The Battle Continues: Rockets, Warriors Face Off in Pivotal Game 5
Full Circle. Closing Oracle. Smelling Blood.
“Torment in the dark was the danger I feared, and it did not hold me back”, a quote from The Lord of the Rings brings Game 5’s pivotal showdown between Houston and Golden State into perspective. On Wednesday night, the Rockets and Warriors will duke it out in the Bay, as the stakes become raised with each passing game, and the series moves closer to the inevitable finish. The series is tied at two games apiece, with the home team victorious in each matchup. Houston is trying to become the first team in this series to win on the road. And possibly say goodbye to Oracle Arena, for good. The Warriors are moving closer to the San Francisco area next season, making this possibly the final game at “Roaracle.” That’s if Houston can beat Golden State tonight, and finish them off in Game 6 back home. It’s a pretty big if, but this is a special Houston team. If anyone can accomplish the seemingly impossible task of beating the Warriors four times in a row in the playoffs, it’s this Houston Rockets squad. Today also happens to be Rockets’ Coach Mike D’Antoni’s 68th birthday. D’Antoni is 3-0 in the playoffs on his birthday. Chris Paul’s birthday was on Game 4, and Houston gutted out a win. They’ll look to do the same for their coach tonight in Game 5. D’Antoni’s been brilliant all season, and gets nowhere near the credit he deserves managing this Rockets roster.
After four games, Houston and Golden State are deadlocked in a 2-2 tie. Before the series, if you would have told me it’d be tied going into Game 5, I wouldn’t be surprised. However, the journey into tonight’s slugfest between the NBA’s best teams has it’s own share (fair, or not) of surprises. No one saw the officiating fiasco coming in Game 1. No one saw James Harden getting slashed in the eye in Game 2, becoming the trademark of this series. The Rockets trailed 0-2, facing the steep uphill climb of beating Golden State’s Goliath four out of five games. Many pundits expected the Rockets to lose a game in Houston. Well, their expectations where put to rest. After four close games and a swing in momentum, Houston is halfway there. Two wins away from the goal they’ve worked towards five years and counting: beating the Warriors. Even before Kevin Durant arrived, many argued Golden State was the most talented team ever assembled in NBA history. Now it’s not even a question. And the Rockets find themselves a mere two wins away from pulling off the upset of the century. The question is, can the Rockets finally pull through on the road? Each game’s gone to the home team in this series, a series that’s finally living up to the hype. Houston has to win in Oracle at least once (tonight, or in a potential Game 7), to win the series. Winning a Game 7 on the road is about as tough as it gets in the NBA. Doing it in Oracle Arena against this Warriors team is a scary proposition. To avoid that situation, tonight the Rockets need to be ready to blast off from the opening tip.
Houston finally has Golden State’s full-attention. Other than Durant, the Warriors have performed at subpar levels. Expect them to be much better at home, with the light at the tunnel getting closer (for both teams). It won’t be easy, but the Rockets were the only team to beat the Warriors twice in Oracle during the regular season. Harden and company must continue to play with P.J. Tucker’s contagious force, effort, and desire to win. Tucker continues to excel, and is playing the best basketball of his life at age 34. That says a lot about Tucker’s heart, and passion for the game. Most players are over-the-hill, or retired by 34. Not the “Sneaker King”. Tucker’s playing like he’s in his prime, and without it, this series isn’t tied, and the Rockets would be looking elimination in the eyes tonight. Instead, we’ve come full circle, back to a tied series. And Houston rolls into Oakland smelling blood, with a chance to put Golden State on the ropes.
The Warriors have never been more vulnerable in the Kevin Durant-era than they are right now. Free agency talk has surrounded the team all season, and with the offseason looming, the talk and rumors are only intensifying. Klay Thompson, who stated in the past that he wants to be a lifelong Warrior, now says he’s unhappy with his role. Thompson is sick of getting the “crumbs” from Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. It’s not incomprehensible. Thompson guards the opposing team’s best player night-in, night-out, as Durant and Curry get all the credit for Golden State’s success. And he’s hasn’t said a peep. Until now. Thompson’s actions have always spoken louder than words. Klay doesn’t look like himself on the court. Thompson seems to have a lot on his mind. It was recently revealed that the Warriors went to a screening of Avengers: Endgame as a team. Klay Thompson walked out on his own, two hours into the three- hour film, saying he was bored by the movie. It’s commonplace for NBA teams to bond over dinners and movies, especially on the road. What’s not commonplace is Klay Thompson walking out on his team. Sure, it’s just a movie, and the event has no effect on the outcome of this series. Nonetheless, bad chemistry has been brewing in Golden State’s locker room for months now. The copious, daily rumors of Kevin Durant resurrecting the Knicks after this season have no doubt affected Golden State’s chemistry, which was seemingly perfect, two seasons ago, before KD arrived in town. Draymond Green’s antics have reached an all-new high of annoyance. But, Thompson was a player who always sacrificed his role for the betterment of the team. And now, sick of being know as the “other” splash brother, he wants out.
The Rockets need to seize this moment. Tonight’s game is there for the taking. Houston is at full-strength, riding the momentum from back-to-back wins. Draymond slashed Harden in the eyes in Game 2, and everyone expected the Beard’s performance to decrease. Harden’s game didn’t take a step-back… instead, the MVP drained more of his patented step-back threes. And got the Rockets back in the series with a pair of solid performances, along with help from Eric Gordon, Tucker, and Austin Rivers. It’s time for Chris Paul, Clint Capela, and the rest of Houston to make their presence felt in Game 5. Tonight will be the loudest crowd the Rockets have faced all season. Oracle Arena will be rocking with fans heckling Harden and his team. Golden State hasn’t had a great game collectively yet in the series. They’re due for one tonight. Houston has to be ready to withstand some early Warriors punches. Both teams understand what’s at stake in Game 5. Historically, in 2-2 series, teams that win Game 5 go on to win the series 82 percent of the time, with a record of 168-36. Whoever wins tonight, has the upper hand in the rest of the series. The Rockets don’t want to play a Game 7 on the road, much less in Oracle Arena. No team does, that’s a nightmare scenario.
Houston needs to win Game 5, and close out the series in Game 6 back home. Rockets fans’ were worried when Harden suffered the injury to his eyes. Houston trailed 0-2, and seemed lost in the dark as just another Warriors victim in Golden State’s dynastic run. It might have been a little darker, and harder to see for Harden. But if you think the Beard was scared after the first two games, you haven’t watched the MVP play. Harden, thrives in Oracle Arena. Bring the noise, Oakland. Torment Harden as you wish… but don’t expect it to hold him back.
Oracle Arena: Oakland, California
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (2-2): Black
Golden State Warriors (2-2): White
TV: 9:30 PM CT – TNT