Nate McMillan. For this observation, please keep in mind I was at the game, not watching it on T.V., so I don't have any announcer influence, this is a raw observation.

I saw Houston jump out to a 7 point lead and never look back.

I saw Portland looking confused the whole first quarter.

After being down by 11 at the end of the first quarter I saw Brandon Roy and his 10 first quarter points on the bench. You are down 11, your all star can handle starting the 2nd quarter, its a playoff game for gods sake.

I saw Channing Frye get 20 flippin minutes. I'm not even one of the haters, but where the heck did this come from.

I saw Aaron Brooks run all over Steve and Sergio, but not even a thought to get Bayless in there for a spark, you are down, you know, 20 points, and the matchup would obviously be better.

I saw NO POINT GAURD IN THE GAME PERIOD for much of the third quarter. You guys are complaining about Brandon hogging the ball, well this is part the explanation, you need a point gaurd to run an offense over the period of a whole game.

I know you guys can make excuses and come up with arguments against this stuff, and some of it may be flawed, but the bottom line is Nate did not have these guys prepared, he seemed unemotional on the bench and not energized, he gave up with 7 minutes left and put the deep bench in, during a playoff game I think that might be  tad soon. It seemed to me he treated it like a regular season game and he should get his head in the game, he looked lke a deer in headlights all night.