ClutchFans Game Thread: Warriors @ Rockets 5/4/2025 (Playoffs Round 1, Game 7)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6330793/2025/05/03/warriors-tired-rockets-game-7-steph-curry/

It’s not just the stamina becoming compromised. Or the arms getting heavy and the strength waning. Or the legs losing their spring. Fatigue does its greatest damage to the will. It erodes resolve, discombobulates decisions, summons doubt.

This is something more than being tired. That’s too physical a connotation. This fatigue is more spiritual, a weariness of the soul, an exhaustion of the mind. The Warriors, as they launched desperation 3-pointers to no avail and devolved into a mess on defense, ran out of fight, as well as answers. They let go of the rope late in Game 6, feebly surrendering the fourth quarter to a Rockets squad teeming with energy, strength and confidence. This was after the Warriors tapped out early in Game 5 to conserve their energy for a close-out game at home.

Now Golden State flies two time zones back to Houston, endeavoring to do what they couldn’t at home: win. Sunday will either be a funeral for their season or a flex of their legendary mettle. But they’ve got to find the antidote, because it won’t be rest.

…The Warriors have lost all momentum. Their offense is thirsty, their defense disheveled. Their remaining hope is a mythological performance from one of their legendary figures.

Curry, who has averaged 32.6 points in five Game 7s, must pull out another special performance, akin to his 50-point masterpiece in Sacramento in 2023. Or Butler, whose folkloric toughness willed Miami over Boston in 2023 to get to the NBA Finals. Or Green, whose career arc essentially started in a Game 7 against the Clippers in 2014, somehow must summon a generational defensive performance, finding enough fire from somewhere without burning the Warriors in the process.

It could be a surprise performance from someone else. Buddy Hield gets hot. Or Brandin Podziemski. Moses Moody plays the game of his life. Jonathan Kuminga turns his straitjacket into a cape. But that all feels so unlikely. This series seems increasingly overwhelming for the Warriors’ supporting cast, and increasingly heavy for their stars. The pressure of a Game 7 is different, especially on the road. They melted down in Game 6 at home.

…A time existed where such a deficit, with 4:40 remaining, felt less insurmountable than it did Friday. A quick Warriors run could erase that, rattle the opponent, snatch away the momentum. But irony has seized the pen as the script of this series unfolds.

The Warriors, who built a dynasty on shooting, are being thwarted by a zone defense because they can’t shoot well enough.

The Warriors, who pioneered small ball as a championship formula, are getting overwhelmed by a lineup featuring two plodding centers.

The Warriors, with all their experience and postseason cachet, are being outmaneuvered by a team using pretty much the same eight guys who are playing like they’ve been here before.

The Rockets, who’ve experienced Warriors fatigue more than any other franchise, have produced the Warriors fatigue that could spell the end of the era.

…

Code:

Warriors' Game 7s in the Steph Curry era
Year    Round   Opponent    Game 6 result         Game 7 result          Curry G7 points
2014    WCQF    Clippers    W, 100-99, at home    L, 126-121, on road    33
2016    WCF     Thunder     W, 108-101, on road   W, 96-88, at home      36
2016    NBAF    Cavaliers   L, 115-101, on road   L, 93-89, at home      17
2018    WCSF    Rockets     W, 115-86, at home    W, 101-92, on road     27
2023    WCQF    Kings       L, 118-99, at home    W, 120-100, on road    50

 

It is WHO is on the court, not WHO is in the stands. Unless he is playing, zero impact on game. That is an old pic or he just shaved his longtime beard.

 

Noooooooooooooooooooooo

 

This isn't Adam"s first rodeo. He is finally near 100% after a long recovery. He is very experienced and uber talented. He will help us win the series.

 

I wish more than anything that Ime would play Tari 45 minutes tomorrow. And up Baris minutes. Just bite the bullet and bench green. If we lose, he's not a rocket anymore anyway.

 

I do think the real pressure is on the Rockets. GSW is the ultimate monkey on the back of this franchise and other than FVV our playoff life depends on a bunch of youngsters. I played basketball until I was 57 years old. These guys are not old and will find a final reserve. We have to be super aggressive and beat the life out of them in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. We do not want a close game in a game 7 against Kerr and the refs.

 

Our defense would be awful if he listened to you

 

Just fn Win!

 

I expect the Warriors to sell out on stopping Fred so Jalen better step up. Also expecting to see more Looney and Kuminga who have both given us trouble in the past. I hope Ime and the coaching staff have all their bases covered.

 

Green is actually playing really good D, and as much as he's not consistently creating very much, his spacing (and attention from defenders) helps. Tari has been a bone head half the time and I'm okay with his minutes, but I'd like a little more Jabari for sure.

I think Jalen has another really good game tomorrow

 

without naming him, Adams said after game 6 that GSW was blitzing Green and taking him away as an option, but that opens up opportunities for other players

 

Jalen is due for at least an ok offensive game I think. I'm not the biggest fan of him as a player and I would seriously consider moving him this off season, but I think tomorrow the odds just say he scores at least 15-20 points....at least...

 

Well either way at least we know that jacking up threes and no big men era is over. The new era is youth, size and coaching. N i like it

 

Oh hell yes!!!

 

lol sure. Tari is definitely a liability on defense

 

Idk if this was brought up from game 6 but did anyone notice warriors wore black jerseys because they thought they were going to end rockets' season then and there?

They thought!