(2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors First Round Playoff Series Thread

(2) Houston vs. (7) Golden State

All Times ET

• Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
• Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
• Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
• Game 4: Rockets at Warriors (Mon. April 28, 10 ET, TNT)
• Game 5: Warriors at Rockets (Wed. April 30, 7:30 ET, TNT)
• Game 6: Rockets at Warriors (Fri. May 2, TBD)*
• Game 7: Warriors at Rockets (Sun. May 4, TBD)*

* if necessary

Hardest series to pick.

Tough to call. Warriors in 7.

Warriors in 6

Warriors in 6. I think this series mirrors GSW vs. MEM 2022 WCSF. A tough, physical, deep, defense-and-rebounding-focused team versus a more offensively talented team. HOU won't be able to make enough shots to keep up with Butler and Curry.

PG Steph Curry
SG Jimmy Butler
SF Braindead Kuminga
PF Draymond Green
C Quentin Post

This SHOULD be a lineup that works against Houston.

But Kuminga is apparently such a braindead retard that Kerr couldn’t play him at all, in the do or die last game of the season against the Clippers.

That said, Curry will get a very friendly whistle, and Draymond/Looney/Payton will be allowed to do a whole lot of Molesterin.

Talking heads on TV will lie for the league, and blame it on Houston’s youth/inexperience. But it’ll really be because the corrupt league badly WANTS a long series in the conference semi’s , with STEPH & Bran.

I'd love to be confident, but this is the first time we will be watching these guys (young core) in the playoffs so idk. They have been pretty good against the top teams. I trust Amen Thompson and Şengün. When Jalen plays better than okay, it was usually a blowout in the regular season. Tari and Jabari will have their moments. We will get to see how well double big lineup with Adams and Sengun or small ball lineup with Jabari at 5 works. Warriors will be a good test to see which players are made for this. Rockets in 7.

Dray vs Dylan Brooks is going to be a shit show circus and I am going to have my popcorn ready.

What's the over under on techs and suspensions in this series?

[QUOTE=BarberSchool;14993456]PG Steph Curry
SG Jimmy Butler
SF Braindead Kuminga
PF Draymond Green
C Quentin Post[/QUOTE]
That lineup could work if Kuminga and Post are both hitting their shots. The Rockets will likely shadow Curry and Draymond's minutes with Amen and FVV. Amen is the primary Steph defender and Fred guards Draymond to take away clean two-man opportunities with Curry. Against the Warriors, the Rockets will put their center on the worst spot-up threat available. If the Warriors get the idea to target the center in P&R, they'll always trap if Steph's defender gets clipped on the screen. The Rockets would rather give up the short roll pass to the screener than switch or play drop. The Rockets will always have an ace defender they feel comfortable on Buter, whether that be Brooks, Tari, or Jabari.

Warriors were beat by the Rockets decisively last time they played.

Things they have to do differently to win:

[B]1. Screen for Steph.
[/B]
You can't let the Rockets physicality take GSW out of its game and neutralize its best player.

In the april 6 game, Steph was 1-10; hounded the whole time and never had good looks. You need Draymond, Looney, Butler screening. Ball screens, back screens- screens off the curl.

You don't deal with physicality by being too cute, or running from it. A few crippling screens and the defense thinks twice, is a step slow trying to avoid running into a wall again.

The Warriors sometimes do this- they lose their composure in the face of a physical team; instead they need to be more intentional with screens to frustrate the rockets - in combination with player movement and passing, not just passing alone.

[B]2. Play Gary Payton[/B]

This dude lives for physicality. He's faster and stronger than most; his reflexes are ridiculous and the thing you need to deal with Houston's defense. Kerr already knows- he played Payton 20 minutes- Payton responded with 7-14, 16 points (outscoring Curry and Butler).

[B]3. The Stars need to step up[/B]

On April 6, Draymond scored 2 pts, Curry scored 3 pts, Butler scored 13. Obv can't win like that.

Warriors in 6. They will win game 1 as well.

Jalen green has to be the bucket man and consistent shot creator. Make Butler play defense.

Brooks on green. Amen sticking to Butler.

Rockets in 5

[QUOTE=Hey Yo;14994038]Rockets in 5[/QUOTE]


:kobe:

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