Houston, There’s Been A Problem

Down 2-0 to a undermanned LA team, Houston isn't just looking at losing the series going to Houston, but losing this core of team. Adding Kevin Durant was meant to give them what they lacked last season, an end of game scorer, that quickly turned to being the only scorer.

While there offense last season was successful, yet flawed, it still was capable enough to take a surging Golden State team to seven. This year, while missing VanVleet, this team has no offensive structure with Durant out. Watching game one, this team is a shell of last year's team. They were better than the Lakers at practically every stat except the most important... made shots.

Defense

While losing Dillon Brooks when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, this team has still been able to keep that same defensive intensity from the past two years. While only giving two points more during the regular season, this team seems to have fallen into what Orlando has been stuck with the past two years.

While having physical defenses that'll beat you down til you have no more fight, this team has struggled to equal this great defense to an easier offense. Teams like OKC, who will have their offensive stuggles help themsleves out by converting turnovers to points.

Offense

Last season's offense, while flawed was a unique and effective system predicated on second chance points and rebounding. Now with Steven Adams hurt, while still able to rebound at a similar rate, but lacks the consistent second chances that they had last season.

Along with Adams, VanVleet while being out from the beginning of the season, they just seem to not try to improve the ballhandling outside of Durant.

While Thompson has been good, he is not meant to be a primary playmaker and is better in the flow of the game. Reed Sheppard, who was assumed to be the VanVleet heir while he was injured is not trusted by his own coach. Only playing 11 minutes in game two. This team is stuck and don't even know where to go from here.