HOUSTON – The Warriors have heard all in regards to the Houston Rockets’ plan to make their first-round Western Convention playoff collection a bodily grind.
The Rockets have made no secret that they intend to make Golden State struggle for each dribble and inch of house throughout a best-of-seven matchup that begins in Texas on Easter Sunday.
Golden State (48-34) is the No. 7 seed, whereas Houston (52-30) is the No. 2 seed and beat the Warriors three out of the 5 occasions they met through the common season.
With identified Warriors foils reminiscent of Dillon Brooks, Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet on the opposite aspect, Golden State’s veterans have repeatedly stated that sustaining a degree head is a key to success within the collection.
“It’s money time and it’s the playoffs, so you have to lock in,” Gary Payton II stated. “We have a lot of guys that have been in these situations with the playoffs, so we need to follow their lead, stay composed and not get too hyped up.”
Steph Curry, Draymond Inexperienced and Kevon Looney have been a part of the dynastic Warriors groups that beat Houston in 4 playoff collection between 2015 and 2019.
Whereas Payton was not round for these storied collection, he nonetheless has a examined technique for sustaining his cool if heated moments come up through the collection.
“Smile, just smile and be grateful for these types of moments,” Payton II stated. “Have fun with them, and at the end of the day, it’s just basketball, but it’s meaningful basketball, so that’s the best part about it.”
The Warriors burdened the significance of hitting the glass, since Houston led the league in each complete rebounds (48.5 per recreation) and offensive boards (14.6).
A lot of that may be credited to having the 6-foot-11 twin-tower lineup of Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams underneath the rim, together with 6-foot-7 freak athlete Amen Thompson from Oakland, who’s able to flying above the pack.
Moses Moody stated that the Warriors’ perimeter gamers – not simply bigs Inexperienced, Looney and Quinten Put up – might want to put in work on the glass for the Warriors to be efficient.
“It’s going to be aggressive, but it’s the playoffs, so you just have to play hard and put it all on the line,” Moody stated.
Luckily for Golden State, the Rockets are removed from an offensive juggernaut.
Whereas Houston led the league in photographs tried per recreation at 93.4, it was twenty first in general discipline purpose share, twenty first in 3-point taking pictures accuracy and final on the free throw line at simply 73.8%.
If the Warriors don’t flip the ball over and rebound effectively, that may remove lots of the simple appears to be like Houston depends on to maintain its assault afloat.
“They play with a lot of pressure, so like (Payton) said, hit the singles and don’t try to hit home runs,” Moody stated. “Don’t try to win the game in one play, and just take it possession by possession.”
Initially Revealed: April 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM PDT
