they gave it to him http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=300123010 I just rewinded...it was 82-75 according to WGN on the inbounds PRIOR to the Salmons 3. Now I admit I switched from another channel so it's possible that the score was already screwed up.
No seriously, Salmons made a 3 at 82-75. Rockets scored a 3 on a Budinger 3 and it was 82-78 (they never gave Salmons credit because it was borderline 2/3). Then at the next stoppage of play they reviewed the shot and made it 83-78 as if they gave Salmons credit for a 2 and were adding 1 to give him 3...but they never gave him 2 points to begin with!
Looking good so far...it'd be typical for this team to lose to the Clippers and Warriors and then beat Phoenix and Houston on a back to back. Road wins are road wins though. Rose had a sick open court, behind the back dribble that he finished off with a no look to Taj for a dunk.
I'm just saying Gordon's outside shooting wasn't adequately replaced. There isn't even a reasonable option. I guess if you want to call it a crutch go ahead. I still think letting Gordon go was the right move but that doesn't mean the outside shooting is acceptable or desirable. It's utterly atrocious and needs to be fixed, badly.
So [expletive] brutal. The last two games have been the most glaring examples all year of missing BG. There's just no spacing or reliable outside shooting and it strangles everything.
Bush scored 8 TDs, caught 47 balls, and averaged 5.6 yards a carry this year. It's not like he came out of nowhere. Of course, they never gave him more than a handful of carries a game.