Draymond Green Says Warriors Will 'Be Back Here' for Game 7
May 25, 2018
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 24: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Houston Rockets in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
"We'll be back here for Game 7," Green told ESPN.com's Chris Haynes after the Warriors' 98-94 road loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Golden State trails in a postseason series for the first time since losing Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Warriors offense, in particular, has scuffled in losing the past two games. Houston's defense has held it to under 100 points in both losses and just 41.6 percent shooting.
Green had two miscues at the end of Game 5.
After Trevor Ariza missed a free throw, Green passed the ball before calling a timeout that prevented the ball from being moved up to midcourt. He mishandled a pass on the ensuing possession with Golden State trailing 96-94, leading to an Eric Gordon steal that sealed Houston's win.
Postgame Sound from Warriors vs. Rockets Game 5
May 25, 2018
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 24: Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 24, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets moved to within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1995 with a 98-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 at the Toyota Center on Thursday night.
After the game, both teams had plenty to say.
Mike D'Antoni on Chris Paul's Hamstring Injury: "We'll See"
The series now shifts back to the Bay Area, where the Warriors will look to stave off elimination on their home floor after falling behind 3-2 in the series. Game 6 tips off Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET.
NBA Playoffs 2018: Wednesday Vegas Odds, Schedule and Predictions
May 16, 2018
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 14: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors speaks with the media following Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets on May 14, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-94 in Game 2 of the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday despite a 42-point, 12-assist, 10-rebound effort from Cavs superstar LeBron James. All five Boston starters finished with double-digit scoring figures, led by Jaylen Brown with 23.
Now the attention shifts back to the West as the Houston Rockets look to avenge an opening loss in the Western Conference Finals matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Here's a look at the Vegas odds, schedule and predictions for Wednesday evening's game.
Vegas Odds
The Rockets are two-point favorites over the Warriors, per OddsShark, with the over/under total set at 225 points.
Schedule
Game 2 will tip off at 9 p.m. ET in the Toyota Center in Houston. TNT will televise the game, and fans can live-stream the contest via the TNT app. The pregame show starts at 8 p.m., with Inside the NBA beginning postgame.
Predictions
The primary problem for the Rockets in this series reared its head in Game 1, and that's the fact that they simply don't have a defensive response for Kevin Durant.
The Warriors forward dropped 37 points on 14-of-27 shooting (including 3-of-6 from three-point range). He presents a significant matchup problem for most teams, but the Rockets don't have anyone who can match up with Durant's size.
KD is listed at 6'9", but in reality he isseven feetin shoes. The Rockets' starting forwards (PJ Tucker and Trevor Ariza) are tough defenders, but they stand 6'6" and 6'8", respectively, and can't provide much of an answer for Durant's height and length. Both of those attributes enabled KD to drop mid-range jumper after mid-range jumper over defenders Monday.
The fact of the matter is that Durant is going to get his production every game. What the Rockets need to do is prevent scoring outbursts from the other Warrior stars.
That didn't happen in Game 1, as Klay Thompson got hot from the field, scoring 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting (including six three-pointers). Anthony Slater of The Athletic broke down four of those three-pointers, noting that Thompson was wide-open on each of them.
Defensive breakdowns are inevitable every game, but they simply can't happen as much as they did against Golden State on Monday.
There is hope for the Rockets, of course. An odd scoring disparity occurred in Game 1, as four Rockets (James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela and Eric Gordon) scored 91 of the team's points in the 119-106 loss. The rest of the Rockets scored just 15, and a few rotation players failed to make a field goal; Luc Mbah a Moute missed all six of his shots, while Tucker went 0-of-3.
It's highly unlikely the rest of the team goes ice-cold for the remainder of their conference finals. Multiple players outside that quartet are capable of getting hot from deep and have done so in the playoffs.
For example, Tucker shot 52 percent from three-point range in the second-round series against the Utah Jazz, and Gerald Green dropped 21 points in just 26 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
That's partially why it's hard picking against Houston in Game 2. The performance of those other Rockets seems like an outlier, as do the defensive breakdowns against Thompson. Houston also didn't become a 65-win team in the regular season by accident, and it is 50-6 when Capela, Paul and Harden all play.
Look for Houston to bounce back in Game 2 in a high-scoring, back-and-forth game.
Pick: Houston 116, Golden State 114
Mike D'Antoni on 'Noise' Around Rockets: 'Have You Watched Us for 82 Games?'
May 15, 2018
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 08: Head coach Mike D'Antoni of the Houston Rockets shows his displeasure during action against the Utah Jazz during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on May 8, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated provided D'Antoni's comments on Tuesday about the "noise":
Mike D’Antoni on the “noise” about Rockets after Game 1 loss to Warriors: “[They say] all we do is iso. No it isn’t and that’s what we do best! ... They [say we] don’t pass, all they do is stand. Really? Have you watched us for 82 games?” pic.twitter.com/odgH5Qnbqb
The Rockets' biggest problem in Game 1 wasn't their offense, but rather trying to slow down the Warriors' explosive scorers.
Golden State shot 52.5 percent from the field, knocked down 13 three-pointers and dished out 24 assists while turning the ball over just nine times. Every team, including one with the Rockets' offensive talent, will struggle to keep pace when the Dubs are creating open looks with such ease.
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Rockets superstar James Harden commented on the defensive mistakes after losing home-court advantage with Monday's defeat at the Toyota Center, via NBA TV:
Harden led the way with 41 points for Houston. Point guard Chris Paul added a double-double with 23 points and 11 assists. The Rockets shot a reasonable 45.9 percent and matched the Warriors with 13 threes.
So while there may be some outside criticism of the team's lack of variety on offense in Game 1, the focus before Game 2 on Wednesday must be on finding ways to force Golden State into tougher shots.
Of course, that's easier said than done when facing sharpshooters such as Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Steve Kerr Offers Betting Advice, Says He's Taking the Warriors +1.5 vs. Rockets
May 14, 2018
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr handed out some betting advice in the wake of Monday's landmark Supreme Court ruling.
"I'm taking the Warriors plus-1.5. ... Stay away from Boston tomorrow. Be careful of those Game 2s," Kerr said, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, referring to the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kerr's comments come after Ariane de Vogue and Maegan Vazquez of CNN reported the Supreme Court of the United States struck down a 1992 federal law that prohibited the majority of states from legalizing gambling on sports.
In a 6-3 ruling, the court decided the specific law gave the federal government too much power over state policy, which opened the door for individual states to legalize gambling on sports in the future.
According to OddsShark, the consensus spread on Monday's Western Conference Finals Game 1 between the Warriors and Houston Rockets has the Rockets favored by 1.5 points.
While Kerr jokingly referenced it, his knowledge of the exact betting line was an indication the Warriors are keenly aware of their underdog status for Game 1 at the Toyota Center in Houston. They're rarely in that position, considering they reached the last three NBA Finals and won two of them, and feature the combination of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
If Golden State needed any additional motivation heading into the showdown with James Harden, Chris Paul and the Rockets, the defending champions can look to the point spread and play the disrespect card.
Beck's NBA Spotlight: CP3's Campaign for Postseason Redemption
May 14, 2018
BR Video
After years of postseason heartbreak, Chris Paul has finally advanced to a conference finals. How has this year been different for CP3? Watch above to see why Bleacher Report Senior NBA Writer Howard Beck thinks the Houston Rockets were the perfect team to get Paul over the hump.
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Steve Kerr Says Warriors Are 'Definitely Threatened' Entering Game 1 vs. Rockets
May 14, 2018
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
The Golden State Warriors are accustomed to having home-court advantage in a series, but that won't be the case in the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets that kicks off Monday night in Houston.
Kerr said of opening a series away from home, perChris Haynesof ESPN.com:
"It's different. I think our guys, they are taking the challenge, and they're embracing it. They feel like, 'OK, we don't have home court for the first time,' but we seem to be at our best when we are threatened. That's been kind of the M.O. of this team. We're definitely threatened. We're on the road for Game 1, we've never felt that."
Warriors reserve Shaun Livingston said he likes the challenge that a Game 1 on the road provides, however.
"It's not the norm, but I like it," he noted. "I've done it before at other places, and I like it because it sets that tone. You've got to be ready. Appropriate fear. Coming in, being on the road. You got the opposing fans coming at you. It's fun."
Golden State veteran Andre Iguodala said the Warriors aren't going into Houston hoping for a split and will be gunning to head back home up 2-0 in the series, though he added that the team can't afford to get comfortable once they're in front of their own fans.
"I don't have comfort being at home," he said. "You've got to be careful with that. There's always like a show wherever we go. It follows us on the road. Sometimes that gets the best of us. But it's the playoffs. We'll be ready. We have to be."
The Warriors hardlyare slouches on the road. Since the 2014-15 postseason, they hold a 20-12 mark in games away from home. This season, they had identical 29-12 records at home and on the road. This postseason, they are 6-0 at home and 2-2 in away buildings.
Houston, meanwhile, tied with the Toronto Raptors for the best home record (34-7) in the NBA this season. It's been 5-1 at home and 3-1 on the road in these playoffs.
More than likely, defensive matchups, tactical adjustments and individual moments of brilliance will play a bigger factor in this contest between the NBA's two best teams than any home-court advantage. The Warriors and Rockets are veteran teams who can navigate the ebbs and flows of a playoff series and a rowdy opposing crowd.
But the tighter this series gets, the more every little advantage matters. If it goes the full seven games, the Rockets will certainly be happy to be playing it at home, and the Warriors seem attuned to the fact they are opening the Western Conference Finals needing to overcome that disadvantage.
Rockets vs. Warriors' Average Ticket Price Highest Ever for a Conference Finals
May 9, 2018
Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) and James Harden celebrate the team's win over the Utah Jazz during Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 8, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Anticipation for the Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets is having a huge impact on ticket prices.
Per TicketIQ.com (via Slam Online's Jesse Lawrence), the average ticket price of $965 is the highest for a conference finals since the site began tracking data in 2011.
The previous high mark was $769 for the 2016 Western Conference Finals between the Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lawrence noted average ticket prices for Warriors home games are the highest of any team in the conference finals this decade ($976), with the Rockets in second ($957).
It's no surprise there would be high demand for a playoff series between these two teams. Having reached the Finals in each of the past three seasons and won NBA titles in 2015 and '17, the Warriors are on the verge of a modern-day dynasty.
At 65-17, the Rockets had the NBA's best record during the regular season (seven ahead of the Warriors) and set a franchise record for victories.
The Warriors are looking to become the fifth franchise in NBA history to reach the Finals in at least four straight seasons. The Rockets are seeking their first trip back to the Finals since winning back-to-back titles in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals will tip off 9 p.m. ET Monday at Toyota Center in Houston.
James Harden, Rockets Eliminate Timberwolves with Game 5 Win
Apr 26, 2018
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets passes under the basket defended by Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half during Game Five of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 25, 2018 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets are going to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the second straight year.
Houston ended its first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday with a 122-104 victory in Game 5 at the Toyota Center. MVP candidate James Harden led the way again with 24 points and 12 assists, capping a series that saw his team's lethal offense score in triple digits in every game.
The Rockets will play either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Utah Jazz in the second round as they look to parlay the best record in the NBA into a deep postseason run.
Things didn't start the way Houston planned, especially in the backcourt. The Timberwolves hounded Harden and Chris Paul and challenged their outside looks while establishing a double-digit lead in the first half.
The Houston guards combined for just seven points on 3-of-16 shooting in the opening two quarters, and three-time All-Defensive selection Jimmy Butler made life difficult on Harden whenever the Rockets leader attempted to create space.
Fortunately for the victors, the supporting cast kept them within striking distance before they seized control in the second half.
The price Minnesota paid for diverting additional attention toward the backcourt was clean looks for Trevor Ariza (16 points and four threes), P.J. Tucker (15 points and five threes) and Eric Gordon (19 points and three threes) on the outside. Clint Capela (26 points and 15 rebounds) also consistently flashed to open spots in the paint and was rewarded with a number of dunks and lobs while controlling the defensive boards.
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Keeping it close early was all Harden needed.
While the Rockets didn't explode for 50 points in the third quarter like they did in Game 4, Harden put on a show to turn a four-point deficit into a 11-point lead heading into the fourth with a mix of step-back threes, timely drives and well-placed assists.
He took over the game with 15 points in the quarter and largely buried the Timberwolves, all while Butler was left watching from the bench for stretches with his knee wrapped.
Minnesota had nobody on the floor who could stay in front of Harden with the former Chicago Bull sidelined, and his ability to attract multiple defenders opened up looks for his teammates as Houston pulled away.
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Butler dealing with the apparent physical setback and scoring just eight points was also a critical blow for Minnesota on the other end, as it was left without its All-Star wingman who can create off the bounce and shoot from deep.
It put even more pressure on Karl-Anthony Towns, especially since he scored in single digits in each of the first two games of the series. The Rockets swarmed his touches throughout the five-game battle, preventing him from taking over and putting Minnesota in a position where it had to rely on others.
However, the Kentucky product asserted himself Wednesday and had a double-double by halftime. He took advantage on the blocks when facing single coverage and worked an inside-outside attack with Jeff Teague when shots didn't immediately present themselves.
Towns finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds, Teague played the role of scorer and facilitator with 17 points and seven assists, and Jamal Crawford provided a spark off the bench with 20 points. Still, they were the only Timberwolves with more than 14, which was far from enough to counter Houston's offensive attack.
Attention now turns to the second round for the Rockets, and their opponent is still unknown after Oklahoma City erased a 25-point deficit against Utah on Wednesday to prolong their series.
Houston was 4-0 against the Jazz and just 1-2 against the Thunder this season, but the Rockets also beat Russell Westbrook and OKC in the first round of last year's playoffs in just five games.
James Harden Struggles, but Rockets Take 2-0 Series Lead vs. Timberwolves
Apr 19, 2018
Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket over Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
After escaping Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a narrow three-point win, the Houston Rockets rolled in Wednesday's Game 2 at Toyota Center and seized control of their first-round playoff series with a 102-82 victory.
James Harden was brilliant in Game 1 with 44 points, but Houston relied on Chris Paul and a balanced attack in its second win.
Four Houston players scored in double figures, including Paul, who spearheaded the blowout effort with 27 points, eight assists and three steals. Harden was another one of those players, totaling 12 points, but he was an abysmal 2-of-18 from the field and 1-of-10 from deep. He was far from the reason his team was victorious, even with seven assists.
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Houston is so dangerous because it has two future Hall of Fame-caliber players in the backcourt, meaning it can afford a lackluster performance from one and still rely on the other to get it through a contest.
That is exactly what has happened in this series against the eighth-seeded Timberwolves, as Harden made up for Paul's 5-of-14 shooting and six turnovers in Game 1 and Paul compensated for Harden's showing in Game 2.
It helps that the Rockets are playing a Minnesota team that was a mere 22nd in the league in defensive rating this season, perNBA.com, and doesn't have much of an answer on that side of the ball outside of three-time All-Defensive selection Jimmy Butler.
With Butler shadowing Harden for stretches, Paul darted into the lane and either finished for himself or forced defenders to collapse before he found perimeter shooters. The nine-time All-Star dazzled the crowd with a number of head-turning floaters and layups at the rim, many of which came when Minnesota's big men were left helplessly flailing at his ball-handling and lightning-quick first step.
With the Timberwolves left chasing Paul, Gerald Green was left open a number of times and delivered with 21 points on 5-of-12 shooting from downtown. Trevor Ariza benefited as well with 15 points and three triples, and Clint Capela dominated down low with eight points and 16 boards.
The fact Houston handled Minnesota with relative ease even with the potential league MVP struggling sends a message to the rest of the NBA in these playoffs. This team can win in the postseason without Harden dominating, and the ceiling is the Larry O'Brien Trophy when he does play well.
Capela was also key on the defensive side and a primary reason Karl-Anthony Towns never established a rhythm.
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The Timberwolves big man is typically a matchup problem because of his ability to score inside or stretch his arsenal to three-point range, but he finished Wednesday's contest with a mere five points on 2-of-9 shooting as Capela and others challenged his looks in the frontcourt.
Despite the blowout, it appeared as if Minnesota was going to challenge the Rockets again in Game 2 after it built an early-nine point lead with Butler and Andrew Wiggins attacking off the bounce. However, things fell apart for the visitors when Houston enjoyed a 37-17 advantage in the second quarter alone, and they never recovered.
Minnesota never had a chance with its All-Star big man struggling, but Wiggins (13 points and eight boards) and Butler (11 points) didn't light up the scoreboard either, even with a quick start.
The series now shifts to Minnesota for Saturday's Game 3, and the Timberwolves will have two home games to potentially pull even in this series. If they don't, Houston will be awaiting the winner of the series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz in the near future.
