The Houston Rockets lost a critical Game Four on Thursday in their Western Conference Semifinals series against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the game, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni seemed dejected talking about what went wrong.
“Just a lack of spirit,” D’Antoni said ESPN.
“It just seems like we got down. We lost our way a little bit.”
D’Antoni wasn’t the only one who seemed dejected by the Rockets performance — stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook were without answers as well.
“I don’t have an explanation for you,” Russell Westbrook said.
“Should have been a sense of urgency on everybody’s part, but we fought, which is good, and we know what we have to do. It’s going to take a lot of effort.”
Westbrook was one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dismal Rockets boxscore, posting a modest stat-line of 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, on 50% shooting from the field.
The other former MVP on the Rockets roster, James Harden, had a horrible shooting night going just 2-11 from the field.
When asked how the Rockets could fall so flat with so much at stake, Harden replied with “That’s a good question.”
The Rockets will look to stave off elimination in a do-or-die Game 5 on Saturday at 8PM EST.