Keys to winning at the Rose Garden tonight

If there was a checklist for a win and for the home fans to go home happy tonight, start with the Blazers’ second half against Houston on Nov. 3

1. Efficient offense also is a good defense
   James Harden finished with 24 in the Blazers’ first meeting with the Rockets. He did most of his damage in the first half – and was it just good D that held him to 8-for-24 shooting? Not really. The Blazers’ ball movement on the other side also helped. In that second half, the Blazers made 22 baskets on 18 assists and coach Terry Stotts pointed out this morning how improved offense & improved defense are interconnected.

2. But really, don’t forget to D up
   Biggest focus tonight: transition defense (this is beginning to sound like a broken record now), defending Harden pick and rolls and Jeremy Lin pick and rolls. Yeah, Chandler Parsons can step back and hit the three (I really like that young fella’s game) but those three points of emphasis are the lion’s share of the Rockets’ offense.

3. Focus on the present
   The Blazers still have a three-game HOME losing streak hanging over the Rose Garden but Stotts says to break the slide, they’ll have to not worry about it.
   “Well, concerted efforts on both ends,” Stotts responded when asked what has to happen to snap the streak. “But it’s worrying about tonight’s game and not about what’s happened in the past.”