Houston – The Warriors have heard everything about the Houston Rockets plan to make their eliminatory series of the Western Conference in the first round a physical version.
The Rockets did not make a secret so that they intend to fight Golden State for each dribble and inch of space in a match at the best of the seven which begins in Texas on Easter Sunday.
Golden State (48-34) is the seeded n ° 7, while Houston (52-30) is seeded n ° 2 and beats the Warriors three of the five times they met during the regular season.
With known warriors such as Dillon Brooks, Alperen Sengun and Fred Vanvleet on the other side, the Golden State veterans have repeatedly said that the maintenance of a level head is a key to the success of the series.
“It’s money time and these are the playoffs, so you have to locate yourself,” said Gary Payton II. “We have a lot of guys who have been in these situations with the playoffs, so we must follow their example, stay composed and not be too excited.”
Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney were one of the dynastic warriors teams who beat Houston in four qualifying series between 2015 and 2019.
Although Payton was not there for these series of vegetables, it always has a strategy tested to maintain its cool moments if heated moments occur during the series.
“Smile, smile and be grateful to these types of moments,” said Payton II. “Have fun with them, and at the end of the day, it’s just basketball, but its significant basketball, so it’s the best part on this subject.”
The Warriors stressed the importance of hitting the glass, since Houston led the league both in total rebounds (48.5 per game) and offensive advice (14.6).
A large part of this can be credited to have the range of 6 feet 11 inches with a double turn of Alperen Sangun and Steven Adams under the edge, as well as the 6-foot athlete of 7, Amen Thompson, who is able to fly over the peloton.
Moses Moody said that Warriors’ perimeter players – not just Bigs Green, Looney and Quinten Post – will have to work on glass so that the Warriors are effective.
“It’s going to be aggressive, but these are the playoffs, so you just have to play hard and put everything into play,” said Moody.
Fortunately for Golden State, the Rockets are far from being an offensive mastodon.
While Houston led the League in shots attempted by match at 93.4, it was 21st as a global percentage of goals on the ground, 21st in 3 points and last shooting at the Frank Lancart line at only 73.8%.
If the Warriors do not return the ball and do not bounce well, it would eliminate many of the easy looks on which Houston leans to maintain his attack afloat.
“They play with a lot of pressure, so like (Payton), struck the simple and try to hit circuits,” said Moody. “Do not try to win the match in one game, and take it in possession.”
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
