Everyone along with Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Breen on hand as we call the action today.

Welcome to Houston, Texas, as we get set for the third meeting of the season between the Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Hornets.

Rockets coming off a tough loss in the previous game against San Antonio, a struggle with their perimeter defense.

So many easy three pointers, one effort defense will not stand up over time.

That's what they gave in their last loss.

They gave one up defensive, so they did some good things. 00:00:59.540 --> 00:01:0.550 But then they stopped. 00:01:1.300 --> 00:01:3.040 It had to be multiple effort. 00:01:3.300 --> 00:01:15.110 It's gotta be one thing to the next, and that is so important when you're guarding the three and because they may just at one effort, they gave up open three pointer after open three pointer, and it cost.

I can't stay with basket.

Williams is unable to back that one.

I got carried away right there, trying to be a little bit too flashing.

No need to try to switch hands on that later.

Finishing at the rim.

Wanna pass from James Harden?

A kids at home You need to study this man's body control and Poor's as we finished that shot in the paint.

Excellent screen.

Hornets Coming off a frustrating loss in the previous game against Atlanta.

Jeff, It's pretty simple. 00:01:59.530 --> 00:02:2.600 You don't shoot Well, we're not gonna have a chance to win. 00:02:2.670 --> 00:02:4.850 And, boy, were they awful shooting the basketball. 00:02:5.110 --> 00:02:10.150 Hey, Mike, I know you only went to Florida, but even you can understand this basic concept.

You shoot really poorly from the field, you lose.

That's what happened last game way.

See it time and time again.

You make it, you miss it.

If you miss, you lose.

It's that simple.

Go round, Max Down first goes two for two I got I got falls Using the screen trying to get free from downtown Rebound corralled by Williams Spending to the master missus at the rim Go!

And now you're trying to take it away Just won't go from point blank Range Pretty pass Oh, ferocious dunk.

You gotta get your guys down the floor in transition Quicker that they could get back If you can rebound it and then get it up the floor.

York and 1/2 numbers to exploit the basket opportunities.

Attack the rim!

Don't settle for jumpers. 00:03:58.040 --> 00:04:0.710 Finish strong touches. 00:04:0.710 --> 00:04:1.320 A basket. 00:04:1.830 --> 00:04:6.330 He scored 10 points in the previous game against the San Antonio Spurs. 00:04:6.900 --> 00:04:12.140 Williams Walker's trying to get free off the pick.

Feeds it right back.

Still.

Plenty of time.

12 seconds on the shot clock.

Walker buyers away for two jumper reason on the drive goes to a goal.

A reason.

This is again.

Walker agreement.

It's gone by in the first, and it's a tie ball game.

Puts it up for to rebound.

Handled by Anderson.

Shot, blocked by Walker. 00:05:1.740 --> 00:05:2.720 Screen set. 00:05:2.730 --> 00:05:3.330 Nicely. 00:05:3.420 --> 00:05:4.750 Nice smooth. 00:05:5.500 --> 00:05:7.360 Time for a couple of free throws. 00:05:7.500 --> 00:05:8.470 Draws the foul. 00:05:8.480 --> 00:05:10.080 It's called against Anderson.

Excellent offensive play right there.

Contact.

Finish.

Just didn't get it to drop for the three point play opportunity, and he hits the first free throw and he makes the boat three and 1/2 gone by in the first.

Houston's down by two.

Here's the screen hall against Walker, face to drive with steps back.

Williams. 00:05:57.470 --> 00:06:3.890 The rebound gets past the defense. 00:06:3.900 --> 00:06:7.600 Nice basket with two pointer. 00:06:8.190 --> 00:06:11.030 It's not enough just to beat your man off the dribble.

You gotta finish the play with strength at the river Buyers First quarter complete.

Houston's down by four.

We'll have more N b.

A action coming up for you right after this short break as a second period gets underway.

Very low storing. 00:06:56.260 --> 00:07:0.200 Start to this cumbersome off the offensive basketball in that opening period. 00:07:0.320 --> 00:07:1.350 Well, they just missed him. 00:07:1.360 --> 00:07:2.680 Very makeable shots. 00:07:2.940 --> 00:07:4.440 Good looks by both teams. 00:07:4.450 --> 00:07:5.400 Good execution. 00:07:5.720 --> 00:07:21.480 Just missed quality looks uses a screen.

Now the drive gets it to go on the lucky side of the rim.

You need guys who could beat their man off the dribble and finish at the basketball that way.

Gets to the flips it up and in terrific look from James Harden. 00:07:46.850 --> 00:08:5.280 You're not gonna see it much better than that from an offensive finishing point of view against quality Williams, Quick move to get inside. 00:08:6.940 --> 00:08:7.410 Excellent. 00:08:7.420 --> 00:08:7.990 Sweet. 00:08:8.550 --> 00:08:9.580 Nice pass. 00:08:9.700 --> 00:08:10.200 Six.

Nice entry pass there to set it up.

Two capella.

He loses control of it, gets the steal quick decision and gets rid of it in the paint.

You've got to keep pushing and probe.

It.

Set a tone in the first half.

We're gonna run it and we're gonna attack the basket in transition.

He saw the opening.

He took advantage of it and he made the finish at the basket.

Too hard gets in the paint is that euro step Move pretty two minutes gone by. 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:9.000 In the second, Houston's down by six steps back with a jumper. 00:09:9.490 --> 00:09:9.850 Hello.

Gets inside and takes it straight down.

A little for two.

Beautiful play.

Keep doing what you do.

There's dribble penetration.

You give support, making take and make a tough shot.

Entry pass gets it inside.

Walker shot clock shows.

10 seconds left.

Walker on the drive, backing his man down off the face.

Takes the jumper.

Can't connect.

That's the mark of a great defensive team.

Great clothes out.

Great contest.

That's the way to get it done to Arreaza. 00:10:3.130 --> 00:10:7.460 Seconds remaining on the shot clock rattles it in. 00:10:8.250 --> 00:10:10.200 This speed is hard to go.

Speed killed.

Beats his man off the dribble and then finish is right in the past.

To Williams.

The perfect dish shoots it for two puts it, and it's a four point lead for Charlotte.

When the games in balance, you have got to create high percentage shots.

They got this one here on a good catch and shoot 11 seconds.

Now on the shot clock.

Call Dr gets it to go after a killer crossover.

Strong move off the dribble penetration to finish at the rim blows past with the dribble.

Pretty crossover. 00:10:57.670 --> 00:11:0.080 Setting up the shot from Kemba Walker. 00:11:0.740 --> 00:11:15.250 Nice work getting into the paint to finish to harden.

Too important, Mrs.

Another final seconds doesn't count and time expires here to end the first half.

Houston's down by four and now time to hand it over to Jalen Rose.

Welcome to the E A sports halftime report brought to you by yours.

Truth. 00:12:0.190 --> 00:12:0.940 Jalen Rose. 00:12:3.770 --> 00:12:6.960 The Hornets have a comfortable lead after halfway mark. 00:12:7.060 --> 00:12:12.310 It was their playmaker, the way they gave each other scoring opportunities that really impresses.

I love sick, unselfish basketball like these.

Are the guys getting buckets for the Charlotte Hornets?

Rockets have dug themselves a bit of a whole after 2/4.

They don't have a single player that could claim double figures in storm.

These are the guys getting buckets for the Houston Rockets. 00:12:45.700 --> 00:13:2.360 First half stats player off the hat, and here we have a look at the stats. 00:13:7.620 --> 00:13:12.800 Who was called What can you say about a guy like this?

Except that he fits the title of this segment.

He was definitely cold in that first half.

Here we go with the top place from the first half.

Number two.

Number one.

All right, back to the second half.

I'll see you after the game. 00:13:57.380 --> 00:14:8.170 Ally against Walker to harden down 11 seconds on the shot clock. 00:14:9.740 --> 00:14:29.660 Anderson, choosing the screen looking to get three steps his way screen set nicely into the pain.

Stops on a dime.

Pulls up with Walker's shot.

Can't get it to go.

This going certainly pulled off from the opening half, where he was able to make more of an impact on the score.

Walkers against Paul. 00:14:55.280 --> 00:15:2.710 I like the strategy of trapping the ball, but you have to have rotation to the screener who's coming to the basket. 00:15:3.000 --> 00:15:3.900 Good past. 00:15:4.270 --> 00:15:5.410 Poor rotation. 00:15:5.560 --> 00:15:6.970 Finish at the basket. 00:15:7.240 --> 00:15:10.450 You're getting hammered because of slow rotation.

Pardon beats man curling in.

Use the screen to the basket and drops it in.

Nice move to get to the basket and sink the lake.

Howard's looking to set up in the booth.

Walker against Paul.

10 seconds now on the 24 curls spinning inside Anderson Rebound.

Fall on the drive. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:16:3.760 Don't start the break in, got to rebound here, secured the ball, got it up the floor quickly and then attacked the basket. 00:16:4.050 --> 00:16:9.860 Good decisions on attacking the rim and put the ultimate pressure on the defense.

No whistle, despite a punishing screen Soft touch, gets the role.

He's averaging 11 points per game this season against walkers Harden.

So 11 seconds remaining on the 24 all quick move gets inside with foul call.

You get to the free throw line for the first time in the game and a foul is called.

I really like what I saw.

That good strength, good athleticism.

Took the foul.

Got up a nice shot.

Just didn't. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:17:2.080 And he connects on the first free throw restaurant.

No, back to back free throws here.

This is the second No.

10 seconds to go on the shot clock.

Excellent screen shot clock, says 12.

Any girls in go Justin game?

He had a great look.

You just missed him. 00:18:7.230 --> 00:18:16.900 The shot clock down 12 seconds remaining to Walker drivel.

Mrs.

On the back shop, you can't hope people miss.

You gotta make a business league.

Contesting those shots makes other teams miss.

Moves around the defender with penetration to the basket.

Aggressive play accident off the glass.

Very efficient use of the dribble.

Right?

Charlotte's four for four from the free throw line and a foul.

Perfect.

He gets the second and he hits three free throws and he just fires it up in the final seconds.

And that will end the third quarter.

Rockets down by two.

State with US form or N b A on ESPN after this short break.

Tough to get a feel for this one as we head to the fourth quarter.

Jeff, What are you looking for, Mike?

This is what most N BA games come down to.

Hotly contested and closed.

The team that can withstand the heat and the pressure and continue to execute it both in will come out victorious.

Walkers against Paul lays out the defender with that screen.

Gets to roll.

Kemba Walker, with 13 points to a reason.

Hardens.

Trying for position in the paint.

Paul on the drive.

You're gonna have to be quick here. 00:21:1.850 --> 00:21:8.820 Pull over to shoot like that guy's life.

And it did.

If he doesn't defend better than this, he is out.