The Warriors made quick work of the visiting Rockets on Sunday afternoon to take game one of the opening round of this year’s NBA playoffs. Behind Stephen Curry’s brilliant, if short shooting night and a stifling defense that forced Houston into 35.7% shooting, Golden State once again asserted its dominance over a Rockets team that they have now beaten 12 times in 13 attempts, (regular season and playoffs). Game two is set for Monday night but whether Curry will be available after tweaking an ankle remains to be seen.
Here are 10 thoughts on the game:
1) It’s the playoffs and the Warriors have flipped the switch to the “full intensity” setting. While the Dub’s offense sputtered out of the gates in the first quarter, their defense was stout, holding the Rockets to only six points through the game’s first seven minutes and 59 seconds. When the offense finally found its groove on a barrage of 3-pointers and Draymond Green drives, the rout was on. Steph finished with 24 points, Klay 16 and Dray had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The 26-point margin of victory was not indicative of the just how blowed out this game was. The Rockets bickering at one another during timeouts and after defensive breakdowns was.
2) James Harden averaged 10 free throw attempts versus the Warriors during the regular season. On Sunday, he had zero, breaking a streak of 148 games with at east one attempt, per ESPN.com. The Warriors did a great job of forcing Harden to go right — his off hand — and then not reaching on his patented hands-low-Euro-step-hesitation drives. Harden scored only 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting, and without his scoring and resultant playmaking, the Rockets offense was held to 28.5 points below their season average.
3) Houston’s lazy, undisciplined defense is mind boggling. And it’s not just Harden loafing around. Dwight Howard was slow chasing Ezeli down the court; their wings gave up open threes to Curry; and the entire team got mixed up in transition multiple times. Some of this is the Warriors forcing the Rockets to cross-match on D but most of it is just effort. Sometimes you just gotta try harder, and the playoffs should be one of those times.
4) Steph suffered a worrisome ankle injury late in the first half. Steve Kerr says the MVP is “questionable” for Game 2, but the man himself thinks he will be available. It’s worth remembering that the Dubs went down to Houston and beat the Rockets without Curry earlier in the season behind a monster game from Klay.
5) The Warriors were +28 in Curry’s 20 minutes on the court and -2 when he was out.
6) I wish I had someone in my life to get my back like Steph has Dray. On the play following the Steph-Beverley skirmish, Dray sent the Rockets guard to the floor with an extra forceful hip-check screen. “Sending a message,” they call it.
7) We’ve all played pick up ball against a guy like Beverly. He’s the dude that picks you up full court and talks in your ear the entire time. He fouls you and gets mad if you call it, an irritant who makes up for lack of skill with grit and determination. I hate that guy.
8) The Rockets lack of chemistry with Dwight Howard on offense is startling. The only time Howard got consistent post touches was when Mo Speights was on him. The rest of the game the former All-NBA center might have been invisible judging by how his teammates were ignoring him.
9) If Corey Brewer is going to continue to shoot 1-of-8, I’d give KJ Mc Daniels a bit more run to see what the young guy can do. Offensively he looked a little scattered but defensively (2 blocks) he gives the Rockets an edge.
10) It was clear from jump that the Rockets were trying to rough up Curry, get under his skin. Only problem is, that doesn’t work. The only time the Dubs lose is when they get bored and lose focus … or when they play the Boston Celtics. So either your team morphs into Brad Steven’s band of slithery guards, or you try to lull the Warriors to sleep with your team’s ineptitude. Maybe instead of cheap chest bumps, Patrick Beverley should talk to Steph in the Ferris Bueller voice.
“or you try to lull the Warriors to sleep with your team’s ineptitude’
Heh