Both teams are tired to their core. I bet they can only play like this throughout 2 or 3 quarters but that might be enough.
No team can play defense like that 3 games in a row, it's a ridiculous expectation honestly. We need to play better offense next game because our defense will not be as good or their offense will not be as bad.
We don't know everything about the relationship. We only know that some PART of one must be caused by the other. We don't know which is the cause and which is the effect and what proportion. Our mind can project anything when such a high level of faith/belief (sports fandom) is involved. For example, the idea that all the referees and the commissioner are collectively trying to screw the Houston Rockets. That's our mind. The Warriors and Cavs and Celtics fans believe the same exact thing for different reasons. The truth is, we are idiots if we EXPECT to hold one of the best offensive teams in NBA history to 92 points on less than 40% shooting in two consecutive games. Yes we should aim for it. Yes, it could happen again. But if we EXPECT it, we are idiots. If it's the only way to win, and there are 3 games to go, we have lost already. We can't do it to them, and they can't do it to us. Thankfully, I'm sure this team is working on its offense mostly between these games. They understand what they are in control of defensively: the effort and the excellence in execution. However, players like Durant and Curry will react to the same defense vastly differently on different nights. Which is why I said before game 3: don't expect Curry not to blow up at some point, we are not locking down an all-time scorer for a whole series. Curry and Durant can put an efficient 70 points on the same defense if it just happens to be that day. But it could be that day for Harden and Paul to put up 80. Those are things we DON'T control even if you hold the obstacle/defense constant. Here's what we control: execution and effort. Our expectations should be based on what we can control 100%. Every game, same thing. Same way we got 65 wins. It's about us. Not about them. We've heard the team say this so many times. We worry about how to build our runs and how to get stops even if we go down 12-0 to start while exerting our maximum effort. More than that, 4 games into a series with two teams this close in talent and familiarity... it is personalities that will determine the outcome. Not talent. This is why siblings and close friends will often be able to guard each other as well as an elite defender. At some point the tricks and the fakes fade and character rises. Let's see what we're made of.
We saw the Rockets play this kind of stifling defense throughout the season and a couple of times in the Utah series, so it IS sustainable. If the Rockets get hot from the outside AND play this type of defense, it'll be a long night for the Warrior, and they better hope Steph, Durant or Klay are making impossible shots CONSISTENTLY if they want to compete. Harden needs to bring it on defense, even if it exhausts him on offense, so it's paramount that Paul and Gordon take some pressure on the offensive side from him, as the Rockets need every man on the court to play with intensity and don't take ANY plays off. Again, all of these pundits, even this "coach" that is ostensibly objective, have a Warriors tilt, but they fail to realize that the Rockets are no chumps and that they won 65 games for a reason. It's somewhat understandable to be skeptical, given the eggs our Harden-led teams have laid in the past seasons. But this season has been different; even when Harden has been off (at least offensively), the Rockets have found ways to win, and we saw it in game 4's second half. The team just has to bring the intensity and the "thiccness", and everything will fall into place.
We need to have some carry over. We abandoned a lot of strategy from game 2 when we went in to game 3. We need to know what works and run it CONSTANTLY...on both ends
We played great defense. Golden State still exploded in the third quarter. And we had to fight our way back for a 3 point win. It was a hard fought, well-deserved win. But it is hardly "a wrap" Stay focused. Keep fighting. Go Rockets.
It’s not a wrap by playing he same level of defense. We have better chances by playing at that level but there were some missed assignments and gambles that lead to open shots that didn’t go in, moreso from tired legs and tough defense by the Rockets. On the other hand, they also had some defensive mistakes that could have led to larger leads. However, leaving Curry, Thompson, and Durant open is worse than leaving our top 3 offensive players open. We have to play that level defense and also play on the offensive end by hitting shots and creating offense while limiting turnovers and crashing the offensive boards. Essentially, energy and effort needs to be had for both offense and defense to be able to beat this Warriors team.
We can't control if the ball goes in the hoop,we can control our effort on defense,thats why this is the key because it effects our offense is well,there really is no reason why we can't play like this.I also think we need to play at least 8 guys,GS is getting tried and have no bench,but we do have a good bench and should use it could be the X factor.
Re-watching Game 4, Harden was really good in the 4th qtr on defense. I was initially disappointed Harden didn't do great on offense to end the game, but his effort on defense was probably more valuable. I don't want to give Harden any excuses, because it will take his Offense and Defense to win this series, BUT I can understand why Harden was passing the ball off despite favorable ISO matchups and missing wide open 3's. Harden legs were gone.. (he still has to push through though!) Numerous effort plays on Curry after GSW were trying to target Harden on defense, and making sure he knew where Curry was off the ball in the 4th probably saved the game.
Rockets Defense is reaching all time great level in the last two games. To do what we’re doing to the warriors is astounding
