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Seriously sports
This is a potential close-out game pimples – anomaly, and did the Houston Rockets unlock the formula to steal this series from the Golden State Warriors?
Wednesday night was just one game, so putting too much stock into this, a momentum shift that defines the NBA playoff series, captivating the troubles of experienced and well-coached warriors. However, the demolition of Houston’s 131-116 showed that the Rockets’ best bet was to unleash their speed and athletic ability to destabilise the Golden State attack.
Still, the Warriors need only one victory to send a second seed.
However, from the tip-off I felt this game was different.
The Rockets pushed Golden State into defense, using its length and speed to make the Warriors a long possession and let the Golden State work deep inside the shot clock. The Rockets often forced their departure and swiped seven steals before halftime. Houston also fell into the zone, slowing down further, annoying the Golden State operation.
Stephen Curry and two well-known Warriors player Jimmy Butler missed the first seven pairing shots, and Amen Thompson settled the curry into a pair of uncharacteristic early prizes.
Golden State’s saving grace was on the bench, earning 21 of the team’s first 29 points. However, by the time Golden State scored 29 points, the rocket had already increased by 25.
With both Curry and Butler off, the Warriors clearly can’t compete with the elite western team.
Houston’s defensive offense and subsequent up-tempo pace infused confidence and drove into the younger offense. In the half, the rocket shot an outrageous 69.4% off the field. Includes 3 to 9/9 (60%). Houston also smashed the paint, and there was a 28-12 advantage. These seven rockets stole before halftime, causing a 10-2 lead at fast breakpoint heading into the locker room.
And as Golden State tried to keep Houston down, the Warriors put themselves out of position. The Rockets had traveled 20 times to free throw stripes by the end of the second quarter, converting 17.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the veteran Big Three, Curry, Butler and Draymond Green, were still there to play at 5:50 in the third quarter. This was a concession that showed Kerr understands this is a lost game.
The Warriors eventually closed the gap to 14 with a 25-7 run, but that was caused by Golden State’s third string players after Kerr empty the bench.
But Kerr is a four-time NBA champion as head coach and is one of the best hearts of basketball. He and the Warriors will almost certainly tweak to try and neutralise Houston’s pace ahead of Friday’s matchup in San Francisco.
The Rockets are looking to become the 14th team in NBA history to overcome the 3-1 series deficit and advance the playoffs. This is a deficit claiming 95.5% of the teams encountered it.
Wednesday night showed whether Houston was to push the series to the brink. It must be leaning towards speed and athletic ability.