The opening round playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets has quickly developed into a defensive battle, with the teams currently tied at one game each. Scoring efficiency has been low on both sides, characteristic of a matchup defined by physical play that the officials have largely permitted. In fact, among postseason teams, only the Memphis Grizzlies have scored less efficiently offensively.
This physicality led to notable events in Game 2. Early in the contest, Amen Thompson collided with Jimmy Butler while pursuing an offensive rebound, an incident that forced the Golden State All-Star to exit the game and potentially face a longer absence. Later, in the fourth quarter, Jalen Green was assessed a flagrant-one foul for elbowing Draymond Green.
Despite these occurrences, the Warriors outwardly suggested the physicality wasn`t excessive.
“I thought it was a little bit less physical than Game 1,” Draymond Green commented after Game 2. Stephen Curry agreed with his teammate`s assessment. “Actually, I might agree with [Draymond that it was less physical],” Curry stated. “There were a couple crashes that happened out there, but we know what they`re trying to do — use their size advantage at times to try to bully us. We held up a pretty good fight both games.”
As experienced playoff competitors, the Warriors are familiar with the psychological aspects of postseason series played out through the media. They would certainly prefer not to reveal to the Rockets that their physical style is bothering them. Regardless of the truth, the Warriors are not initiating a public war of words. Even the situation involving Butler`s injury drew a muted reaction; coach Steve Kerr described it as “inadvertent,” and the team is awaiting updates on Butler`s playing status.
Whether Butler is available for Game 3 or not, the Warriors must find strategies to counteract Houston`s athletic advantages. The Rockets have significantly outperformed Golden State on the boards, holding a 30-rebound advantage across the first two games. Furthermore, Jalen Green, one of Houston`s primary offensive threats, scored 38 points in Game 2, showcasing his ability to score from deep and finish dynamically at the rim.
The Rockets possess advantages in size, speed, and verticality compared to the Warriors. While Golden State holds a clear edge in shooting prowess, Butler`s potential absence adds significant complexity for the Warriors. They may not openly express concern, but effectively addressing Houston`s physical approach will be crucial for the Warriors` chances of winning this series.
Jasper Hawthorne