Dallas Mavericks

Trevor Ariza promises Houston will avoid lackluster effort in Game 5

Published Apr. 27, 2015 6:23 p.m. ET

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The Rockets are better than the Mavericks. That much was clear over the first three games of their first-round series. But after climbing to a modest lead after the first quarter in Game 4, Houston took its foot off the gas, and Dallas took advantage.

Rockets forward Trevor Ariza says that won't happen again, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jenny Dial Creech:

“In the third game, we didn’t play enough defense. It wasn’t great, but we came out with a win. We found ways to win. Sometimes, it is going to be like that. They are a good offensive team so you can’t really stop them completely so you have to find ways to slow them down and make plays as well. [On Sunday] they played harder than we did. Tuesday, that won’t happen again.”

Ariza shot 2-for-10 in the Game 4 loss, missing all five of his three-point attempts. Playing hard is a must in the postseason, but making shots doesn't hurt.

(h/t: Houston Chronicle)

Photo Credit: Thomas B. Shea/USA TODAY Sports