Programming note: Watch the pregame edition of Warriors Outsiders on Friday afternoon at 4:30, streaming live on the MyTeams app.
With 10:47 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 5 between the Warriors and Rockets on Wednesday night, James Harden scored to cut Houston's deficit to one.
At the 8:58 mark, he missed a 3-pointer. Harden checked out of the game at the 8:15 mark and re-entered with 7:05 to go.
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His next field goal attempt -- a layup to pull the Rockets within three points -- came with 18.6 seconds left.
In the nearly 48 hours since Houston lost to fall behind three-game-to-two in this second round NBA playoff series, a lot of people have questioned why Harden didn't shoot more down the stretch.
Former Rockets forward and Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady had an interesting strategic suggestion for Harden entering Game 6.
"I just look at it -- don't make the right basketball play," McGrady said on ESPN's show The Jump. "Take over the game. You've been doing that all season long.
Golden State Warriors
"Don't put us (his teammates) in precarious positions that we're uncomfortable with now that the game is on the line.
"No. The game is on the line. Take over the game."
So if Harden gets trapped or blitzed or doubled, he should try to dribble through the traffic and shoot no matter what?
LeBron James used to get criticized for passing to the open teammate instead of forcing contested jump shots late in close games.
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Were there opportunities for Harden to be more aggressive in terms of hunting his own shot down the stretch? Yes. But the Warriors also forced the ball out of his hands frequently and forced other guys to beat them.
If Harden takes McGrady's advice, it could end up helping the Warriors in the end. Or, Harden could, you know, dominate and score 50 points.
We shall see.