2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #2 Houston Rockets vs #7 Golden State Warriors (Series tied 3-3, Game 7 Sunday!)

[cupcakesnake]

Biggest problem for the Warriors is lineup flexibility. They're locked into big minutes with Draymond and Butler, who are amazing demonic competitors but both have serious shooting problems. It's brutal to play another non-shooter with them, which makes it so hard to play a real big. This is why they've been stuck playing Quentin Post, their only big who can shoot. They've had to mothball Trayce and Kuminga, drop Looney from the rotation, and it's even difficult to play GP2. It's mandatory to play Hield, Moody, Podz and Post in the rotation because otherwise no lineup will work offensively.

This was fine night to night against a cupcake schedule like the Warriors had to end the season, but in the playoffs, you need some lineup flexibility to counter your opponents. Right away, Udoka was like: whatcha gonn do when I play Steven Adams? Oh is he a little big for you? How about I play him with Sengun AND Jabari Smith Jr? Kerr is literally just like... well. ****. He initially tried to see if he could put Looney and Post out there to counter a bit for size, but those guys still got destroyed, and the Warriors offense stopped working.

It's one game now, so anything can happen, but even if the Warriors win, I don't see them going deep in the playoffs with such an obvious limitation to attack. Next up would be the Wolves, another huge defensive team, and- unlike Houston- one that can shoot and score. Golden State has no option outside hoping their genius vets can scrap out possessions while waiting for Steph to get hot.

[rjforniss]

As much as I want the Warriors to lose this series, I wouldn’t bet against them in game 7 with all of their playoff experience. I just can’t see Steph allowing his team to lose a game 7, especially after being up 3-1 (again). I can actually see him going off for 50+ points and the warriors blowing them out.

[Onlytimewilltel]

Do you have any idea how easy this is to fix? literally the dude who has the ball gets to take the shot.

Gotta admit, I like this idea.

[Tracymcgoaty]

I WANT STEPH V ANT!

[Onlytimewilltel]

"If it was Draymond Green it would be reviewed!"
I swear the Warriors announcers are the worst. How disconnected from reality do you have to be to make a comment like that?
Draymond literally gets away with more than anybody

With the Warriors broadcast, whenever there's a foul... I wish they cut to a sideline reporter or something. Listening to those two bitch about officiating is the single most annoying thing happening in NBA broadcasting. Fitzgerald and Azubuike would be almost listenable if they could stop talking about fouls.

It’s absolute madness especially given everything Draymond gets away with.

[hardenASG13]

As much as I want the Warriors to lose this series, I wouldn’t bet against them in game 7 with all of their playoff experience. I just can’t see Steph allowing his team to lose a game 7, especially after being up 3-1 (again). I can actually see him going off for 50+ points and the warriors blowing them out.

They're face guarding steph with very good defenders, it'll be really hard for him to go off for 50. Warriors need to hope Houston has one of those terrible games offensively, because I don't see what counters golden state has aside from the mentioned nuclear game from steph. Thats gonna take 30 foot 3s ala 2015/16. I'm not sure what more steph can do that this point, Houston is much bigger and more athletic than golden state.

[HardenGoat]

Still too much for his level of play and consistency. But like I said, if Houston had a better lead guard instead of Green, Fred would look better night to night IMO.

What we need is to replace Fred with a younger version of him who's more adept at playing fast and doing damage off ball (that's where drafting Sheppard comes in, who may be ready to take minutes next season).

A younger aka more athletic version of FVV who can also play off ball is essentially a hall of famer. Good luck finding or drafting that player.

I think it will easier for Green and Thompson to simply develop their games. Once Thompson adds a bit of muscle mass and ball handling he'll be incredible. He has all the tools 2012 Kawhi had. We'll see how far he can go.

How about Reed Sheppard? He’s already been drafted there

[Kiss of Death]

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[Castle Black]

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[Castle Black]

Will people **** on Curry after he blows a 3-1 lead like they did LeBron after losing to the T-Wolves or nah?

Lakers were the 3-Seed. They were supposed to win. Warriors are the 7-seed, they're supposed to lose. Only reason Warriors were up 3-1 is because Jalen Green sh** the bed 3 out of the first 4 games and Udoka wasn't playing his jumbo lineups the first 3 games. Houston very likely sweeps this series if he had. Warriors are just way too small.

[Castle Black]

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[___Rand___]

Imagine all the Raptors fans losing their minds if FVV brings these Rockets back from the 3-1 brink. All we heard from them was how horrible he was, and how they didn't need him, and how he was a black hole on offense. Dude has been ballin and hitting clutch 3s these past few games.

Dude you didn't have him on your team like we did. What we saw this series is who Fred is. He shows up some games and he doesn't other games. Rockets will live and die on his shot and let's see how entertaining it is for Rockets' fans the rest of the playoffs. The Rockets fans were getting on FVV already. Broadcasters were kind by not trashing him earlier in the series. FVV is trash and treasure. You don't know what you'll get from him.

You're just reacting to the fellating Doris and the other dude has been doing on Fred because they got nobody else they can on Rockets. Yes he's a point guard who keeps his team organized. He learned to impact the game in different ways like Lowry and he contributes that way. He's a key piece on the Rockets but he didn't do this single-handedly.

Fred is over-tasked due to the Rockets not having any other reliable perimeter creators or ballhandlers. He looks out of his depth sometimes but its because Houston's crappy guard play puts a huge burden of responsibility of him.

If Houston had an all-star caliber SG or SF who could run the offense, I suspect FVV wouldn't have these crazy production fluctuations..

We Raptors had Fred as our player far longer than what you've had him in Rockets. FVV's disappears from time to time which aggravated our shooting problems especially when we went to the 6'9" lineup. Fred was shooting poorly in our championship run until his wife gave birth to his son. So whenever Fred has shooting problems we often joked that Fred needs to have another son.

By the way, Rockets have to pray that Fred keeps shooting hot in Houston because if he disappears again like he always does, and Green can't find his shooting touch, I think Rockets will be in trouble. Let's hope home court will help keep things going smooth.

[bigben998]

This rockets team is doing something the old team could never do against the warriors and hold off those comebacks. Jimmy was even getting every call first half. It's pretty fun seeing them mature and grow in real time. I really feel like they have had the lead 90% of the series but just weren't mature enough to close out. I hate being so nervous up double digits with a few minutes left lol.

This is how you stop Steph from doing those annoying little celebrations on every shot he makes and dray yelling like he won the finals on every play. No idea who will win game 7 but warriors looked helpless the last 2 games. Would be so satisfying to send them home but good to see this young team push them regardless.

[Onlytimewilltel]

Depending on who loses, one of the Greens, Brooks or Thompson is getting thrown out of game 7. I’ve never been more sure of something.

I definitely agree

[iggymcfrack]

Top players for each team by net rating (50 MP minimum):

Rockets: Steven Adams +20.2, Alperen Sengun +8.8

Warriors: Kevon Looney +2.9, Stephen Curry -1.4

Rockets’ size is killing Golden State. The only way they can possibly survive is to counter the size with size. When Adams comes into the game, Kerr has to counter with Looney or even possibly even Trayce Jackson Davis. You’re not gonna win giving up 50% of offensive rebounds.

[California Gold]

Will people **** on Curry after he blows a 3-1 lead like they did LeBron after losing to the T-Wolves or nah?

Lakers were the 3-Seed. They were supposed to win. Warriors are the 7-seed, they're supposed to lose. Only reason Warriors were up 3-1 is because Jalen Green sh** the bed 3 out of the first 4 games and Udoka wasn't playing his jumbo lineups the first 3 games. Houston very likely sweeps this series if he had. Warriors are just way too small.

Love this narrative when the Warriors were -205 to win the series by odds before the series begun. A lot of people had the Warriors winning the series before it started and still do. The seeding clearly didn’t matter when they were up 3-1. But now on the brink of choking it’s about who was seeded where? Nah. This would be a choke job stain on Curry’s career, not as bad 2016 but still a stain.

[Randle McMurphy]

Will people **** on Curry after he blows a 3-1 lead like they did LeBron after losing to the T-Wolves or nah?

Lakers were the 3-Seed. They were supposed to win. Warriors are the 7-seed, they're supposed to lose. Only reason Warriors were up 3-1 is because Jalen Green sh** the bed 3 out of the first 4 games and Udoka wasn't playing his jumbo lineups the first 3 games. Houston very likely sweeps this series if he had. Warriors are just way too small.

You’re aware that the Lakers only won a single game more than the TWolves in the season, right? Their seeds literally aren’t representative of anything at all.

[Exp0sed]

True, it's not hard to see on replays.

Good thing Steph does not whine like the Warriors fans. He knows it’s part of the game and there is no other way but to play through it. Props to Steph but no props to soft NBA fans.

If you look at what Kerr said, he wasn't complaining about the action (nor was I) he's objecting to the rule that allows marginal contact against the shooter after the ball is released. It's entirely up to the refs what "marginal" contact is, and players will push it to the limit. Especially when there's an injury they can go after. According to Kerr all 30 coaches dislike that rule, and the way it's enforced, and he expects it will be changed this summer.

No way they start enforcing it. If they do, Jokic will average 40. He gets fouled in this manner by far the most in the NBA.

Sent from my SM-A055F using RealGM mobile app

[MoreyWins]

Top players for each team by net rating (50 MP minimum):

Rockets: Steven Adams +20.2, Alperen Sengun +8.8

Warriors: Kevon Looney +2.9, Stephen Curry -1.4

Rockets’ size is killing Golden State. The only way they can possibly survive is to counter the size with size. When Adams comes into the game, Kerr has to counter with Looney or even possibly even Trayce Jackson Davis. You’re not gonna win giving up 50% of offensive rebounds.

I love this game of chess. I pointed out prior to the series starting that Looney and Draymond lineups have been terrible this season. The spacing with Butler, Draymond, and Looney plays right into the Rockets favor when they run their double-big zone defense. Post has been a net negative from what I've watched. He was supposed to be the saving grace against the zone, but he's either missed open shots or fumbled possessions for the Warriors. On defense, Post is getting targeted like crazy.

[Randle McMurphy]

Top players for each team by net rating (50 MP minimum):

Rockets: Steven Adams +20.2, Alperen Sengun +8.8

Warriors: Kevon Looney +2.9, Stephen Curry -1.4

Rockets’ size is killing Golden State. The only way they can possibly survive is to counter the size with size. When Adams comes into the game, Kerr has to counter with Looney or even possibly even Trayce Jackson Davis. You’re not gonna win giving up 50% of offensive rebounds.

Warriors can’t score at all in the half court if they put Looney out there. They have to always have shooters.