

With Alston out and Jackson starting, the Rockets had to play Aaron Brooks, a rookie out of Oregon. In the regular season with Brooks on the floor, the Rockets were outscored by .3. When he was on the bench, they outscored their opponents by 5.6. That’s a differential of 5.9, the worst of any player on the Rockets who played 15% of their minutes.

In the first two games, when Jackson was on the floor as a starter, the Rockets were outscored by 11 points. However, last night with Jackson back his regular spot, the Rockets were +11. The Rockets were outscored by 6 with Alston on the floor, however, he relieved McGrady from a lot of the ball handling, and he hit big shots that loosened the Jazz defense.

Shout out to Brewer

Often players only get praise in a win. However, last night Ronnie Brewer played a terrific third quarter for the Jazz. He was being guarded by McGrady, and forced him to play defense, while taking advantage of any of his lapses.

With the Rockets holding tight on the Jazz perimeter players, and doing a nice job denying Deron the ball, Brewer ran some pick and rolls that aggressively got him to the basket. He hit 4 straight shots at one point, which ignited the offense in the third quarter. He also had a decent night defending McGrady, forcing him into jumpers and off the free throw line. For most of the game, McGrady had more shot attempts than points, and that means the Jazz were doing what they wanted.

We will be talking about the game today at 3 PM on 1320 K-Fan. I will have keys to game, and an analysis of the late game offense for you tomorrow on game day.