Houston, You Have A Problem.

There aren't many times in a seven game series where game 1 is a must win, but let's look at the circumstances where that IS the case. When you are playing a team that is without it's all-pro, MVP level starting point guard. When the opposition's starting point guard is Austin Rivers. When you are at home coming off damn near a week's rest against a team that is coming off one day's rest from the most emotionally draining series in recent memory. Congratulations Houston. You just took the perfect storm for a game 1 victory and slept right through it. 

Man, oh man is this team going to be fun to root against. If Dwight Howard was one foot shorter he would be bagging my groceries. Corey Brewer looks like Charlie Murphy during a cracked out scene on 'Chappelle's Show'. Pablo Prigioni looks like he should be managing a mediocre gourmet pizza shoppe. Yo Pablo, well done with extra sauce. Don't fucking forget the garlic powder either. Josh Smith's jump shot rivals mine after about 5 beers and cataracts surgery. Jason Terry? Thought that 'Jet' crashed somewhere in Brooklyn last year? If he grew his hair out and worked on his crossover he could take over for 'Uncle Drew' without the help of a makeup artist. 

DeAndre Jordan schooled Howard on the boards. Jamal Crawford recovered from a 6 turnover half to become a second half offensive catalyst. Blake threw up ANOTHER triple double. Rivers, Barnes and Redick all stepped up late to push the game out of reach. It's never a good thing to have to play without your starting point guard, but if you can do so AND pull out a win, it can be a tremendous way for your team to come together. Every championship requires overcoming a certain amount of obstacles. The Clippers went into San Antonio with their backs against the ropes and came out victorious, and now they have already gained home court advantage without their most important player. You most likely aren't going to see the Rockets play that bad of a game for the rest of the series. However, if you can get Chris Paul back in the lineup heading back to Los Angeles 1-1, at the worst, then you won't see the Clippers play as bad as they did in the first half either. One thing is for certain. That win was huge for their confidence and huge in the grand scheme of the series. There is still a lot of basketball left, but the first victory could end up meaning a lot more than a simple game one win. 

Hey yo Corey Brewer....