This has been a great first round for basketball fans across the country. Overtimes, game-winning shots, alley oops, and great defensive plays. Unfortunately for basketball fans, the Houston Rockets have not lived up to the hype or their regular season record so far. The Rockets currently trail the Portland Trail Blazers three games to one and must win three consecutive games to win the series. The Rockets finished the season as the No. 4 seed, but look like a No. 8 seed.

Every team in the Western Conference, except the Rockets have won multiple playoffs. The Chicago Bulls failed to win multiple playoff games and were eliminated by the Washington Wizards. Maybe red is just an unlucky color this postseason.

Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin is struggling shooting the basketball in the first five games. Through five games, Lin is shooting 12 for 33 from the field, which is 36.4 percent overall. Lin's biggest issue has come at the three point line. From the perimeter, Lin is shooting an abysmal 2 for 12, just 16 percent. Which begs the question; what is coach Kevin McHale doing?

Lin has never been a very good outside shooter, but for some odd reason McHale's offense has him the center of the kickout.

By far Lin's best attribute is his passing and dribbling, after all he is a point guard. However shooting guard James Harden is being used as the point guard on numerous possessions. Is that coach McHale's orders or Harden just demanding the basketball? What is obvious is the Rockets' ball movement is terrible during this series.

Rockets starting point guard Patrick Beverley is only averaging 1.5 assists per game this series and has yet to record a single game with even three assists. That is beyond terrible for a starting point guard, who is playing full time minutes. And again, it's not all his fault. For whatever the reason, Harden has become ball handler and passer of this team. That is music to the Trail Blazers' ears for many reasons. One, because you are eliminating James Harden, who is an elite scorer in this league. Two, because Jeremy Lin is not a very good shooter and he is forced to shoot. And three, both Lin and Beverley, who are good passers, no longer have control of the point.

The Rockets have their backs against the wall in an elimination game 5 tonight. It's going to be tough to win three consecutive games.

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