Two More

4th Game Update: The good news is that Steph Curry had a more effective game, scoring 30, while Kevin Durant continued his torrid pace with 34.  The Warriors were even or ahead in key stats, except 3-pointers (Curry was still way off ), and it was two 3-point misses in the last seconds that sealed the game for Houston.  Which of course is the bad news.

Questions going into the fifth game on Wednesday are Iggie's actual health (he's listed as probable) and what's up with Klay Thompson.  I expect the Warriors will call some plays for him early, and if he starts hitting it may be what the team needs.  

So we're back to the classic pivotal fifth game, as Houston-Golden State start to look like the Lakers-Kings of old. The Warriors can retain home court and take control by winning. Tuesday's fifth games were blowouts.  The Warriors at home are always a possibility.  So at the moment it's still "two more," but now that applies to both teams.


3rd Game Update: It's clear now who had the more significant injury in the second game of this series: in the third game, James Harden had his best performance, while Steph Curry had one of the worst games of his career.  The embarrassing blown point-blank shots in overtime suggest that his left hand is unreliable, and his ankle may also be affecting the timing of his shots, and whether his legs are under him when he shoots. 

Klay Thompson also had a mediocre game, though he made timely shots down the stretch.  Yet the continued superior play of Kevin Durant and Andre Igoudala, and Draymond Green's timely shooting, sent this game into overtime and kept it close until the final moments, and Houston came away with a win at home.

Ordinarily Curry follows a subpar game with a superior one, but when injuries are involved, that possibility remains a question, and will until Monday's fourth game of the series, also in Houston. 


The Golden State Warriors won both games at home to take a 2-0 lead into Houston for the next two games of the second round Western Conference playoffs.  Despite the victory, the first game was (according to observers) almost a parody of an NBA game.  But the second game was one of the best of the year, especially for the Warriors.

They discovered the formula to dominate the Rockets: tenacious defense, the five Death Lineup starters all scored at least 15 points, and the Warriors got 14 more possessions than the Rockets.

The most obvious stand-outs of the first two games were Kevin Durant, who so far is having an historic playoff run, and Draymond Green, who is making a difference on defense and offense.

The second game saw injuries to each team's star player: James Harden suffered injuries to both eyes that affected his vision, and Steph Curry suffered a dislocated finger that affected his shot, especially 3s.  Nevertheless, Harden shot phenomenally well after the injury, and Curry hit a couple of important 3s late in the game.

Both teams have 3 days off before play resumes on Saturday.  Both Harden and Curry likely benefit from the rest.  Both expect to play.  Curry practiced as usual on Thursday.  No one can know, of course, how their play will be affected.

The Warriors have won two games with a balanced attack.  Notably none of their stars has yet gone off for a big scoring game.  It's unlikely that Curry will, with his injury and his continuing foul trouble, but Klay Thompson is due, and he responds especially well to days of rest.

That the Warriors won with a balanced attack causes continuing problems for the Rockets defense.  On offense I expect the Rockets will look to mimic that balanced attack more in game 3, especially with Harden not 100%.  Most experts and the oddsmakers are expecting the Rockets to win this game.  However the Dubs this year have been especially locked in on the road.

 But the effect of a long layoff is a big question.  No doubt the Rockets will be playing with desperation.  The Warriors will have to match that intensity.  This series is not even remotely over, although needing two more wins is better that needing four.