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Alperen Şengün delivered a motivational speech before Game 4, inspiring the Houston Rockets to a crucial 115-96 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, cutting the series deficit to 3-1. His leadership was essential as the team faced elimination without Kevin Durant.
Entering Sunday night's home Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Houston Rockets looked like they were dead in the water. Already facing a dreaded 3-0 deficit in their first-round series, the Rockets had no margin for error. It was put-up-or-shut-up time. To make matters worse, they were without the team's leading perimeter scorer, Kevin Durant, who may or may not return to their lineup this postseason as he recovers from a bone bruise.
Someone had to step up in Houston. Someone had to lead and galvanize their teammates.
According to guard Amen Thompson, the person who stepped up was All-Star center Alperen Şengün. Thompson said Şengün delivered an unorthodox motivational speech to the entire team on the morning of Game 4. Whatever Şengün said appeared to work with flying colors as the Rockets blew the Lakers out 115-96 in a balanced effort to cut Los Angeles' series lead to 3-1 and keep their season alive:
In his postgame press conference, Şengün was asked about his speech and why he felt the need to address his teammates in this way. His rationale was pretty simple: Whatever the Rockets were doing that put them in a 3-0 series hole wasn't working. Someone had to change things up. Someone had to do something different.
Şengün decided he would take the initiative:
In the entire history of the NBA, no team facing a 3-0 deficit has ever come back to win that playoff series. For all intents and purposes, it's a basically insurmountable task. Well, only if you treat it that way. For at least one game, the Rockets got up off the mat and showed some fight. To do what no NBA team has ever done, they'll have to keep up such energy for three more games with little to no mistakes.
Alperen Şengün's speech focused on the need for change, as the Rockets were struggling in the series and needed a different approach to turn things around.
The Rockets won Game 4 against the Lakers with a score of 115-96, keeping their playoff hopes alive by reducing the series deficit to 3-1.
Kevin Durant was absent due to a bone bruise, and his return for the postseason was uncertain at the time.

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Game 5 between the Rockets and Lakers is in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. We'll see whether Şengün helps keep his teammates on a track toward history.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Alperen Şengün shared fiery speech to push Rockets to Game 4 blowout