SteemSports Presenter:@mateonav53
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
The Houston Rockets are gearing up to host the Golden State Warriors at the Toyota Center for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday evening. The series is tied at two games apiece after the Houston Rockets clinched one of the most exciting victories of the postseason in Oracle Arena in Game 4. Much of the NBA world expected the Warriors to go up 3-1 on Tuesday night, but thanks to Houston's incredible effort, the Western Conference Finals feels competitive again!
In the lead up to Game 4, Andre Iguodala was scratched from the Warriors lineup with a minor knee injury. It didn't seem like the media and other people were making a big deal out of it because it was just Andre Iguodala. Golden State still has three of the league's best shooters (including two top ten players), and one of the greatest do-everything glue guys in their starting lineup.
Turns out Iggy's absence was a minor domino that when knocked down, sent shockwaves throughout the Warrior's game plan on both ends of the floor. It wasn't until Golden State started turning the ball over late and Houston began chipping away at the lead from three-point land that the Warriors began missing Iggy's leveled ball-handling and perimeter defense. And now they might not have Klay Thompson for Game 5 either.
Both Iguodala and Thompson are marked as "Questionable" for Game 5. Klay banged his knee hard on the ground and had to go to the locker room halfway through Game 4. He eventually returned but he looked a little out of it on several plays that included airballs and boneheaded turnovers. Maybe the knee pain was distracting him. It would be tough as hell to win in Houston on Thursday night without Klay and Iggy there to help. But with the series locked up at 2-2, I don't see either one of them sitting this one out.
The Warriors are going to be angry coming into this matchup. Per the Washington Post, Draymond Green remarked on his feelings and the team's frustrations, " Kind of pissed off … we know we let one slip away. … But I love how this team responds when it’s back is against the wall. I think we blew a golden opportunity, but it’s not one we can’t get back."
I think everyone in Oracle and even the Warriors assumed they would figure it out and win Game 4 in the final minutes just because of all their talent. With how hot they were in the third quarter I don't blame them. They'll come into Game 5 a lot more focused even if Klay and Iggy have to sit out.
Part of that focus will be getting back to the tenants of their original offensive scheme. It looked like Golden State dumped the ball off to their stars too often for isolation plays in Game 4, when everyone knows they're unbeatable when they're moving that ball. They dished out a season-low 14 dimes in Game 4. Isolation ball still could've snatched the victory, but Curry and Durant cooled off hard in the fourth quarter where we only saw the Warriors score 12 points. Look for Golden State to make the extra pass way more often in Game 5.
My gut is telling me that Golden State's offense is going to go wild, but I have a lot more faith in Houston's ability to take a series lead than I did earlier on. Overall, Houston's strategic adjustments have been pretty effective - unless some Warrior like Curry catches absolute fire. To win Game 5 and this series, we unquestionably need to have incredible performances from their stars Harden and Paul, and we need one or two role players to play out of their mind. P.J. Tucker did it with rebounding in Game 4 and Eric Gordon has shown some great scoring streaks throughout. I'm going to guess that Golden State pulls away in the second half after another incinerating third quarter, and the Warriors prevail 116-100.
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Nice preview as always! I'm going to say the Warriors, but with the Rockets back in Houston, they really need to take advantage of the home court - should be a great game! Houston can't rely on GS missing open shots in the last minute of this one like they did in game 4.
Agreed! This might be the first completely serious game of the year we get from the warriors. Losing this shit will have consequences! But I'm a bigger believer in Houstons ability to fight back. Can't wait for this shit!
I think the golden state warriors are the ones who are gonna be the ones who are going to take it at the end they have too much talent
Yea I think so too. But I'd love to see Houston win this. It'd be wild!
Everyone overlooked Iggy's absence from the lineup in Game 4. It forced Kerr to play Curry and Durant extended mins in the 3rd quarter which led to noticeable fatigue down the final stretch.
I don't think there is anyway that the Warriors sit Klay Thompson or Andre Iguodala tonight. This is the most important game of the season thus far and they need both guys available if they want a chance to go up 3-2 and retake control of the series.
This is turning into the most anticipated game of the year for myself. Everything seems to be stacking up against the Warriors so it will be interesting to see if they can overcome the adversity.
I don't think they'll sit either. Both of them wanna be out there and they couldn't live with themselves if they go down 3-2 while in street clothes. And yea, little things are piling up for golden state and I'm loving it. It's the basketball gods giving us a chance at an interesting series!
Precisely! All the little things are the reason why the games must be played and a champion is not crowned at the beginning of the season. Same thing applies in the Eastern Conference Finals as I doubt many people predicted that the Boston Celtics would be one win away from going to the Finals without a healthy Kyrie Irving or Gordon Heyward.
Dude yea. That alone is blowing my fuckin mind. How the hell do you make the conference finals without your two stars? It has been a lot of things. Al horford, Brad Stevens, fuckin great team defense, and the young lottery picks and rozier stepping up huger than expected! And when those two come back to the floor year how's it going to affect the chemistry and game plan? The dark space in the back of my head thinks the Celtics are better without kyrie and heyward hahahaha but we will see next year. They'll probably shut me up
I Tottally Agree!!, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Must to WIN, but no Will be easy!!
Ofcourse , it is to be same as you shared it.
Buena información deportiva, espero que tus instintos no se equivoque.