Paulo Alves

I know this sounds like very amateurish analysis, but there's not really much sense to be made of when the Rockets win and when the Rockets lose.

It's largely the same things.

And it's largely a bunch of sports cliches of did you make shots?

Did the other team make shots?

Because the Rockets don't really put up that much resistance.

And when they change things tactically, it doesn't really change much in the game at all.

So I guess with the Nuggets, it's just because they're so much worse defensively than the Spurs, the game's going to be more even because it's easier to...

stop the Rockets offense than it is to punish the Rockets defense more than it's already been punished if that makes sense so I do expect it to be a close game because the Nuggets are going to be in a position where the Rockets can do better offensively and be more consistent offensively

And perhaps keep up with what the Nuggets are trying to do.

Because a lot of our defense is just hoping they miss a lot of the time.

Then we give a lot of wide open shots.

So there's more of a chance of the variance turning our way.

Than in a game like it is with the Spurs.

Where we're not getting open shots.

And we're giving up a lot of open shots on the other end.

It's much better when you're giving up...

you know, perhaps 10-15% better looks on defense, which are getting 60% better looks on offense.

So I guess that's what I'm trying to get at.

I do expect them to be competitive, but if they do win, it's not going to change how I feel about this team on next week's spot.

Still largely the same thing.