The Golden State Warriors lost that "must-win" final game of the season to the Clippers, but it turned out not to be doomsday. They quickly had to play a play-in game but they defeated Memphis and got their playoff spot after all. And a few days rest.
They traveled to Houston and won their first playoff game by 10 points. Jimmy Butler upped his scoring and Steph Curry was the miracle man again, hitting at least 3 impossible three pointers, with taller Rockets players draped all over him.
Many commentators picked the Warriors to win the series against the taller and younger Rockets because of their experienced stars and their basketball intelligence, both on the court and in the person of Coach Steve Kerr.
Coach Kerr founds his starting lineup and rotations in that Clippers game, and is emphasizing stability to start this series. He threw in a new combination of playing both his bigs together for a few minutes but that may be only the start of his innovations. Stable lineups helps cut down on the Warriors' biggest enemy: turnovers. But even though personnel has changed, these teams have played each other 6 times this season. It may be important to throw in the unexpected now and then. One possibility that Draymond Green keeps dangling: the return of Jonathan Kuminga, who has been on the bench for the past three games. Green hints that he may be their X factor.
Another thing in Kerr's favor is something he recognizes: that Houston plays a style unlike anyone else in the NBA today. It is a style, he says, that reminds him of 1997. In that year, Kerr just happened to be a member of the dominant dynasty of that era, the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls. He understands this style perhaps better than many other coaches in the league.
Though banged up, the Warriors started the playoffs with a fully available roster. Gary Payton II in particular was important to their first game win, and his health is likely to remain an important factor.
So the Warriors are playing meaningful basketball and getting their chance to contend. The Houston series is far from settled however, and the Warriors must stay focused. They know how to beat the Rockets, but they still have to execute. It helps to have a little luck, as they did in the first game.
